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The
much awaited Andrew Lloyd Webber musical-turned-film,
"Phantom of the Opera", has
hit the big screen. Directed by Joel
Schumacher ("Phone Booth",
"Flawless"), this one is sure
to be a hit among Webber fans. Spanning
over two hours, most of the movie is
set to music, and does so boldly.
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Unfortunately,
I don't see "Phantom" reaching
past its targeted audience, but I do
predict it will be somewhat a success
in the hearts and minds of Webber fans.
Aside from the musical aspect, what
will be most acclaimed will be be the
visual nuances. Great care was put into
the details, from costumes and scenery
to every staged shot.
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The
young and lovely Emmy Rossum plays Christine,
in the story of a chorus girl turned
diva thanks to the coaching and intimidation
of the Phantom (Gerard Butler). Christine's
whole world gets turned upside down
when the mysterious Phantom makes his
presence known in a fit of jealousy
when the suitor Vicomte de Chagny (Patrick
Wilson) tries to woo her.
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Minnie
Driver ("Ella Enchanted",
"Good Will Hunting"), while
playing the diva Carlotta well and taking
on the role of comic relief, perhaps
stands out to a fault as the most recognized
face throughout the film. This is an
almost unfortunate aspect, being that
she is a minor character whose brief
performance stays too long in mind.
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Miranda
Richardson, who plays Madame Giry, was
perfectly cast. (She was nominated for
a Golden Globe this month for her role
as Queen of England in PBS's "The
Lost Prince"). She is entirely
believable as the one who knows the
truth behind the plot's mystery.
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Fans
of the musical must see this one, as
all the original songs are performed
well and scored in good taste. One complaint
people might make is the lack of effort
in lip-synching, and I wonder if "Phantom"
was filmed in this regard on purpose.
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I
was pleased to find "Phantom"
wasn't visually a two-hour music video.
I doubt its creators intended on capturing
the same audience that applauded "Chicago"
and "Moulin Rouge". I believe
they made it for fans of "Phantom
of the Opera", and to do it well.
For that integrity, I applaud them.
Photo
by Warner Bros. Pictures
-K. Tanaka
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