The story is pretty well known. Young musical prodigy is taught secretly by a "mysterious" benefactor. She achieves stardom and then breaks his heart by loving another. To take a line from another musical, it's "a story as old as time." What could have been a disaster is instead a fantastic addition to the Phantom legend, with an incredible star making performance by Emmy Rossum.
This version of The Phantom of the Opera is undeniably beautiful, in the visual sense. The sets are sumptuous, the costumes are lavish, and cinematography is glorious. All the pomp, plumage and pizzazz of the opulent bygone era is shown to overblown excess in the most pleasing possible way. Unfortunately, as you’re looking at all this glitz and glamour, you must also endure the ear-wrenching ballads and hearts-aflutter over-acting (which is, of course, in keeping with the feel of a stage production). The signature song, “The Phantom of the Opera”, is reduced to a soft rock tune timed to a collage of images showing Christine and the Phantom floating and canoodling through some sort of tunnel of love.
The production design is beautiful. Everything from the opera house to a local cemetery to the fantastic chandelier that is central to the story help take you back to the late 19th Century. The score and songs are still as memorable as they were 17 years ago. I know I heard more then one person hum along throughout the film. If you've seen the show, the film will not disappoint. If you haven't, the film will draw you under the Phantom's spell.
I must add-in that people who wants to enjoy a good time at the cinemas should at least be considerate to others watching. I was very much annoyed by bunch of amateur teenagers who wasted a good RM9 watching something they have no passion for or even appreciate the art of it. The gals sadly to say most were from St Teresa, my previous school were laughing away and talking out loud. The worst part was during the songs, the subtitle were given and the girls were cheeking in to sing and they just spoiled the whole movie.
They should have just sit still or at least leave if they didn't like it. It was embarassing what St Teresa girls are growing up to be nowadays. They have no pride anymore. They have no shame at all even after I told them to keep quiet. They even had the cheek to answer me back. So much for respect to your elders. I know those girls. They are only Form 1- Form 4 girls. When the movie ended, I heard most of the girls went 'Yay, it ended.' What a waste. I guess they just have too much money to throw around. I don't know, nowadays the girls are not girls anymore. They have turned into uncivilised people. I guess, blame it on the parents who pamper them too much and then they turn into BIMBOS and BRATS!! Oh God, please help these helpless girls!
yomI
