Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera | |
Andrew Llyod Webber's Phantom of the Opera
Genre: Musical / Drama / Romance
Directed by: Joel Shumacher
Writing: Gaston Leroux (book), Joel Shumacher / Andrew Lloyd Webber (screenplay)
Cast: Gerald Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrik Wilson, Miranda Richardson, Minnie Driver
Music: Andrew Llyod Webber
Film Editing: Terry Rawlings
Produced by: Really Useful Group
Country: USA / UK
Language: English / French / Italian / Spanish
Runtime: 143 mins.
Review:
The film interpretation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s the Phantom of the Opera was controversial before it was even considered. A majority of the preconceived notions were negative, claiming that it would never be rightly reflected on screen or that the stage version should have never been produced to begin with. Another fear was that if a musical hits the box office then viewers would be less motivated to see the theater representation. Even devoted fans were wary of the many ways this masterpiece could be butchered on film. Now, after 16 years of its pending release, the Phantom of the Opera movie has proven itself to be a great film adaptation of the stage production and a shining example of all musical movies.
The play is based off of the original novel by Gaston Leroux, in which Erik, a man born with a disfigured face, is forced to live in solitude. Seeking refuge in the cellars of the Opera House Populaire, the man becomes talented in the arts, but at the same time a menace to the managers. He is then dubbed the “Phantom” of the opera house by residents and learns to thrive off of their fear of him. His self-pity and remorse attracts him to a woman called Christine, who herself is bent on the passing of her father. He recognizes and relates to her pain, subsequently falling in love with her. Christine never sees him due to his deformity, and because she naïve, believes that the voice she hears to be an angel sent by her father. A love triangle grows when Christine is reunited with an old flame and is torn between the warmth of her old friend and the beauty of the night.
The musical takes this story and gives it more emotion and conflict than ever before perceived, defining the Phantom as more fantasy than man. The plot is deep and mysterious, yet maintains some open ends for viewer interpretation. This is crucial to a development of not only a musical, but a movie as well. If the story goes nowhere, has no resolution because there was no conflict, and then characters are harder to care for. There are musicals with little or no plotline, like Cats (another Andrew Lloyd Webber piece), which are just several numbers involving people personifying cats.
The score of Phantom of the Opera is traditional of genuine musicals, and since there are more and more ‘modern’ musicals released today, people find it hard to even listen to something songs with such a classical basis. The most moving of the pieces in the Overture, which is purely instrumental. If you find you can’t feel or connect with that piece, then it is safe to say that this musical is not for you. Webber himself describes his pieces to be rock disguised as an opera. They mainly have such an allusion to operas because of the original story setting. It takes patience and an open ear to appreciate the music, though.
I’m afraid I might’ve misled you. The Phantom of the Opera is not an opera. It is, by definition, a musical. Since the setting of the play is set in an Opera House, however, you can expect to see clips of the shows they play. They never present any raw opera unless it’s crucial to the plot, though. All songs are in plain English and are even jazzed up with synths or guitars in certain interpretations. It’s true, however, that a mature audience will probably only be able to sit through some of the slower pieces.
The actors in the film portray the characters accurately and well. Many are a little disturbed that the actors from the original London production are not playing their roles, but there’s a bit too old for the parts now. The director was set on having a young cast, and that they all do their own singing. Fortunately, “undiscovered” actors play all major parts so the viewer can connect and judge the raw character, rather than the actor. This is crucial to the viewers’ relationship with the story because an intimate bond is formed that makes the music worth anything.
Final Word:
A must see if you love musicals or romances, or are looking to connect with a deep plot.
Last edited by Orioli : 05-23-05 at 23:32.
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