DVD Collectors Online

The Phantom of the Opera, a review by Danae Cassandra

The Phantom of the Opera
Year of Release: 2004
Directed By: Joel Schumacher
Starring: Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson
Genre: Drama, Suspense/Thriller, Musical

Overview:My Thoughts:
I love Phantom.  I'm not sure that this is my favorite version of the story - I think that's still the 1990 TV movie - I still think this is an excellent version.  I love Lloyd Webber's music.  I listened to the Broadway soundtrack for years before this came out.  This is a beautiful, lush, romantic film, with gorgeous costuming and sets.  I enjoy all of the cast, even if Gerard Butler's voice isn't quite as good as it probably should be for his role.  The Phantom here is manipulative and cruel, and it's creepy when you think about him knowing Christine since she was a child.  He's also still quite a sympathetic character, and you feel quite bad for him in the life he has led.  I don't find Christine or Raoul to be as well-developed, but the Phantom is the central character of the story no matter how you look at it. 

Recommended with the caveat that this is almost entirely music, so if you don't like Lloyd Webber's sound this is not a film for you.  I thought the story would be enough to carry Pete through, but we lost him an hour into the film.

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 4/5

(From July Movie Marathon: Musicals (Yes... You read right!) on July 11th, 2016)

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, a review by snowcat

(From Emma's Film Reviews (snowcat) on November 10th, 2009)

Birthday Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

Friends: Season 7
The One Where They All Turn 30
Rachel's agony over her 30th birthday starts everyone reminiscing about what they did upon reaching that milestone.

My Thoughts:
This is probably my favorite of all the Friends birthday episodes. I thought it was a lot of fun seeing how they all turned 30 within one episode. And we get our answer in this one... as it did not start with a stupid card trick by Joey. I guess the first 2 was just a coincidence.



(From Birthday Marathon on May 29th, 2009)