Director Joel Schumacher adds his own visual motifs to the story. The creator, Andrew Lloyd Weber, expertly weaves together his dialogue and beautiful musical motifs from beginning to end. In fact, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA contains much depth in its dramatic, musical presentation. Melodrama, however, is a valid genre of theater and film that can be just as artistic and profound as the most realistic drama. You may think that the movie is too melodramatic. If you are not a fan of Broadway shows, however, you may be stupefied and wonder what the fuss is all about. The spectacle is as grand as the Broadway show, and the music is as beautiful and inspirational as ever. All of the famous elements from the play are present. Fans will most likely be pleased by this adaptation (though some may think the cast is too young and inexperienced).
Whether or not you like this movie might depend to a large degree on whether you already like the source material, or enjoy musical theater. It also extends the prologue and adds a provocative epilogue. This movie version adds some background to the story. Although the lead performers may not be as good as the original English cast on Broadway, they all do an excellent job, especially Emmy Rossum as the heroine, Christine. Set in the late nineteenth century, the movie benefits from spectacular sets and costumes.
It retains much of the bravado, spectacle, depth, and gorgeous, haunting melodies of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s popular Broadway show. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is the most sumptuous, most beautiful movie of the year. Christine must figure out whom she can trust, but it might not matter if the Phantom succeeds in seducing her to join him. Their budding relationship pains the Phantom, who himself is in love with Christine.Īs Christine and Raoul grow closer, the Phantom becomes increasingly bold in his strikes against the opera house. The Phantom gets his way, but the acclaim that Christine receives from her singing brings the attention of the opera’s new patron, Raoul, a rich, desirable young nobleman. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is the story of a disfigured, angry man who lives beneath a Paris opera house and terrorizes its cast and crew so that his student, a young woman named Christine, can have a chance to sing the lead part. All of the dramatic, visual and musical motifs come beautifully together in the inspirational ending. That said, the movie retains the redemptive, Christian allegory of the original, and even adds to it. Whether or not you like the movie may depend to a large degree on whether you already like the source material or enjoy musical theater. The acting and singing are excellent, though perhaps not quite as good as that of the original cast. Their budding relationship pains the Phantom, who himself is in love with Christine. The Phantom gets his way, but the acclaim that Christine receives from her singing brings the attention of Raoul, a rich young nobleman. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is the musical story of a disfigured, angry man who lives beneath a Paris opera house and terrorizes its cast and crew so that his student, a young woman named Christine, can have a chance to sing the lead part.