Movie Review: Phantom of the Opera

In a word, the Phantom of the Opera (poto) is sublime. Although I've never watched the musical, and some people say that the movie is just a way of bringing the musical over to the poor underprivilidged Asia (and I don't dispute that), the movie is an undoubtable, absolute sucess. Anyway, I don't think I could have sat down and watched Sarah Brightman parade around posturing like a pengiun. Poto holds the distinctiong of being one of the few shows that I (and my friends) actually watched more than once on big screen.

They say that the devil is in the details. If so, the show really is the devil incarnate. The details were amazing. They were clearly well thought-out. For instance, in the Masquerade ball, Christine wore a light pink dress that contrasted with the rest of the set (who were wearing shades of white and black), depicting how she was still under the influence of the Phantom (who was wearing crimson).

These small details contributed to the dramatic and vibrant atmosphere - some amazing directing on Schumacher's part. Particularly, the beginning sticks out in my mind. The atmosphere backstage (I mean in the film) had exactly the feel you would have backstage at a full-dress rehearsal.

Instead of plunging headlong into the story, the show begins and carries through a touching sub-plot depicting events occuring after the story (shown in black-and-white). It is a nice touch, and the ending leaves a slight cliffhanger. The show thus alternates between a black-and-white film depicting the present and the rich, technicolour depicting the main story (the past). The transitions fall into place naturally, without an unpleasant jolt, although sometimes with a fair amount of drama.

Although the plot leaves much to be desired - it is merely a love story for the hopeless romantics (like me), it can't really be helped, can it, seeing as how the original story was a love story anyway. However, the director still manages to create enough tension and action (both aurally and visually), to keep the audience on its seat.

Christine was played wonderfully by Emmy Rossum. Her singing is sweet and clear - to be cliched, the voice of an angel. The chemistry between Gerard Butler, who plays the Phantom, and Emmy Rossum really sizzles. You can taste the sexual tension. The chemistry between Emmy Rossum and Patrick Wilson, Raoul, is bland, but appropriate, given their relationship.

Of course, Andrew Lloyd Webber's score was amazing. It was Andrew Lloyd Webber, 'nuff said. The tunes are still stuck in my head days after I watched the movie.

Perhaps my one complaint would be that Butler could have been less arrogant, to help arouse the audience's sympathy.

Above all, I knew it was great, because every time I experience something beautiful or good or true, I get a tingly feeling, as if my skin is contracting into me. When I watched poto, I got that.