Phantom of the Opera Movie Review..........

[belle]

no, it''s not time yet (t-2 and counting!!) but i am excited about it and i hope that those who see it will come back here and share their opinions.
looking forward to friday!!!

 

[cflutist]

Websailor and I saw it back in December (it opened early in the SF Bay Area) and really enjoyed it. This has got to be our all time favorite musical. I saw the San Francisco production twice, while websailor was lucky enough to see the New York production (with his family), the Los Angeles production (with his ex wife) and the San Francisco production (with me).

 

[Cath]

cflutist for those who have not seen the production, do you recommend seeing the production first or is it OK to see the movie first? I ask because I saw Chicago onstage, then the movie. I liked the onstage version better and was glad I saw it first. I have seen Phantom several times, but my husband has not though he has always wanted to. We have not seen the movie yet.

I guess it''s a similar question as to whether to read a book first, or see the movie version...

What do you think?

 

[qtiekiki]

yeah they had been showing the Phantom of the Opera movie for a little while now in the theater by my house. I would love to see it but I haven''t have time.

 

[belle]

lucky you!!! i didn''t realize it opened early, though i should have known. i looovvve phantom, the music is just awesome. i think it is also one of my all time favorites. i was afraid i might be dissapointed by the movie version, but you''ve given me hope! still looking forward to friday

 

[cflutist]

Being a musician, I felt that the quality of the singing was better at the live production. However, I got more of the story line from the movie because I could see what was going on better. Even though I sat in the Grand Tier when I went with my friends from work (had balcony seats when I went with websailor because that was all that was available), the singers still looked like specks to me on stage. I enjoyed them both for different reasons.

 

[ForteKitty]

Okay, I'm slightly embarassed to admit, but I've seen the musical 6 times. ( I've also seen Aida 4 times, Les Mis- 2, Jekyll & Hyde- 1, Ms. Saigon- 2, Beauty & Beast- 4, Sunset Blvd-2, Cats-2, Rent-2, Lion King-1, and a bunch of Operas. I'm an Orchestra & Band geek...

) I always try to get seats within the first 15 rows of the Orchestra, or the first 5 rows of the Mezzanine.

The best Phantom I've seen was Davis Gaines, in Los Angeles. ...*gasp!*... not Michael Crawford? Nope. I found him too smooth. The Phantom is supposed to be slightly rugged, yet refine. Powerful, yet emotionally fragile. A madman, but a genius. Michael Crawford was so slippery he kind of creeped me out.

But anyway, about the movie...

Big gripes about the movie--

1) Christine. She looked like a deer caught in headlights... and she looked like she was barely mouthing thru the movie. No emotions.

2) Phantom. he was a little too manly-raw for me. And he reminded me of Antonio Banderas... but he wasn't bad.


I loved Carlotta, and Raoul was pretty hot.

And I really like they way they developed the storyline.

Overall, I enjoyed the movie much more than I thought I would. Although I'd enjoy it a lot more if someone would shake some personality into Christine.

 

[Kaili]

ForteKitty,
I saw Michael Crawford and Davis Gaines as well and preferred Davis. I''m with you. Not that Michael was bad, by any means, but I really liked Davis.

 

[ForteKitty]

I heard Davis Gains retired from singing to become a carpenter? It''s too bad (for me) because I would love to watch him perform another show. I think I can enjoy it much more now, since I was only 12 when he performed!

 

[Rank Amateur]

Am I the only one who thinks the whole story is rather weak?

The stage production was entertaining, but not because of the story - bleh!

 

[belle]

thanks for the review fortekitty, i''m glad to see that other phantom enthusiasts are at least enjoying the movie.

 

[Hest88]

Oh damn, Davis Gaines. Be still my heart! I''ve seen the production three times in SF, with the first time with Davis Gaines. I also got to see him in a concert production of Sweeney Todd. He''s just marvelous! He hasn''t really retired, has he?!?

I''ve been trying to explain the appeal of Phantom to my DH. Even talking about the oozing sensuality doesn''t work!

 

[mrs jam]

I got to see the movie this weekend and loved it! However, I''ve never seen the live production, so I''ve nothing to compare the movie to. Minnie Driver was hilarious as Carlotta. The Phantom was pretty sexy. If he left his mask and wig on, he''d do just fine for me. Yep. He was a manly-man.

 

[mightyred]

WOW ...I kid you not I thought about posting a thread about movie reviews today and this was going to be the movie I reviewed!

I thought the movie was fabtastic! The scenes were very lush and just oozing detail so it was visually very appealing. I agree the Phantom was manly and I was glad about that because I think part of the point is that she would be attracted to him as well as his music (Michael Crawford would never have done it for me). Raoul was a hottie! I agree Christine was a little stiff but her voice was lovely. Minnie Driver was really funny and the Masquerade scene was just divine.

I have seen the stage show and have always loved it over Miss Saigon, Les Mis, Chicago and the rest. There is almost no dialogue in the movie so if you are like my sister and expected it to be a little more like Chicago then you might be dissappointed (she was but hadn''t seen the stage show). I love musicals and so I really enjoyed it (it''s really hard to stop yourself from singing out loud in a movie theatre!). I''ll always love it on stage though!

*Sigh* I only cried once! It''s a movie I will definately get on dvd and will watch often ......and remember ......keep your hand at the level of your eye!

 

[mrs jam]

"Keep your hand at the level of your eye." I don''t understand why she told Raoul that. Can someone explain?

 

[ForteKitty]

Date: 1/19/2005 10:47

5 PM
Author: mrs jam
''Keep your hand at the level of your eye.'' I don''t understand why she told Raoul that. Can someone explain?

"But why?" "The pujab lasso Monsieur. First Bouquet, now Piangi." ... okay, i couldn''t resist.

The Phantom''s weapon of choice is the lasso... keeping your hands at the level of your eyes prevents you from being strangled to death.

 

[ForteKitty]

Date: 1/19/2005 6:14:57 PM
Author: Hest88
Oh damn, Davis Gaines. Be still my heart! I''ve seen the production three times in SF, with the first time with Davis Gaines. I also got to see him in a concert production of Sweeney Todd. He''s just marvelous! He hasn''t really retired, has he?!?

I''ve been trying to explain the appeal of Phantom to my DH. Even talking about the oozing sensuality doesn''t work!

It''s a girl thing.

There''s just something about Phantom that''s so... sexy. Especially Davis... *drool*

 

[MelissaSue]

hmmm.. I just think the girl who plays christine in that movie is soooooooooo pretty! Whats her name? Saw her at the golden globes and decided i want to look like here.

I haven''t seen it yet!! I''ve heard mixed reviews.. Its been out here since christmas too..its the first movie I think we''ve ever gotten before it opened wide.. probably because buffalo was obsessed with phantom when it was in TO. there was a trip to see it like every other week..

 

[mrs jam]

Thank you for the explanation, fortekitty! I guess I wasn't paying attention!

 

[belle]

yay! it''s finally friday! thank you for the promising early reviews.....

 

[MelissaSue]

we saw phantom tonight. Really liked it!

I still love the girl who plays christine.. Do you guys realize she is only 18!!!!? What an amazing freaking voice.

HATED the phantom actor.. He wasn''t that great of a singer and HE HAS A VERY NOTICEABLE LISP WHEN HE WAS SINGING.. very distracting. I thought Raul was much sexier.

I think they did a really good job with the movie overall.

and the diamond ring... I want it!

 

[websailor]

Does anybody know what e-ring Raoul got for Christine?

 

[belle]

whew, i was so excited about finally seeing the movie that i almost forgot to post a review!!! first of all, i should mention that i *love* the musical more for the music, it is just amazing....an awesome production. the movie was more of a visual symphony. i liked it but was good in a different way. i will definitely be buying the dvd when it comes out, as it is worth watching again and again (and again!)

 

[Rowan]

Well, after waiting a whole month for the movie to open in my little town, IT DIDN''T!!!!!!!

So, I convinced the hubby to take me to see it in Tucson, where it''s been playing since December. No big deal, it''s only an hour and a half away.
I LOVED it!!! I have had the soundtrack with Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman for a long time and I love the music so much. The movie was fantastic! I thought the girl who plays Christine sang really well, but I wasn''t impressed with the Phantom''s singing. He was great, though, very sexy. I didn''t find Rauol very attractive, but thought he did a good job in the role. The visual effects were wonderful, LOVED the prelude scene. Is it just me or do any of you others feel bad for the Phantom? I have always felt sorry for him when Christine leaves, even though he''s a crazy pervert.

 

[Rowan]

Oops, I forgot to mention that I thought Minnie Driver was excellent as Carlotta. I was pleasantly surprised because I just couldn''t envision it.

 

[MelissaSue]

rowan - its funny that you say that.. because... i hadnt seen the musical in about 10 years (since I was 13) and this was also probably the last time i had heard the whole soundtrack.. but the way I remembered the musical from when I was younger was that Raul was the bad guy.. and that christine belonged with phantom.....

I felt much differently seeing it now!! And as a person about to get married.. him dressing her up as a bride REALLY REALLY creeped me out..

 

[strmrdr]

ok all these posts and no mention of awesome diamonds or gemstones staring in it so I guess its not worth seeing.
lol

 

[mightyred]

Ooohhh But there is! Raoul gave Christine a huge rock!!! Looked a hum dinger too!!!!!!!!

 

[belle]

he did! it may have even been an asscher! really strm.....

i''m going to see it again tonight, i''ll try and more accurately guesstimate the specs.

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 1/25/2005 10:49:36 AM
Author: belle
he did! it may have even been an asscher! really strm.....

i''m going to see it again tonight, i''ll try and more accurately guesstimate the specs.

if it is then it might be worth renting the dvd when it comes out.
I don’t do theaters.