Phantom of the Opera/Survey
Dec. 28th, 2004 12:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
devilgrrlIf you haven't seen the movie and care not to have it spoiled, ignore what's behind I actually will endeavor to see this again. I went to see this with a great deal of trepidation. I love the book, I love the musical, and I did not see how it would make it over into movie format. I went to see it anyway because I am a huge glutton for punishment.
I was completely wrong about the movie. Totally and utterly. The cast, with the exception of Minnie Driver (while excellent as Carlotta does not sing for herself), is essentially semi-unknown. All three leads sing their own parts. I am especially impressed with Emmy Rossum. She indeed manages the high E at the end of the title song. I know from personal experience that that note is a bitch. Anyhow, the Phantom is really good, very sympathetic, and does a good job of being worshipfully in love with Christine until she betrays him. He portrays the conflict between loving her and just wanting her body sublimely. I love the way he shows his controlled lust.
Emmy Rossum is very good as a wide eyed ingenue. After all, she is only 18. She does well, also, portraying her desire for the Phantom, as well as the loss of innocence as she realises the Phantom is not her father. She does a good job of being torn between both Raoul and Erik.
God help me, even the guy who played Raoul was even marginally likeable, though a little foppish with his long hair.
The "present" scenes are done in sepia, which I like. However, the Opera House is not accurate and the story portrays it as having burned down during Don Juan Triumphant. More about that later. Mme. Giry is present at the auction, as well as Old Raoul. It takes place not in an auction house, but in the ruined shell of the Opera House. The play is set in 1870, as an interesting note. The Opera House was not completed until 1875 and the original book takes place in 1881. Aaaanyhow-- Think of Me's costumes are a bit lacking. I like the ones from the musical better. Christine in the starring role from Hannibal wears a wedding dress-like costume which I don't care for. Too much like what she wears in the end. The musical has more scene of her in church lighting candles for her father, a nod to the book.
It appears that the original set from the 1925 Lon Chaney version was used for some of the underground scenes. That makes me piddly with delight. I wish they had done a bit more with the Phantom's Lair, ie. closer to the original novel, but they do use the Chamber of Horrors, which also made me piddly.
The movie reminds me a bit of Moulin Rouge actually, come to think of it.
They do not bring the chandelier down at the end of Il Muto. I did not like that. It comes down, instead, at the end of Don Juan Triumphant. Masquerade scene does not have the amazing costumes of the musical and Red Death is also anticlimatic. I like Christine's dress better, however. I also like how Christine seems like she is essentially ready to ditch Raoul until the Phantom rips off her engagement rings (Your chains are still mine.)
Don Juan Triumphant is excellent with the exception of the damned Fosse-esque dancers in black that I want to get rid of. They suck and are distracting. I love how Christine and the Phantom fall through the floor/flame pit. It makes me happy. The last scene could have been a little more sensual, but it makes the Phantom seem like he is in love with her enough to not want to grope her.
They fucked up Apollo's Lyre. It does not look like the real one.
Interesting point: You don't see Erik's face until the dead last scene. The make-up is pretty good, though more Jason than ALW Phantom.
Anyhow, nice nod to the inference that Christine did, indeed, return to sleep with Erik and allow him to have the whole experience. She returns her ring to him before he disappears through a secret mirror before the mob can arrive. At the end of the film, when Raoul brings the monkey to Christine's grave, he finds the ring around a single red rose on her grave. He blanches nicely. The nod is "Beloved Wife and Mother". Susan Kay, in her extended version, contends that Christine's child is the son of Erik and not Raoul, conceived when she remained with him to bring back the ring.
I will, undoubtedly, go see this again and buy it when it comes out.
1. What time did you get up this morning?
11is
2. Diamonds or pearls?
Sapphires
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Phantom of the Opera (see above)
4. What is your favorite TV show? Drawn Together
5. What did you have for breakfast?
nothing
6. What is your middle name?
Lea
7. What is your favorite cuisine?
thai or chinese
8. What foods do you dislike?
pig products, processed cheese.
9. What is your favorite crisp flavor?
Reisling or green apples
10. What is your favorite CD at the moment?
nothing
12. What is your favorite DVD?
Shrek 2
13. Favorite sandwich?
The Gobbler: turkey, stuffing, mayo, and cranberry sauce
14. What is your favorite pie?
mm, squash chiffon
15. What characteristic do you despise?
assholeishness
16. Favorite item of clothing?
my lime green bra with the butterfly on it
17. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation,
where would you go?
Paris or Antartica
18. What color is your bathroom? Beige
19. Favorite brand of clothing?
Levis and any top that fits my boobs
20. Where would you retire to?
meh....
21. Favorite time of the day?
twilight
22. What was your most memorable birthday?
They were all memorable in a bad way
23. Where were you born? Rutvegas , VT
24. Favorite sport to watch? baseball or hockey
25. Who do you least expect to send this back to you?
My lj ?
26. Person you expect to send it back first?
Laura will yoink it
27. What fabric detergent do you use?
Arm & Hammer right now
28. Coke or Pepsi? diet
29. Are you a morning person or a night owl? fuck no, I am not a morning person. Ask Steven. I don't talk, I breathe fire and growl.
30. What is your shoe size? 8 and a half to 9
21. Do you have any pets? The Fishies: Ugly and Godzilla the Baby
I was completely wrong about the movie. Totally and utterly. The cast, with the exception of Minnie Driver (while excellent as Carlotta does not sing for herself), is essentially semi-unknown. All three leads sing their own parts. I am especially impressed with Emmy Rossum. She indeed manages the high E at the end of the title song. I know from personal experience that that note is a bitch. Anyhow, the Phantom is really good, very sympathetic, and does a good job of being worshipfully in love with Christine until she betrays him. He portrays the conflict between loving her and just wanting her body sublimely. I love the way he shows his controlled lust.
Emmy Rossum is very good as a wide eyed ingenue. After all, she is only 18. She does well, also, portraying her desire for the Phantom, as well as the loss of innocence as she realises the Phantom is not her father. She does a good job of being torn between both Raoul and Erik.
God help me, even the guy who played Raoul was even marginally likeable, though a little foppish with his long hair.
The "present" scenes are done in sepia, which I like. However, the Opera House is not accurate and the story portrays it as having burned down during Don Juan Triumphant. More about that later. Mme. Giry is present at the auction, as well as Old Raoul. It takes place not in an auction house, but in the ruined shell of the Opera House. The play is set in 1870, as an interesting note. The Opera House was not completed until 1875 and the original book takes place in 1881. Aaaanyhow-- Think of Me's costumes are a bit lacking. I like the ones from the musical better. Christine in the starring role from Hannibal wears a wedding dress-like costume which I don't care for. Too much like what she wears in the end. The musical has more scene of her in church lighting candles for her father, a nod to the book.
It appears that the original set from the 1925 Lon Chaney version was used for some of the underground scenes. That makes me piddly with delight. I wish they had done a bit more with the Phantom's Lair, ie. closer to the original novel, but they do use the Chamber of Horrors, which also made me piddly.
The movie reminds me a bit of Moulin Rouge actually, come to think of it.
They do not bring the chandelier down at the end of Il Muto. I did not like that. It comes down, instead, at the end of Don Juan Triumphant. Masquerade scene does not have the amazing costumes of the musical and Red Death is also anticlimatic. I like Christine's dress better, however. I also like how Christine seems like she is essentially ready to ditch Raoul until the Phantom rips off her engagement rings (Your chains are still mine.)
Don Juan Triumphant is excellent with the exception of the damned Fosse-esque dancers in black that I want to get rid of. They suck and are distracting. I love how Christine and the Phantom fall through the floor/flame pit. It makes me happy. The last scene could have been a little more sensual, but it makes the Phantom seem like he is in love with her enough to not want to grope her.
They fucked up Apollo's Lyre. It does not look like the real one.
Interesting point: You don't see Erik's face until the dead last scene. The make-up is pretty good, though more Jason than ALW Phantom.
Anyhow, nice nod to the inference that Christine did, indeed, return to sleep with Erik and allow him to have the whole experience. She returns her ring to him before he disappears through a secret mirror before the mob can arrive. At the end of the film, when Raoul brings the monkey to Christine's grave, he finds the ring around a single red rose on her grave. He blanches nicely. The nod is "Beloved Wife and Mother". Susan Kay, in her extended version, contends that Christine's child is the son of Erik and not Raoul, conceived when she remained with him to bring back the ring.
I will, undoubtedly, go see this again and buy it when it comes out.
1. What time did you get up this morning?
11is
2. Diamonds or pearls?
Sapphires
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Phantom of the Opera (see above)
4. What is your favorite TV show? Drawn Together
5. What did you have for breakfast?
nothing
6. What is your middle name?
Lea
7. What is your favorite cuisine?
thai or chinese
8. What foods do you dislike?
pig products, processed cheese.
9. What is your favorite crisp flavor?
Reisling or green apples
10. What is your favorite CD at the moment?
nothing
12. What is your favorite DVD?
Shrek 2
13. Favorite sandwich?
The Gobbler: turkey, stuffing, mayo, and cranberry sauce
14. What is your favorite pie?
mm, squash chiffon
15. What characteristic do you despise?
assholeishness
16. Favorite item of clothing?
my lime green bra with the butterfly on it
17. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation,
where would you go?
Paris or Antartica
18. What color is your bathroom? Beige
19. Favorite brand of clothing?
Levis and any top that fits my boobs
20. Where would you retire to?
meh....
21. Favorite time of the day?
twilight
22. What was your most memorable birthday?
They were all memorable in a bad way
23. Where were you born? Rutvegas , VT
24. Favorite sport to watch? baseball or hockey
25. Who do you least expect to send this back to you?
My lj ?
26. Person you expect to send it back first?
Laura will yoink it
27. What fabric detergent do you use?
Arm & Hammer right now
28. Coke or Pepsi? diet
29. Are you a morning person or a night owl? fuck no, I am not a morning person. Ask Steven. I don't talk, I breathe fire and growl.
30. What is your shoe size? 8 and a half to 9
21. Do you have any pets? The Fishies: Ugly and Godzilla the Baby
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2004-12-28 05:18 pm (UTC)Part of me wants to say that the variety of corset she was wearing would have caused breathlessness if she tried to move around too much. Most of me wants to say that her bosoms are there for the men who are dragged against their wills. Her bosoms were mesmerising, though, weren't they? Like watching jell-o?
Now we see what happens when I try to do too much at one time ^_^ Glad you liked the movie as well. Are you also a fan of the book and/or musical?
(no subject)
Date: 2004-12-28 05:35 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-12-28 10:50 pm (UTC)Oh, and if you get a copy of the original novel, I recommend the Lowell Bair translation. It's the most in depth.