The Phantom of the Opera (Widescreen Edition)
starring: Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson, Minnie Driver
directed by: Joel Schumacher
directed by: Joel Schumacher
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Product Description:
Those who thought that smoke machines and cobwebbed candelabras were the stuff of Halloween parties and dance clubs need to think again. In Joel Schumacher's film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Broadway musical THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, these moody set devices--and countless others--make every scene an atmospheric vision of souped-up 19th-century Gothic bliss. Christine Daee (a luminescent Emmy Rossum) is a tortured young star who is haunted by the voice of the phantom (Gerard Butler--who also played the lead in DRACULA 2000), a musician who hides in the shadows to hide a facial disfigurement, yet sings to her obsessively. Dwelling in the dark, damp chambers beneath the Paris opera house, the phantom lords over the cast and management with artistic autocracy--he writes the shows, casts them, and threatens all who disobey his plans with dramatically violent outbursts. But when his young student Christine falls for the rich and dapper Raoul (Patrick Wilson), the phantom descends into madness. Webber's memorable songs are performed with aplomb by Rossum, whose background includes singing with the Metropolitan Opera, and Wilson and Butler provide ample accompaniment. One of the treats of the proceedings is Minnie Driver's deeply exaggerated portrayal of the jealous diva, giving this PHANTOM a very appropriate dose of comic relief.
Amazon.com:
Although it's not as bold as Oscar darling Chicago, The Phantom of the Opera continues the resuscitation of the movie musical with a faithful adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's blockbuster stage musical. Emmy Rossum glows in a breakout role as opera ingénue Christine Daae, and if phantom Gerard Butler isn't Rossum's match vocally, he does convey menace and sensuality in such numbers as "The Music of the Night." The most experienced musical theater veteran in the cast, romantic lead Patrick Wilson, sings sweetly but seems wooden. The biggest name in the cast, Minnie Driver, hams it up as diva Carlotta, and she's the only principal whose voice was dubbed (though she does sing the closing-credit number, "Learn to Be Lonely," which is also the only new song).
Director Joel Schumacher, no stranger to visual spectacle, seems to have found a good match in Lloyd Webber's larger-than-life vision of Gaston LeRoux's Gothic horror-romance. His weakness is cuing too many audience-reaction shots and showing too much of the lurking Phantom, but when he calms down and lets Rossum sings "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" alone in a silent graveyard, it's exquisite.
Those who consider the stage musical shallow and overblown probably won't have their minds changed by the movie, and devotees will forever rue that the movie took the better part of two decades to develop, which prevented the casting of original principals Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. Still, The Phantom of the Opera is a welcome exception to the long line of ill-conceived Broadway-to-movie travesties.
DVD Features
The special edition of The Phantom of the Opera has two major extras. "Behind the Mask: The Story of The Phantom of the Opera" is an hourlong documentary tracing the genesis of the stage show, with interviews of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, director Harold Prince, producer Cameron Macintosh, lyricists Richard Stilgoe and Charles Hart, choreographer Gillian Lynne, and others. Conspicuously absent are stars Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford. Both do appear in video clips, including Brightman performing with Colm Wilkinson at an early workshop, and Crawford is the subject of a casting segment. Other brief scenes from the show are represented by a 2001 production. The other major feature is the 45-minute making-of focusing on the movie, including casting and the selection of director Joel Schumacher Both are well-done productions by Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group.
The deleted scene is a new song written by Lloyd Webber and Charles Hart, "No One Would Listen," sung by the Phantom toward the end of the movie. It's a beautiful song that, along with Madame Giry's story, makes him a more sympathetic character. But because that bit of backstory already slowed down the ending, it was probably a good move to cut the song. --David Horiuchi
More on The Phantom of the Opera
Those who thought that smoke machines and cobwebbed candelabras were the stuff of Halloween parties and dance clubs need to think again. In Joel Schumacher's film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Broadway musical THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, these moody set devices--and countless others--make every scene an atmospheric vision of souped-up 19th-century Gothic bliss. Christine Daee (a luminescent Emmy Rossum) is a tortured young star who is haunted by the voice of the phantom (Gerard Butler--who also played the lead in DRACULA 2000), a musician who hides in the shadows to hide a facial disfigurement, yet sings to her obsessively. Dwelling in the dark, damp chambers beneath the Paris opera house, the phantom lords over the cast and management with artistic autocracy--he writes the shows, casts them, and threatens all who disobey his plans with dramatically violent outbursts. But when his young student Christine falls for the rich and dapper Raoul (Patrick Wilson), the phantom descends into madness. Webber's memorable songs are performed with aplomb by Rossum, whose background includes singing with the Metropolitan Opera, and Wilson and Butler provide ample accompaniment. One of the treats of the proceedings is Minnie Driver's deeply exaggerated portrayal of the jealous diva, giving this PHANTOM a very appropriate dose of comic relief.
Amazon.com:
Although it's not as bold as Oscar darling Chicago, The Phantom of the Opera continues the resuscitation of the movie musical with a faithful adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's blockbuster stage musical. Emmy Rossum glows in a breakout role as opera ingénue Christine Daae, and if phantom Gerard Butler isn't Rossum's match vocally, he does convey menace and sensuality in such numbers as "The Music of the Night." The most experienced musical theater veteran in the cast, romantic lead Patrick Wilson, sings sweetly but seems wooden. The biggest name in the cast, Minnie Driver, hams it up as diva Carlotta, and she's the only principal whose voice was dubbed (though she does sing the closing-credit number, "Learn to Be Lonely," which is also the only new song).
Director Joel Schumacher, no stranger to visual spectacle, seems to have found a good match in Lloyd Webber's larger-than-life vision of Gaston LeRoux's Gothic horror-romance. His weakness is cuing too many audience-reaction shots and showing too much of the lurking Phantom, but when he calms down and lets Rossum sings "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" alone in a silent graveyard, it's exquisite.
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DVD Features
The special edition of The Phantom of the Opera has two major extras. "Behind the Mask: The Story of The Phantom of the Opera" is an hourlong documentary tracing the genesis of the stage show, with interviews of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, director Harold Prince, producer Cameron Macintosh, lyricists Richard Stilgoe and Charles Hart, choreographer Gillian Lynne, and others. Conspicuously absent are stars Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford. Both do appear in video clips, including Brightman performing with Colm Wilkinson at an early workshop, and Crawford is the subject of a casting segment. Other brief scenes from the show are represented by a 2001 production. The other major feature is the 45-minute making-of focusing on the movie, including casting and the selection of director Joel Schumacher Both are well-done productions by Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group.
The deleted scene is a new song written by Lloyd Webber and Charles Hart, "No One Would Listen," sung by the Phantom toward the end of the movie. It's a beautiful song that, along with Madame Giry's story, makes him a more sympathetic character. But because that bit of backstory already slowed down the ending, it was probably a good move to cut the song. --David Horiuchi
More on The Phantom of the Opera
 The Phantom of the Opera (Special Extended Edition Soundtrack) (CD) |  The Phantom of the Opera (2004 Movie Soundtrack) (CD) |  The Phantom of the Opera (Original 1986 London Cast) (CD) |
 Evita (DVD) |  Andrew Lloyd Weber: The Royal Albert Hall Celebration (DVD) |  More Broadway DVDs |
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- sensual
Sensual is about the only word I can use to describe this movie.The characters, their voices, the music are phenominal. One would like to see the phantom get the woman in this movie.He is extremely handsome, even with his mask off.His voice belts out in such a husky sexy tone, it's difficult to not like him.I would recommend this movie to everyone.Love it, love it, love it.
Rating: 
- Turn up the volume!!
One of the best opening movies scenes of all time.....both video and audio...tune up the volume and enjoy your home theatre!!
Great movie if you just go with it and forget the politics of who did and who didn't get the roles.
Rating: 
- What???
I'm a huge Phan of the show. It's my all time favorite musical because it was the first show I had ever seen on Broadway and also because it was just amazing IMO. When I heard there was a movie coming out based on the play, I was really excited. However, when I was watching it, I thought, "What have they done?!" The first thing to point out is that every one is a terrible singer. Emmy Rossum and Patrick Wilson are too weak and they're the romantic leads. Gerard Butler (he was great in 300 but...) ... Read More
Rating: - Phantom of the opera
Oh, my God, this movie is fantastic! I see the play in Broadway, but the movie bringme to all dark subworld of Phantom. Its Great!!!
Rating: - Worth the Jump to Blu-Ray
As far as movie musicals go, Phantom of the Opera was a welcome addition and certainly deserves to be watched at least once for music and spectacle alone.If you own the DVD and would like to upgrade to Blu-Ray: Go For It.I did, and I am pleased.The Picture Quality received a nice boost.However, much remains the same as the Special Edition DVD.But with such a visual movie like this, Blu-Ray is the way to go.Recommended.
- sensualSensual is about the only word I can use to describe this movie.The characters, their voices, the music are phenominal. One would like to see the phantom get the woman in this movie.He is extremely handsome, even with his mask off.His voice belts out in such a husky sexy tone, it's difficult to not like him.I would recommend this movie to everyone.Love it, love it, love it.
- Turn up the volume!!One of the best opening movies scenes of all time.....both video and audio...tune up the volume and enjoy your home theatre!!
Great movie if you just go with it and forget the politics of who did and who didn't get the roles.
- What???I'm a huge Phan of the show. It's my all time favorite musical because it was the first show I had ever seen on Broadway and also because it was just amazing IMO. When I heard there was a movie coming out based on the play, I was really excited. However, when I was watching it, I thought, "What have they done?!" The first thing to point out is that every one is a terrible singer. Emmy Rossum and Patrick Wilson are too weak and they're the romantic leads. Gerard Butler (he was great in 300 but...) ... Read More
- Phantom of the operaOh, my God, this movie is fantastic! I see the play in Broadway, but the movie bringme to all dark subworld of Phantom. Its Great!!!
- Worth the Jump to Blu-RayAs far as movie musicals go, Phantom of the Opera was a welcome addition and certainly deserves to be watched at least once for music and spectacle alone.If you own the DVD and would like to upgrade to Blu-Ray: Go For It.I did, and I am pleased.The Picture Quality received a nice boost.However, much remains the same as the Special Edition DVD.But with such a visual movie like this, Blu-Ray is the way to go.Recommended.
