Review of The Phantom of the Opera (1925) by Jacob G — 07 Jun 2007

Though it features Erik, "the gayest supervillain: scented candles, scented candles!" (The Epic Poet Homer Simpson), and though it's a silent film, it's one of the most visually provocative films you'll ever wrap your eyes around. Using both stained frames and a small segment in technicolor, it just jumps off the screen and strangles your eyes into submission. I didn't see Schumacher's reprise, or any of the other remakes, but I;m sure none can compare, visually at least, to this nugget of nacreous bliss.

And, yes, scented candles, for the scented candle fetishists out there. They've even got lobbyists in Washington now, or so I hear.