The Phantom Of The Opera Movie Review Message Board and Comments

I so disagree with the reviewer. Have been a fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber's music for years. Have seen the Phantom on stage in New York and was excited to see the film. I thought it exceeded my expectations with the music, costumes, sets, and the actors. I think Gerard make an excellent phantom and added much sex appeal to the role. So, mr reviewer, my opinion is that you just dont appreciate this type of music.

I think maybe this critic was not viewing the film with an open mind - he clearly hates musicals, especially ones by ALW! So his views are not worth their weight in salt. I have just watched the stage version in London which was excellent as all live performances are, but the film is so sexually charged and there's a lot more love/pity/lust from Christine for the Phantom - I have to confess I would like to see the film version put on stage!!

Wow, i cant believe there is someone who hates phantom of the opera. It is a lot of work to redo a movie, and to redo a classic is almost impossibe!! there pulled it off great. i have never heard stronger voices, ever. THe movie was so great!!!! PAtrick and Gerard are so hot and emmy is a beautiful girl!!! I am like so obsessed with the movie. I watched it 9 times in 5 days. The phantom is so hot (until he takes the mask off)lol! The parts were so well played by everybody.It was so dramatic in the sad parts. great job!!!!! I congradulate the cast and crew with everypart they did. So u mite want to acually watch the movie before u write about it, review guy!!!!

The phantom of the opera is the best movie I have ever seen! Emmy Rossum has an incredible vioce and she is an amazing actress.THat movie is great and anyone who doesn't see that is a idiot!

Come on, it was agood film. So Gerard Butler wasn't a singer but he did a damn good job! Emmy Rossum was beautifully tragic and Raoul was so believable. I know this isn't everyone's cup of tea, and it is better on stage interaction wise but it's a good film, very well made, perfectly cast and beautiful. And one thing, if you're going to be a critic, you don't refer to bad films made by the director, especially when he's done good ones, and you show both sides of the argument. If you ask me, this film needs a new critic.

I have never read such Rubbish in all of my life . You apperantly dont know Great acting when you see it . I Loved this movie and all of the actrors where Great . Gerard Butler is one of the most brillant actors I have see in awhile , he adds so much emotion to the story line His looks ,his voice are what made this movie so Fantasic.

I have just come on your web-site and read the remarks of the critic about Phantom of the Opera AND HE IS SO WRONG. Not only was it a great film but Gerard Butler was excellent as the phantom, as was the rest of the cast. His expresions and his voice made him a very believeable phantom who was sad and lonely, and desperately wanted christine to love and stay with him . I think that Gerard Butler came in for a lot of stick when he took the role on as Michael Crawford fans thought it should have gone to him, but as much as I think that he is a good actor and singer, I think the part was made for Gerard Butler. As some-one has already said I to was mesmerised by Gerard Butler performance as I couldn't take my eyes off him and have played the dvd several times so I could see him again, and I too would have chosen the phantom instead of Rauol, in spite of his face being disfigured. All in all I think the film did great anyway disspite his appalling write up of the film. one of my favourite parts of the film was when the phantom & christine were singing point of no return and at the beinging when he takes to his lair, I love the way he flicked his cloak over his arm and stood there looking at her. it was really sexy. Anyway that is what I thought of the film.

ok, idk what you were doing while you wtached that movie, but you certainly were not oaying attention. that's all i can say with out strong language.

Yes, it was an overstylised piece of cinematic excess, but to consider a film bad simply because of its excesses would be an egregious fallecy. I can understand where the critic stands in his brutal assessment of the film for its lack of ability to have a plausible premise, flowing narrative or indeed, believable characters, but that, as one may say, is the point. If a strong narrative and plausible characters are essential elements to a decent film, then filmmakers like Kubrick, Tarantino, Bunuel, Lynch, or indeed, anyone who has dared to experiment or touch the surreal would have all been considered long forgotten hacks. The strength of Phantom, as with many other films, is its spectacle. It does not establish emotional connections through character or narrative, but through sheer style. It draws emotional response from the audience through specific image and sound combinations, rather than through characterisation or plot. True, it is riddled with flaws, with problems in pace and overacting in certain respects, and yes, the plot is wafer thin. But the cinematography was competently handled, the music exquisite, and in my view, it was certainly not deserving of the brutual treatment that was handed to it by this critic.

Anyone who can say this movie is no good, has no idea what art is. I've seen the play twice, but Butler's portrayal of the Phantom has so much more depth! Close-ups allow us to see incredibly authentic emotion - view Butler during the "Why So Silent" scene. Butler's voice doesn't carry the same smoothness of range as Crawford's did, but when I listen to both on my CD player, Butler has it all over Crawford. Butler's voice complements the actions in the scenes & gives us a dramatic sense of the emotions that the Phantom is experiencing. If the acting, singing, and setting is too "overdone & shallow" - perhaps that critic ought to stick to non-fiction since he obviously has no sense of the artistic!

Did this "critic" see the same movie that I did? This movie was well acted and well sung. Gerard Butler as the Phantom was excellent. If he had listened to any interviews with the producer and director, they wanted an untrained actor to play in the role. He also filled the screen with a certain electricity. The movie was based on the stage play, not meant to be an exact copy. Anybody who has seen a stage play, then goes to see the movie version, has to go in with a clear mind and let the movie speak for itself. One cannot sing for a movie as one sings on stage. The voice has to be more subdued. Even Michael Crawford would have had to sing it in a different style (although his voice is too high-pitched for my taste). This "critic" needs to watch this fine movie again. This time though, pretend that he isn't upset that Michael Crawford isn't in the title role. This type of review is the reason that I don't pay attention to anything that reviewers have to say. When I read a review like this, I wonder who paid the critic to be so negative. I gave this film four out of four stars.

The movie was superb! I love it since the first minute... During the movie I fell in love with the Phantom (Gerard Butler)and I also loved the beautiful Emmy Rossum. Cast and direction were great!!! What more can I say? The scene in which The Phantom and Christine sing "The Point of no return" fascinated me. The Phantom's masculine and not just "good" voice was fantastic. The best movie for this year, in my opinion.

I am completly shocked to read that review! I couldn't even read the whole thing! It's obvious that person doesn't have respect for these kinds of movies. I am a 15 yr old girl and I have respect for it! Actually I guess I love it! I also think Gerard BUtler did an exelent job!! I absolutly loved him in it. He portrayed every emotion very well. And he made it so believable. Also I think Emmy Rossum did an astounding job! Who ever wrote the review said something about her being so easily manipulated or something like that. Thats totally wrong!! The way i understood it was Christine knew Raoul as a child and then they went their sepeate ways. They meet again and they were soul mates before so they carried on from there. And she "fell" for the phantom because he decieved her. He knew her father "spoke of an angel" and made her believe he was the angel of music. She gave him her mind but Raoul had her heart. I wish who ever wrote the review could see that. I was totally appauled! And for the record, Gerard Butler is DROP DEAD GORGEOUS!!!!!!!! I am totally in love! :-D Anyways i thought the movie was amazing and I really hope to buy it sometime soon. I already have the SoundTrack. ~Meghan~

The horrendous review by Rob Blackwelder on the brilliantly mastered Phantom of the Opera was, to say lightly, as if he hadn't even watched the movie. It's a shame that such an enchanting and beautiful film has such a bad reputation... and it's because of critics like these. It doesn't take a genious to piece the strong storyline of the movie together. With actors meant for their parts, this work of art will be treasured for many years to come by all types of people. Rob Blackwelder stated that, "The songs are so vociferous and beyond campy that if Beavis and Butthead were theater fans, they'd have the T-shirt and would head-bang along to the soundtrack." On the contrary, the music fits perfectly with the passion of the movie and actors. I write this with sincerity and honesty...this movie gets 5 stars!

The fact that you, Mr. Blackwelder, were so untouched by the beauty, emotion, and just plain lusciousness of this amazing movie speaks volumes to me about what kind of a person you must be. (to quote a line from the movie, "Pitiful creature of darkness, what kind of life have you known?" to create such hateful and negative thoughts...)What exactly was it about the movie that threatened you so much that you felt the need to cover your insecurities by spitting out all that venom? You're obviously out of touch with reality, first of all, or maybe you live in a parallel universe, where what you think you see is, in reality, exactly the opposite of what is really there....because, as others have mentioned already, the movie you've described and criticized is absolutely, most positively not, the same one that I saw when I went to the theater!!!

Mr. Blackwelder I do not agree with one word you said. I loved this movie!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think it was exceptional. I felt the actors and actresses did a spendid job. I was completely and utterly taken witht he Gerard Butler's portrayal of the Phantom. He kept me spell bound and moved me to the depths of the deepest emotions. He was superb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! His acting and singing magnificent and yes, HE CAN SING!!!!!!!!!!! ALW, Joel, they di da great job with casting. Not a boring moment. What movie were you watching anyway? Not the same one as I was that is for sure. This movie rocked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To Mr. Blackwelder: after reading your vitriolic assessment of 'Andrew Lloyd Webber's' music, and derisive comments about 'Joel Schumacher' and 'Phantom of the Opera' in particular - no doubt stemming from an unimaginative, closed mind - I want to convey a brief message, that the great composer 'Ludwig van Beethoven' once sent to one of his most vicious critics: " Sir! I am sitting in the most private room of my house with your critique in front of me... soon I will have it behind me!" To that I might add: in those days, a Newspaper was the frequently used paper of choice for toilets! Respectfully... Gabriele C.Thyen

i completly agree with u nightmusic, It was a wonderful movie and anyone who doesn't realize it. Don't have any taste at all.

What an appalling lack of taste Rob Blackwelder has as a "critic"! I'm convinced that he and I did not see the same movie, and there are so many I know and have read about who support my views in this matter. This film was so visually stunning, the leads and supporting actors were so appropriately cast, Joel Schumacher was so skillful as a director who more than fulfilled his debut in this film genre, and Andrew Lloyd Webber's music is so beautiful, so sensual, so haunting . . . what more can one ask for from one of the most entertaining films to hit the big screen in decades? I've seen the stage play several times and have listened to the Crawford/Brightman CD for at least 10 years now, but this film surpasses anything previously connected with Phantom of the Opera in all its many voices and mediums. Nothing can hold a candle to it. I truly pity those who have listened to "critics" such as Mr. Blackwelder and who have allowed themselves to be persuaded ("railroaded" might be a better term here) into not viewing this film on the big screen. They truly have missed something very special indeed. Perhaps they will be fortunate enough to rent the DVD for an evening to at least catch a glimpse of this stunning film. Congratulations to the cast and crew of the most spectacular showpieces of all times. They have done a tremendous job in bringing the Phantom to life.