The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera

If you have ever seen the stage production, you know what you’re getting yourself into.  This really doesn’t stray far from the look of the stage production.  Joel Schumacher worked with Andrew Lloyd Webber for the big screen adaptation of Webber’s smash hit musical and it shows.

Now, this is probably because I’ve seen the play too many times (I went for a period while I was in school in which my family went to see it, then my high school took me to see it in San Francisco.  My school also did it.), but I did not particularly enjoy the story.  You have to admit, though, the Phantom’s a pretty cool guy, even if he’s pretty good and disfigured.

Technically, Schumacher did a fabulous job.  The sets, the costumes, the details.  He nailed them all.  The actors were superb.  The man who played the Phantom (according to my girlfriend’s mom, who brought the movie over and made us watch it) was haaawte!  She now regrets telling me that, but I think it’s very cute that she blushes each time I say it in front of her.  I have to admit that he did a very good job.  The actress who played Christine had one of those sweet angelic voices that you just listen to.  Whoever cast Minnie Driver as Carlotta kicks sooo much ass.  She was like listening to a rowling cat at times, as she was supposed to be.  She played such a good diva.  You just wanted to claw her eyes out… or drop a big chandelier on her head.

The music is famous.  Everybody knows the Phantom theme, whether you do or you don’t.  The pipe organ when it’s playing the Phantom’s music gives you goose bumps.  It’s just too bad that they ruin it with electronic drums later on in the movie.  Something loud like that needs somebody drumming like Lars Ulrich from Metallica.  Huge, heavy and pounding drums to match the powerful tones of the organ are what is needed.  

Most of the people who sing are obviously classically trained, while the Phantom comes from more of a rock background.  It makes him much more accessible and interesting to listen to.  And all that much more of a badass.  ;-)

On the old corn cob scale, where 1 cob, being bad… look at getting more corn into your diet and 5 cobs, being good … think about cutting back on the corn in your diet because … well, nevermind…  Phantom is a strong 3.  I want to say 4, but frankly, I’m annoyed that the story doesn’t follow the stage play perfectly.

El Presidente