Excellent, Without a doubt!!

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

I watched the original London production way back '86 (I was 8 years old back then) and I watched it again... thrice... at Broadway. Then here comes the film version...Objectively, I know this movie has A LOT of problems, but I still enjoy watching it. This movie is a huge guilty pleasure for me and now that I'm older I can definitely see the flaws:The changing of lyrics to dialogue is a huge problem. If they wanted more dialogue (why?) then write NEW dialogue, not the odd rhyming couplets (didn't Rent do this around the same time as well? Dreamgirls is usually almost though sung and they changed that for the movie too- and shouldn't have but at least they gave them new dialogue not spoken lyrics).The Phantom's "deformity" is an unforgivable offense. It's ridiculous for another reason entirely, as well - his mask is obviously much smaller than his patch of bad skin, so they shouldn't have hidden anything. And you can see that his eye looks perfectly fine through the hole before he's unmasked. Unless he somehow had the world's fastest allergic reaction to Christine herself when she pulled his mask off, and that's what made him slightly less conventionally attractive, this doesn't make any sense. His makeup job and general demeanor make it seem like he's attempting a Prince Zuko cosplay, but couldn't be bothered making the burn-scarred, inflamed, uneven and big enough to cover a significant portion of his face - i.e. actually noticeable... Tom Hiddleston looked more Phantom-like at the end of Crimson Peak, for Pete's sake! Why didn't they just do the same makeup as the stage show? It's supposed to just be a cinematic version. What's the point of altering it?The movie version of Masquerade sucked. No colors other than black, white, and grey. The Phantom showing up in a very uninspired costume of the "Red Death" is almost a relief, and the song was sung way too quickly. LET ME ENJOY THE SONG!There's no sword fight in the musical so that really confuses me about the movieThe execution of 'The Point of No Return' is my biggest issue about the movie. I just assumed the Phantom taking Piangi's place was done with the rule of Shakespeare - if you're wearing a hat you are considered "in disguise. The "sexiness" of it all can't make up for the absence of tension (she knows it's the Phantom right away) or consistency (she should be afraid). Butler wasn't right for his role. Emmy wasn't right for her role. The director wasn't right (could have been worse... could have been directed by Michael Bay). It was all messed up. It was a very big disappointment because I am such a big Phantom fan. Anyway, The POTO film version is more watchable than "Dracula 2000".

Released in 2004, Joel Schumacher's adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's legendary stage production was a long time coming. The play first began in 1986, with singers Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman as the Phantom and Christine, respectively. Webber later married Brightman, and had planned on her reprising Christine Daae for the silver screen. But their eventual divorce put an indefinite hold on the project; it would remain unfulfilled for over a decade. Webber had chosen director Schumacher ("Batman Forever", "Phone Booth") for "Phantom of the Opera" back in the early 1990s, due to his talented use of color and music. Eventually, a deal was struck with Warner Bros. Studios, and the two filmmakers agreed on two things: the cast's overall ages would be reduced in this version (the stage actors were mostly in their late 30's to mid-40's), and all of them would do their own singing. This caused a slight problem with the addition of Minnie Driver, Webber's only choice for the role of Carlotta. Webber dubbed her in-picture singing with a professional soprano, and gave Driver her own song for the film's ending credits. In the main principal roles were actors Gerard Butler as the Phantom, Emmy Rossum as Christine, Patrick Wilson as Raoul, and Miranda Richardson as Madame Giry.Thus is the basic story for the making of the film; upon its release, it was a commercial success in many respects, as fans of the stage musical were excited to see their beloved characters in a new form. The songs, costume designs, sets, and historical representations were all praised...and in my opinion, the film definitely deserves it. However, those unfamiliar with the tale should be cautious. Based on a novel by French author Gaston Leroux, both the musical and the film tell a story deeply mired in themes of romance, love, faith, (in)justice, and death. As such, it's especially important for discerning hearts to be wary of a few elements.Visually, the film's biggest areas of concern are sex and violence. Unlike many films which revel in them, this film thankfully avoids that trap...and while the presence of such elements are important to the story, what's more imprtant is for viewers to know ahead of time what they'll be getting themselves into. Regarding sexual situations, the most obvious one is likely the many nude statues and carvings which adorn the walls and lobby of the opera house. While the camera doesn't excessively linger on them (mostly presenting them as historical art pieces), their inclusion helps to sell the mood of the time in which this tragedy takes place. Costumes worn by many female characters are designed to enhance their curves, particularly above the waist. As for the violent content, the most extreme moments concern the murders of Joseph Buquet and the Phantom's childhood abuser (the latter is shown in flashback). As for Piangi's death, it is mainly done in a quick cut away, and his lifeless form appears shortly thereafter, embraced by a weeping Carlotta.Non-visually, the other theme which fuels this story is the spiritual nature of music. Christine often likens the Phantom to her deceased father's promise of sending her an "Angel of Music", which could be interpreted as an allusion to Satan. Among the dark character's many lines of song are phrases such as "let your darker side give in"; he also refers to himself as a "gargoyle who burns in hell, but secretly yearns for heaven", a "repulsive carcass", and a "beast" or "monster". In the Don Juan performance scene, lyrics such as "when will the flames at last consume us" are present. Overall, an underlying message of this film is one of emotional and spiritual suggestion through the power of music. Used properly, music is a wondrous thing...but used irresponsibly, it can be a greater danger to people than a knife or firearm. Both sides of the collective canvas are presented, so people should know that going in. As a whole, this film gets a 8.5/10 in my book.

The Phantom of the Opera is a musical. It is set in Paris in a theater in 1881. The main actors are: Gerad Butter and Emmy Rossum. The acting and special effects are very good. I really liked the whole film but my favorite scene was the scene with the fire. The music is the best thing about the film and the plot is very interesting. by jim

Just saw this recently. This is an entertaining film with wonderful performances by all, particularly Gerard Butler as the Phantom and Emmy Rossum as Christine. Gerard Butler plays the Phantom with dramatic intensity and flair. He plays up the dark and dangerous side very well and adds heartbreaking vulnerability during the tragic moments. His singing voice was also very good and has a haunting, raw and passionate cadence to it. I actually prefer his voice in comparison to the smooth, musical notes of a Broadway trained singer. Emmy Rossum is the perfect Christine, with a sweet and vulnerable portrayal that later grows more confident and mature as the story progresses. As a professionally trained singer she hits all the right notes and has a passionate, melodious voice that is a delight to listen to.The Phantom of the Opera is a visual feast with all the right ingredients: drama, suspense, action, romance and tragedy. The singing performances were memorable and very well done. A highly enjoyable film.