The Phantom of the Opera

I loved this movie when I was still a child! So many years later I finally got to see the stage production live. It was an amazing experience that made me appreciate this movie even more!
Emmy Rossum is incredible and Gerard Butler will always be my favourite Phantom!!!!

I'm not 'musical' movie person, but this is superb... I've seen the stage play 3 times, but the movie is better in so many ways.

10/10

A fairly straightforward and faithful adaptation of the stage production, Schumacher does a commendable job of bringing the musical to film. Perhaps it says a lot about how atmospheric the stage version is already, with the only real advantage here being in the ability to expand locations beyond the stage. Schumacher does add to the backstory a little and the opening scene from the stage is expanded upon to form a framing device that cleverly breaks up the different acts of the film. The biggest failing is it rarely overcomes the theatrical feel and Schumacher's choice of shots and composition are a little flat and stale for a genre that really needs a sweeping cinematic visual style. Ultimately however, the film stands or falls on the music and much of your enjoyment will depend on both the songs themselves and the performances of the central trio of characters. It may be well over 25 years old, but the historical setting of the film means the music has aged well ( perhaps with the exception of the title song, but this still fits the Gothic darkness of the particular scene ). This is certainly one of Lloyd Webber's best covering sweeping romantic songs to comic interplay between the cast. The film production gets so much right, from fantastic costume and set design, beautiful lighting and cinematography. Both Gerard Butler and Patrick Wilson are surprisingly good as the male leads vying for the affections of a young opera singer thrust into the limelight, though Butler's voice does occasionally lack the presence such a role requires. And there is some great support work from Minnie Driver and Miranda Richardson. But it is in Emmy Rossum that the filmmakers have struck gold - the central role of Christine is one that makes or breaks the stage production and Rossum absolutely nails the part - her rendition of Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again is stunning and her performance itself makes this worth seeking out as an alternative to the stage version.

Beautiful music, great female vocals (Rossum and characteristic Driver).

I should probably rewatch this movie but when I first saw it I was really disappointed. I've always been a huge fan of the original musical version of the Phantom and this movie just did not reach anywhere near to how amazing the musical is.

good music, but the story is very bad, so many holes, very annoying. stop filming through vaseline..

But the jokes wearing thin, let the audience OUT! Let YOUR opera END.

One of the best transitions in time from black and white to color imo. The rest was kinda meh

The music was enthralling. The acting was mesmerizing. And the stiry line was interesting and thought provoking. I loved it!!!