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Phantom of the Opera    (2004)


Official Site

**** of ****
Rated: PG-13
Length: 143 minutes
Writers: Gaston Leroux & Andrew Lloyd Webber
Director: Joel Schumacher
Cast:
Gerard Butler: Erik The Phantom
Emmy Rossum: Christine
Patrick Wilson: Raoul the Vicomte de Chagny

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Review:
I had the pleasure to have seen this film at the Oriental Theater which is classic movie palace which is also home to the nations largest Kimball theater
organ. Unfortunately, live accompaniment was not practical. The ornate sets were very detailed and added to a realistic sense of place and time. The
music was pretty much predefined, and of course well suited for the work. The narrative of the story was well told although being that it is an opera about
opera, some of the words were unintelligible.  The nature of film also make also make the proper recording of vocals impossible.  The syncing errors were
a slight and only a minor distraction.  The audience was left to presume the intensity of what really lay emotionally between Christine and the Phantom, but
the time limits were already being pushed. Gerard Butler shines best when he is dark and that is probably why he was considered the bankable title
character. The direction could have made him a bit more like a mentor in the beginning, but he was well developed as the embittered anti-hero. Emmy
Rossum is naturally spectacular in her performance in both acting and singing. The subtle changes in her character's tone are made deftly, and her inherit
delightfulness anchors the cast into their world. Patrick Wilson fit well into his role as he embodies impetuous youth and constructive maturity needed for
us to relate better to these people. The audience was well involved with the characters by the end and most people were very happy with the film. Several
mentioned that it was better than the stage show. It is the best 2004 film that I have seen. People who are dark inside often see darkness in others that isn't
even there.