Phantom Of The Opera

Phantom of the Opera

By: Nicolette Karter

Please note this is the 2004 version

        I love musicals, & this is a favorite of many people, for good reason. It was originally a book, by Gaston Leroux, and Andrew Lloyd Webber read it, thought “What if they sang everything?” & composed the music for it, adding some artistic differences in the plot along the way.

        As a lot of people know, this is not only a movie, but also a play, & on Broadway! It was a play before it was a movie, & is the longest running musical on Broadway. This version is a remake of the 1989 movie, which featured Sarah Brightman as Christine (who was married to Webber at the time). This time around, she is played by Emmy Rossum, who was 16 at the time this was filmed. She, like the rest of the cast, did her own singing in the movie, and I am really jealous of her pipes. I’m surprised humans can hear some of the notes she can sing, let alone someone being able to sing them.

        In the movie, she is a talented chorus girl with the opera house who gets her time to shine when the new owners of the esteemed theater (along with pranks from the Phantom) make the resident soprano leave, which is not altogether bad seeing as she’s a pretentious bitch. Christine is offered by her mother figure (Madame Giry, the ballet teacher) as a wonderful singer, & the show went on with her in the lead. This pleased the Phantom (who’s been training her in singing secretly since she was a girl) so much he decides she should be the lead in all the plays they put on. But, the bitch-whose name is Carlotta played by Minnie Driver-won’t hear of it (but more on that fiasco later).

        After her breakout performance, Christine is enchanted to follow the Phantom (who finally makes himself known to her, or anyone, come to think of it) to his not so humble abode under the theater. Side note, his place should seriously be on cribs: movie edition. I don’t know about the original movie, but his place in this one is awesome; I’m insanely jealous & you should look up this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77umP7IRxD4&feature=related because it shows off Gerard Butler (the Phantom) singing while showing his place to Christine; which brings me out of my side note. So, the Phantom & Christine get acquainted, but then she finds out he’s weirdly obsessed with her, & faints from both exhaustion & shock.

        When she comes to the next day, she finds that 1.) The Phantom does NOT like his mask to be taken off (what mask wearer does, really?) 2.) Carlotta wants her lead soprano role back, & will be a huge, stubborn diva about it 3.) Her childhood sweetheart/the theater’s pocketbook loves her 4.) The Phantom was busy making threatening plans for her to be in the limelight constantly while making everyone else mad. After going against the Phantom’s wishes, the new owners (& everyone but Christine & Madame Giry) learn not to do that again. One vocal paralysis & murder later, Christine & Raoul (the childhood sweetheart I mentioned played by Patrick Wilson) got engaged & the Phantom made ominous & vengeful plans involving song & dance.

        This is about the time the chandelier crashes, more people die, the opera house goes down (reputation-wise & literally flame-wise), & other dramatic events occur. The best part is the fact that they happen in choreographed song! Anatole read the book & said that it sucks & gave the Phantom no redeemable qualities & Christine was “just blah”. These are the nice critiques, so it’s a safe bet you’d enjoy the movie better than the “just…just terrible” book.

        What did you think of this movie? Have you read the book, seen a different version of this film, or even the play? Tell me what you think of this. (This is a Halloween review, for the raffle)