The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Joel Schumacher

Writers (WGA):

Gaston Leroux (novel)
Andrew Lloyd Webber (stage musical)

Release Date:

21 January 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Musical | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Her voice became his passion. Her love became his obsession. Her refusal became his rage.....

Plot:

A disfigured musical genius, hidden away in the Paris Opera House, terrorizes the opera company for the unwitting benefit of a young protégée whom he trains and loves.

Plot Keywords:

Ballroom | Invitations | Stagehand | Concert Interruption | No Opening Credits

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 27 nominations

Cast

Gerard Butler	...	The Phantom
Emmy Rossum	...	Christine
Patrick Wilson	...	Raoul
Miranda Richardson	...	Madame Giry
Minnie Driver	...	Carlotta
Ciarán Hinds	...	Firmin
Simon Callow	...	Andre
Victor McGuire	...	Piangi
Jennifer Ellison	...	Meg Giry
Murray Melvin	...	Reyer
Kevin McNally	...	Buquet (as Kevin R. McNally)
James Fleet	...	Lefevre
Imogen Bain	...	Carlotta's Maid
Miles Western	...	Carlotta's Wigmaker
Judith Paris	...	Carlotta's Seamstress

Also Known As:

Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera (USA) (promotional title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief violent images.

Runtime:

143 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English | French | Italian | Spanish

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Taiwan:PG-12 | Malaysia:U | Iceland:10 | Philippines:PG-13 | Hungary:14 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Netherlands:6 | Portugal:M/12 | Greece:K-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Brazil:14 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Chile:14 | Czech Republic:12 | Finland:K-11 | Germany:6 | Ireland:12 | Norway:11 | Singapore:PG | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | UK:12A (original rating) | UK:12 (video rating) (2005) | USA:PG-13 | South Korea:12

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Odyssey Entertainment

Trivia:

The chandelier used was 17 feet high and 13.2 feet wide, and was hung with more than 20,000 full cut Swarovski crystal pendants. It was produced by Tisserant in Paris, and it took four months to construct and five days to assemble at the studio.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the beginning practice, when the phantom drops the background on Carlotta, he drops a letter down. When it falls down, it is a pure white envelope with the red emblem. When Madam Giry picks it up, the lines on the envelope are outlined in black with the red emblem.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Auctioneer: Sold. Your number, sir? Thank you. Lot 663, then, ladies and gentlemen.

Movie Connections:

References Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Soundtrack:

Hannibal

Musical Blockbuster!

A great musical spectacular of a scale not seen since the fantastic Chicago a year ago.

If you only know the main Phantom theme tune, you will quickly learn to love the other beautiful tunes throughout this film.

I had never seen the stage show, nor knew the story before seeing this film, so everything that happened was a surprise including the wonderful ending.

Take a tissue or two with you as it's sad...I won't say any more about that.

The ONLY thing that slightly annoyed me during the film was that the solo musical numbers were not perfectly in sync to the person singing it and it spoilt the illusion that the person was actually singing it and not just miming.

Nevertheless, one of the best films of the entire year, and I've seen a lot of films! An easy 8/10 vote for me.