Phantom of the Opera - The movie

[djf]

I am curious if any Freepers have seen the Phantom in movie form. For those of us who are old enough, it seems impossible that anyone could match Crawford and Brightman and the London Symphony.

Having read the play, I can only say that the opera surpasses it by far. And Webber, no matter what his politics are, is an extraordinary genius.

[didi]

We have not seen it, but plan to go when it reaches our "neck of the woods". I promised my son I would take him. While he is not much of a theater fan, and we have only seen a few shows, this movie has caught his attention.

The movie reviews I have read were awful. 'Curious about what others have to say.

[ride the whirlwind]

Ping

[TMSuchman]

The wife & I are planning a date to go see it when it gets here to rural MI.

[joyful1]

It is a masterful, effective romantic epic.

The movie is NOT a clone of the stage. It's a different experience from the stage, and if the Phantom audience can suspend their stage expectation, they will find a totally new view of Phantom.

Andrew Lloyd Webber, whose mark is all over this movie, is a romantic addict and genius.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Is hollyweird making any new movies?

[gatorbait]

My 14 year old and I went Christmas Day. What a powerful movie! . Wonderful production , the cast was super and movie offered detail the play can't.

I thought it well worth the time to see and enjoy it. I think the kidlet and I may see it again.

[pioneerstakethearrows]

Neither lead could hold a candle to Crawford or Brightman, vocally. The movie phantom...no charisma. The movie Christine...lovely voice, however, too "young" top register; acting...it was as if someone told her to "just sing" and show no emotion on her face. Boring.

Patrick Wilson, as Raoul, terrific !
Orchestrations, set, costumes wonderful.

[garyb]

Amazingly it is currently playing in Lansing. The Mrs. and I went to see it on Sunday afternoon. We thought it was a great musical (opera in English). The effects were amazing. I especially liked the transition from b/w to color near the beginning.

Try to see it in a theater with a good sound system, well worth the extra couple of bucks over a second run (or typical small town) theater.

We don't see a lot of movies first run, maybe 5 this year. This was the best of the lot.

[TMSuchman]

Were down here at Devils Lake, Adrian gets over looked alot by the good stuff.

[bradactor]

Most of the users of yahoo reviews were good. I did not see the stage production so I cannot compare the two. I emjoyed it. Joel Schumaucher's direction and editing of the movie was superb. I think Emily Rossum did well. The scene between her, Gerard Butler(Phantom) and Patrick Wilson at the end was moving. It is worth seeing because of things they could do that they could not do on stage. The NY Times gave it an F but what does that mean? We all know the NY Times being what it is.
Brad in Houston

[Petes Sandy Girl]

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/phantom_of_the_opera/


THEATRICAL RELEASE
Dec 22, 2004 Limited

NUMBERS
Box Office: $6,323,567
details...

CONSENSUS
The music of the night has hit something of a sour note: Critics are calling the screen adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s popular musical histrionic, boring, and lacking in both romance and danger. Still, some have praised the film for its sheer spectacle.

CAST & CREW
Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson
Directed by Joel Schumacher
more...

SYNOPSIS
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera tells the story of a disfigured musical genius (Gerard Butler) who haunts the catacombs beneath the Paris Opera, waging a reign of terror over its occupants. more...

MPAA RATING
PG-13, for brief violent images

RUNTIME
2 hours, 23 minutes

RELEASE COMPANY
Warner Bros.

GENRE
Musical & Performing Arts, Musicals, Musical, Adaptation, Love Affairs, Musicians, Actresses, Mysteries, Based On A Novel

[RaceBannon]

Saw it, it was awsome.

Never saw any other version, so I have nothing to compare.

So good, I went back again.

[pitinkie]

Thought it was good..of course I am biased towards Crawford as the Phantom. He was better. But Christine was very good and the sets were also. My 18 year old son loves it and has seen it twice!

[djf]

I was woefully disappointed with Brightmans "Harem".

She needs better direction. Perhaps she should re-marry Webber.

[ArrogantBustard]

The movie reviewers have their heads up their @$$&$. As usual.

I saw it. I thought it was excellent. Don't look for any "stars": there aren't any. (Well, maybe one, depending on your definition ...) There are, however, a whole bunch of good actors who can sing.

If you can, try to find a theatre with SDDS.

[DoctorMichael]

I've seen the stage production twice: Once in Lost Angeles and the other in New Yawk, on Broadway.

Haven't seen the movie version yet as the reviews scared me away. After viewing some of the comments below I might make an attempt to catch it at a good (re: sound system, screen) theater.

[valkyrieanne]

Reviewers in this case were idiots - either "phans" who hated the movie when it was first announced, or purists who complained because it supposedly wasn't "exactly" like the play. Some reviewers also don't like filmed musicals on principle (Reviewers also didn't like the "staged" feel of the film about Cole Porter, "De-Lovely.")

Personally, I liked it & will probably see it again.

[Sam's Army]

"Is hollyweird making any new movies?"

Of course not, and why should they? It has been figured out a long time ago that the constant regurgitation of the familiar will net at least "X" amount of revenues. As an added plus, this allows writers to focus "new" material on social-issue movies like "John Q" and "Erin Brockovich" that try to teach you to vote for the Democrats.

I have some fairly (ahem) exclusive contacts in the industry and here is a list of new films being worked on for release in 2005-2007:

Match Game '75: The Movie

Captain Caveman

Goodnight, Beantown

My Three Sons

Tenspeed and Brownshoe