For those of you who have yet to catch Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'The Phantom of the Opera' in all of its theatrical glory, (or for those of you who could sing me the first three acts by heart), your patience has finally paid off.
Forget what the critics have been telling you...
Forget that Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman are not serenading you this time around...
Forget that Joel Schumaker directed this (and that he subsequently gave birth to 'Batman and Robin'...) THIS is 'The Phantom of the Opera', and it was well worth the wait.
The movie sets the story in a rich tapestry of sets and scenery that could never be duplicated on stage. The look is brilliant, and songs such as 'Prima Donna' and 'Masquerade' have to be seen to be believed. It not only invites you into the realm of Webber's decedent imagination, it allows you to experience the music up close and personal.
Emmy Rossum captures the true essence of Christine, giving her a youth and beauty that is fully distinguishable in her looks and in her voice. She radiates innocence, yet is supremely capable of emoting the passion and intensity that pours out of Webber's music. As was stated by many, she was simply born to play Christine.
And though Gerard Butler has garnered enough hate and criticism to rival that of his leading character, I found his performance neither terrible or distracting. What he lacks in vocal vibrato, he makes up for in his smoldering screen presence. He doesn't just capture your attention, he downright DEMANDS it! The chemistry between Emmy and him is overwhelming.
The supporting cast does an excellent job (with a large nod to Patrick Wilson for giving Raoul some much needed masculinity) and the music remains as powerful as it has been over the past thirty years. If it doesn't capture your heart, it will most definitely entertain! Get's the clowns_n_cookies 10 out of 10.
(And an extra 10 just for the heck of it...)
Forget what the critics have been telling you...
Forget that Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman are not serenading you this time around...
Forget that Joel Schumaker directed this (and that he subsequently gave birth to 'Batman and Robin'...) THIS is 'The Phantom of the Opera', and it was well worth the wait.
The movie sets the story in a rich tapestry of sets and scenery that could never be duplicated on stage. The look is brilliant, and songs such as 'Prima Donna' and 'Masquerade' have to be seen to be believed. It not only invites you into the realm of Webber's decedent imagination, it allows you to experience the music up close and personal.
Emmy Rossum captures the true essence of Christine, giving her a youth and beauty that is fully distinguishable in her looks and in her voice. She radiates innocence, yet is supremely capable of emoting the passion and intensity that pours out of Webber's music. As was stated by many, she was simply born to play Christine.
And though Gerard Butler has garnered enough hate and criticism to rival that of his leading character, I found his performance neither terrible or distracting. What he lacks in vocal vibrato, he makes up for in his smoldering screen presence. He doesn't just capture your attention, he downright DEMANDS it! The chemistry between Emmy and him is overwhelming.
The supporting cast does an excellent job (with a large nod to Patrick Wilson for giving Raoul some much needed masculinity) and the music remains as powerful as it has been over the past thirty years. If it doesn't capture your heart, it will most definitely entertain! Get's the clowns_n_cookies 10 out of 10.
(And an extra 10 just for the heck of it...)
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