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List Price: $15.93 | | Label: Sony
Salesrank: 1455
Released: November 23, 2004 |
| Our Price: $14.38 |
| Used Price: $8.98 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Editorial Review:
The Phantom of the Opera (The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 2 CD Deluxe Collector's Edition, contains all of the music from the single disc plus other original score material featured in the film.
Description of The Phantom of the Opera (The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack):
For better or worse, Andrew Lloyd Webber's adaptation of Gaston Leroux's gothic horror/romance novel has done for stage musicals what Spielberg's Jaws did for fish stories, with worldwide sales of its original cast album approaching 25 million. While director Joel Schumacher's film turns on his typically ambitious visual verve, its new film soundtrack recording has been paradoxically focused in scope, yet beefed up dynamically via the brawny presence of a hundred piece orchestra and the London Boys Choir. This deluxe, double-disc version showcases all of Phantom's key songs, with Gerard Butler imparting a welcome, youthful sensuality to his Phantom, making a fine foil for Emmy Rossum's ever-conflicted Christine. Original show orchestrator David Cullen has fashioned compelling new contemporary arrangements to frame Webber's songs--which now conclude with the lilting, upbeat new ballad he wrote for the film, "Learn to Be Lonely," sung by Minnie Driver. --Jerry McCulley
The Phantom of the Opera (The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Reviews:
Awesome soundtrack 
2009-10-17 - A wonderful soundtrack indeed (: I bought this soundtrack with doubt at first, seeing the one star reviews-comparing Emmy Rossum's voice with Sarah Brightman and Gerard Butler's with Michael Crawford. But I think they each have their own wondeful voice in singing the Phantom songs. As a musician myself, I think that the background music sounds wonderful.
I'm in no position to criticise or compare their voices as I'm not a singer and I hope my following perspective wouldn't offend anyone... But I think that Emmy Rossum's voice has a clear, "ringing", youthful voice that somewhat lacks in Sarah Brightman's (maybe it's because of her young age) and that's also why she fits perfectly in the character of the young and innocent Christine Daae.
As for Gerard Butler, I think for a man with no formal musical training for singing, he sings beautifully. Others might think that Michael Crawford's voice is way better but I think that Gerard Butler's voice has what it takes to be the Phantom- strong, emotional, yet dangerous. In my own perspective, I think that his baritone voice suits the Phantom more than Crawford's voice (:
Overall, other than the singing, the songs has dialouges as well. Sometimes you might get irritated by it if you "purely" wanted to enjoy the beautiful songs but when you close your eyes and listen to it, you can just "see" the movie playing in your mind as the songs together with the dialouges play. (: Brava, brava, bravissima~!! :D
Still a Phantom Phan 
2009-05-15 - I couldn't resist writing a review for this after watching it. I enjoyed it very much, and was surprised to see the negative responses. No, it's not 'the original,' but it's not bad, either.
I prefer Emmy Rossum as Christine over Sarah Brightman. Yes, Sarah has a great voice, but Emmy's fits the role much better. Christine is supposed to be a young chorus girl; Sarah sounds too professional and strong for the description. Emmy's voice was what I thought Christine's would sound like in "Think of Me." It was sweet and not powerful, but not weak either. Emmy's look also fits Christine better. Sarah seems to me like she's a bit too old to play Christine, but tries to look younger to make up for it. Emmy plays it naturally - she doesn't have to look sweet and innocent on purpose, she just is Christine.
As for Gerard Butler and Michael Crawford, it's harder to say. As much as I like Gerry, Michael just is the Phantom and his voice is perfect. Gerry's voice is a little off. But I will say that Gerry's acting is a lot better. Right after Christine and Raoul finish singing, "All I Ask of You," when the Phantom comes out from behind the statue, you can hear the emotion in his voice and see the expression on his face slowly change from heartbroken to furious. Also, at the end, when he sings "Masquerade," I love how he can barely choke out the words. Crawford sings it a bit too enthusiastically for someone who is heartbroken.
Patrick Wilson was also definitely a great Raoul. He fit the part well. His long hair bothered me for a little bit, but now I think it helps him play the role. Steve Barton also looked a little old for Raoul.
I only gave it 4 stars, though, because there are two things I don't really like about the movie. One thing that I don't like as much in this version, though, is how they seemed to go out of their way to make the Phantom seem like a regular person. There was no element of magic - the Phantom doesn't disappear, he goes through trapdoors and secret passageways; he doesn't have a magic lasso, he just strangles people normally; he doesn't throw fireballs, he engages in a swordfight with Raoul. I think it was better for him to have been a bit magical. It makes it more mysterious, leaving unanswered questions. The movie explained it too well, which ruined the magic a bit for me. The other is that the Phantom's face wasn't very scary. After Christine's description of how ghastly his face was, I was expecting it to be a lot worse. But he really just looked like a normal guy with a burn on the side of his face - not exactly hideous.
All in all, though, I liked it very much. Emmy, Patrick, and Gerard played their parts well (although I was sort of hoping Antonio Banderas would've been cast for the role) and it was a great movie.
Great video
2008-12-28 - As a 'phantom' fan, I've been to San Francisco to see the stage show. I hopped this video would at least be 'as good' as the stage show. I thought it was better, having told a more thorough story. The actors kept the music as good as the original stage show, but filled in all the blanks in the story. I would go so far as to say this video is better than the stage show.
masterpiece!!!!
2008-12-03 - The Phantom of the Opera music is masterfully written and full of all the drama and emotions that are placed within the music that tells a story of love, obsession, and revenge. Andrew Lloyd Weber's music is timeless!!!
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA SOUNDTRACK
2008-11-25 -
THE MUSIC IS BREATHTAKING. I LOOKED EVERYWHERE FOR THE CD WITH NO LUCK. THEN I CHECK AMAZON.COM. THANKS AMAZON FOR MAKING MY DAY.
LCB
