Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Warner Brothers
EAN: 9780790795409
Format: AC-3
ISBN: 079079540X
Item Dimensions: Array
Label: Warner Home Video
Languages: Array
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
MPN: WARD38952D
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Warner Home Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2005-05-03
Running Time: 143
Studio: Warner Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: 2005-01-21

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.
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)	More Broadway DVDs

Customer Rating:
Summary: Love it! Can't wait to get it
Comment: I borrow this movie all the time from my best friend, so when I caught it on sale I deceided to order it for myself, the only problem is I still have not received it! I'm begining to think the Super Saver Shipping is not so great, especially since it was shipped 12 days ago and still has not arrived!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: As good as the play!
Comment: First of all, the production of the film is as good as the play itself! Now, having the chance to see it in Blu-ray gives you the opportunity to enjoy this wonderful experience almost in a live-like stage.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: If youve ever seen the Broadway performance...
Comment: then you will have to be disappointed by this film. Or if you are cynical, somewhat of a purist when it comes to movie adaptations, you will have great cause to laugh and poke fun. The movie is visually decedent in many aspects, but the singing? First of all, the phantom's modern rock star voice doesnt help the fact that he cant carry notes worth a damn. And emily whats her name who plays Christine cannot hit high soprano without wavering and pinching her voice in a cringe-worthy performance. But yes, her skimpy nightgown and sexual suggestiveness when the phantom takes her down to his lair is hilariously ridiculous. Plus the eyelid fluttering during "point of no return"- subtlety is not an issue here. The first star was for some of the costumes and visual effects: the second? Because this film is more fun to make fun of than any of the films ever featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Great
Comment: This film is great. I love the music from Phantom and this movie is a fun version of the play. Even with it's weaknesses (sound editing is pretty bad and the Phantom's voice isn't perfect) it is a good rendition of the classic musical.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: the phatom of the opera
Comment: the dvd was amazing and the time they shipped it to me was great it was delivered very fast

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