tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080596742132031255.post3848565434294545491..comments2024-01-03T00:10:48.783-08:00Comments on The Wild Blog in the West: Movie Musicals That Got It Wrong: The Phantom of the OperaWild Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08243331039670327167noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080596742132031255.post-79338763718898999032013-04-14T17:21:02.387-07:002013-04-14T17:21:02.387-07:00I don't get it either. From what I've rea...I don't get it either. From what I've read, they wanted to go in a different direction -- create a Phantom whose ugliness was only in his head. But if they wanted Heathcliff, they should have made "Wuthering Heights, the Musical." The Phantom IS ugly and hideous; there's no avoiding it.Wild Bloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08243331039670327167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080596742132031255.post-91533544107136321962013-04-14T16:40:20.941-07:002013-04-14T16:40:20.941-07:00I know you wrote this review ages ago but I just n...I know you wrote this review ages ago but I just now got around to watching POTO the movie and the one thing that stood out glaringly is the lack of hideousness with which this Phantom was portrayed. They had ALL of Hollywood magic to draw upon. Mask-making geniuses like Michael Westmore for whom freakishly ugly is his bread and butter and Butler ends up with a few scars around the eye and some thinning hair. The 1925 Phantom's makeup trumps the modern one and Chaney's Phantom was only drawn on, no prosthetics except for the teeth(even Butler's teeth were nice!) It was like they didn't try; I can't figure that out! Periwinkle Paisleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08746575926852682354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080596742132031255.post-27189232027072413512012-12-31T13:09:34.339-08:002012-12-31T13:09:34.339-08:00Butler was so wrong for the role. There was nothi...Butler was so wrong for the role. There was nothing remotely mysterious about him, despite the movie's attempts to make you think otherwise.<br /><br />I realized, after I posted my Tim Burton comment, that a lot of people hated what he did to Sweeney Todd. I still think he would have done well with Phantom, though, which has a much simpler storyline, one that all but hinges on atmospherics to work properly.Wild Bloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08243331039670327167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080596742132031255.post-22591554006278782482012-12-26T15:02:53.052-08:002012-12-26T15:02:53.052-08:00I was nodding and laughing throughout this review....I was nodding and laughing throughout this review. Yes, yes, yes. I was introduced to POTO via the original London cast tape back in the 1990s and wore the tape out. I had to get a CD just 'cause I played it so much. I was sooooo looking forward to the movie. I had liked Butler well enough in Harrison's Flowers (not a big part but anyhow)...it never occurred to me that he couldn't sing. I mean, they make movies to make money, right, and who'd go see a movie where the main character can't sing? And up til the Phantom showed up I maintained my delusion. The movie started off pretty well and I was sure it would be a winner...and then the Phantom showed up. Shallow of me, I suppose, but I got a bad feeling when I saw he wasn't wearing the hat I had loved so much in the stage version. But then he started singing. Good heavens! It was like Frank Sinatra's thin reedy voice in his early years combined with Mickey Rooney at his shrillest and most annoying. That was just in the "Phantom of the Opera" song. Then he did "Music of the Night" and I was ready to run screaming from the theater. And of course the coup de grace was when Christine "outed" him and he was just a guy who'd gotten some bad chemo drugs or something.<br /><br />Someone told me a long time ago that POTO is one of those things that can either be the story of a great love or a creepy stalker who lives in the basement. This was definitely the creepy basement guy story. I could have forgiven so much if he could only sing...but oh heavens...mlktrouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09900032424684064965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080596742132031255.post-46305901814097918112012-12-20T12:32:33.554-08:002012-12-20T12:32:33.554-08:00Thanks!
I agree about Fraser being a great singer...Thanks!<br /><br />I agree about Fraser being a great singer/performer. Unfortunately, I feel as though apart from his performance as Grantaire in the 25th, he tends to be over-caffeinated. I thought he would be great as Javert, but from the clips I've seen, he seems way too hyper.<br /><br />Banderas might have provided better singing and more charisma, but for me, his casting would still have represented a misstep. He is too young, too attractive, and the rest of the movie would have been left unchanged, so I would still have been stuck with the discrepancy between his not-so-bad looks and the characters' "Oh he's hideous!" reactions.Wild Bloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08243331039670327167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080596742132031255.post-39897563973075066212012-12-18T21:40:49.210-08:002012-12-18T21:40:49.210-08:00Phantom of the opera... What can I say, this was w...Phantom of the opera... What can I say, this was what lead me to the world of musicals and made me literally spend entire night listening to OST over and over again in many many school nights. So when the movie came out, my bar was set where as long as they produce something with the songs, I would be grateful! Even after listening to Les Miz, I still think POTO are more brilliant and astonishing. hahah. <br /><br />I agree with your comments with Fraser. OMG. I think he is really great singer/performer, but at 25th dvd, he was like a maniac cornering Christine with what he wanted. hmhm. no! Raoul should be gentle/warm. I couldn't stop murmuring "chilllllll outttt, RAOULLLLLL" while watching 25th. <br /><br />I was disappointed when I heard that it was Gerald instead of Antonios. In fact, I hated Gerald even further when i actually watched the movie. I couldn't feel any chemistry between christine and phantom. I always thought of their relationship to be something irresistible/destined. <br /><br />But again, I still loved the movie knowing that I can see/listen to POTO every day whenever I want. Such thought completely disappeared when I heard and finally got 25th anniversary POTO! I LOVEDx100000 Ramin as Phantom, just okay with Christine, still liked Fraser, but I definitely think that he could've been WAY BETTER!!!!!!. <br /><br />I enjoyed your posting!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com