What Went Wrong with the PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Film Adaptation?- Page 2

[Dave28282]

Posted: 12/12/16 at 7:02am

Phantom4ever said: "I am a certified Phantom phanatic but I have never been able to bring myself to sit through the entire movie. I have been in the room when the entire movie played and I had to keep looking away in dismay and disbelief. Minnie Driver was wrong for Carlotta, and Emmy Rossum was all wrong for Christine. The Phantom movie should have had the same opulent look and color scheme as Moulin Rouge. It should have been sumptuous and romantic and over the top. Instead it was pedestrian and beige and safe. 

 

"

I agree, they need to get rid of this stupid "realistic and literal" mindset, because that will never work in this artform and this language of storytelling. That's why Moulin Rouge does work.

[The Rural Juror]

Posted: 12/12/16 at 7:15am

BroadwayConcierge said: "Rural Juror, that video provided a FANTASTIC explanation to my question. I watched the entire thing. Man, my brain is totally wired to analyze and see theatre, not film! But I totally see where the substantial flaws exist now. I wish some studio would take that girl's suggestions and redo the whole thing. It could've been amazing.

Huge thanks to everybody else who has written in response!

 

"

You are very welcome! I love her videos, and as a lover of theatre and film (and their collaborations), I think she truly gets how to make the medium work in a place where it rarely does.

Updated On: 12/12/16 at 07:15 AM

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 12/12/16 at 8:36am

Even though the film isn't exactly a masterpiece I think we do need to appreciate it for its role in introducing young people to Musical Theatre. I remember being 14, living in the Highlands of Scotland and not having watched a movie musical that wasn't filmed after the 70's but when I watched Phantom it was like I'd finally found what was missing in my life. From then on I was obsessed with that show and every other musical I could get my hands on.

15 years later, now that I'm a little more educated, I can see that the film is actually pretty bleak considering how incredible the stage show is but it will always hold a special wee place in my heart for what it did for my Musical Theatre obsession. I think a lot of current and upcoming Broadway stars and Musical Theatre fans owe the film a lot.

In saying that, the direction of the film was completely was off - it seemed that the directed didn't know what kind of movie he wanted to make. It was far too serious at times yet tried to add a bit of the campy factor from the stage show and it just failed. I suppose we should all be grateful that the 25th Anniversary production was filmed. 

[newintown]

Posted: 12/12/16 at 8:49am

hork wrote "I can't speak for others, but for me what went wrong was that it was an adaptation of Phantom of the Opera."

I'm going with this. It's such a mindlessly boring bit of lowbrow dusty operetta masquerading as art; I can never understand how it became as successful as it did (the ALW musical, I mean, not necessarily the Leroux potboiler).

Updated On: 12/12/16 at 08:49 AM

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 12/12/16 at 9:31am

I don't mind the movie. I enjoy the visuals, the orchestra sounded great, and Simon Callow and Ciaran Hinds remain my favorite Messieurs.

I thought Minnie Driver was the weakest link, actually. She was completely miscast as Carlotta- and not just because she had to be dubbed. I wrote a whole blog post about it once...

My one gratitude to the Phantom film is the final scene, where Christine's grave is shown. It lists her date of death as being several decades after the events of this story, which means that the atrocity that shall not be named...never occurred.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 12/12/16 at 9:37am

Lindsay Ellis's analysis is spot on.  The film wouldn't have been better with better cast leads. The problem is in the work of the adaptation, director, editor, cinematographer and over all concept (or lack of real concept) in translating the musical from one medium (stage) to another (screen).  Hal Prince's stage musical is infinitely more cinematic than anything on the screen in the movie. That's the problem.

[Eurotrash]

Posted: 12/12/16 at 9:43am

In any show that trades so heavily on its musical numbers, you should never have bad singers.

[elderchistery]

Posted: 12/12/16 at 9:50am

I am not the biggest Phantom fan in the first place but the reason why I enjoyed the show so much more was mainly the element of mystery that was completely wiped out in the movie in the end you know exactly what goes on and instead of the phantom being hidden while he speaks to her you get to see him behind the door. That was my biggest reason but I also liked the sets in the musical more and the singing wasn't as good as I thought it could be. But I know many fans of the movie.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 12/12/16 at 9:54am

I think the name Joel Schumacher is a sufficient answer. 

 

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 12/12/16 at 3:30pm

The way many of the scenes were shot and the way the actors were blocked were also seriously awkward. Like the part in the end where Raoul (all tied up) and the Phantom were singing to Christine was oddly staged and was almost laughable. I also don't know why nobody just tackled the Phantom when he was giving that Bond villain-like monologue after Masquerade and then he escapes through a hole that came out of no where in the middle of the lobby of the opera house. Things that work on stage seriously do not work for the film. 

I will say it was my introduction to Gerard Butler and despite all the very valid criticisms of him, as a young gay kid watching the movie, I thought he was pretty hot, voice and all. Emmy Rossum didn't give much to the performance and looked like a deer in the headlights and sang weakly, but she really is beautiful in this film. I loved her entire look.

Updated On: 12/12/16 at 03:30 PM

[Jarethan]

Posted: 12/12/16 at 3:37pm

Ado Annie D'Ysquith said: "I don't mind the movie. I enjoy the visuals, the orchestra sounded great, and Simon Callow and Ciaran Hinds remain my favorite Messieurs.

I thought Minnie Driver was the weakest link, actually. She was completely miscast as Carlotta- and not just because she had to be dubbed. I wrote a whole blog post about it once...

My one gratitude to the Phantom film is the final scene, where Christine's grave is shown. It lists her date of death as being several decades after the events of this story, which means that the atrocity that shall not be named...never occurred.

 

Different strokes.I thought that she gave the best performance in the movie.  It was the only time the I wished Carlotta had more to do.  She was playing an opera diva and went for a funny over-the-top diva performance.

 

[skies]

Posted: 12/12/16 at 4:00pm

I thought alot of the show's stage success was due to Hall Prince's staging which compensated enormously for the inherent weaknesses of the book/score.

The movie took the tack that it was all ALW and his creative vision and decisions,including casting. So a stage bound storyline just kind of waddled out there on the screen and died a lingering death. What dragged on stage was much worse on screen.

I liked Minnie Driver's Carlotta simply because she seemed alive and an overthetop character. Christine and Raul were such bland cutouts. AS to the Phantom, I dont think anyone could be inspired by Gerard Butler's singing voice...it was so forced and painful...Pierce Brosnan in a mask..

Posted: 12/13/16 at 3:15pm

I did like Oscar Best Song nominee "Learn To Be Lonely"  -- at least when taken out-of-context during The Academy Awards telecast. 

[GreatBroadwayFan]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 12:30am

Here is probably the best explanation as to "What Went Wrong with the PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Film Adaptation"!

https://youtu.be/-m5I_5Vnh6A

[A Director]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 12:36am

The problem started when Andrew Little Talent decided to write the show in the first place.

[broadwayguy91]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 12:44am

I'm chuckling so hard reading this thread . And ado d'annie's shoutout to Love Never Dies killed me LOL

[broadwayguy91]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 12:44am

I'm chuckling so hard reading this thread . And ado d'annie's shoutout to Love Never Dies killed me LOL

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 2:43am

ScottyDoesn'tKnow2 said: "I will say it was my introduction to Gerard Butler and despite all the very valid criticisms of him, as a young gay kid watching the movie, I thought he was pretty hot, voice and all."

 

100% agree. When he ascends those stairs and stares directly at Christine during 'Point of No Return' while wearing those tight black trousers... it was all I needed to convince 13 year old me that I was absolutely, undoubtedly a phag. I remember being jealous of Christine for having such a sexy man vie for for affections.

 

 

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 4:24pm

As someone who doesn't like the show, I surprisingly found it to be a reasonably good movie.