Seen April 8th, 2015
Posted July 8th, 2012
2,005 posts
18.7 Years
For discussion regarding the latest addition to the Silver Screen Musicals, Phantom of the Opera. What are your thoughts on it and the major changes from the show? Good or bad?

I will preview it based on what I saw on HBO's First Look.



Keeping the major songs in the show (a good thing), they seem to have replaced alot of the sung conversations with spoken dialogue, having the music playing in the background.

Though they have done this, the lines themselves remain virtually unchanged (also good), with the exception of a few added parts, such as a sword fight between Raul and the Phantom (a pretty impressive one from what I've seen on HBO).

The movie (which is what I will call it from here on out) is a tale of the famous Love Triangle Cliche, that RPG gamers have come to know and love. This one being between Christine, the Phantom, and Raul, an old childhood friend of Christine's.

Teaching Christine all she knows, the Phantom develops a bond with the girl, while she continues to fortify her relationship with Raul, unaware of the Phantom's true feelings. This, in turn, causes the Phantom to become bitterly jealous of their relationship. In the end, it causes a confrontation that nearly destroys all three of the main characters and almost puts the Opera House out of business.

The music itself combines boadway with a style of rock that you come to expect from Andrew Lloyd Weber. Combining the massive dramatic, gothic storyline with state of the art technology, the producers have managed to bring the Phantom to life in a way that will leave die-hard Broadway fans begging for more.

The only drawback, many of the sung conversations have been replaced with spoken dialogue. However, the main songs remain intact, and the spoken lines have been seamlessly integrated into the movie, making the experience, as the Phantom would say, 'Ideal'.

From what I've seen, this could turn out to be quite possibly the greatest Silver Screen ever made. I hope I am right about this when I see it on Friday.



Give your input about it. Do you like it? Are you upset about the changes? Whatever it is, feel free to talk about it. Constructive criticism is always welcome, especially in a topic like this.
If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you will never get it done.

- Bruce Lee

The worst thing you can do in a business is blame the customer.

- Willie 'Jack' Degel
Seen April 8th, 2015
Posted July 8th, 2012
2,005 posts
18.7 Years
Now that I've finally seen the Phantom of the Opera, I can give a definite review of it. Hold onto your hats, because this'll take awhile.


Anybody who has seen the Broadway performance of Phantom of the Opera will be expecting big things. Saying that the movie is all that and a bag of chips is a severe understatement. This was one of the coolest freaking things I've ever seen on the silver screen. Let me put it to you in a way that ALL of you will understand.

In terms of face-rocking awesomness, it is on the level of Return of the King. Let me rephrase that. If you were to compare the two films, you would find it extremely difficult to pick a favorite. But that's another story.

In terms of accuracy, the movie follows the Broadway show pretty much to the letter. It has all of the songs intact, and a few extra scenes that delve deeper into the Phantom's origins, which were only hinted at in the Broadway show.

Some of the sung lines were changed to spoken dialogue, but I was pleasantly surprised to see what I like to call, the 'Receiving of the Letters' scene completely intact and word for word with the script of the show. Very nice. I cracked up more than once at this part.

The way they portrayed the Phantom was a bit different from the way he was portrayed in the show. In the show, he was simply a lovesick ghost, while in the movie he was more of an obsessed stalker, driven to have Christine by whatever means was necessary, even if it cost him his Opera House. They also gave him a more rock star persona than a Broadway persona, but it is in a way that works. Trust me, you'll love it.

Then we have Raul, the heroic childhood friend of Christine's. For the most part, they left his character unchanged, but made him a bit more daring than how he was portrayed in the show. He even has a swordfight with the Phantom later in the movie.

We also can't forget Carlotta, the comical Antagonistic 'Lead' of their Opera House. Minnie Driver played her role flawlessly, and to be perfectly blunt, there were parts that I was almost unable to stop laughing at.

The same goes for the Managers. I thought their 'groveling' scenes were priceless and ingenius, especially in the extended opening.

Finally, we get to the star of the show, Christine Daae (according to the movie). I swear, she sounds just like the Christine on our soundtrack. Her part was flawless and breathtaking, without delving too much of the movie to the public.

Not to discount the rest of the cast, which was also very breathtaking. I especially loved the Masquarade song. It was simply brilliant.

The lavish costumes really brought out the color of the movie. Honestly, I felt like I was right there in the Opera House. That aside, and again without spoiling too much, there's one more thing I have to mention.

When it comes to face-rocking awesomness, you MUST give credit to the sets and effects of any movie, especially a monster of one like this. That said, I can honestly say it will give you chills seeing the sets and effects. Plus, the effects will leave you in awe... And I'm not even joking about this.

They spared not a dime on making this extravagant silver screen edition of Phantom of the Opera. I can honestly say without a shadow of a doubt that it will be nearly impossible to top this as one of the year's best. I challenge all of you out there to go and see this one for yourself. Then your opinion of musicals will be forever changed.

SBaby gives Phantom of the Opera a 10 out of 10. Utter brilliance!!
If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you will never get it done.

- Bruce Lee

The worst thing you can do in a business is blame the customer.

- Willie 'Jack' Degel
Age 35
In a blue house with a blue window.
Seen January 2nd, 2009
Posted May 29th, 2005
189 posts
19 Years
I FINALLY saw the movie today. I saw the Opera several years ago, and have been a fan ever since. So, here is my review/opinion of the movie.

Overall, the actual plot is bizarre and highly unrealistic. But added to Webber's fantastic music, the movie takes on an emotional, fantastic role as one of the most beloved musicals of all time. The music carries such power that you feel every emotion that the characters' feel, and is absolutely beautiful. It's not an Opera in the traditional sense, with influences that aren't immediately noticeable from such sources as Rock 'n Roll. (You can see the RnR most noticeably in parts of the Phantom's theme.) AN ABSOLUTE MUST SEE FOR EVERYONE!!!

Having seen the actual Opera, I was very happy to see that nothing had been taken away in the movie, and in fact a few things were added that simply couldn't have been done on the stage, including a touching scene at the very end of the movie. Emily Rossum as Christine does a perfect job, capuring Christine's innocent beauty. Gerard Butler, who plays the Phantom, also does a very good job, but simply can't compete with Michael Crawford who played the Phantom in the original broadway production. This is particularly noticeable in a scene towards the very end where the Phantom sings "Masquerade". In the movie, Butler displays some sorrow in his voice, but, Crawford's voice was... gut-wrenching. My suggestion? Watch the movie and then buy the CD with Michael Crawford as the Phantom.
Random Quote of the Undefined Period of Time: Dreaming permits each and every one of us to be quietly and safely insane every night of our lives.



Seen April 8th, 2015
Posted July 8th, 2012
2,005 posts
18.7 Years
Yeah, I kind of agree with the bit about the Phantom. That was my only gripe about the movie, but it is a very small one and not at all influential in my opinion of the overall picture. I think they did that because they wanted more of a rock persona for the Phantom rather than an operatic one. Of course, that's just speculation. (After all, who could possibly be better than Michael Crawford? That would be impossible. Or as you put it, highly unrealistic.)

Granted, if you've never heard any of the music (which would be a neat trick in my opinion), and even if you did, this movie is going to literally knock your socks off! And you've GOT to see it while it's in theatres. Trust me on this!

Overall, it was definitely an awesome sight to behold.

I will be getting it the minute it comes out on DVD if nothing else, for the extended scenes that you know they'll put in it. (Winks.)

(I'm glad I'm not the only one reviewing this. I think EVERYBODY should see it. And when they do they should review or comment on it here.)
If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you will never get it done.

- Bruce Lee

The worst thing you can do in a business is blame the customer.

- Willie 'Jack' Degel
Age 35
In a blue house with a blue window.
Seen January 2nd, 2009
Posted May 29th, 2005
189 posts
19 Years
Sbaby, I have to say that I'm thrilled to find another fan of The Phantom of the Opera! I posted a similar topic on another forum and it didn't get the biggest response.

Regarding Crawford, I totally have to agree that no one can compete with his portrayal of the Phantom. I do, however, have a theory as to why he isn't in the movie. From the rather limited pictures I've seen of him, he isn't really great-looking. Butler, on the other hand, I would consider somewhere within the 'handsome' range. Think about it.
Random Quote of the Undefined Period of Time: Dreaming permits each and every one of us to be quietly and safely insane every night of our lives.



Seen April 8th, 2015
Posted July 8th, 2012
2,005 posts
18.7 Years
That is an interesting theory. I never thought about that. Could you post that on Gamefaqs? There seem to be tons of people that are doing the Butler/Crawford comparison on that site.

On another note, Schumacher (I think that's the spelling) has definitely redeemed himself for Batman and Robin with this show. He gave the movie a very Tim Burton-esque feel to it.

Speaking of which, I wonder how Tim Burton would've done as the director? These are the kind of things I think about when I'm home at night and the power goes out...
If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you will never get it done.

- Bruce Lee

The worst thing you can do in a business is blame the customer.

- Willie 'Jack' Degel
Age 35
In a blue house with a blue window.
Seen January 2nd, 2009
Posted May 29th, 2005
189 posts
19 Years
That is an interesting theory. I never thought about that. Could you post that on Gamefaqs? There seem to be tons of people that are doing the Butler/Crawford comparison on that site.
Really? I've never visited the gamefaqs forum before. Could you give me a direct link to the discussion?

Overall, I think it has a great shot at best picture from both the Golden Globes and the Oscars. (Those are the two major movie US awards, for people who don't live in the USA.)
Random Quote of the Undefined Period of Time: Dreaming permits each and every one of us to be quietly and safely insane every night of our lives.



Seen April 8th, 2015
Posted July 8th, 2012
2,005 posts
18.7 Years
I don't think I'm allowed to post a link here, but if you type Gamefaqs into your browser, the search engine should get you there. They have a forum for movies in their 'special interest' section.

They had BETTER win those awards for what they did with the Phantom. I don't think there's any real way they could improve it over what they already did. I got chills watching it. Definitely, will I see it again before it comes out on DVD.
If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you will never get it done.

- Bruce Lee

The worst thing you can do in a business is blame the customer.

- Willie 'Jack' Degel