World Famous Comics: The Phantom of the Opera (Two-Disc Special Edition)
The Phantom of the Opera (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson, Minnie Driver Directed By: Joel Schumacher Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Binding: DVD Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen, Collector's Edition, NTSC Label: Warner Home Video Number of Items: 2 Region Code: 1 Release Date: May 03, 2005 Running Time: 141 minutes Theatrical Release Date: January 21, 2005
Description: Musical Drama based on Andrew Lloyd Webber's celebrated musical phenomenon. The Phantom of the Opera tells the story of a disfigured musical genius (Gerard Butler) who haunts the catacombs beneath the Paris Opera, waging a reign of terror over its occupants. When he falls fatally in love with the lovely Christine (Emmy Rossum), the Phantom devotes himself to creating a new star for the Opera, exerting a strange sense of control over the young soprano as he nurtures her extraordinary talents.
DVD Features: Additional Scenes:"No-one Would Listen" Approx. 4 Mins. DVD ROM Features Documentary:Behind the Mask - The Story of the Phantom of the Opera Easter Eggs Featurette:The Making of The Phantom of the Opera in 3 Spellbinding Acts: Preproduction, The Director, Production
Amazon.com: 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.
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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)
Phantom of the Opera - Gerard Butler I could not wait to get this DVD and when I finally did get it, I was really amazed that Jerry could sing so well. Some may think he didn't do such a good job but I am a fan of everything he does. It was a great love story with so much hurt and loneliness. I felt such pain for the Phantom. Jerry did such a wonderful job behind the mask he had to wear because his part required his character to show emotion thru his eyes and his voice thru his songs . It was wonderful. I suggest this DVD to all and especially to those hard-core Jerry Butler fans. They have probably already seen it since we keep close vision to all his work.
amazing detail We already owned the CD and DVD, but wondered whether we were missing out on some detail. We're glad we went ahead and ordered the HD DVD version. It has amazing detail! Little buttons on costumes and intricate carvings on the opera house set come to life! In addition, shipping was faster than we expected. We are delighted with this purchase.
Phantom of the Opera 2004 This POTO is amazing, underrated by those who wanted to see simply the stage version memorialized. Don't be deterred by those who wanted Michael Crawford to reprise his stage role -- bye the bye, he was in his mid-sixties by the time the film was made. I saw this POTO more than once with people who had seen the stage version and were as impressed as I was with the cast and production. Do watch the widescreen edition if possible as you then will see the lavish sets and superb camera work in all their glory. Please note, this version is a dark, turbulent, sad, romantic rock opera, not a horror film; as such, it is perfectly cast and presented.
Best Movie of ALL TIME Wonderful, there should be so much true love in the world. Enspiring and full of hope that someone is out there for everyone. I think it is the most wonderful movie of all time!!!
Simply, Superb ! Simply superbe !! No more to this phantastic classic /full screen/ version of The Phantom of the Opera. Enjoy it one and once again because it is a treasure and a heritage for the humankind. The story, the music and the film are beautiful.
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