Phantom of the Opera

[Scorch]

I announced a while ago that I was dying to see the movie.. well, I finally have, and.. it was.. okay.

There were so many changes from the play. Granted, i've never seen the play, but i've listened to it hundreds of times (I'm strangely obsessed with this play. I know the words to almost every song). The scenery was beautiful, but the Phantom (Gerard Butler) can NOT song. Raoul (Patrick Wilson) could sing, and Christine (Emmy Rossum) was amazing, but Gerard dragged the whole performance down.

Those familiar with the play, when Phantom's mask gets pulled off by Christine, and he sings "Damn you, you little prying pandora, is this what you wanted to see?.. curse you.. CURSE YOU!".. in the play, he goes "Curse you.. CURSE YOU!!!!!" real loud-like, but in the movie, he goes "Curse you.. curse you.." all quiet-like and it just totally killed the anger of the moment.

Anyways. The scenery is AMAZING. Especially the Masquerade scene, everything is freakin' trimmed in gold.. if they farted, gold dust would fly out. It's earned $45.6 million, so far, which isn't bad for a limited theatre run (then nationwide). It's still playing at some theatres. It's a great story. I'm not sure why I love this play so much, it's really the only play I like, I normally HATE musicals, but there's just something about this. It's a quasi-love-story with the Phantom butting in, fighting, death.. it's just amazing. If you've seen the movie, post.. if you've seen the play, post.. hell, just post. I wish I could put the fear into some people that the Phantom does. That sounds twisted, but it's so awesome. It's like.. he walks out, at the top of the opera house, and goes, "Did I not instruct you to leave box five empty?".. and everyone gets all paranoid.. and then.. well, don't want to spoil it, but it's awesome.

Man, Emmy Rossum is so beautiful. Something about that "girl next door" look.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/scorch/christine.jpg

:drool:

[Quillion]

What's to spoil about lot 666?

I've not seen the movie, I've seen the play in Toronto (permanent cast) and traveling.

I performed in an orchestra locally putting on a community theatre production of this too... French Horn. I know, ghey. But I am/was very very good at that instrument. Much better than trumpet.

I rather enjoyed it as well.

[mykevermin]

I thought it was an impeccable recreation of the play, in some ways better, in some ways worse.

I hated Butler's singing; at times he sounded like Jack Black, which ruined the moment. On the other hand, Michael Crawford, although he was the classic Phantom, was a wimp. See, I never felt anything but pity for MC's Phantom; but he's a bad guy! You're supposed to hate him for his jealousy and insanity, but have sympathy for his solitude (or something of that nature). I never disliked the Phantom when Crawford did him; I'll give Butler that much.

This, of course, does not change the fact that he can't sing. He's awful, but miraculously does not kill the movie.

Christine is fantastic; because the relationship between her and the Phantom is not so sexual (thouch many mistakenly think it is), she plays that off well (another reason Crawford was not selected; it would freak out those who mistakenly see the sexuality when it occurs between a 17 y/o and a 60 y/o). Minnie Driver was absolutely fantastic as Carlotta, and I can't quite figure out why they cast her, yet she did not sing, and they decided to let Butler sing.

The only other gripe I had was the wanky hesher guitar interlude during the "Music of the Night." Where the fuck did Steve Vai come from? What in the world was that? It's a musical, and while electric guitars are music, some fuckbag slapping a whammy bar will never perform any notes good enough to be laid onto music from this musical. Whomever made that decision should be shot on sight.

Glad someone else liked it though :)

myke.

[Scorch]

Are you kidding me? I hated Carlotta. Minnie almost had a mexican accent, where Carlotta in the play was just British. Another thing that bothered me, Carlotta's line..

CARLOTTA: [indignant] Si, these things do happen! Well, until you stop these things happening [gestures toward her larynx] this thing does not happen! [storms off, with PIANGI close behind, carrying her furs dutifully.]

In the play, she says it like a true British person - appen. "Until you stop these things appening, this thing does not appen!".. but in the movie.. Minnie fully pronounces "happen". That, and the way she sang "goodbye".. I just flat out did not like Carlotta.

The opening theme was great too, and the shots were amazing - the amazing-ness carried on until it showed the stage.. then the bastardization of the main theme began.

I think it's safe to say that, aside from Phantom's singing (his acting was great.. to me, anyways) and Carlotta's singing and accent, it was rather enjoyable.

==spoilers==

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When she pulled off Phantom's mask during "all I ask of you", what followed (the audience freaking out, the cut rope, the chandalier falling, and the music playing in the background) was one of the most badass moments in cinema history that I can recall. I'm not really sure why.. something about the combination of them having a sweet moment, the shock of seeing his face (and the mask pulling away his hair), him jumping down.. it just worked, it worked out great, and that scene just.. rules.

The DVD:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0007TKNL0.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

//Scorch didn't mind when Gerard sang "Anywhere you go, let me go, too".. he actually sang that line decently.

[Scorch]

Oh, and regardless of how the final product came out, the trailer remains as one of the most badass trailers EVER.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/thephantomoftheopera/trailer/

Scorch also wonders if anyone else besides him also noticed the VERY obvious scene flips in the trailer (because in the movie, there were no errors)..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/scorch/left1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/scorch/right1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/scorch/left2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/scorch/right2.jpg

[dedgeu2]

I have seen the show twice and it is really good...not the best but pretty good.

I heard that this movie version would have been better if the male leads would have been changed. Read articles and seen critics's reviews on how Butler can't sing. Too bad since he plays the lead.

They kept mentioning that Butler is up for consideration for the next James Bond role.

Anyway, I like Les Miserables better. It has a bit of everything, love, hate, intrigue, and redemption. Sure it is not dark and magical like the Phantom but it just strikes me like a better show than Phantom.

Phantom is not bad at all though. I just prefer Les Mis.

[Scorch]

Les Mis is awesome. I've never seen the play or movie, but our school did the play, and I enjoyed it so much that I went out and bought the audio to the play version, which cost a bit, but it was worth it.

[dedgeu2]

They have a DVD called the Dreamcast out with the entire original cast of Les Mis. You should rent it or buy if you can. They do not act out the show, although they do show a few scenes like the barricade battles and some others. Here is the link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0767812131/qid=1108766989/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-8083578-4623963?v=glance&s=dvd&n=507846

If you can't see the show live, then you can get pretty close with that DVD. I have the VHS version and I have to upgrade it to the DVD.

Worth every penny. Hope they make a film version of it, although the live version will always be great.

[mykevermin]

Are you kidding me? I hated Carlotta. Minnie almost had a mexican accent, where Carlotta in the play was just British. Another thing that bothered me, Carlotta's line..

CARLOTTA: [indignant] Si, these things do happen! Well, until you stop these things happening [gestures toward her larynx] this thing does not happen! [storms off, with PIANGI close behind, carrying her furs dutifully.]

In the play, she says it like a true British person - appen. "Until you stop these things appening, this thing does not appen!".. but in the movie.. Minnie fully pronounces "happen". That, and the way she sang "goodbye".. I just flat out did not like Carlotta.

The opening theme was great too, and the shots were amazing - the amazing-ness carried on until it showed the stage.. then the bastardization of the main theme began.

I think it's safe to say that, aside from Phantom's singing (his acting was great.. to me, anyways) and Carlotta's singing and accent, it was rather enjoyable.

==spoilers==

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

When she pulled off Phantom's mask during "all I ask of you", what followed (the audience freaking out, the cut rope, the chandalier falling, and the music playing in the background) was one of the most badass moments in cinema history that I can recall. I'm not really sure why.. something about the combination of them having a sweet moment, the shock of seeing his face (and the mask pulling away his hair), him jumping down.. it just worked, it worked out great, and that scene just.. rules.

The DVD:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0007TKNL0.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

//Scorch didn't mind when Gerard sang "Anywhere you go, let me go, too".. he actually sang that line decently.

I'll pick up the DVD on release...

That having been said, I agree that Carlotta is different. Although I've not read the Leroux novel, let me ask you this: How many British people named Carlotta do you know?

It's a Spanish name...and thus, I would argue, her accent (which stood out to me at first also) is entirely appropriate. The original cast Carlotta (dunno her name) was a bit too British; she took on a Cockney accent ('appen, me arse!), which is a distinctly lower-class accent. No underclass person would ever become quite the Primadonna Carlotta was.

myke.
...tho it's all opinion, no?

[The Narrator's Apprentice]

scorch opened the closet door and walked into the light. His secret was 'outed' along with his corporeal presence. "Heigh-Ho, the Gang's All Here," he said to the gaping mouthed CAGs agast at his sudden appearance in the theatre and then he broke into song, "I wanna be a dancin' man.........." were the first words out of his mouth before his feet took him back into the closet and the door slammed behind him.

The gathering croud closed in on the now barricaded archway to hear perfect renditions of "the first man you remember" , "Tell me on a Sunday", and a showstopping encore of "The Impossible Dream". A truly American-Idol-worthy performance, to say the least. Was it good enough to make the cut? We'll find out after these messages...

[mykevermin]

scorch opened the closet door and walked into the light. His secret was 'outed' along with his corporeal presence. "Heigh-Ho, the Gang's All Here," he said to the gaping mouthed CAGs agast at his sudden appearance in the theatre and then he broke into song, "I wanna be a dancin' man.........." were the first words out of his mouth before his feet took him back into the closet and the door slammed behind him.

The gathering croud closed in on the now barricaded archway to hear perfect renditions of "the first man you remember" , "Tell me on a Sunday", and a showstopping encore of "The Impossible Dream". A truly American-Idol-worthy performance, to say the least. Was it good enough to make the cut? We'll find out after these messages...

Man, you're good almost good enough to write Harlequin novels.

myke.
...you fuck.

[dopa345]

My girlfriend who is a big Phantom fan took me to see this and I have to admit was pleasantly surprised. The actress playing Christine was amazing, the rest were okay but passable. The only thing is that the music is so repetative but I guess that's typical of Webber's operas.

[Nirvanaguy777]

I saw the play a few years back, good shit.