The Phantom of the Opera [DVD] [2004]

Very happy

GREAT FILM ENJOYED

Very good service, formy use

great dvd on the phantom of the opera

This big-screen adaptation of the classic Lloyd Webber stage musical has had a lot of criticism since it's first release in 2004. However if you're a fan of the story/stage play or just musicals in general it's definately worth a watch.It's certainly not a perfect adaptation, or even an outstanding film, however there is something special about the movie and it is a well crafted piece of escapist cinema.The story has been adapted countless times from the novel of the same name, including the fantastic silent movie with Lon Chaney from the 1920s and of course the stage musical from 1986 which this movie is based upon. It tells the story of an orphaned young girl Christine Daae, who lives in the Paris Opera house where she is taught to sing by a mysterious 'angel'. The 'angel' in reality is a deformed musical genius who lives in the catacombs of the theatre but has fallen for Christine as the only one who he thinks will understand him. It follows her overnight rise to success, and the love triangle that ensues between her increasingly antagonising angel of music (the Phantom) and her childhood sweetheart Rauol.First thing to mention is that the musical score here is presented fantastically. The songs, performed here by a 100 piece orchestra, sound better than they ever have, and the actors do a stellar job of performing them. There have been a few critisisms over Gerard Butler's singing voice for the powerful, mysterious Phantom. He isn't a classically trained singer, and is in no vocal league to Michael Crawford or the newer stage phantom Ramin Karimloo. However he more than makes up for it with the emotion he puts into the lyrics, making it a touching performance regardless of his voice/accent.Emmy Rossum is wonderful as Christine. Her voice is not as trained or operatic as the original Christine Sarah Brightman, or Sierra Boggess (the 25th anniversary Christine), but she has a very sweet sounding voice, perfect as the young up and coming star who is still finding her feet as the newest Opera phenomenon. She shines on her solo numbers, Think of Me and Somehow Here Again, and her acting is sincere and naive enough to make her believably drawn to the dangerous Phantom character.The set pieces of the film, such as the title song set in the underground lair or the bombastic 'Masquerede' scene are visually great, with a lot of attention to detail, taking the central ideas from the broadway stage musical and fleshing them out for the screen beautifully.It isn't perfect as I mentioned, there are a few changes made in the film that stand out. For example a sword fight between the Phantom and Rauol in a graveyard is visually nice, but doesn't take the story anywhere other than giving us a chance to see the characters battling out in a flashy way with no real conclusion. Also a couple of the comic-relief scenes with Minnie Driver fall a bit flat, and as much as I admire her, Miranda Richardson as the strict dance tutor Ms Giry is almost a cartoon-like character, with a misjudged French accent which is completely out of place as nobody else in the film attempts one.However these are minor, and once watching the film it's hard not to get swept up in the story and the music.Maybe not quite as good as the 25th Anniversary DVD of the musical, performed live on stage, but the film is still a touching, spectacular looking piece of musical cinema.

Oh what can I say about this movie!? When I first bought it, I of course already knew that Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford were not in it, which was always going to be a heartbreaker, but then when I read the cast, and I did not know any of the three leads, I was getting really worried... This could be a massive missed opportunity for a great movie - or a far distant 'second' to the original show/musical. My heart also sank when I saw the character 'Raoul' appear - he was too weak-looking to be any sort of credible hero, and when he is described by one of the singing girls as 'so handsome', I thought it bordered on the ridiculous, since he has very odd features, and is a too boyish-looking man altogether! However, when it got off the ground, it was a boost to see some familiar faces appear; Simon Callow, Paul Brooke, Miranda Richardson and the wonderfully accomplished Murray Melvin.At the beginning of the film I felt I was going to be dreadfully disappointed - oh, but when the first scenes featuring 'The Phantom' began, I was completely sold; I changed my mind, and the whole thing became a masterpiece for me!Gerard Butler creates a very unique and powerful 'Phantom' - bringing both electricity and masculine prowess to a very difficult role. Some of the most beautiful scenes I have ever seen on film were the ones when he and Emmy Rossum as 'Christine' performed their singing duets; Christine looks to be experiencing absolute bliss during these unique romantic sequences with 'The Phantom', who is gently placing his hands all over her; every time I saw Gerard Butler's creation I was entranced, and as a consequence, there was a distinct loss of awareness of everything else around me...There is a beautifully dramatic climax to this movie, and the singing is also good. OK, so it's not the original voices we all know and love - but the songs are still there and very much alive, and you really do need to keep an open mind with this, and simply forget the original to appreciate it fully - it would not be fair to compare it. Plenty of dramatic scenes, and emotional charge in this. I'm not quite sure what makes this movie work when it could have been such a flop; the LLoyd-Webber music? The story? The lavish Sets? - It could be any of these things, but Gerard Butler certainly has lots to do with it!Go buy this one and enjoy it over and over again! I've only just finished watching it, and I already want to see it again!

I originally decided to watch this because I was in the middle of revising for my finals and I wanted something to watch which I didn't have to pay full attention to - I thought I could just listen to the music and watch the odd scene whilst skimming through my notes. How wrong I was. Watching this film has reminded me how much I love this show. Since my first viewing I have been unable to get this thing out of my head, and have had to go to London to re-visit the stage production (which, by the by, is utterly fantastic!) Admittedly, the voice of Gerard Butler as the Phantom is not so strong as that of Crawford's incarnation of the character, but I defy anyone who watches this not to bleed utterly for him. The performance is powerful, sensual and captivating - I never really have been able to get my head round why Christine ends up with Raoul when everyone else seems to fall in love with the Phantom! Emmy Rossum looks and sings like an Angel, and Minnie Driver's Carlotta is a hoot! Simon Callow and Ciaran Hinds are delightful as Mesrs Andre and Firmin - I particularly love the 'notes' scene. But, most importantly for me, as it was the breathtaking stageing and scenery which really won my total admiration the first time I saw Phantom on the stage, visually the film is stunning. The opening sequence with the chandalier gave me goosebumps. The film has stayed remarkably faithful to the original, straying only a little to include some back story for the Phantom, which serves to make him even more pitiable and captivating than he already was. All in all, my only recommendation can be to watch this, and if you like it, go and see it on stage, it'll take your breath away.

Brillante

La versión de esta película del Fantasma es fantástica. Funciona magistralmente en formato cinematográfico. Hay que destacar las actuación de Cristinne y especial mención al trabajo de Gerard Butler (el Fantasma), un papel tremendamente complejo y difícil. Qué maravilla! Es uno de esos actores que recuerdan a los de Broadway, polifacéticos, grandes artistas, con un trabajo musical y de interpretación brutal detrás de su rol. Se ha convertido en una referencia para mí. Se lo recomiendo a todos los amantes de este musical, porque además la película resuelve dudas que deja el musical sobre partes de la trama. Por supuesto, aunque parezca una obviedad, hay que verlo en v.o. lo siguiente, el libro original.

Zeer tevreden. Goede kwaliteit. Goed ontvangen.

Again an amazing package from the Japanese DVD era. Still got it of course.

What you see is NOT what you get. The cover is completely different. I received a DVD meant for Thailand and the primary language set was in Thai.Nevertheless the language can be changed on the menu.