 "Best Movie of ALL TIME" | 2008-09-19 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3O0HTD823M2SX |
| Wonderful, there should be so much true love in the world. Enspiring and full of hope that someone is out there for everyone. I think it is the most wonderful movie of all time!!! |
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| "Simply, Superb !" | 2008-09-19 |
| - Reviewed By iqjmjc |
| Simply superbe !! No more to this phantastic classic /full screen/ version of The Phantom of the Opera. Enjoy it one and once again because it is a treasure and a heritage for the humankind. The story, the music and the film are beautiful. |
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| "MESMERIZING!" | 2008-09-13 |
| - Reviewed By User: AIB8E8TM2MVJ7 |
| This is a fantastic movie! For those of us pitiful souls who yearn to see the Broadway stage, movies such as this can still capture our romantic spirits and give us a taste of the greatness of musicals of the stage. While some reviews claim that it is not true to the stage rendition in it's entirety, I still feel that it does a spectacular job in presenting the magic of sound and song! (I listen to the original sound track as I type and reflect the similarities/differences)br /br /I agree with one reviewer who said that the Phantom is a younger, sexier version of the deformed Phantom. It adds to the romantic appeal and desire, and heightens the pity of someone who yearns for what he cannot have. Instead of being repulsed by the external entirely, the focus is on the impurity of the soul as Christine puts it - the developed hatred and anger at the world. The attraction and seduction is also easier to believe for me. The scene in the Phantom's layer - the sexual tension! Captivating.br /br /Overall, I am entirely enthralled with this movie and watching it only makes me long to see it on stage more! In the meantime, I continue to listen to my soundtracks and watch this movie over and over again! |
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| "Buy this DVD and save your theater ticket money!" | 2008-09-07 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2J1DKATQ7SMF7 |
| I have gone to the theater every time this play came to the area I was living in and loved it every time. But, this DVD added so much more to my understanding of the play, and the singing is simply the best! |
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 "Mute button operational?" | 2008-08-19 |
| - Reviewed By pwarner34 |
| Visually beautiful, but exercise your mute button finger in preparation for the Phantom's songs. The choice of Gerard Butler's incredibly grating voice for the title role is perplexing. |
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| "Phantom" | 2008-08-12 |
| - Reviewed By kennedylar@aol.com |
| Low key and with lesser-known performers but pretty true to the stage show -- a good take! |
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| "One of the best musical movies" | 2008-08-10 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1YQVE62RHQZJL |
| If you love music, then you got to get Phantom of the Opera. Phantom of the Opera has some of the best music in the world in the movie. Some music you can compare to others. Like I compare 'Masqurade' to 'Be our Guest'. For all the music lovers out there, I recommend getting Phantom of the Opera. |
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 "Beloved Musical Comes to the Big Screen" | 2008-08-09 |
| - Reviewed By chrisandbarb22 |
I was in highschool when the musical debuted with Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman in 1986. I have been familiar with Weber's music and the voices tied to the characters that became an overnight phenomenon world wide.
However, I did not have an opportunity to see the stage show (until just this year) so was delighted when they had made a movie of it. Thank you, Joel Schumacker! The movie tied the music and the story line together and I have been hooked since. So it was for obvious reasons why I purchased the movie soundtrack as well as the movie DVD.
I am amazed and a little dismayed over the reaction Gerard Butler received as the movie Phantom. I knew nothing of this actor prior to this film. After seeing the movie, I was in love with this man and had to learn who he was and anything else about him. Off to the internet I went in search of this actor who made such an impression on me. I learned that Gerry (as he likes to be called) was not a stage-trained vocalist before he took on this role. Now, some people say that was obvious as they did not like his vocals. Many fans are true to the original London cast. And that's OK. But does that mean you cannot be open minded and realistic enough to know that Michael Crawford is not and will not be the only man to ever portray our beloved Phantom?
It would have been disastrous to have Mr. Crawford portray the Phantom for the movie. It would have been even more disastrous if Sarah Brightman played Christine. The point is these 2 beloved people are past the age where they can realistically play these young roles. It was much more realistic to have younger fresh actors. Christine was only 16 years old in the original novel. The Phantom was in his very early forties. The actors chosen were spot on age wise. Emmy Rossum was 16 when she signed on. She also trained at the Metropolitan Opera at the age of 7. Gerard Butler was 34. A tad younger, but it didn't really matter yet it was more acceptable that a 34 year old recluse would be sexually attracted to a 16 year old budding diva and vice versa.
I am a trained singer. I have sung in the finest concert halls of Europe. I have heard many, many trained vocalists. BUT NONE OF THEM DO TO ME WHAT GERARD BUTLER'S VOICE DOES TO ME. It doesn't bother me at all that he is not a classically trained vocalist. In fact, after finding out that he wasn't trained when he took on this challenge, made me admire him even more. While I was listening to POTO for the first time, you couldn't tell me that he wasn't trained. I knew his vocals were much different than Michael Crawford's, but I felt his voice fit the role for the film. Gerard has a deeper, richer, fuller voice that is sexy as heck and a voice that I now prefer over Mr. Crawford's tinnier, higher tenor.
Gerard's raw passionate performance knocked me off my feet. I fell in love with Gerry after watching Phantom because of the way he moved me so. His voice is so seductive and rich and sexy and captivating. His "Music of the Night" leaves me breathless. His "Point of No Return" seduces the heck out of me (and the entire female population). His sad, pleading "All I Ask of You" before Christine rips his mask off during "Don Juan Triumphant" is heartbreaking. Heartwrenching, growling "Down Once More" has me crying for his pain. He grips me in the core of my womanhood and won't let go. In this way I feel like I am Christine....drawn to the hypnotic power of his voice and the raw sensuality that draws me to him. I can't explain it, I can only FEEL it. And I can't get enough of him.
Emmy Rossum's Christine was a standout, breakout performance. This young lady CAN SING! Her voice is so clear and vibrant and sexy and she possess an incredible range. And she's beautiful to boot. This gal has a future in music and movies. I would keep an eye on this one!
I also feel Patrick Wilson's Raoul was fresh and much more developed than the stage version. He becomes the swashbuckling hero, and lover trying to protect his Christine from a murdering lunatic. Patrick's voice is just angelic and beautiful, but he lacks the passion that Gerard seems to have in spades.
Although Minnie Driver did not sing her own vocals, her performance was without a doubt brilliant as La Carlotta. She sings the ending title song "Learn to Be Lonely". She does a beautiful job.
Miranda Richardson's Madame Giry was classy and elegant, and more developed as a character who knew more than she was telling as opposed to the stick-thumping 'evil step-mother' portrayal on stage.
The orchestrations are slightly different than the musical but all in all, it is the same music we all fell in love with back in 1986. The orchestrations are fuller with 110 piece orchestra, 90 voice choir and an added guitar that gives this familiar music a fresh rock n roll edge, but not enough to take away from the classic orchestrations we all love.
I truly admire and LOVE ALL the performances of the movie. The sets and costumes are lavish and stunning.
Gerard, while not a trained singer, put his entire heart and soul into this role and rose to the challenge and did the best job anybody could have hoped to do. That to me, no matter what the critics say, impresses and amazes me the most and Gerard deserves the credit of a job exceptionally well done.
If you are a fan of Weber's musical - you need to see this movie! |
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 "A meteocre remake" | 2008-08-08 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1T4AHLOF58XU |
| I have to admit, the first time I watched this I thought it was great. But a short while after, I saw the real thing - on stage, and it blew this movie out of the water. It was SO much better: the music, the effects, everything. I then realized how bad this movie was compared to it. Not to mention that Gerald Butler was a little too hot for the role of Erik (with his mask on anyway), and when his mask came off at the end, it wasn't even that bad; it looked like a bad sunburn. |
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| "5 PLUS" | 2008-06-15 |
| - Reviewed By yxo23 |
The Phantom of the Opera, from Andrew Lloyd Webber.
You need to go to Majestic musical theater, see the Broadway show first, and only then watch a DVD. You'll remember my recommendations when you revers the order.
Thank you,
Polegin |
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Expedited Available
