Film Review Phantom

lettie · 13-12-2004, 15:52

Has anyone else seen this film of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera??

Went to see it last night armed with Ben & Jerrys and some tissues. There's something not quite right about this film and I couldn't really put my finger on it. The musical score is excellent, just like the stage musical. The words are relatively unchanged, occasional parts are spoken to adapt to film. The costumes and scenery are opulent and the singing very good but it didn't grab me. I saw the musical on stage in 1990 at the Prince of Wales. It had atmosphere and was emotional (meaning I spent the end of the first act and most of the second bawling like a baby). The actors were all well cast in the film except for the Phantom. I think he was too young and good looking and I couldn't feel sorry for him. Maybe that was the problem...

or maybe it just lacks the same atmosphere as a stage musical.

If anyone else has seen it, what did you think..

staggeringman · 13-12-2004, 16:53

maybe its because when you saw it first it was live on stage!The atmosphere would have been fantastic.Then you go and see it on the silver screen it loses all the atmosphere.If you read a book you use your imagination more than when you would if you see it in a screenversion,and you always here people say that the book was better!

Sparkologist · 13-12-2004, 17:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by lettie

If anyone else has seen it, what did you think..

The problem lies with the role of the Phantom. Even before he is demonised, and shown to be a cold-hearted killer, the character does not come across as endearing. The audience is supposed to feel sorry for the Phantom, as it is a story of unrequited love.
That aside, the screenplay and the sets are first class.

Ben & Jerry's Dublin Mudslide; What more can I say? Mmm... baby. Dee-licious.

lettie · 13-12-2004, 17:48

I think that Gerald Butler (the phantom) although a good singer, he could not convey the emotion required to play the part of phantom. The role of phantom requires the most powerful of voices and acting ability. I don't know whether he was cast in order to make the role sexier, but he didn't come across very well which is a shame. I have the original stage cast recording of Phantom and Michael Crawford does the role justice. When I saw it on stage the bloke who used to play Mickey from Crossroads played him and he was brilliant. The rest of the casting was good. Miranda Richardson as Madame Giry played the role really well. Even Minnie Driver as the diva Carlotta added humour to the film (although her role is rumoured to have been sung by one of the backing cast members)

-pixie · 13-12-2004, 21:17

I'm going to see it this weekend hopefully. It looks excellent from the trailers, so I do hope it lives up to my expectations.

lettie · 13-12-2004, 21:30

Let us know what you think Pixie. I have the comparison of seeing it on stage and film whereas Sparky had never seen a musical before.

vorlon24 · 15-12-2004, 16:57

I am taking my wife to see it for her birthday.

I took her a few years ago to London to see it for her birthday as well and she really enjoyed it - that was one she said she really wanted to see.

I am thinking about taking her to see Les Miserables or the Lion King at some point in the future

lettie · 15-12-2004, 17:08

Never seen the Lion King, but would love to. Les Miserables is superb Vorlon, she'll really enjoy it. My tip to you would be to take tissues, it's quite sad, but has some comedy in it too.

mickmc · 27-12-2004, 17:14

I agree, saw Phantom when it came to Manchester, and the atmosphere was electric, the hairs on the back of yr neck stood up - I think its because as in the"opera" we, the audience, were part of the whole show; whereas watching it on the screen was just like watching exotic fish swim in a tank; - very 2 dimensional