‘The Phantom of the Opera’ called misguided movie
It’s easy to understand why the title character in “The Phantom of the Opera” snarls wildly when his mask is removed. He obviously doesn’t want to be recognized as part of this misguided movie musical.
Joel Schumacher, who with “Batman & Robin” destroyed the Caped Crusader franchise, directed this lifeless adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s highly enjoyable Broadway musical sensation, which opened almost two decades ago.
The 1870-set tale should deliver some romantic heat.
But the screen version proves about as erotically charged as the Liza Minnelli/David Gest wedding album.
More than $75 million was poured into this PG-13 picture about a chorus girl, Christine (sweet-voiced Emmy Rossum of “The Day After Tomorrow”), who is trained in the vocal arts by the Phantom (Glasgow native Gerard Butler of “Timeline”).
The mysterious scarred recluse lives in the shadows and is willing to go to any lengths to assure Christine of a leading role in the Paris opera.
He becomes insanely jealous when a wealthy and handsome suitor (Patrick Wilson of HBO’s “Angels in America”) falls in love with Christine, at which time the masked man transports the young woman to his lair far beneath the opera house.
On stage, “The Phantom of the Opera” benefits from lighting and distance that allows the title character – despite the vast age difference between him and Christine – to appear misguided but romantic.
On screen, however, everything is grossly magnified, turning his sick stalking of the innocent girl into an extremely creepy endeavor.
Some fans of the stage version (and I consider myself one) may be so carried away by Webber’s music that they’re willing to overlook the production’s blandness.
But for others, sitting through “The Phantom of the Opera” will provide as much holiday joy as being hit by a falling chandelier.
FILM REVIEW
“The Phantom of the Opera”
Grade: C-
Starring: Emmy Rossum, Gerard Butler and Patrick Wilson; screenplay by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Joel Schumacher, based on the 1908 novel by Gaston Leroux and the musical by Webber, Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe; produced by Webber and Eli Richbourg; directed by Schumacher.
Running Time: 141 minutes.
Parental Guide: PG-13 rating (violent elements, brief nudity).