Advantages: Amazing acting, singing and a Perfect performance
Disadvantages: Not everybodys cup of tea

...The Phantom of the Opera is an amazing account of a young girl who lost her father at a young age and joined the opera house ballet school. Her ballet teacher Madame Giry, played by Miranda Richardson, takes her in and treats her as a daughter whilst caring for her own. They both become chorus girls, and ballet dancers who perform to the public. Christine Daee, Emmy Rossum, however has captured the eye of the Phantom who lives in the opera house, ever since Madame Giry as a young girl saved him from the torture and terror he indured every day. The Phantom had a disfigured face and wasnt accepted in the world. So they used him to gain money, however when madame Giry whitnessed him murder his keeper she took him to the opera house, and he lived under it ever since then. The only person who knows where the Phantom came from, and also when... Read review

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Advantages: EVERYTHING
Disadvantages: NOTHING

...This is the Double CD taken from the recently released film of the same name, it is the SPECIAL EDITION and has a hard backed 14 page booklet with photographs from the film and behind the scenes, it also has additional music. There is a list of the cast, including, GERARD BUTLER as THE PHANTOM, EMMY ROSUM as CHRISTINE, MINNIE DRIVER as CARLOTTA (singing voice of Carlotta by MARGARET PREECE), I believe Minnie Driver hadn't the singing range required to play the part, she does however sing 'Learn To Be Lonely' on the second CD. Tracks include....THINK OF ME, ANGEL OF MUSIC, THE MUSIC OF THE NIGHT, WISHING YOU WERE SOMEHOW HERE AGAIN, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and many more! Music and lyrics by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The musical and subsequent film were based upon the novel 'LeFantome De L'Opera' by GASTON LEROUX. The music... Read review

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Advantages: Colourful, more romantic, easier to understand than theatre productions, romantic dreamy music
Disadvantages: Can't think of any

...This new film version of the popular theatre production of 'Phantom of the Opera,' is fantastic. It tells the story of innocent chorus girl Christine Daae, who ends up being the lead singer at the opera house. This is of course thanks to the phantom who gets rid of the last girl by scaring her away. The opera house is very lavish with golds and creams, crimson reds etc. They all make the movie more romantic by this use of colour. There are also gold statues and a very impressive chandelier that ends up smashing to the ground in the final scene. There are also wonderous marble staircases and romantic balconies where songs are sung, words of love and romance are spoken. The popular songs like 'all I ask of you,' and 'Music of the Night,' are sung in a romantic way. All the actors/ actresses are handsome and beautiful. The songs... Read review

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Advantages: A brilliant show, The music
Disadvantages: Leg Room

...I was shaking with excitment as my Mother-in-law opened her 60th Birthday card- unaware of what delights were inside it. Then I saw a tear and we all started bouncing around laughing like giddy school children. This was sure to be a birthday present she would never forget- a weekend in London with front row tickets to see The Phantom Of The Opera. So we all jumped into the car, laughing and mock-singing the shows most famous songs and waving at unexpecting lorry drivers on the M1. Even the fact that it was the hottest day since 1911 could'nt stop our squeals of excitment. When we arrived at our Kings Cross hotel, we all quickly got into our glad-rags and once again gave the hotel a tune-less rendition of 'The music of the night' - I don't think the hotel staff knew what to make of us! Getting to the Hotel was easy, we flagged down... Read review

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Advantages: Fantastic singing... great directing...
Disadvantages: The Phantoms not very scary.

...I have never seen the stage version, nor watched anything related to The Phantom Of The Opera before watching the 2004 film version. When I first seen the adverts at the cinema, I was desperate to see the movie- it's Moulin Rouge-esque theme instantly had me hooked. I love movies with extravagance, especially musicals, so obviously I made an effort to see one of the first showings of this film. The film begins at an auction at the old Opera House, and the story is basically the memory of the events of years back. I can't compare the film to the stage version as I haven't seen the stage version yet, although I am planning to see it in the future. The Phantom is protrayed with such innocence, when I watched it I just wanted Christine to marry the Phantom and live happily ever after- even though he is a scheming murderer. I think... Read review

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Advantages: Breathtaking and captivating. A cinematic feast
Disadvantages: None, but the music will remain in your head for some time afterwards!

...Brilliantly stylised, yet somehow believable, this musical is powerful stuff. It's one of those special films that make you want to see it again even as the credits roll. Based on the (somewhat confusing, so I'm told) novel by Gaston Leroux, Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical is brought to life once again as you've never seen it before. Set in the Opéra Populaire in 1870's France, the film focuses on talented young soprano Christine Daaé, the Opéra Populaire's new patron le Vicomte Raoul de Changy and the mysterious Phantom. Also important is the Prima Donna Carlotta who throws a tantrum at the smallest hint of not getting her own way. The Phantom seems intent on ridding the Opéra Populaire of the screeching singer and Carlotta refuses to perform after another of the Phantom's 'hints'. The Opéra Populaire's new managers, Andre and Firmin... Read review

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Advantages: Great music and nice stage setting
Disadvantages: Cast, voice over singing

...I decided to buy the Phantom of the Opera 2004 film for my Nan as she is a bit of a Phantom fan. She has seen the stage play and has the soundtrack, which I must say is very good. Before giving it to her I decided to watch it as I like the story and the music but have never seen the play. *******What’s it about?************** The Phantom of the Opera (Gerard Butler) is disfigured musician who lives beneath the Paris Opera House. Because he has lived below the opera house all his life he thinks it belongs to him. He makes it his business to threaten the owners into giving him weekly rent, which is at a very high rate. If they fail to do this, the Phantom will terrorise the Opera house until it can no longer be open for entertainment. The Phantom has always got away with his devious handouts until new owners take over the Opera... Read review

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Advantages: Well performed, incredible soundtrack - go on, you can sing along, everyone else does!
Disadvantages: None

...I absolutely love this opera/musical. I think the soundtrack opened a lot of people's minds to opera, when it first came out. I love it! Can sing along to it and do housework, write or whatever - and that's just the music. Michael Crawford IS BRILLIANT - but then he always has been, to my mind. The costumes, set designs, were perfect. As were the rest of the cast. It was such an experience. Andrew Lloyd Webber did it again, the man has a talent for these productions. I can't wait for the video of the show - so's I can watch it over and over again! By now, everyone knows the story of the Phantom of the Opera, so I won't go in to details, other reviewers have done that more than justice. I just wanted to add my cheer to the roar of the crowd, those of us who are die-hard "Phantom" fans and don't want to let anyone miss... Read review

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Advantages: Spectacular and entertaining
Disadvantages: Inferior to the stage version

...The film of Lloyd Webber's version of "The Phantom of The Opera" will make few new converts - other than those who may not yet have discovered the wonders of the theatre! Directed by Joel Schumacher, it is a faithful reproduction of the spirit of the theatrical version which does benefit from the freedom of movement and scope offered by cinema. Curiously though it constantly restrains itself from giving full rein to this freedom. I do not believe the story needs much explanation, there are few secrets here as surely EVERYONE knows the story by now? For what it's worth.... disfigured boy treated unkindly, becomes murderer and hides in the vaults of the Paris Opera where he grows up to be a genius (only evidence of this is a few bars from his opera "Don Juan Triumphant") and lives in subterranean splendour presumably from money he extorts... Read review

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Advantages: Seeing a piece of Musical Theatre History
Disadvantages: The show seems a little tired.

..."Lot 665 Ladies and Gentlemen, a Papier Mache music box in the shape of a monkey in persian robes playing the organ..." Phantom of the Opera is one of the 3 remainig megalith musicals. The dinosaur shows that have been running and running and running. Most have died out since the asteroid of pop musical hit the town, but Phantom, Blood Brothers and Les Miserable rumble inexorably onwards. This gothic extravangaza still has the power to captivate an audience, and whether or not you like Lord Lloyd-Webbers music, it is a show that any fan of musical theatre should see at least once. Considering its age (16 years), it is still surprisingly good. The staging is still capable of raising gasps and many of the sets are breathtakingly beautiful. However, it is beginning to show its age. A number of the musical sequences are pre... Read review

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