Random Ramblings on "Phantom of the Opera" - the movie

[switch842]

Sorry, for the spamming. But I have to get this out...

So, I love love love the stage production of Phantom. Fell in love with it when I first saw it back in high school. So, when they made the movie last year I was all over that. But, I felt let down. It just wasn't the same. I just got it from Blockbuster online and I wondered if what I felt may have changed at all. It hasn't....

They changed the most random and silly things -
1) Moving the chandelier crash to the end of Act II, totally undermines the cause and reason behind it.

2) Changing random dialogue to make it "simpler." I think that's the one that gets me the most. The words were written in a certain way for a certain reason. To change them is stupid. It's like the felt they had to dumb it down for the general movie going audience. Grrr.

3) At the masquerade - everyone is in black and white. No. Just no. The masquerade is a big fancy party. EVeryone would be in the most fabulous and colorful costumes they could find. I can imagine the reasoning behind it was to make the Phantom in his Masque of the Red Death stand out more. But it just looks so dull and boring.

I don't get it.

I still totally bawl like a baby at the end after he sends Christine away and the music box starts playing. Guh.

Comments

[jillybiehn.livejournal.com]

I've adored PotO since junior high, but never got to see the stage production, despite being in Manhattan in 1990 (classmates voted to go to Les Mis instead--cheaper tickets, WAY good show :D) so the movie was a great experience for me. I was wary of the cast (still am, to a certain extent, Patrick Wilson (Raoul) was the only *truly* talented performer of the three, being a veteran stage actor) but upon seeing the film, was pleasantly surprised. I've watched the behind-the scenes, and the black, white, silver & gold masquerade was to match the ballroom, but I'll agree with your hypothesis that it *was* to make Christine, Raoul & The Phantom stand out. I didn't notice horribly much dialogue change. And yes, the chandelier crash move was a Hollywood contrivance--we've got to bring the film to a climax at the end, you know. My problem was in that making sure they got the look of Christine right, they cast a rather wooden young actress. I found myself not really caring about her, and wondering *why* Gerry and Patrick would argue over her. :P Minnie Driver stole the show--Prima Donna is my favorite part of the film.
I own PotO, and I've viewed and enjoyed it many times, but I'm always left thinking of how it could have been better. And then I watch Moulin Rouge. :D

[switch842.livejournal.com]

I'm always left thinking of how it could have been better. And then I watch Moulin Rouge. :D

So much word to that. That's totally what Phantom should have been. I guess it's just that since I have seen the stage show twice, that's the version I love. And I have the soundtrack memorized (cos I'm a dork like that) and would be singing along and it would be different! I was like "What?" It was very confusing.

And I do totally agree with you on the actors. Christine has a good voice, but that's about it. I did like Gerard, though. But I do have a bit of a soft spot for the Phantom. As big of an ass as he is, he's just so in love with Christine, it's heartbreaking. *sigh*

[jillybiehn.livejournal.com]

Mmm, I love Gerry, he's *WHY* I own the movie. :D Andrew himself said that barely-controlled almost rock-n-roll voice is what he originally wanted for The Phantom, but he soon realized (after Steve Harley, rock vocalist, didn't work out) that he was going to need a melodic tenor/baritone to pull it off. When he originally showed the show to investors/friends, Colm Wilkinson--the man who made Jean Valjean famous--sang the part. And of course no one will ever measure up to Michael Crawford. *sniffle*
If you still have the DVD, watch the behind-the-scenes and history stuff. It's VERY satifying to us musical geeks. :D

[switch842.livejournal.com]

Is the extra stuff on a 2nd disc? Cos I only got one disc and there's no extra stuff at all. I would love to see all that behind the scene stuff, too. :-(

[jillybiehn.livejournal.com]

Poo. It *is* on the 2nd disc.

[jillybiehn.livejournal.com]

I just tried to see if my DVD could *cough*copy*cough* and it's protected. Sorry! It might be worth the investment of $20, though.

[switch842.livejournal.com]

Goo! Maybe I'll just head out to the Blockbuster store right down the block and see if they have the 2nd disc...

[jillybiehn.livejournal.com]

Ooo, do, and if you get it, lemme know what you think. :D

[switch842.livejournal.com]

OK! It'll prob be the weekend before I can get to it. Well, maybe Thursday cos there's nothing on TV that night. :-)