bocc4tric

...and I wasn't disappointed. Being a long-time POTO fan (not a 'phan,' mind you), I came into it with certain expectations. I was a little let down in some respects, but still ... WOW. Just to get it out of the way, I'd read all the pre-movie Gerard Butler-bashing and the negative media surrounding him, so I really wasn't sure what to expect. I think Gerry did an awesome job as The Phantom, and I'm speaking as a Michael Crawford Phantom fan. Yes, they both have very different singing styles and offer very different interpretations of the role, but what you've got to remember -- Gerry was never aiming to imitate Michael, and thankfully he didn't have to. While Michael has this brilliantly clear, soaring tenor, Gerry has the more commanding voice (I never imagined The Phantom as a baritone, but it works), and is the better actor by far. Ok, so dude missed a few notes here and there, but he captured the spirit of the character, the sadness, loneliness and passion of The Phantom -- a BIG part what's helped make the musical so popular. His renditions of "Phantom of the Opera" and "Music of the Night" left something to be desired (not totally his fault), but when he sings in "Little Lottie/The Mirror," "All I Ask Of You (reprise)," "Wandering Child," and "Point of No Return" -- dude rocks. In the "AIAOY-repise," I actually cried a little. It's always been one of my favorite moments in the musical and it was captured beautifully on film.It was more Gerry's performance as an actor than a singer that cinched it for me, and I think that's what really counts. I don't give a shit that instead of being middle-aged and hideous, the Phantom was tall, dark and Scottish -- I can totally overlook that *grin* My only real gripe is that he didn't hold that last note in "Down Once More" long enough; maybe if he had, it would have been just that *little bit* more moving. As a singer, Gerry isn't half bad. As an actor, he absolutely nailed the role. I wasn't happy with Emmy Rossum as Christine, just as I don't especially care for Sarah Brightman's performance in the OST. While Emmy definitely looks the part of a young ingenue and is quite lovely throughout the film, I found her singing far too weak (plus in general, she annoys). She sounded like she was singing in a highschool production a lot of the time. Her voice in "Think of Me," "Phantom of the Opera," "All I Ask Of You" and "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" made me wince -- a pretty voice, but no power behind it whatsoever, and very little emotion. The same, unfortunately, goes for her overall performance. She's very wooden and for the bulk of the film, with her big brown eyes and half-parted mouth, she looked like Bambi trapped in the headlights of an oncoming bus. I also found it annoying that while her speaking voice sounded American, her singing wavered heavily and unevenly between American and British. At least she got through the vocalizing at the end of "Phantom of the Opera" without the ear-splitting vibretto Sarah offers *crosses eyes* Patrick Wilson -- ok actor, awesome singer. He sounded like a scared little boy reciting his spoken lines, but he did wonderfully with the songs. I didn't see much chemistry between him and Emmy until the final lair scene, which was disappointing, but all things considered he did very well. And I found it kind of refreshing that he didn't bother with a British accent -- I think at some point he just went "Oh, fuck it." Hee. I like Raoul. La Bella Diva -- heh. Minnie Driver rocks my world. I've never exactly been what you'd call a fan, but she totally channeled Carlotta, and for the life of me I couldn't wipe the smile off my face whenever she showed up onscreen. Pompous, arrogant, and utterly fabulous in her own mind, she stole every scene she was in. Party on, Minnie. The other performers -- Miranda Richardson did a great job as the cryptic Madame Giry. Jennifer Ellison was fey-like and charming as Meg, and Ciarn Hinds and Simon Callow made me giggle as the Opera House owners. The actor who played Piangi -- he made me think of Pavarotti after one too many vodka tonics, which isn't a bad thing at all. And on to what I enjoyed most in the film:(MORE SPOILERS)1) The Opera House restoration sequence ("Overture"). I love how the film goes from grainy black & white to vibrant color as the scene makes the transition from present to past, and I especially loved the expressions on old Raoul and old Madame Giry's faces as they watched the chandelier ascend. It was spectacular, and really helped set the atmosphere for the rest of the film. Beautifully done. 2) The scene where Buquet mocks the Opera Ghost and scares the chorus girls before Madame Giry repremands him for it ("Keep your hand at the level of your eyes!"). I loved this scene -- it was sort of ironic and playful and more than a touch menacing. And I love how Miranda said that line ... she made it sound like the warning it's supposed to be ("Don't say such things when you don't know who might be listening.").3) Miranda Richardson as Madame Giry. I think she did a terrific job (even though technically she was the only French character with an actual accent) and while it was a smallish role, she maintained a wonderful presence throughout the film. 4) Minnie Driver as Carlotta."If my diva commands...?" "Yes, I do!"Enough said.5) "Little Lottie/The Mirror." I loved listening to The Phantom's disembodied voice beckon Christine as Raoul called to her from outside her dressing room, and I liked the segue into "Phantom of the Opera." 6) "All I Ask Of You (reprise)." I actually got teary during this, especially when The Phantom breaks off and weeps quietly before exploding with barely contained rage. Powerful scene. 7) "Wandering Child." This, in my mind, is the Phantom at his most cunning and cruel. Bewitching Christine at the site of her father's grave, letting her sink back into the ruse that he's still her angel and then attempting to kill Raoul ... *sigh* 8) "The Point of No Return." This has always been one of my favorite songs from the musical, and I think Gerard Butler did some of his best work on this song, both singing and acting throughout. What a lot of people don't seem to know unless they've actually seen the show (surprisingly) is that "PoNR" is about sex -- Don Juan trying to bed this one woman. I was surprised at how sexualized the performance really was on screen, and it was the first time I saw real chemistry between Gerry and Emmy. Very, very sexy; you really saw the hold he had over her, and it set the mood for the following sequence with the chandelier crash and discovery of Piangi's body. Again, wonderfully done. 9) The entire Underground Lair scene ("Down Once More"). All three actors did a great job conveying the emotion, even if the singing sometimes didn't match up. I found Patrick quite sympathetic and he played the heroism very well. Gerry conveyed the anger, lonliness and heartbreak almost seamlessly, and hell, I even liked Emmy, one of the few times throughout the movie where she didn't look drugged. And the kiss between Christine and her (former) teacher ... awww. 10) At the very end, when old Raoul places the music box at Christine's grave and notices the single rose with the black ribbon, along with the ring Raoul had given Christine years before. Tug at my heartstrings, why don't you? *sniff* On another note, I did like the one added sequence where we learn of The Phantom's past in the carnival, and how he ended up in the Opera House -- it might seem out of place if ever portrayed on stage but it worked for the film, as did a lot of the little changes scattered around. I also liked that the chandelier scene was moved towards the end, and I'm surprised that so many people were unhappy with that change. On screen, it makes more sense for the chandelier to fall after The Phantom is unmasked instead of at the end of Act One (immediately following "All I Ask Of You/reprise"), and helped the film along it's climax.The sets are gorgeous, the actors and singers (most of them) didn't disappoint, and while I hate to admit it (I too am still pissed about the nipples on the Bat suit), Joel Schumacher did a fantastic job. Overall -- a visually stunning film with its share of flaws, but a beautifully told love story nonetheless. I enjoyed this film very much, I look forward to seeing it again, and I'm already waiting for the DVD *big grin*