Most theatregoers are familiar with the story. It’s 1870 Paris, and the mysterious opera ghost (Gerard Butler) develops a crush on an opera chorus girl called Christine (a teenaged Emmy Rossum). The facially disfigured Phantom uses his musical genius to tutor Christine vocally, and develops her into an ingénue. When the resident diva throws a fit, Christine steps into the limelight. Everyone loves Christine, including the new patron of the Opera Populaire, Raoul, the Viscount de Chagny (Patrick Wilson). The Phantom gets a little nuts and causes a few problems.

Visually, the film is astonishingly beautiful. The opera house will leave viewers with their jaws hitting the floor. Everything is lavishly elegant, and decorated in rich colours. It’s very romantic, and ties in nicely with the plot.

Vocally, the actors did a spectacular job with the material. Everyone, save the diva (Minnie Driver) sings his own role. Rossum trained with New York’s Metropolitan Opera and Wilson is a Broadway veteran. While he sounds good, he’s a bit too femme for the dashing lover Raoul, sporting some crap hair extensions, and looking like he would rather be shagging the Phantom than lusting after Christine. Rossum’s Christine is very innocent, and exactly what the character should be.

My absolute favourite is the drop-dead gorgeous Butler. He’s far from the perfect tenor of Crawford the world is used to but he does have a nice voice, and emotes the despair of his character – not to mention, the man is sexy as hell.

While the film is two and half hours long, it never feels like it’s dragging. Everything is fast-paced, and a visual whirlwind of eye candy. Ladies, leave the men at home. This is one treat best kept for us. It has fire, and Butler. What more could a girl need?

(5/5)

02 May 2005

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The Phantom Of The Opera