Review of The Phantom of the Opera (2004) by Tyler V — 14 Jan 2012

As far as music and story goes, Schumacher's adaptation keeps it 100% true to the source material. However, it falls flat on its face by its really bland acting and slow nature. When I saw the play, the acting was great.

I could really see the romance between Christine and Vicomte (I think that's his name; I haven't seen it in a while), as well as the Phantom's desire for the same woman. In this adaptation, Vicomte looks overly prettyboy-ish and showed no sign of affection for Christine whatsoever, so it makes sence that the whole film she seemed to be more into the titular character except Schumacker stays true to the play and (spoiler alert) marries his rival instead.

The comedy relief scenes in the play are treated as serious moments by the underpeforming cast, which is just a bad move. The fantastical scenes like the Phantom's fireballs in the graveyard are completely removed.

Also (spoiler alert), The phantom barely has any disfiguration under his mask in the reveal scene, so it makes no sense that he would be in a freakshow before getting the theatre. At least in the play the makeup made his face's bad half look deformed.

If you want to see a GOOD adaptation of the famed musical, this just isn't for you.