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by ShogunRua
Fri Apr 15, 2011 5:48 am
Forum: Full Reviews
Topic: Phantom of the Opera (2004)
Replies: 2
Views: 3726

Re: Phantom of the Opera (2004)

I wasn't crazy about the film, but it was still quite good. Obviously, it's not going to be on the same level as a live theatrical performance, but I think it's ridiculous to expect as much. Instead, it was a worthwhile, highly entertaining adaptation of the classical story.

Lord Moe wrote:As a fan of the original musical, I have some serious issues with this movie.

1. The Cast- Patrick Wilson and the rest of the supporting cast is pretty good, but Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum just don't cut it. Though Christine is supposed to be young, she's not supposed to sound young. While Emmy Rossum is a good singer, she's just a bit young for the part. Gerard Butler, on the other hand, is NOT the Phantom. The Phantom is supposed to be the perfect tenor, not a baritone struggling for the high notes. He was terrible.


Emmy Rossum was cute, innocent, and perfect for the role. I think you're the first person who didn't think she was one of the highlights of a film, let alone a negative.

Gerard Butler's voice wasn't right, but again, that's the difference between a Hollywood film and a theatrical performance. I knew what to expect going in.

Lord Moe wrote:2. The Directing- Joel Schumacher. Do I need to say more?


Sure you do; the guy has made some decent, and even one very good film in his career. (Falling Down)

Lord Moe wrote:3. Style over Substance- While the movie definitely looks good, it looks flashy and shallow more than necessary. This is the usual when it comes to Joel Schumacher, though. For example, let's take a look at Lawrence of Arabia. The epic visuals have meaning. In this they just seem flashy and shallow. The opening sequence was good, and "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" was pretty good, but that's about it. Also, the movie in general relies more on style than substance.


Uh, really? You're complaining about style over substance in an opulent musical? A genre that is, by definition, all about style over substance?

I have no clue what you wanted or were expecting from this picture, then.

5. The Phantom- I already talked about how bad Gerard Butler was. Not let me talk about how the Phantom was presented. THE PHANTOM IS UGLY. There's no getting around that. He's ugly. That's the point. In this, the Phantom is presented as a weird kind of sex symbol. While, yes, the Phantom is a very sensual part, he's not supposed to be a sex symbol. The Phantom mask covered only a little bit of his face, as opposed to half, which means less of his face is deformed. Also, when he is unmasked, he doesn't look that bad! Okay, maybe I wouldn't want to look like that, but he looks like he just has some bad sunburn. If you look at the stage makeup (or if you want to go further, Lon Chaney's makeup) you will see that the Phantom in this version really has no reason to be living under the opera house. Also, he spends a good portion of the movie in a V-neck shirt, showing his chest and bare arms. The Phantom doesn't do that. The Phantom is always well dressed, and covered head to toe because his deformation covers his entire body. Of course it seems like some audiences today would rather have a pretty actor than a talented singer.


On this point, I mostly agree; the Phantom is nowhere near ugly enough. It was actually quite funny when they finally revealed his minimally scarred face. "That's it?!"
by Lady Moe
Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:59 am
Forum: Full Reviews
Topic: Phantom of the Opera (2004)
Replies: 2
Views: 3726

Phantom of the Opera (2004)

As a fan of the original musical, I have some serious issues with this movie.

1. The Cast- Patrick Wilson and the rest of the supporting cast is pretty good, but Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum just don't cut it. Though Christine is supposed to be young, she's not supposed to sound young. While Emmy Rossum is a good singer, she's just a bit young for the part. Gerard Butler, on the other hand, is NOT the Phantom. The Phantom is supposed to be the perfect tenor, not a baritone struggling for the high notes. He was terrible.

2. The Directing- Joel Schumacher. Do I need to say more?

3. Style over Substance- While the movie definitely looks good, it looks flashy and shallow more than necessary. This is the usual when it comes to Joel Schumacher, though. For example, let's take a look at Lawrence of Arabia. The epic visuals have meaning. In this they just seem flashy and shallow. The opening sequence was good, and "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" was pretty good, but that's about it. Also, the movie in general relies more on style than substance.

4. Cutting Music- This is a small gripe but it really bothers me. A lot of the time, some of the singing is cut down and, instead of singing the lines, the actors will read the lines. It's not right. Fix it, Schumacher. FIX IT!!

5. The Phantom- I already talked about how bad Gerard Butler was. Not let me talk about how the Phantom was presented. THE PHANTOM IS UGLY. There's no getting around that. He's ugly. That's the point. In this, the Phantom is presented as a weird kind of sex symbol. While, yes, the Phantom is a very sensual part, he's not supposed to be a sex symbol. The Phantom mask covered only a little bit of his face, as opposed to half, which means less of his face is deformed. Also, when he is unmasked, he doesn't look that bad! Okay, maybe I wouldn't want to look like that, but he looks like he just has some bad sunburn. If you look at the stage makeup (or if you want to go further, Lon Chaney's makeup) you will see that the Phantom in this version really has no reason to be living under the opera house. Also, he spends a good portion of the movie in a V-neck shirt, showing his chest and bare arms. The Phantom doesn't do that. The Phantom is always well dressed, and covered head to toe because his deformation covers his entire body. Of course it seems like some audiences today would rather have a pretty actor than a talented singer.


This movie had so many problems.