The Phantom of the Opera
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Movie Reviews of The Phantom of the Opera
Movie Review: "Phantom" a great horror film!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm really psyched that this movie is finally being released on DVD. I first saw it when I was 13 and visiting my sister in San Francisco. She had rented it because she was planning to take me to see it later that week.
This movie starts out in modern (1989) New York. Theater student Christine Day (Jill Schoelen) meets her friend Meg (Molly Shannon) at the library because she's found a 'new' music piece that is sure to win Christine the lead in a musical she's auditioning for. As Christine reads the music, it starts to bleed, an omen of what's to happen. At the audition the next day, just as she finishes the piece, a sand bag falls, nearly hitting her, and crashing into a mirror behind her. Suddenly, she is transported back into 19th century England, where she is an understudy to the London Opera's star Diva, Carlotta, who is jealous of Christine's talent. She also doesn't remember being from the future. Christine remains unphased by Carlotta and the fallen sand bag (which also happened in this time period). She is anxious to meet her music coach, the mysterious "Angel of Music" (Robert Englund) that she believes was sent by her father. The "Angel" is really Erik Dessler, a disfigured playwrite who sold his soul to the devil, Faust style. He has fallen in love with her, and is very protective of her. He begins to kill anyone who is in the way of Christine's career. First, he kills Joseph, a stage hand who dropped the sand bag that nearly killed Christine. Then there is the opera critic who gives her a bad review because the owner of the Opera has bribed him. His next victim is Carlotta, during the masquerade ball. Finally, Christine and her fiance Raoul get wise to the fact that her "Angel" is really a psycho, and take the police to the catacombs under the opera house to search for and arrest The Phantom. This culminates in a scene in which Christine "kills" the phantom by trying to destroy his music, and then "disappears" herself, only to find herself back in the present, thinkintg the whole thing a nightmare induced by the fallen sand bag. She is given the lead roll by the producer himself, who invites her out to dinner. When they stop at his apartment, the producer goes to "change", leaving Christine alone. The producer realizes that his face is falling apart and he needs a new one. Christine sees his studio and goes to see what he is working on. The music that comes from the computer turns out to be a completed version of The Phantom's opera, Don Juan Triumphant! When her reappears, all pretenses are dropped. Erik had returned for Christine, as she had promissed (in her past life) to be his bride. In horror, she rips his face off, and takes all his music. On the street, she rips is all up and throws it into the gutter, where she can hear The Phantom screaming in agony, and we think that he is finally dead.
The most haunting image in this film is probably the final scene, just after Christine has destroyed The Phantom's music. As she's walking down an alley past a violinist, he starts to play "Don Juan Triumphant", and we're left to wonder if the Phantom is really dead, and if Christine is to be haunted for all time by him.
This is a fantastic movie. It's one of the few horror films, made after the black-and-white days, that has ever succeeded in actually scaring me. It's a definate must-see for any "Phantom" fans. It's also probably the only film to portray The Phantom exclusively as a villan. Robert Englund is amazing as the Phantom, both as a cowering musician and then as a menacing murderer.
I give this movie 5 stars.
Movie Review: Tones of fun in a Robert Englund sort of way
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a big Phantom fan; I've read the book several times (my favorite work of fiction), seen the performances, and viewed at least 5 or 6 different versions, including Dario Argentos (who's version is, by far, the worst ever). This one is one of my favorites in part because it features Mr. Englund, who is an excellent actor and make-up artists.
WARNING: Potential spoiler!!
This version is a bit twisted; without giving too much away, the Phantom has sold his soul to the devil, and is now seeking out Christine to make his music immortal, falling in love with her. He is deformed, and uses the skin of his victims to cover his deformities (poorly, of coarse). As usual in Phantom versions, he commits several murders to avenge her or aid her mission, but this is particularly fun in that there are some supernatural powers the phantom has and incorporates in his "seduction" and the murders.
Of coarse, the best parts of the movie are when you get to see Mr. Englund remove the skin and show his true deformities.
OK, the potential spoilers have passed:
The Woman who plays Christine is an actual singer and sings all of the parts, and while her acting isn't always the most interesting, she's true to the character. And her voice is excellent! She plays the delicate protagonist well, and seems to move from the stereotypical damsel in distress to a slightly stronger person through the movie.
Mr. Englund's performance throughout is excellent; facial expressions, make-up, deliverly of the lines, even the way he holds himself is very good; you can go from one moment hating the man, to pitying him the next. Not all phantoms can deliver that sort of reaction.
The only negative criticism is that some of the British accents really do suck (MEG!) and some of the acting is over-the-top cheesy or bad ("Who is this man? I must know!" is jst so poorly delivered.)
I can't imagine a Phantom fan's or Robert Englund Fan's collection being complete without this version. Buy it now!
Movie Review: Hell is getting what you desire.
Summary: 5 Stars
I am so delighted that this is finally being released on DVD.
Of all the phantom films I have seen in my eleven years of being a Phantom phan (not counting the yet to be released 2004 Phantom movie based on the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical) this is my favorite movie version of all Phantom movies.
Some may balk at the changes to the story from the original novel, and others may be shocked at the gore and violence; and while this movie does reek of many cliches that many 80's horror films tend to (time travel, the occasional bad costume, and emotionless acting by some characters) there are still enough qualities to make this movie worth seeing.
Englund positively shines in his performance. I have heard many people simply pass this off as another "Freddy-esque" movie because of the makeup, but the similarities between Englund's most notorious screen character and the Phantom stops there. Englund's Phantom is enigmatic and horrifying, delightfully sarcastic and brooding, sweet at one moment and the murderously violent the next - in this he captures the heart of the original Phantom from Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel, despite what others might say. It is also the only film to date (at the time of this review) with the ever famous graveyard scene.
Englund's makeup also deserves props - this is the only version so far that has given any attempt to make the Phantom noseless as he was intended to be in the novel.
Misha Segal's score lends a haunting tone that weaves throughout the film, and mixed with the dramatic settings - the elaborate stage, the Phantom's lair strewn thick with candles - makes this film a definite must-see for anyone who loves Phantom or appreciates dark eye candy.
While some of the film is laughable and unbelievable, the viewer must admit that even the terrifyingly unrealistic parts are, at the very least, creative. Turkish bathhouses and white towels will never look quite the same after seeing this movie.
Movie Review: Classic Horror; Great in All Respects
Summary: 5 Stars
Robert Englund really shows his skill in this piece. I thoroughly enjoyed the original VHS release of this film, and now the DVD, which I got from WAL-MART for less than half the AMAZON price.
How on earth someone can review this film without seeing it is beyond me; another reviewer making comments about how gross it is, and STILL even without seeing it, just hearing second hand. Anyway, Amazon has a multitude of reviews that are done by people who have never seen ANY version of the film, and want to pan the film for some reason or another.
Anyway, this film is pristine in digital format. I was and still am amazed at the great widescreen view. I Loved the original VHS version with Robert's great performance, and this DVD version has not only great visuals, but great 5.1 audio.
The graphic scenes are well done, and the scenes where Robert Englund removes the outer skin ( which has him looking something like Jack Palance) is incredibly detailed. Chuck Yagher's[ sp?] work is masterful in the makeup, and reminds me of some of the ground breaking work Rob Bottin, and others have done in pre-digital era FX work. A good story, a Great set of actors, and some truly chilling FX still have the power to thrill.
Also, this is NOT the book ... just get over that, and enjoy a superb performance by a Horror film Master actor.
Movie Review: Are You Kidding? This is the BEST, message-wise
Summary: 5 Stars
This version, in addition to my subject header, says it all. It's basicly a tale within a tale - the original being Faust. What did the 'Devil' give Faust for fame and fortune? A ring, among other things, which plays in symbolism in the movie. How else do you destroy Faust? By destroying his works. Mirrored in the movie, a movie within a 'play' (nice flashbacks not only to this, but throughout,) only, unfortunately, most people miss it. That's why I think it's been under-rated.
As for Christine rejecting the 'Phantom'? In this version, I think it's just to add to the effect. But it all goes back to that saying that ultimately you WILL give the devil his due. Basis of a lot of saying, such as, "If you want to dance, you'll have to pay the piper." ...And so much more....
Just watch it, and see the Phantom's own regret (terrifically played,) that he sold his soul to the devil for eternal existence of his music - at this price of love... Yes, he is eternal and alive - to regret it, having fallen in love with Christine.
For those Vampire lovers? Just watch the way the 'Phantom' moves and makes his decisions on tho live, and who dies, and when... There's just a bare touch of that in there too...