Review of The Phantom of the Opera (2004) by Sarah E — 15 Nov 2011

Don't listen to the critics, this movie is perfect for some people. It has a certain flavor to it that takes some getting used to. To set the record straight, I had always heard about the Phantom of the Opera, and of course I had heard the main theme song. But just recently I chose to read it for a book report, and the book thoroughly surprised me. I absolutely loved it, it was an amazing book and I recommend it to everybody. Then my friend let me borrow the movie from her, and I watched it with the sterio blasting on my big screen. I can honestly tell you that this movie absolutely BLEW, MY, MIND. I have never; let me repeat that; NEVER liked opera music. NEVER. So I was a little worried about watching it, but the beginning of the movie completely sucked me in. The very beginning is so captivating, and absolutely beautiful. When the first song began, sung by Carlotta, I nearly had to plug my ears. Her singing really made me want to barf, but before I turned it off Christine began to sing. Immediately I froze. The music was so captivating, and I can't believe she was in her late teens. Her voice is simply amazing, and she is gorgeous. The mystery built up, until finally the phantom's voice came booming over the sterio. I will tell you right now that every hair on my body was standing up and I had chills running down my spine. I don't know what all the fuss is about, but I think Gerard Butler did an AMAZING job! It wasn't until the end of the movie that I realized that he had played the role of the phantom, and my jaw dropped. I had no idea he could sing like that! While many people are upset because he isn't the same exact replica of the older versions of the phantom, I think it was awesome. Gerard really brought a freshness to the movie, the fact that half of his face is extremely attractive really added to the sadness of the story because it is only half of his face that caused him to be the recluse that he is. from the first notes of "music of the night" to the last song he sings, his voice ranges from suprano to a deep and sensual verbrato.

The whole movie, you really are trying to decide if you want Christine to end up with the phantom, or Raoul. You are always trying to decide if the phantom is really evil, or if he is actually good. The whole movie is a guessing game, and it really keeps you interested. Sometimes I got tired of hearing the singing, because I am not used to having the actors sing most of their lines. But I actually found myself really enjoying the singing, and many songs like "Masquerade" had beautiful choreography. Every song was different, but they were all beautiful. Not only was the music amazing, but the acting was splendid as well. Emmy and Gerard played their parts very well; Emmy with just enough naivity, and curiosity. Gerard was mysterious, powerful, scary, seductive, everything wrapped into one. He really conveyed the phantom's intensity beautifully, and it's easy to see that he really connected to the phantom and enjoyed playing the role.

Raoul, on the other hand, honestly bugged me. He was the largest stereotype in the movie; rich, long-haired, high-pitched, "handsome" (not really at all, in my opinion) in fact he reminded me of a prince from a disney movie. His love for Christine was more of a childish love, simply because they had been childhood friends. He gave off a sense of weakness in my opinion, and through the whole movie I found myself disliking him more and more. He was the only character that I did not like at all, otherwise I liked them all.

The entire movie was amazing, but it was really the end that got me. The last quarter of the movie is intense and exciting, and then it ends in an awesome sadness. You could have mixed feelings about the ending, you may think it was perfect or you may think that it should have gone differently. For me, at least, the ending leaves you with a feeling of dispair. The ending is totally unfair, and yet its beautiful because it is so touching. Every single time I watch this movie, I always cry at the end. No matter what I do, I always cry. It may not have that effect on everyone, but it had a HUGE effect on me.

After I watched this movie the first time, I absolutely could NOT stop thinking about it. It was all I could think about, and I would find myself sobbing because I thought about it too much. The message this story gives about life, the unfair treatments of people, the effects rejection can have on a person was all that I could think about. I went out and bought this movie because I simply had to watch it again. I bought the soundtrack, I even bought an awesome poster with Christine and the phantom on it that's hanging in my room. I also bought the soundtrack, and I listen to it all the time. The songs never lose their power over me.

This movie got me interested in broadway, plays, opera, and everything inbetween. This movie has really influenced my life, to put it short. Now, I look at life differently. When I see a person with a deformity of some sort, I totally have different feelings about that. I really dug deep into this story and found the true message that is being implied, and it really has changed me.

If you have not seen this movie, I suggest that you do. Even if you don't like opera, or whatever your reasoning might be. have an open mind, watch thrity minutes before deciding to turn it off and not watch it. you may be surprised; I know I was.

Wow, that got way longer than I meant :D well, if you took the time to read this HUGE review, then I hope it helped!! ;) :P.