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The Phantom of the Opera (Widescreen Edition)
Review by Jack Dalory "Jackie" : AMAZING!

I happen to be a mature movie-goer, but I totally disagree with the critics. PHANTOM OF THE OPERA was truly the greatest movie I have ever seen. Purely amazing in every way, haunting and very heartbreaking. The movie will leave you in tears for at least 3 parts of the movie. PHANTOM was purely spectacular. Why the critics say this movie is poor is beyond me. I have seen this 4 times and I am still not sick of it. Truly brilliant, artistic, and haunting.....this film is, in my eyes, a true marvel that towers over the rest.

The Phantom of the Opera (Widescreen Edition)
Review by JR Pinto : I HAVE SEEN IT!!!

I have just seen Andrew Lloyd Weber's The Phantom of the Opera last night and I still don't quite know how to feel about it. This is my favorite Broadway musical of all time. I have been privileged enough to see it twice on stage with the inimitable Michael Crawford. This Phantom is significantly different - both the production and the character. On stage, the Phantom is an older man who is missing most of his face. In this film, the Phantom is so young and so sexy we wonder why Christine would ever be interested in Raoul. The movie has more time and ability to go into the Phantom's backstory - the problem is the backstory makes no sense! In the book, it was explained that Erik was the son of a master mason who grew up to be one of the contractors who worked on the opera house. In the movie, he is a child who is rescued from a freak show by Madame Giry who has grown up in the opera house. (Perhaps that gave him time to install a pipe-organ single-handedly.) Joel Schumacher has tried to "humanize" the Phantom, which is the wrong decision because - like Hamlet - the Phantom is a larger-than-life character. The worst filmmaking decision is to have the Phantom swordfight Raoul...and lose! The Phantom is like Hannibal Lecter - he would NEVER let anybody get the upper hand on him. In the play, the Phantom spends most of the time off-stage, creating an air of mystery. Also, in the play, he has more of a devilish sense of humor. The movie phantom does not move in the same way the stage phantom does - gone are the balletic gestures that accompany The Music of the Night.

In the hands of a better filmmaker, this would have been a better movie. Shumacher is a little uncomfortable about having the characters sing directly into the camera. He cares more about the story than the music and seems to be happiest when he is adding extra scenes. He also misses opportunities to do things with film - superimpositions and the like - that cannot be done on stage. Emmy Rossum is great as Christine. Patrick Wilson is a fine singer to play Raoul - a character I have never liked. Gerard Butler has the thankless job of being "the guy who isn't Michael Crawford."

However, there is much that the movie does get right. MOST IMPORTANTLY, it keeps the score intact. There are a few minor changes - some lines are spoken rather than sung, which is REALLY annoying. The movie LOOKS beautiful. The set pieces translate wonderfully to the film. When we hear the overture, there is an electric moment - literally - when the chandelier comes to life and the old opera house rejuvenates. The transition in the song Think of Me occurs perfectly. The journey through the mirror and into the labyrinth is fantastic. Much of the special effects from the stage show are preserved. Even a few new additions are here from the book: the horse and the torture chamber!

Do I recommend the movie? Wholeheartedly. Is the film a satisfying interpretation of the stage play? No - it is just too different. Characters and relationships are altered for the worse. Watching the movie, I became grateful that the play is still running strong all over the world and shows no signs of stopping. I can't wait to see it on stage again - where it belongs. This film - taken on its own merits - is still great. Even though I will see the movie again many times in my life, it cannot compare to the stage version. The theater occupies a world too surreal to ever be adequately captured on film..

The Phantom of the Opera (Widescreen Edition)
Review by Marcy Gomez : Haunting, romantic and truly memorable............

You know that a movie works when it follows you long after you've left the movie theater. I saw the Broadway tour of "Phantom of the Opera" a few years ago and it has been my favorite musical since. I love it more than Cats, 42nd Street, West Side Story, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon...you name it. Its romanticism and beautiful songs just blew me away.

I was then somewhat hesitant to see the film version, fearing that it would not live up to my expectations. A little over two hours later and I found myself crying over the Phantom (Gerard Butler) and his love for the young Christine Daae (Emmy Rossum) as she decides between him or the nobleman Raoul (Patrick Wilson).

In short, I love this movie! It was everything I had hoped it to be and more. The story is faithful to the stage version but it also gives the audience a closer look into the lives of the three main characters. The art direction, sets and costumes are resplendent and breath-taking. And the songs are brought to life superbly by the talented cast of young newcomers (Rossum, Wilson) and film veterans (Miranda Richardson, Ciaran Hinds, Simon Callow).

I know many would argue that Michael Crawford was a superb Phantom...that is, except for me. I always felt that Crawford's voice was too high-pitched and not manly enough. To me, Gerard Butler is more effective Phantom. Apart from being incredibly handsome (under that make-up), tall and well built, he also has this rough and raspy voice that is very masculine and full of passion. He IS the Phantom! Emmy Rossum has a hauntingly beautiful voice and has an innocence and sweetness that fits perfectly for Christine. Her voice gives me goosebumps! Patrick Wilson's romantic voice contrasts well with that of the Phantom's. After all, one is supposed to be a nobleman and the romantic hero while the other is dark, mysterious and brooding (like the misunderstood Quasimodo of "Hunchback of the Notre Dame.") But even without the singing, Gerard Butler turns in a memorable and passionate performance as the Phantom and you really do feel for him in the end. If there was one fault to this film, for me, it would be Minnie Driver's Carlotta. She was so over the top that I sometimes found her grating.

All in all, however, I walked out of the theater wanting to see "Phantom of the Opera" again and again (I've now seen it twice and counting). I couldn't get the music out of my head and have since purchased the CD. I can't wait for the dvd to come out so I can watch it over and over. I highly recommend it to fans of the stage version, music lovers and incurable romantics everywhere. And if you loved the songs, be sure to pick up the equally superb soundtrack. This phantom will haunt you long after you've left the movie theater....and I have gladly fallen under its spell. Superb!.........