Phantom of the Opera DVD Review:

Paris 1870, when the resident diva Carlotta (Driver) refuses to perform for the new patron of the Opera Populaire, Christine (Rossum) is promoted from the chorus line into the leading role. She instantly becomes the darling of the audience and she equates her performance to her unknown teacher, a voice she hears coming from the catacombs of the theatre. As interest in her talents increases and she rekindles her relationship with childhood sweetheart Raoul (Wilson), the voice makes his presence known, commanding to be recognised as the true owner of the theatre, for he is the fabled Phantom of the Opera (Butler).

After years of development and numerous actors, actresses and directors been attached to the project, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera finally makes it onto the big screen but can it follow the other hits in the genre like Moulin Rouge and Chicago?

As a visual spectacle, the film succeeds extremely well. Joel Schumacher and his creative team have created a visually stunning movie that captures the sumptuous look that you would want for a film like this. The film is also been cast very well. While some may argue that the lack of big star names in the leading roles will be detrimental to the film’s success, Schumacher has stuck to his own devices and cast up and coming actor and actresses who are right for the part and can actually sing. These are difficult songs to perform and unless the principle performers are trained to cope with the rigors of these passionate and demanding tunes, the film would have been as disfigured as the Phantom’s face. Trained opera singer and up and coming starlet Emmy Rossum takes the lead female role of Christine. She has just the right look of innocence and beauty to make the character as alluring as she should be. You have to believe that someone could become obsessed with her and Rossum succeeds in creating this character. Her vocal performance is also first rate. She has a fabulous voice and really comes into her own during the songs. Patrick Wilson is another new talent that is about to be noticed. As Christine’s love interest Raoul, he is the hero of the piece. The part itself isn’t the best, as the character comes across as a little wet, but Wilson does his best with it. Gerard Butler is a star in the making and as The Phantom he gets the chance to show that he has what it takes to be a leading man. As well as having an exceptional voice, he also has the screen presence for the role. This is a character that has to be seductive and have presence that Christine is drawn to and Butler succeeds in creating this. This could be a breakout role for the Scottish actor, as he has what it takes to be a leading man.

The support for the three leads is also good. Miranda Richardson is as good as ever as Madame Giry. Simon Callow and Ciarán Hinds have fun as the new owners of the Opera Populaire. British soap starlet Jennifer Ellison makes the transition to the big screen with ease and she also has a very good singing voice.

Even though the film has many positives it does have quite a few failings and this is mainly to do with some of the choices Joel Schumacher and his team decided to make. Schumacher has always been a flamboyant director but the line between musical theatre and musical cinema seems to have been lost to him. Instead of concentrating on the songs and dance routine, the filmmakers have gone all out on the look of the film, which leaves most of the songs feeling quite empty. In parts, it is also blatantly obvious that the characters have recorded their vocal performances in a studio, as they don’t seem to be singing with as much gusto as they should be doing and sometimes it looks like they are not singing at all. He also fleets between the characters speaking and singing their dialogue, which is fine in the theatre but on the big screen it just doesn’t seem to work and in fact it is quite embarrassing at times.

The Phantom of the Opera is here but he might not have the power to get inside your mind. The performances from the cast are very good but you cannot help but thinking that the movie is a bit too pretentious to take too serious. Fans of the musical will enjoy it however but they might even think the film could have been better than it is. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famous musical makes a good transition to cinema but it isn’t as good as it could have been.

Star Rating = * * *

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Widescreen 2.35:1 Anamorphic with choice of dts and Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtracks, the transfer is extremely good.

BONUS FEATURES

Disc 2

The Movie

The Making of Phantom of the Opera (45.52 mins)

Director Joel Schumacher, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, director of photography John Matheson, production designer Tony Pratt, costume designer Alexandra Byrnes, producer Austin Shaw and stars Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson, Minnie Driver, Jennifer Ellison, Simon Callow and Ciarán Hinds take you behind the scenes of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’. From the early stages of pre-production to the glittering London premiere, this documentary covers the journey from play to film quite comprehensively. The director and composer talk about their working relationship and the changes and additions made to the movie that differs from the original play. We see the screen tests for Emmy Rossum and Gerard Butler and discover the amount of work and detail that went into producing the most expensive independent film ever made. This is a very good documentary about the film that reveals most aspects of the film’s production and highlights the differences between theatre and film.

Production Features (1.08.28 mins)

Split into six sections entitled ‘Music and Recording’, ‘Swarovski’, ‘Special effects’, ‘Visual effects’, ‘Costumes and Makeup’ and ‘Editing’, these featurettes look at the technical side of bringing Phantom to the silver screen. Director Joel Schumacher, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, production designer Tony Pratt, costume designer Alexandra Byrnes, producer Austin Shaw, special effects supervisor Peter Hutchinson, visual effects supervisors Nathan Guinness and Claas Henke and editor Terry Rawlings talk about the score, the songs, the chandelier, the extensive sets, the costumes, the Phantom’s makeup and the visual effects employed to take you back to 19th century France in the movie. This is a fascinating insight into the technical aspects of the film’s production.

Alex Bailey’s Production Stills

View a montage of pictures from behind the scenes, on set and of the costumes from ‘The Phantom of the Opera’.

Hidden Extras

Find hidden featurettes featuring Emmy Rossum’s screen test, an unheard song and the cast and crew singing.

The Show

Behind the Mask: The Story of Phantom of the Opera (1.07.22 mins)

Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, producer Cameron Mackintosh, lyricist Richard Stilgoe and Charles Hart, choreographer Gillian Lynne, director Hal Price and magic consultant Paul Daniels talk about the evolution of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ from book to film to musical. The group talk about the development of the project from its origins in 1984, when Webber first read the novel through to its successful opening in London in 1986. Lloyd Webber talks extensively about the development of the project, from the songs to writing the project for his then fiancée Sarah Brightman. The group also talk about casting, the play’s first performance at the Symonton Festival in 1986 through to its opening night at ‘Her Majesty’s Theatre’, where the play is still running today. For fans this is a fascinating insight into the evolution of a hit play.

The History

A text history of the evolution of the project from the construction of the Paris Opera House to the new screen adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber play

The Music

The Music of Phantom of the Opera (17.42 mins)

Musicologist John Snelson takes you through the history of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals. He then takes you on a journey through the music and songs of the play, charting their development and their contribution to the structure of the film.

Music Videos

Watch the music videos for ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ – Steve Harley & Sarah Brightman, ‘The Music of the Night’ – Michael Crawford & Sarah Brightman, ‘All I ask of you’ – Cliff Richard & Sarah Brightman and ‘Wishing your were somehow here again’ – Sarah Brightman.

OVERALL

Phantom fans should rejoice at this DVD release, as the bonus features are superb. The documentaries and featurettes cover ever aspect of the film’s production, the history of the story and the play and the music for ‘The Phantom of the Opera’. The only thing missing is a commentary track which would have made this the perfect DVD package for fans of the musical.



Jamie Kelwick