Advantages: Looks stunning
Disadvantages: Emotionally shallow, poor performances from the leads

...Since I first heard that Andrew Lloyd Webber was making a film of his musical, The Phantom of the Opera, I couldn’t wait to see it. Of all his musicals I thought that Phantom would make the smoothest transfer to the big screen the big budget that was given allowed for a level of glamour that the theatrical production couldn’t realistically achieve. The film tells the story of Christine Daae, a young orphan girl in the Opera Populaire in Paris, who has been coached in her singing by a mysterious mentor. This teacher, unbeknown to Christine, is actually the Phantom of the Opera – a masked man who lives in the sewers beneath the opera house and who has developed something of an obsession with Christine and is determined to do whatever it takes to advance her career. Following an accident on stage, the company’s... Read review

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Advantages: Amazing acting, singing and a Perfect performance
Disadvantages: Not everybodys cup of tea

...The Phantom of the Opera is an amazing account of a young girl who lost her father at a young age and joined the opera house ballet school. Her ballet teacher Madame Giry, played by Miranda Richardson, takes her in and treats her as a daughter whilst caring for her own. They both become chorus girls, and ballet dancers who perform to the public. Christine Daee, Emmy Rossum, however has captured the eye of the Phantom who lives in the opera house, ever since Madame Giry as a young girl saved him from the torture and terror he indured every day. The Phantom had a disfigured face and wasnt accepted in the world. So they used him to gain money, however when madame Giry whitnessed him murder his keeper she took him to the opera house, and he lived under it ever since then. The only person who knows where the Phantom came from, and also when... Read review

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Advantages: Wonderful presentation
Disadvantages: Once you have seen the stage version, it is not the same.

.....Inside your mind! Since debuting in the West End in 1986 Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera has wooed audiences of up to 80 Million people on more than 18 countries worldwide. The original story has been around for many years and has been adapted into many movies over the years featuring ghouls and madmen on the theme of a theatre ghost terrorising theatre goers and actors. Lloyd Webber's stage version has been closely followed by his Really Useful Film Company to tranfer the modern day story of the Phantom onto the Big Silver Screen. Set in two time periods, seamlessly moving from early 20th century back to late 19th century and back again throughout the story, the film tells the tale of a young man, disfigured and being shown off as a 'Devil's Child' in Paris as a side show. He is rescued and spends the rest... Read review

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Advantages: Fantastic singing... great directing...
Disadvantages: The Phantoms not very scary.

...I have never seen the stage version, nor watched anything related to The Phantom Of The Opera before watching the 2004 film version. When I first seen the adverts at the cinema, I was desperate to see the movie- it's Moulin Rouge-esque theme instantly had me hooked. I love movies with extravagance, especially musicals, so obviously I made an effort to see one of the first showings of this film. The film begins at an auction at the old Opera House, and the story is basically the memory of the events of years back. I can't compare the film to the stage version as I haven't seen the stage version yet, although I am planning to see it in the future. The Phantom is protrayed with such innocence, when I watched it I just wanted Christine to marry the Phantom and live happily ever after- even though he is a scheming murderer. I think... Read review

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Advantages: EVERYTHING
Disadvantages: NOTHING

...This is the Double CD taken from the recently released film of the same name, it is the SPECIAL EDITION and has a hard backed 14 page booklet with photographs from the film and behind the scenes, it also has additional music. There is a list of the cast, including, GERARD BUTLER as THE PHANTOM, EMMY ROSUM as CHRISTINE, MINNIE DRIVER as CARLOTTA (singing voice of Carlotta by MARGARET PREECE), I believe Minnie Driver hadn't the singing range required to play the part, she does however sing 'Learn To Be Lonely' on the second CD. Tracks include....THINK OF ME, ANGEL OF MUSIC, THE MUSIC OF THE NIGHT, WISHING YOU WERE SOMEHOW HERE AGAIN, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and many more! Music and lyrics by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The musical and subsequent film were based upon the novel 'LeFantome De L'Opera' by GASTON LEROUX. The music... Read review

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