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phantom fan wrote on 02/23/2005:

Having seen Phantom many times on Broadway I anxiously awaited the release of the movie. I was not disappointed! It is even better than the stage version. The film gives you more story line and a beginning, middle, and end. You will finally have the complete story of Christine, Raul, and the Phantom. The 3 leads are brilliant and Gerard Butler brings a wonderful sexiness and emotion to the Phantom. His singing is brilliant and gives you a sense of what a voice would sound like growing up in the dampness of the catacombs of the opera house. Emmy Rossum is a wonderful Christine and truly has the voice of an angel. Patrick Wilson makes a great Raul and has a wonderful singing voice.The chemistry between Christine and the Phantom, Christine and Raul is great. Wait until you see Christine and the Phantom sing "Point Of No Return" I was sweating in my seat from the passion and sex they were conveying! The sets are brillant, costumes lavish. Do yourself a favor and see this one several times before it leaves the theaters. I have pre-ordered my DVD but the experience won't be the same as it is on the big screen but I will be able to watch it over and over again.

Movie Lover (equinox2436@aol.com) wrote on 02/01/2005:

This film restored my faith in the movie musical. The moment the chandelier was lifted and the Overture began, my heart leapt and I was completely enraptured in the sights and sound of Paris and the infamous Opera House of the late 19th century. I was completely taken away by the gorgeous set design and feel of the film; you can tell a lot of care went into creating this world. The Masquerade Ball scene in particular is eye candy of the highest order. Of course, it can't be all show and no tell, and this is where the splendid acting comes in. The trio of Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum and Patrick Wilson really gave this film life and provided beautiful singing, though an honorable mention should be made to Miranda Richardson (one of my favorite actresses), who took an underwritten role and made it her own and it should be noted that she was the only main player who attempted to speak with a French accent (I'm a purist at heart). The music is as good as you would expect if you're a fan of the original play. Having the play translated to the big screen allows for a bigger sound and the orchestrations were just beautiful and brings a tear to your eye. Not all the songs work so well; the title song is, as it was back when the play debuted, more campy than effecting, with it's drum and guitar being a little out of place. Overall, I was enthralled and have already seen this film twice and am planning at least one more viewing before it leaves the theatres. Let this film take you away as the best films always do.