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Phantom of the Opera film

 
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idcowden



Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 67

PostPosted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 9:22 am    Post subject: Phantom of the Opera film Reply with quote

Has anyone else seen this load of twaddle?

My wife and I watched it last night on DVD anticipating a pleasant evening of film watching and were amazed by how poor the film was. The singing was all very amdram, the acting was negligable and the volume seemed to leap from inaudible to window rattling far too frequently.

The vocals never matched the action or setting, the pace of the music never matched the situation, and it was incredibly boring in places. Emily Rossum only had one expression for the entire film!

If you want to see Phantom - see it on stage. Don't bother with the DVD.

Amazing that ALW would even let the film go out.

Iain
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dottie-may



Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 56

PostPosted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 5:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This opens the whole debate on filming successful stage shows!

Why bother casting actors who can't sing and have to be dubbed (although Minnie Driver can sing, just not opera!) or singers who can't act when there are so many talented, seasoned performers who would be fantastic.

Personally, I would much prefer to see the actual show, filmed properly, rather than a 'film of the show'. The Producers is another example of not quite hitting the mark IMO.

It can and has been done brilliantly - Our House and the Les Mis TAC as well as several Sondheim shows to name a few - and there are many opera DVDs filmed live.

Either producers don't think it's worth the cost or they believe it will affect bums on seats.
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idcowden



Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 67

PostPosted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 9:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Unfrotunately film makers tend to want "stars" to sell the movie. Voice Dubbing has a long established history, and is unlikely to end.

Personally I liked the Producers as a movie, a show and a movie of the show. That said, I preferred Lee Evans on stage to Matthew Broderick in the film, but that was just because Lee really made you believe that he needed his security blanket!

I'm with you on the filming of musicals properly. I guess producers are scared that if they sell a film of the show it'll deter people from going to see it. Personally I think the reverse is true. I have a few CDs from the back of lorries which actually persuaded me to go and see a show in the flesh!

Iain
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Ian Robinson
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Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 3608
Location: Chorley, Lancashire

PostPosted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm not a film director, but watching Musical Films always makes me want to be - I'm sure I could do a better job than most of those! Somehow, the vibrancy of a show gets lost on the journey from stage from to screen.

I think the Phantom movie's OK, really, although it could have been a lot better. At least it really tries to be big and filmic. I think the only real thing wrong with it is that it came 10 years too late.

But what works on stage can look odd on screen - Richard Attenborough abandoned his plans for a Les Miserables movie because the way characters keep singing instead of talking didn't work for him.

Even now, most musical films abandon that technique - when they suddenly bring it into Dreamgirls (a successful adaptation, though I never saw the show) it seems strange. I know people who have found it baffling.

There's also a problem with performances - while someone might be good at emoting for Row Z it can look unnatural on screen. I think this is one of the problems with Matthew Broderick in The Producers. He should have known better, but it does show why you sometimes end up with film stars rather than stage stars.
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Natasha
Little Miss Lovely Smile


Joined: 09 Dec 2006
Posts: 790

PostPosted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 3:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Look, Gerard Butler is hot. Undressed, he's a god - great packing!
But as in, 'PS I Love You', in Phantom, he stinks like a dead cat.
Besides Andrew wotshisface, deserves a damned good slap for being an ugly, pervy, rich person with dreadful taste in trousers Wink
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Heloise



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 237

PostPosted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was also hugely disappointed by the film of Phantom. The director of the film Joel Schumacher, had a lot to do with the casting over the movie.

I to would rather have stage shows recorded for dvd rather than seeing below parr films. I don't think it would put people off going to see the show, if they are really worried about that wait until the show finishes before they release it. In most cases this wouldn't be a long wait. Very few shows run longer than a few years and those that do, it wouldn't hurt anyway. Les Miserables would work in this format better than on the big screen. Although I'd personally would rather be able to buy a copy of the OLC on dvd, even if I'd have to wait over 20 years to get my hands on it Wink Smile Laughing
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