I just saw The Phantom of the Opera for the first time, not being previously particularly familiar with the story. Gosh, it's depressing.
Sure, the Phantom had serious issues, but every other character acknowledged that his bloodlust was due to a lifetime of persecution because of his appearance. I'm generally the last to excuse anyone's behavior just because they endured harsh treatment at the hands of others, but at least within the context of the story it's pretty clear that the Phantom wouldn't have become a killer if not for the evil carnie who enslaved him. Recognizing that fact doesn't absolve him of responsibility for his other crimes, yet I'm utterly sympathetic to his plight.
Am I the only one who thought Raoul was annoying and useless? Why did Christine fall for him? The Phantom invested years of his life into training and helping her, and she utterly rejected him when she discovered he was ugly (and he freaked out). Sure, she said she hated him because of his soul, not his looks, but somehow that hate never manifested during the years she knew him only by his voice and not face to face.
The Phantom wasn't a good man, and he wasn't worthy of Christine's love, no matter how much he longed for it. That's why the Phantom is so tragic: he represents the fear we all feel inside... that someday the people we love will realize that we really aren't worthy. Just like the Phantom raved when his face was revealed, we all dread the day when our masks are torn away and our souls are revealed for all the world to see.
Sad. Tragic. But not depressing. And having seen it in New York, London, and LA with various casts, I can only say you missed it if you came away depressed. It has to be one of the two or three most entertaining and exciting musicals of the last 100 years. The music, the dance, the songs, and the story all rate A's.
Maybe the cast stunk.
The movie version was mediocre. The sets were gorgeous and the female leads were good, but both men were badly mis-cast, especially the Phantom. That guy couldn't convey anything near the level of bitterness and anguish that's essential for the role. He was also much too young and handome.
See Phantom on stage if you can. Also, the book is very well written, and fairly short. It's the same story, but with some different emphases and a very different background for the Phantom. It's more of a ghost story than a tragedy.
It's true that the male cast was badly chosen. As MW points out, Raoul did come across as very irritating and acted like a minor character given too big a role. The man who played the Phantom was also too "cool" for the role, as Ben mentions. It was a Hollywood model/actor with a piece of plastic glued to his cheek. Oooo, scary.
The woman playing Christine did a fair job bordering on good. However, she seemed way too flighty and easily swayed for my taste. Perhaps that was just the movie version coming through, or maybe that's how it was meant to be done.
I saw the stage version in St. Louis a few years ago, and just recently saw the movie version on DVD. If the movie is what you saw, then you can safely disregard it. The singers (with the exception of Raoul) were mediocre at best, intentionally avoiding any hint of operatic style (you know, good vocal technique) in order not to alienate the target audience (i.e., people who don't know music). The stage version is much better, and if you can get the original London cast recording, I highly recommend it. The singers have actually had a voice lesson or two.
RK: I found it depressing because of the story, not the execution.
Others: I'm hardly a connoisseur of either opera or music, but I have no doubt the execution of the story in its intended form would be superior to the movie.
I've never been to an opera or a musical play before, but I'd love to go some time. I'm not really even sure how to find out what's playing in Los Angeles and what's worth seeing.
Saw it a few months back. Just to see the guy's face, and what the big deal was.
Actually, I just don't get the overly romanticized plot. (SPOILERS FOLLOW, DON'T WHINE OR WHATEVER):
Phantom goes nuts, LET'S SING ABOUT IT!
Phantom kills a guy, LET'S SING ABOUT IT!
Phantom loses duel, LET'S SING ABOUT IT AND LET HIM GO!
Phantom kidnaps girl, LET'S SING ABOUT IT!
In my world, I would have ruined the rest of his face with one shot.
He did have the coolest theme song ever, though.
hehehe that is true that he had a killer theme song... I'm like the #1 fan of the Phantom of the opera but you have to agree the stage version was alot more scary than the movie version and I think the singing in the movie is not too good..... no talent at all, they cant sing anything; If you go to
the play you will love it and the actors in the play actually know how to sing.. Oh and the worst singer I think was the movie version's "Christine" character
I have never seen the play but have seen the movie. I agree that Raoul was annoying and i also agree that christine was too easily swayed. One minute she was deeply in loving with Raoul and then the niext she was dreamily looking at the phantom. I however disagree with John S. because each actor whether already having experience in singer before had to take 3 hours of singing lessons each day. My mother has seen the play and she says that although the singers in the movie are not as good as the singeers in the play, they are good. Anyways, I absolutely LOVED the movie (even though i HATE musical-like movies) and am now a HUGE fan of the Phantim fi the Opera (and his "killer" theme song)
Andrew lloyd webber his musical of phantom of the opera was made into a movie base on the musical it was a brilliant and sexy moive ever since chrtine was a little girl came to the opera to live to be part of the ballet chorus when her father died the phantom took her under his wing and taught her to sing christine never saw the phantom her teather only hears his voise calling her name she did'nt know that the phantom who lurks about the opera scareing everyone who live and work she thinks being to taught by a angle of music christine grew into a stunning young lady still being coached by the phantom who now fallen in love with her only ballet mistress madame giry christines singing teacher is the disfigured phantomwho haunts thr catacombs of the theatre christine gets to sing lead when carlotta the lead singer storms out of the show atfer the show meets up with her old childhood buddy and wealthly theatre parton the handsome Raoul and the pair fall in love with each other but when the phantom find out the stunning singer is seeing the wealthly theatre parton he plots to kidnap her to make his bride hear the end of the moive he goes on stage to sing the point of no return with christine the phantom is really sexy in this movie but christine knows she fancy the phantom just a little bit when he starts touching up her in the sing in the movie Raoul fears he might lose his love to this madman christine enjoy toying his feelings to back at him for kidnaping for her the frist time the night the show when she frist sing lead christine tack off his mask while still on stage with him has the audience draw back in fear see to his poor face with tears on christines face the phantom grabs hold of of the pretty girl and runs off with her back to lair in the catacombs raoul sets out to christine to get back when he gets to the lair christine dress in wedding frock will the phantom give ever the tow young lovebrids their freedom