Ontom of the Phopera!
Mood:
crushed out
Now Playing: the angel of music sings songs in my head, the angel of music sings songs in my heaaaaddd...
Topic: BSS Movie Review
I just saw "Phantom of the Opera" last night, so here is the BSS (Brevity is the Soul of Something) Review...
BSS Movie Reviews and Synopsis— Synopsises— what is the plural on that? Anyway: this time, The Phantom of the Opera.
I’d heard good things about Phantom. I’d also heard a lot of complaining about the fact that they didn’t draft Michael Crawford for the lead. Now, much as I like Crawford, and even though his is the true voice of the Phantom, I’m kind of glad they went a different direction. Because I really like Gerard Butler.
I was probably the only person in the theatre who even knew who he is. He’s been in lots of movies, but most of them were crap movies— carefully chose, I suppose, so he can stand out easily as the best thing in them. A shortlist of ones I’ve seen— Timeline, Tomb Raider 2, Tomorrow Never Dies, Reign of Fire, Atilla. He’s handsome, likeable, smiley, and jovial. Not, you might think, Phantom material.
You may be right. First off, I suspected they’d chosen him because his lips are protuberant enough to stand out in a face half-covered by a mask. This was, I thought, right in line with a fan-girl casting agent, but kind of an odd consideration for Andrew Lloyd Webber, so perhaps I was wrong. Then he began to sing, and while he has a nice voice in many ways, lack of extensive training was marginally evident, and I just don’t think Scotsmen are meant to sing opera. On top of which his voice was surprisingly high for a good-sized man (the high notes in “Music of the Night” earned him the nickname “The Scotch Soprano.”) I got used to it as it went along, though, and by the end was very happy that, untrained as he was, he hadn’t butchered some of the most beautiful modern songs in existence, and had in fact done them what could be called justice.
I can fully endorse Emmy Rossum’s voice, and with good reason— apparently she’s been singing opera for ten years. (As we left the theatre, my mom said, “So what have you guys been doing all your lives?” My sister-in-law and I are both nineteen, a year older than Rossum). As my mom mentioned, she could have focused a bit more on the acting part of the role, as she had basically the same expression on her face throughout. But really, she fit the part and did a great job.
Patrick Wilson I had a bit of a problem with (*cough* long hair* cough) but that’s alright, because you’re not supposed to like Raoul are you? Halfway through the movie I was inspired to want to write fanfiction wherein Christine tells Raoul to get lost and stays with the Phantom (that’s what I would have done). Milked for comic effect, of course. I t could even be a sitcom idea— and I wouldn’t put it past, say, ABC. The Phantom and Christine move to the suburbs of, say, Illinois. “The Phantom of Springfield” has kind of a ring to it, doesn’t it? He could set himself up as a pop-song writer for N’Sync, and she could be a housewife, and they’d have lots of little kids with half-masks—
Christine: How’d your day at school go, dear?
Phantom Jr.: Oh, Mom, those bullies put another bag over my head and hit me with sticks, and kept stealing my mask.
Christine: Reminds me of early days with your father. (Audience laughter) So how did you handle all that, Junior?
Phantom Jr.: I told the teacher, and then I strangled ‘em with a rope. (Audience laughter.)
Anyway, I’ve thought about writing something along those lines, but I don’t want to risk being lynched by Phantom purists— who are probably even now stalking poor Gerard Butler (Watch your back, Gerry!)
I grew up listening to the music of Phantom, and once even got to see the play, in San Francisco. I was only seven or so, so I don’t really remember it all that well. What I do remember was catching the flu shortly before intermission (headache, stomach ache, projectile vomiting, the whole works), a story I like to tell because it illustrates my perfect timing. But I do remember waking up every once in a while with Michael Crawford’s voice in my head, singing “Music of the Night” (probably my favourite Phantom song). It’s the music that made the play in the first place, and it’s the music that ultimately makes the movie as well.
The second half is much better than the first. Tighter, with better performances all round, better pacing. Plus, once Gerry gets the mask off, his voice somehow seems to be freed from most of the— well, whatever was off with it. Spit, mostly, I think. Towards the end he becomes mesmerizing, captivating, powerful, vital enough to make you cry for him. And I never cry at movies, but I nearly did at this one. And my sister-in-law certainly did.
Phantom of the Opera is one of the few movies I’ve seen that, as soon as it was over, I wanted to see it again. “Return of the King” was the last one of those— it is far, far too long between times, waiting for films like that to be made. Hollywood, take note. This morning I woke up with the voice of Gerard Butler echoing around my mind, and so far its kept me smiling strangely all day.
The Angel of Music sings songs in my head,
The Angel of Music sing songs in my head—
This has been a production of Foxfire Light Switch. See ya next time, Gerry!
not sure
celebratory
special
suave
down
chillin'
