In 1986, musician-composer Andrew Lloyd Weber released his new stage musical The Phantom of the Opera, based on the classic French horror book. After the success in London, it became a massive hit in America, where it still continues to this day. The number-one Broadway play (currently second behind The Lion King) was transposed into a film in 2004, though the movie did not fare as well as the play.
The Phantom of the Opera was nominated for three Academy Awards (Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Song for "Learn to Be Lonely"). Emmy Rossum won the Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Young Actor (she turned seventeen during filming). The film stars Emmy Rossum as singer/dancer Christine Daae, Gerard Butler as Erik the "Phantom," and Patrick Wilson as the Viscount Raoul de Chagny.
SUMMARY
The year is 1870 and an opera house in Paris has just been purchased by two new owners. Madame Giry, the ballet teacher, introduces the owners to a talented young singer, Christine Daae. The actors practice their performance of Hannibal, as the owners meet Christine, and the theater's resident soprano, Carlotta Giucdicelli.
The opera also has a new patron, Raoul de Chagny. Christine recognizes him as her childhood sweetheart but tells her friend Meg Giry she doubts if he remembers.
During that night's performance, the stage's backdrop falls and almost smashes Carlotta. A masked man in the shadows flees before anyone can spot him, though he drops a letter. Madame Giry retrieves the letter which is from the "Opera Ghost," a mysterious person who lurks about the opera house. Carlotta is furious that she was nearly killed, so she quits her job, and Christine Daae takes her place. Her singing voice is so beautiful, and it stuns the audience, as the Opera Ghost listens in a hidden location.
After the play, Christine goes to the opera chapel to light candles for her deceased father. Meg finds Christine and asks to know how she is able to sing so well. Christine confides that when her father died, he promised he would send to her the "Angel of Music." She explains that a voice has been tutoring her, and she assumes it must be the angel (as she has seen no physical person accompany the voice).
She returns to her dressing room, and Raoul comes to find her, as he has remembered his childhood friend. He agrees that she has been visited by the Angel and insists she go to dinner with him. However, Christine responds that the Phantom would not allow it.
Raoul will take none of her words, so he goes to prepare his carriage. While he is gone, someone locks Christine's door from the inside, and she sees a masked man in her mirror. The man, who is the Phantom, leads Christine through the mirror, and into the catacombs of the opera house. He takes her across an underground lake to his secret lair, where he professes his love for her. He shows Christine an image of herself as a bride and she faints.
The next morning, Christine goes to the Phantom and removes his mask. She catches a glimpse of his face, which is deformed. Christine returns his mask, and the Phantom decides to return Christine to the opera house.
Meanwhile, the owners/managers are worried that Christine's appearance will cause trouble but realize that it is getting them a lot of attention from the press. They also feel angry over letters from the Opera Ghost, asking for money. Then, Carlotta returns, upset by a letter sent to her saying that if she were to sing instead of Christine, something disastrous would happen.
The managers decide to challenge this Ghost, so they put Carlotta in the lead role. After finding Christine, they cast her in a silent role for the opera's next show.
During one solo that night, Carlotta's voice cracks. Suddenly, a man is hanged on the stage, causing panic among the audience and the performers. Christine and Raoul retreat to the rooftop, where they speak of their love for each other.
However, the Phantom overhears their conversation, as he hides behind a statue. The Phantom promises his revenge on Raoul for "stealing" his love.
Time passes, and the opera house holds a special gala. All is going marvelous…until the Phantom appears. He presents the opera managers with a play he has written, and demands it to be produced.
During the said play, the Phantom abducts Christine and once again takes her to his underground lair. Madame Giry helps Raoul find his way as he attempts to rescue his love.
CONTENT
There is not a lot of violence, but what graphic content is included earns the PG-13 rating. A man is dropped to the opera stage, hanging. Another man is strangled with a rope. In this same vein, the Phantom threatens some people. A crashing chandelier starts a fire, though it seems that no one is harmed in it. There is a swordfight resulting in some cuts. Also, a man is nearly drowned and is choked (he does not die). The Phantom angrily begins smashing mirrors. In one scene, a young boy with a deformity is a captive circus performer. People mockingly gawk at him, and he attacks his captor (the strangled man). As far as appearances, we see the Phantom maskless, as his scarred and deformed face is bared to the open. A circus performer, presumably, tugs on his eyelids to a gruesome and haunting effect (this lasts for only a few seconds).
There are a few uses of God's name, as well as a few uses each of h*** and d***.
Phantom is, primarily, a passionate love story, so some romance is to be expected. There is nothing explicit to worry about, but a lot of song lyrics lightly imply sexual seduction. During a couple of song numbers, the Phantom runs his hands over Christine's body, mainly her torso. In the song Point of No Return, Christine wonders how long she and the Phantom should "wait before [they’re] one," and she allows her dress to slip off of her shoulders. Also, many dresses reveal chests, some to more degree than others. There are a few kisses between the three main characters. As people walk through the opera, there is a scene where a man on a balcony bares his behind, but this is very brief. In short, most of the sexual content is implied.
For musical fans, The Phantom of the Opera is about as good as you can get. While I prefer the latter Les Miserables, the former has beautiful, moving songs. Some of the more famous are "Angel of Music," "The Phantom of the Opera," "Music of the Night," and "All I Ask of You." These songs expertly articulate the deep feelings of love felt by Christine, the Phantom, and Raoul. There is a reason that the Broadway musical (upon which the movie is based) is one of the highest-grossing plays of all time!
In addition to the songs, the storyline is very intriguing. At the heart of the story is this: Christine and Raoul love each other, but the Phantom loves Christine. The young woman may not truly love the Phantom, but she admires and pities him. That alone makes for a great story in my book. However, as a fan of the book, I was disappointed with how much was cut from that when they crafted both the play and the movie.
The acting was simply marvelous! Gerard Butler shone out as Erik, the Phantom, and the seventeen-year-old Emmy Rossum was surprisingly amazing, both in terms of singing and acting. I can't believe that neither were nominated for an Oscar! The other actors are good, though Patrick Wilson felt a bit lacking to me.
For me, this film was a bit of a parable, in a way. Raoul, though flawed, is like a representation of Christ, and the Phantom as Satan. We humans are like Christine, as we waver between goodness and sin. In the end, it is Raoul who rescues Christine from the "Opera Ghost," like how Christ has rescued believers from wickedness. The Phantom is at first referenced as the Angel of Music, but he is certainly more of a demon of darkness.
The Phantom of the Opera is a beautiful story, complete with beautiful music and characters. But be forewarned, parents: this is not appropriate for children. Adults can certainly handle it. For teens, however, I would recommend ages fifteen and up, as some lyrics and motions are rather sensual. It all depends on the maturity of the individual, though.
I sincerely hope you enjoy this musical gem as much as I do!
GENERAL INFORMATION
Length: 143 minutes
Rating: PG-13 (for brief violent images)
Director: Joel Schumacher
Producer: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber (musical songs/lyrics and score)
Year of release: 2004
Primary audience: Adults (older teens should be able to handle this film)
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