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List Price: $12.98 | | Label: Warner Home Video
Salesrank: 1154
Released: May 3, 2005 |
| Our Price: $5.63 |
| Used Price: $3.95 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
A mad and disfigured musician hides out in the dungeons under the Paris Opera where he falls in love with a young singer and lures her to his hiding place.
Genre: Musicals
Rating: PG13
Release Date: 6-SEP-2005
Media Type: DVD
Description of The Phantom of the Opera (Widescreen Edition):
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
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 |
The Phantom of the Opera (Widescreen Edition) Reviews:
Excellent!!!! 
2008-07-22 - Thank you! This movie is fantastic. I love Gerrard Butler in this film. I've already seen it 20 times as I keep hoping the ending will change and the Phanton will "get the girl."
Phantom of the Opera DVD
2008-07-20 - Excellent product and service. My order arrived in good condition and in a timely manner.
PHANTOM
2008-07-18 - I thank you very much for my product. Completely satisfied. I tried as soon as I received it to get online to give a Great Review, which was very prompt but could not get online. thank you for your patience and for your good sale! I highly recommend any others looking your way for a purchase.
hot and silly
2008-07-08 - ah, a hot phantom, a most lovely girl and a prince charming adds up to a beautifully cinamated story. I wish I could have helped with the editing though, snip-snip no Minnie Driver. Likewise that business of "hands to the level of your eyes" -what was that about?
But I love it and if you don't you're just not a fan of fantasy and music intertwined. Or maybe you like your fantasy and music done in animation ala Sleeping Beauty.
We've memorized every line!
2008-07-08 - This is a well written, well performed musical that has brought us many hours of viewing pleasure. Andrew Lloyd Webber's score is incredible and the 100-piece orchestra lends it such grandeur. This is the type of "opera" anyone will enjoy. Also a lot of fun for amateur psychiatrists to analyze the characters. We have literally watched it so many times that we have the whole dialogue (including song lyrics) memorized!
