The Phantom of the Opera
I saw this after it came out on video, because I didn't think that I would enjoy a movie where the actors sing in conversation. Musicals are OK, but an opera? For a movie? No thanks...
I now wish with all my heart that I had seen this movie on the big screen. It is so beautiful, so intricate...the sets are amazing and the actors captivate you and draw you in to the story.
Christine Daae(Emmy Rossum), a promising ballerina with an incredible voice, lives in the dormitories of the Opera Populaire in Paris...she's lived there since she became an orphan at age seven. In a twist of fate, her 'childhood sweetheart', Raoul (Patrick Wilson) becomes the patron of the opera house and they are reunited when Christine fills in on stage for Carlotta (Minnie Driver), who is supposed to star in the opera 'Hannibal'. Carlotta becomes enraged at the fact that she isn't getting the amount of attention she wants onstage, and she storms from the opera house, screaming that she is indeed leaving and she will never perform on the stage of the Opera Populaire ever again. Of course, Christine performs splendidly well, and when Raoul realizes who she is, he is swept off his feet and is determined to steal the heart of the beautiful, budding opera star.
But, Raoul has competition...the dreaded and horribly disfigured Phantom of the Opera (Gerard Butler) who lives far below the opera house. From a young age, Christine had been taught in secret by the Phantom, who revealed himself as the 'Angel of Music' that her father promised he would send to protect her in the event that he should die. He is desperately in love with Christine and is as determined as Raoul to steal her heart -- even by force. He will kill anyone and everyone who stands in his way, and he will not take 'no' for an answer.
There are several other colorful characters that light up the screen, as well. The opera house managers, Monseiur Andre and Monseiur Firmin, are hilarious in some instances and add greatly to the movie, even as secondary characters. Carlotta and Piangi had wonderful chemistry on screen and the other cast members of the opera house were amazing to watch.
This movie astounded me. The music is so powerful and beautiful, and the characters were developed so well. I loved this movie so much, that when I went out to New York City this summer, I convinced my family to accompany me to see the Phantom of the Opera on the stage of the Majestic Theater. The play and the movie were nearly identical, and I can't imagine the amount of skill involved in singing and acting at the same time onstage. I mean, in the movie, you can go over and edit the voices and make everything sound perfect, but onstage, you only have one chance, and one moment can make or break you. But this is a movie blog, not a theater blog, so moving on...
There were a couple of things that disappointed me as far as editing goes, though. In some instances, the way the actor's lips were moving didn't line up with the voices. I could understand if that happened maybe once, but it happened so often that it got annoying. There were also some shooting errors, like in one shot an actor's pants are wet, and then it is shot from a different angle, and their pants are perfectly dry (this happened in the last scene when Meg -- Christine's best friend -- is in the Phantom's lair. Watch carefully, you'll see it).
But all editing errors aside, this movie is a must-see. It is a romance, a thriller, a musical, and a drama rolled into one, something not easily accomplished. Besides, the phantom is HOT.
Four and a half stars. (Would have been a five if there weren't so many editing mistakes...)
I now wish with all my heart that I had seen this movie on the big screen. It is so beautiful, so intricate...the sets are amazing and the actors captivate you and draw you in to the story.
Christine Daae(Emmy Rossum), a promising ballerina with an incredible voice, lives in the dormitories of the Opera Populaire in Paris...she's lived there since she became an orphan at age seven. In a twist of fate, her 'childhood sweetheart', Raoul (Patrick Wilson) becomes the patron of the opera house and they are reunited when Christine fills in on stage for Carlotta (Minnie Driver), who is supposed to star in the opera 'Hannibal'. Carlotta becomes enraged at the fact that she isn't getting the amount of attention she wants onstage, and she storms from the opera house, screaming that she is indeed leaving and she will never perform on the stage of the Opera Populaire ever again. Of course, Christine performs splendidly well, and when Raoul realizes who she is, he is swept off his feet and is determined to steal the heart of the beautiful, budding opera star.
But, Raoul has competition...the dreaded and horribly disfigured Phantom of the Opera (Gerard Butler) who lives far below the opera house. From a young age, Christine had been taught in secret by the Phantom, who revealed himself as the 'Angel of Music' that her father promised he would send to protect her in the event that he should die. He is desperately in love with Christine and is as determined as Raoul to steal her heart -- even by force. He will kill anyone and everyone who stands in his way, and he will not take 'no' for an answer.
There are several other colorful characters that light up the screen, as well. The opera house managers, Monseiur Andre and Monseiur Firmin, are hilarious in some instances and add greatly to the movie, even as secondary characters. Carlotta and Piangi had wonderful chemistry on screen and the other cast members of the opera house were amazing to watch.
This movie astounded me. The music is so powerful and beautiful, and the characters were developed so well. I loved this movie so much, that when I went out to New York City this summer, I convinced my family to accompany me to see the Phantom of the Opera on the stage of the Majestic Theater. The play and the movie were nearly identical, and I can't imagine the amount of skill involved in singing and acting at the same time onstage. I mean, in the movie, you can go over and edit the voices and make everything sound perfect, but onstage, you only have one chance, and one moment can make or break you. But this is a movie blog, not a theater blog, so moving on...
There were a couple of things that disappointed me as far as editing goes, though. In some instances, the way the actor's lips were moving didn't line up with the voices. I could understand if that happened maybe once, but it happened so often that it got annoying. There were also some shooting errors, like in one shot an actor's pants are wet, and then it is shot from a different angle, and their pants are perfectly dry (this happened in the last scene when Meg -- Christine's best friend -- is in the Phantom's lair. Watch carefully, you'll see it).
But all editing errors aside, this movie is a must-see. It is a romance, a thriller, a musical, and a drama rolled into one, something not easily accomplished. Besides, the phantom is HOT.
Four and a half stars. (Would have been a five if there weren't so many editing mistakes...)
posted by JGreenEyes at 12:10 PM
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