Phantom of the Opera the movie

[strandinthewind]

I saw it today. If you like Webber, which I know not all do - you will LOVE the movie. Here is the website http://phantomthemovie.warnerbros.com/

I LOVE this soundtrack. I know it is melodramatic. But, I still love it.

Emmy Rossum, who plays Christine Daae - has a STUNNING voice and is just BEAUTIFUL to behold.

Patrick Wilson, who plays Viscount Raoul de Chagny (the love interest of Christine) does not have a per se bad voice - in fact, he does well with what he has. But, like Rossum, he is qually as beautiful to behold - AND the two of them together is eye candy and IMO great.

Sadly, Gerard Butler, who plays the Phantom, though nice looking, cannot sing IMO. Maybe others will like his voice though - the only good thing is he has power in it.

BUT - the scene stealer is Minne Driver as "Carlotta: the overwrought, overdone, tempestous, and transparent DIVA is without exception.

All in all a B to B+ in my book.

So, a must see for Phantom fans

[GypsySorcerer]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I saw it today. If you like Webber, which I know not all do - you will LOVE the movie. Here is the website http://phantomthemovie.warnerbros.com/

I LOVE this soundtrack. I know it is melodramatic. But, I still love it.

Emmy Rossum, who plays Christine Daae - has a STUNNING voice and is just BEAUTIFUL to behold.

Patrick Wilson, who plays Viscount Raoul de Chagny (the love interest of Christine) does not have a per se bad voice - in fact, he does well with what he has. But, like Rossum, he is qually as beautiful to behold - AND the two of them together is eye candy and IMO great.

Sadly, Gerard Butler, who plays the Phantom, though nice looking, cannot sing IMO. Maybe others will like his voice though - the only good thing is he has power in it.

BUT - the scene stealer is Minne Driver as "Carlotta: the overwrought, overdone, tempestous, and transparent DIVA is without exception.

All in all a B to B+ in my book.

So, a must see for Phantom fans

I will probably see it. I think the Phantom is just a tad overrated, but I love the music.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by GypsySorcerer

I will probably see it. I think the Phantom is just a tad overrated, but I love the music.

I do as well, at least the libretto is. BUT - that music gets to me everytime I had a snobby little friend lecture me on how Webber is for the masses, blah blah blah - well, he may be, but I think his music is BEAUTIFUL

[Johnny Stew]

Haven't seen the film yet, of course, but I have the soundtrack and I love it.

I've known every note of the original London cast recording for about 15-16 years now, so I was a little wary during my first listen of the film soundtrack. It's REALLY hard to not want to compare Rossum/Butler/Wilson to Brightman/Crawford/Burton, but it's an unfair comparison nonetheless.

All in involved... and I do believe they succeeded... wanted to retain the melodrama and grandeur of the broadway version, while making the vocal performances more nuanced and intimate for film.

In my opinion, Gerard Butler's singing has been unfairly criticized, considering that Webber and Schumacher purposely wanted someone with a raw, "rock & roll" kind of edge to their voice.
They wanted the animalistic passion and obsession of the Phantom to contrast with the sophistication self-possession of Raoul, in an even more acute way than came across in the stage productions.

So while his voice doesn't match the technical level of Rossum and Wilson's, it wasn't meant to. They wanted it to have "grit" and imperfections.

Carlotta is a great, over-the-top character... I bet every lady who's had the opportunity to portray her, has had a blast doing so.

I can't wait to see the film!!!

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I do as well, at least the libretto is. BUT - that music gets to me everytime I had a snobby little friend lecture me on how Webber is for the masses, blah blah blah - well, he may be, but I think his music is BEAUTIFUL

His music can be enjoyed by the masses... that's certainly evident. Though I've never understood why that's considered a bad thing.
Pandering is never good, of course, but I don't feel his compositions are mere toss-offs.

Plus, he usually works with brilliant lyricists... most notably, for me, Tim Rice and Jim Steinman... and, being that I'm a lyrics-man, I'm always satisfied.

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

In my opinion, Gerard Butler's singing has been unfairly criticized, considering that Webber and Schumacher purposely wanted someone with a raw, "rock & roll" kind of edge to their voice.
They wanted the animalistic passion and obsession of the Phantom to contrast with the sophistication self-possession of Raoul, in an even more acute way than came across in the stage productions.

I can see where they were coming from with that, but I suppose I'm such a traditionalist that I want someone who's more like Michael Crawford. (I haven't seen it yet; I'm just assuming that the guy doesn't sound like Michael Crawford). It's not that I'm a huge Michael Crawford fan--I just really love the way he did those songs.

I'm a huge fan of this musical, but I am much more of a Sondheim fan than a Webber fan. Sondheim's lyrics are far more clever and unique, IMO.

[dissention]

I was reading an article in Variety the other day that talked about how this movie will go down as one of the biggest flops. Webber put a lot of his own money into it and he'll never see any of it back unless it does phenomenal overseas, which I doubt will happen.

And I? Love Emmy Rossum. She's a star.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

I can see where they were coming from with that, but I suppose I'm such a traditionalist that I want someone who's more like Michael Crawford. (I haven't seen it yet; I'm just assuming that the guy doesn't sound like Michael Crawford). It's not that I'm a huge Michael Crawford fan--I just really love the way he did those songs.

I'm a huge fan of this musical, but I am much more of a Sondheim fan than a Webber fan. Sondheim's lyrics are far more clever and unique, IMO.

Make me choose, and I'd pick Sondheim... but ALW writes beautiful melodies, and surrounds himself with great lyricists too... so I'm quite fond of him as well.

You know, I'm not a Michael Crawford fan, per se, but I've enjoyed a lot of his work. At other times I've thought someone else could have sung the song or played the part better.

Interestingly enough, many of the subsequent stage Phantoms were closer to Butler in their vocals, but Crawford's the one everyone remembers of course.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by dissention

I was reading an article in Variety the other day that talked about how this movie will go down as one of the biggest flops. Webber put a lot of his own money into it and he'll never see any of it back unless it does phenomenal overseas, which I doubt will happen.

It's only been showing in 622 theatres since Christmas weekend, and it's already grossed over 16 million. It doesn't open nationwide until January 21st.
I think it's doing respectably for limited showings... but it was an extremely expensive movie to make (I heard around 80-90 million dollars), so I imagine it will take YEARS before it shows a profit.
Most likely through DVD and overseas sales.

Also, I believe 'Moulin Rouge,' 'Chicago' and 'Evita' all made under 30 million during their theatrical runs, so it seems 'PotO' is doing decent numbers, all things considered.

The stage show has grossed 3.2 BILLION dollars though, so I don't think ALW will be hurting much either way!

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

It's only been showing in 622 theatres since Christmas weekend, and it's already grossed over 16 million. It doesn't open nationwide until January 21st.
I think it's doing respectably for limited showings... but it was an extremely expensive movie to make (I heard around 80-90 million dollars), so I imagine it will take YEARS before it shows a profit.
Most likely through DVD and overseas sales.

Also, I believe 'Moulin Rouge,' 'Chicago' and 'Evita' all made under 30 million during their theatrical runs, so it seems 'PotO' is doing decent numbers, all things considered.

The stage show has grossed 3.2 BILLION dollars though, so I don't think ALW will be hurting much either way!

YEs - poor Andrew Patti "Coulda, Should, Woulda" ( ) gotten more!!!!!!!!

ALSO - the staging and the cinematography are Academy Award worthy - think Moulin Rouge only perhaps more a little less fantasy - though that elemant certainly if there. They were VERY true to the stage production in this regard.

I just loved it.

Also, yes, Gerard Butler's singing was not that great. It reminded me os Sebastian Bach as Christ in Jesus Christ Superstar (the touring one a few years ago) - only not NEARLY as bad as that.

But, he sufficed I guess - and he positively GLOWED sex in the Don Juan scene - my friend was fanning herself

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

It reminded me os Sebastian Bach as Christ in Jesus Christ Superstar (the touring one a few years ago) - only not NEARLY as bad as that.

Eek! I never heard Sebastian in 'JCS'... scary thought.

They should have just had him play Judas though... they never seem to find a Judas whose voice appeals to me. The lines are supposed to be sung in a highly-charged and anguished way, but the various Judases usually just end up sounding like someone ripped off their testicles (sorry diss and Ryan!!!) and pushed them out on stage.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

Eek! I never heard Sebastian in 'JCS'... scary thought.

They should have just had him play Judas though... they never seem to find a Judas whose voice appeals to me. The lines are supposed to be sung in a highly-charged and anguished way, but the various Judases usually just end up sounding like someone ripped off their testicles (sorry diss and Ryan!!!) and pushed them out on stage.

he hauled out essentially in a diaper for the crucifixtion scene as well

JUST NOT PRETTY IN THE SLIGHTEST AND IN ALL WAYS

[dissention]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

It's only been showing in 622 theatres since Christmas weekend, and it's already grossed over 16 million. It doesn't open nationwide until January 21st.

I think it's doing respectably for limited showings... but it was an extremely expensive movie to make (I heard around 80-90 million dollars), so I imagine it will take YEARS before it shows a profit.
Most likely through DVD and overseas sales.

Surely you won't argue with Variety, Le Stew.

Making less than $5 million last weekend in almost 650 theaters is horrid, especially for such a highly promoted film that's only been in release for a couple of weeks. As a general rule, films that are in limited release do remarkably well, usually when it comes to per-theater tallies. So, high per-screen/theater tallies mean zip. And the audience just isn't there for it to do well overseas, they aren't even really putting any money into promoting it around the world. I'm sure DVD sales will be fine, though.

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

Also, I believe 'Moulin Rouge,' 'Chicago' and 'Evita' all made under 30 million during their theatrical runs, so it seems 'PotO' is doing decent numbers, all things considered.

Moulin Rouge made $60 in the US and was a bigger hit abroad, grossing almost $150 million.
Chicago made almost $200 million in the US, but they had a phenomenal promotion campaign.
Evita made around $50 million in the US and, like Mel Gibson's Ransom, Disney claims not to have made a profit off of it.

I know, I'm anal.

[DeadliestPoison]

Ugh. My sister went and saw this a bit after Christmas? Yeah, she's obsessed with it now. She went out and bought the soundtrack, she plays it in her car, it's all she talked about for a good 3 days.

She's always all, "Omigod it was sooo good I wanna see it again do you wanna go with me?!?!?!?1!?!/1?!" And I'm just like "-_-. Go away, Sara."

My sister annoys me. The end.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by DeadliestPoison

Ugh. My sister went and saw this a bit after Christmas? Yeah, she's obsessed with it now. She went out and bought the soundtrack, she plays it in her car, it's all she talked about for a good 3 days.

well, have a sing a long