Some things! Some things are bigger than others, so it may take awhile to appear. It will be worth the wait!
Other reviews to come!!
Phantom in Vancouver Review
By: Mary L Martin
Well after waiting for the Phantom to come back to Vancouver after seeing it in my teens, it finally came!
Broadway across Canada put on the ALW’S Version of the phantom of the opera. POTO came across Canada as well as stopping in some places around the USA too. It was here in Vancouver at The Queen Elizabeth theatre from Aug.2nd-27th 2006. I saw it on the 25th and sat in the Mezzanine which is under the balcony seats, but above the orchrastra seats. I was so happy and excited to finally see it once again and knew it was going to be a magical night.
After seeing the movie it’s hard to get into it live because in the movie they can do more. It was still an excellent piece of art.
The production wasn’t as great as it should have been. The stage set looked really small, so the further back you were the harder to see. Since we’re not to sure about the budget, I can’t judge it to much. However, during the lake scene that the Phantom is known for could have been done better. They could have added more candles and certain kinds of candles, they all seamed the same and a little fake, so it doesn’t give us that same feeling for us hard core fans.
I did love the manikin they used for Erik’s obsession with Christine, it looked so real.
I also enjoyed the set surrounding the stage. I extremely loved the sound for the musical, the echo was outstanding!
The casting was all right. I really enjoyed Madame Giry played by Patti Davidson- Gorbea, Carlotta Giudicelli played by Kim Stengel and Ubaldo Piangi played by John Whitney.
I didn’t like the actress who played Christine Daee, Jennifer Hope Wills or the actor who plays Raoul, Adam Monley, which is weird because I really do love those characters. I just didn’t get into them, there acting was armature and there voices were ok, but it might have been a bad night, in either way, they could have had a better performance. It’s not that great a musical, if the supporting roles are better.
The best part of the musical was the man behind the mask, The Phantom and it was well played by John Cudia. When I first saw the commercial with him, I debated if he would be any good, but once I heard him sing, all doubts flew on by. He was surely one of the best phantoms I’ve ever seen live, every time I heard him sing, I cried. I loved how he took of his cape; he did it so well I almost thought he was the Phantom and forgot it was a musical. He was amazing and he should go down as one of the best phantoms ever!!
As he took a bow at the end, everyone got up before he even walked out onto the stage and cheered, that shows how great he sure was. The best part of the musical was he.
My favourite part of the musical was when after the song, All I ask of you was done, a statue came down from the ceiling with the Phantom on top of it as he sang” You will curse the day you did not do, All the phantom asked of you!”
I also loved the scene where The phantom meets Christine after she sings” Wishing You were somehow here again” that was magical and I love it when the Phantom says” “Wondering child, so lost so helpless…”
Even though there could have been some things added to make the musical as power full as it is, it was still worth seeing it. So if you missed it this time, no matter the doubts or if you think you’ve already seen it so you don’t have to… go anyway! Everyone does it different always. I give this 4 out of 5 masks.
My Phantom of the opera review for Gaston Leroux's version.
<-------Gaston Leroux
The most intresting conflict of this book is that Gaston writes it as though he has prove that The Phantom was real and has prove from meeting with people in the tale such as MM Richard and Monclarmin, by little Meg and Mmm Giry and by Sorelli. He also states that he meet with the Persian and he told Leroux everything he knew cause no one else would listen to him.
To use readers though, all these charcters are just from his mind in the tale ti spice up te book, but who knows maybe they were real people? Gaston even says he's seen the papers of Christine Diary's himself. We will never know if they were real people and if this tale is true, but one thing for sure, this story has changed the world and has brought some light to other people as well.
Introduction to the book by: Gaston Leroux.....
The Opera ghost really existed. He was not, as was long believed,a creature of the imagination of the artists, the superstition of the managers, or a product of the absurd and impressionable brains of the young ladies of the ballet, their mothers, the box-keepers, the cloak-room attendants or the concierge.
Yes, he existedin flesh and blood, although he assumed the complete appearanceof a real phantom; that is to say, of a spectral shade.
For those who don't know the tale of The Phantom of the opera it's based on a masked man, named Erik who lived beyond the opera house. He falls in love with Christne Daa'e, a young opera singer because of her voice, and beauty. For his obsession, he taught her how to sing and kept making her think he was her angel of music. She believed the angel was her father, who she adored because he told her "he would send her an angel of music"before he pasted on. Erik thought she would fall in lve with him, but she was already in love with Raoul. Erik thought that he could make her fall in love with her if she had to chose between life or death and destroying the world. So Erik thought for sure he would win. I won't tell you the ending cause I don't want to spoil the real version for you. So I hope you do read the orginal story of The Phantom.
Finally, it's thw way that he wrote the story to make you think that he was actually there during the story while it happened. It's a weird way to write a story, but maybe it was to make it sound more intresting or more believable that it was real. We may never know what he was thinking when he wrote the tale beyond the lake, but if you love The Phantom then you will read it, cause it's what made the Phantom come alive. It might be dull, but the best part is the ending where Raoul and the persian where trying to save Christine. Its there where you can read where Erik is really talented at creating things. Most of us know, Andrew Lloyd Webber made this book better than it is, but Andrew doesn't follow the whole book either. However, its still the closet one yet to the orginal Leroux version. I hope you read this book because Leroux's tale is the TRUE tale of the
Phantom of the opera.
I give this book
My favorite lines from this book:
"Little Lotte thought of everything and nothing. Her hair was gold as the sun's rays and her soul as clear and blue as her eyes. She wheedled her mother, was kind to her doll, took great care of her frock and her little her red shoes and fiddle, but most of all loved, when she went to sleep, to hear the angel of music.."
Little Christine asked her father if he had heard the angel of music. But Daddy Daa'e shook his head sadly; and then his eyes lit up, as he said:"You will hear him one day my child! When I am in Heaven, I will send him to you!"
Joesph Buquets description:
"He is extraordinarily thin and his dress-coat hangs on a skelton frame. His eyes are so deep that you can hardly see the fixed pupils. All you see is two black holes, as in a dead man's skull. His skin, which is stretched across his bones like a drumhead, is not white, but dirty yellow. His nose is so little worth talking about that you can't see it side-face; and the absence of that nose is a horrible thing to look at.
All the hair he has is three of four long dark locks on his forehead and behind the ears."
Erik: Christine, You must love me! and Christine's voice, infinitely sad and trembling, as though accompined by tears replied. How can you talk like that, when I sing only for you?
My Phantom of the Opera movie review
(check out the mask for the ratings I made. Best mask out of 5.)
BY: Mary L. Martin
Finally the wait is over, the musical hits the big screen. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been waiting since I was in elementary school. Believe me, it was worth the wait. There are a few things that I like when there are things in the movie that could have been better, but I still give a 10 out of 10.
When I first heard about the movie, I was wondering why they didn’t have any big names to attract more people. The only two names I knew were Minnie Driver and Gerard Butler.
I also wondered why they would have Gerard as The Phantom because he was younger than the character (The Phantom is expose to be in his 50’s or 60’s) at that time and he’s not Scottish either, he was born in France. In the beginning of the movie, I was hypnotized after I saw him as the Phantom. I’m so glad they didn’t chose anyone else and didn’t put Michael Crawford as The Phantom although many people wanted to see that.
When I saw Gerard as The Phantom you could see Erik threw him. How Gerard moved, showed his emotions and spoke etc. It was exactly the way I though Erik would be like, if it was he. Gerard’s full lips, deep eyes and the shape of his face were also exactly how I pictured Erik. I agree with Joel Schumacher that when He saw Gerard, he saw Erik threw him. (When asked about why he casted Gerard for the part.) It’s to bad with all the conversy that went on putting Gerard as The Phantom because I’m sure he should have gotten an Oscar for that. I’m glad I’m not the only one whose life has changed because of the Phantom.
Minnie Driver was unbelievably good in it. I never had much respect for her before, but now I do after seeing her in that. SHE’S SO COOL and has me laughing all the way out of the theatre. I also loved her new song for the film “Learn to be lonely.” 
They couldn’t have chosen a better Raul because every time Patrick Wilson sang, my heart just melted away. He’s such a talented actor and once again they chose the actor well enough to how I thought the character was. Thumbs up on that, Andrew!
Now, before I say anything about Emmy Rossum (don’t get me wrong I like her as a person and think she’s a talented singer) it just took sometime to actually like her as Christine Dae’e. I just think the actor, who played Meg, Jennifer Ellison would have been a better fit. I think Jennifer did a way better job in acting and singing that she should have gotten more credit than she did. I think Jennifer would have played a better Christine and Emmy as Meg, but that is my only opinion, I would like to hear what you have to say about this.
The special effects were outstanding for when the lights came on and they made the opera house alive again to when in “All I ask of you” number at the end, The Phantom jumped up on the statue and said “You will curse the day you did not do, all the phantom asked of you” was on of my favourite parts of the movie.
The dancing was amazing, the costumes were unspeakable awesome and all the young actors will be climbing up the ladder to stardom one day.
The only thing I would have concentrated on was the make up. The face for the Phantom didn’t look that bad at all, just like someone who was deformed. They could have touched up more upon that and should have based it upon the Phantom in the 1925 silent movie. It was alright though, but not terrifying enough as he was expose to be. 
My favourite part of the movie was when The Phantom brought Christine down to his chamber. All though other critics said it looked too much like a batman movie, they were wrong. The Phantom came out long before than and was what made the movie special.
Overall I give it a 10 out of 10, even though some changes could have been made. Once you see it as many times as I did, everything just grows on you. Either way, I loved it and it should have won more awards, but all that matters is that it has won an award to my heart. Thank you Andrew for making The Phantom a movie and giving us Phantom fans all something more to hold on too. You’re amazing!
Robert Englund as the Phantom review
This version starts off in present day as a young girl named Christine Daae who meets a friend named Meg at the library. Meg has come across sheet music called "Don Juan" by Erik Destlei. Christine practice’s singing it at the library and sees blood on the sheet music and over her hands. They both read about Erik, how he was obsessed over a girl and kidnapped her. He also was a composer by day, but serial killer by night, who killed over 15 people in
The future Christine sings Don Juan at an audition and a sac falls hitting glass. The Phantom calls Christine back to the past to relive Christine's life is the past. We find that The Phantom made a deal with the devil to make his music become famous forever. In return, the Phantom gives his soul and the devil turns his face to ugliness so no one would love him. The only way the Phantom can be destroyed is if his music is.
The future Christine goes back to her time by knocking a candle over in Erik's domain. However, Erik follows Christine to her time and once Christine realizes that' he's back she destroys his music and the Phantom is over. Or is he?
What I didn't like about the movie
This version is confusing, but a mystery that keeps you watching. It's full of murder and obsession as Christine relives another life. The thing I didn't appreciate about this story and many other Phantom versions is how they say it's based on the Gaston Leroux tale, but they re do the tale. It looks bad on Leroux's name in my opinion. There is no Roaul, but a Richard who try’s to save Christine but doesn't. I also didn't like how they said Erik made a deal with the devil to make his music famous and that's why his face because disfigured. We all know the truth and that couldn't really happen. Why do they change the story around?
Opps, they forgot the most important part about the Phantom, His mask! I'll tell you what they used instead later.
What I liked about the movie
The best part about the movie was the lead actor, Robbrt Englund well known as a nightmare on
The movie forgot to use the half white mask that the Phantom is famous for. Instead they use plastic faces that Erik puts on and takes off with sewing it to his face and cleaning it throughout the show. It's really gross, but you realize exactly what Erik would have looked like without the plastic faces. If you can't look at that, than you wouldn't really be able to love Erik because he problem looked worse. It's what's on the inside that counts! Props for the make up! It would have been better, if they added the famous mask.
Lastly, I liked how they brought Christine to the past to relive Christine's life. It's confusing, but worth the trip. There have been many versions, but at least this one is re-told in someone else's shoes. (Kind of)
Favorite Quotes...
(In the beginning displayed at the opening)
Pray for them who giveth their immortal soul unto Satan... For each is damned to relive that wrecthed life... through all time.
St. Jean Vitus of Rouen writen on the day of his execucation Mar.7th 1544.
(Erik to Christine)
You love music, I am the music. Our souls are one, now you are married to the music.
Only love and music are forever.
Richard White in the Phantom
A new version of the musical, I just found out that was expose to come out before Andrew Llyod Webber's version. If it wasn't for Anrew introducing me to The Phantom, I would have loved this musical even more, but my respect for him is high. I wanted to share with you this musical in case you were like me and never heard of this verson.
In 1993, these guys had the rights to the Phantom by Gaston Leroux and wanted to put togather a musical with unanswered questions. But because of Andrew Llyod Webber's success, it didn't go off as a hit for the longest time. This verson is differnt than Andrew Llyod Webbers. They wanted to show people how The Phantom meet Christine and how she fell in love with him. They wanted to make people learn to love Erik more and it does just that.I hope you check out this version because it's more about Erik than the love story of Raul and Christne as Andrew Llyod Webber did. It was shown on NBC, so if you'd like to find out more about it you can write to them i'm sure. The best two songs on this soundtrack is You are Music, Without Your music and My true love. I like this story better because it shows Erik as a prince of darkness rather than someone who is destroying a love and murdering people. It makes him look more sweet as he is. I hope you check it out.
However, it did finally because successfull and ran on NBC as a two part mini-series. Check it out if you can. I enjoyed the soundtrack and story even though I didn't see the musical. If I didn't have that much repect that I do for Webber, I would say it was better, but since I do, I'll say it is just as good. You can take that in whichever way you do.
To find out more about this version of the Phantom vist this website by clicking here:
The Phantom of Manhattan review
For any Phantom fan who wonders what happened to The Phantom after the musical should read this book.
The story starts with a preface of Gaston Leroux's work on the story and how some things didn't make since of the truth and explains why. He also gives background on Leroux and the Opera House.(You can see those notes on my extra pages)
Forsyth also states at the end that you can't blame Gaston for his faults which is true.
The story starts with Antoinetter Giry with the confession on her death bed with a priest, that you later fully understand. She tells the priest about the story of the Phantom. Later, she gets a messenger to try to track down, Erik and has to deliver a note to him. Throughout the book, Christine Daee' comes back to Manhattan to sing at the new opera, made by no other than The Phantom himself.
Throughout the book people are wondering who the Phantom is. He met another outcast eariler, who helps Erik becomes who he is. Giry tells Erik the truth about what happened after he left the opera house and that is why Erik brought Christinee back to him. At the end Erik gets the life he always dreamed of and what he always desired to have throughout the novel. I'm sure all Phantom fans would be proud that this book is the offical continuation of the Phantom and will enjoy the book and ending. With all past charcters of the musical and including more.
The only part that I didn't like about the book was the ending. It took to long to get to the point as a journalist who wetnissed everything, explained what mistakes in journalism he made and finaly got to the point. The ending was worth the wait.
What I love about the novel was how Fredrick had other charcters describe what happend to other people and through there journals that it made you feel as though you were present too.
I really recomend this book expecially since Andrew Llyod Webber got him to write the contiuation. Who knows maybe this will be a sequal to the classic tale we all love so dear.
Favorite Quotes from the book:
Erik: But even if I am to be repulsed yet again, everything has changed. I can look down from this high eyrie onto the heads of the human race I so loathe, but now I can say: You can spit on me, defile me, jeer at me, revile me, but nothing you can do will hurt me now. Through the filth and through the rain, through the tears and through the pain, my life's not been in rain; I have a son.
Christinee and Erik meet in the house of mirriors....
SHE: of course, my Master of music. But I thought....
HE: That I was dead? No, Christine, my love, not me.
SHE: My love? Do you still?...
HE: Always and forever. Untill I die. In spirit you are still mine, Christine. I made the singing star, but could not keep her.
The most intresting part of the book was how Fredrick came up with the last name of Erik. I wonder how and will hope found out why he chose to name him.... Erik Mulheim.
The Phantom of the opera companion review...
If you wanted to know something about the Phantom of the opera, this is the book to read. Even if you didn't like the movie it will answer why Andrew did some things to the movie and give you more of a background to the classic movie and more. One reason why I wanted to read was to find out why the wait. Well they have an interview with A.L.W and one of the questions was just that. They thought people lost intrest in musical films, but since Chicago came out and it was a hit, they knew it would still work out and that people were still intrested. There are other amazing questions with answeres that you should read.
It also has an insight with the Phantom's history in films, information about Gaston Leroux, info about the Phantom as a musical, interviews with A.L.W, Joel, the cast and more. In addition they have behind the scene photo's of the movie and musical. The best part about the book was that they included the screen play. There were a few things that were changed and it is sweet to read it and know what they all know. For any Phantom fan this is a book you should read or own and if you are an inspring film maker, studying the screen play is a treat to the book. I give it 5 mask out of 5.
The Phantom of the opera review for the 1925 version.
When I watched this version of the Phantom was almost as through I was watching the ALW version with no music and sound. A few changes were made, but not many. It was alittle disapointing to me because of that and even though I had no music on< I could hear the music from ALW in my head through differnt parts, which were ok I guess. Than again it's not there fault, ALW got the idea from this version anyways.
If you have never seen a slient film before, this is the version you should see first. A slient film is in black and white with no sound or music. There are words on display to let you know what's going on. It's seamed alittle boring at first, but it started to get me more focussed and locked into the story. It's even scareir that way.
For those who have seen the Ander Llyod Webber version it is almost the same up to the point as Roaul runs off looking for Christne as The Phantom kindnaps her. Roaul meets an unkown charcter throughout the movie who later turns out to be, Ledoux, the head of the secret police, who has been following the Phantom for months. Ledoux helps Roaul search for Christne. They both come across a messenger who warns them to go back, but they don't listen.
As a mob goes after Erik for his murders, Christne pleads The Phantom to let her lover and Ledoux free as they are trapped in the Phantoms web more than once. Erik relizes them, but takes Christne with him. As the carrige falls apart, Erik leaves Christne and takes off as the mob chases him. Roaul is there to tak Christine back home. The mob continues to hunt him down and catches up to him by the bank of the river. The angry mob beats and throws him into the water. Than it is, unfortunally over.
I enjoyed the movie, but the ending was terriable. Instead of the Phantom getting away like in other versions he is beaten as he always has been. Not a good ending to me. I know it's expose to be a horror movie and most people want to see the bad guy die, but that's not the way it should have ended.
Other than the ending, I loved the movie. The actors, execpially Lon Changy will always be known as the greatest Phantom. Having no sound makes you apart of the film and you're always looking forward to the reading to know what's going to happen next.
The makeup was outstanding and did you know, they use Lon Changy's real face? They used things to lift it up the way it was. Amazing! I know they are putting this version in to color, but that is going to reuin it. You should get a copy before there are no more.
Favorite quotes:
"If I am the Phantom it is because man's hatred has made me so. Men once knew me as Erik, but for many years I have lived in these cellars, a nameless legend."
" Look not upon my mask-think rather of my devotion which has brought you the gift of song."
I enjoy this film because of the ending, but the beginning is very dull. Once again, this version doesn't follow the Leroux book as it states it does, but at least it was an alright movie.
It all starts with showing how the new owner, Lord Ambrose was a jerk and uses his power for his own advantage.
There is a man in love with Christine, but his name is Mr. Hunter. Christine and Hunter try to find out who is the voice Christine hears and to find an answer to who is doing all the murders in the opera house.
As Christine is kidnapped by the Phantom and brought to his dominie, Hunter finds them while he follows the clues to this mystery. They all come face to face. The Phantom turns out to be Professor Prebera, a young and handsome musician. He was trying to get his 10 years of work published by Lord Ambrose. Prebera finds out that Ambrose signed his name to his music and he wouldn't give it back. In anger, Prebera goes to the printers to rip up the music Ambrose stole.
On purpose, the place went up in flames and by accident, gasoline splashed onto his face. Professor got out and ended down below the opera House followed by a stream. A dwarf who also hid himself from the world pulled him out and served him since. He didn't know anything about him as he couldn't speak, but he saved Prebera's life. The Phantom begged Christine to sing his Opera as he knew he wouldn't live long. The Phantom watched his opera from
At the end, the dwarf was on top of the chandelier that Christine was under. As it was ripping, he jumped on to the other rope. As it started to tear, Christine didn't know what was going on as she was giving her bow. Hunter screamed for her and so The Phantom leaped from
I like it because he finally got his dream come true while he saved a life. He pushed Christine to sing, but not to love him. Christine and Hunter were both on his side which made it great and knowing that he had a friend down below made the movie magical.
Although the acting could have been better and should have given The Phantom real name, I give it 3 masks out of 5.
Favourite Quotes
You think that I have not suffered. (Erik to Christine)
Sing, use the beautiful gift, God has given you.
(I like that line because the actor says it with passion and that he knows there is a God.)
Review comming soon...
HERE YOU CAN SEE WHAT THIS NOVEL BY GASTON LEROUX HAS CREATED. FROM CERTAIN MOVIES DONE IN DIFFERNT LANGUAGES TO MANY DIFFERNT VERSIONS OF PAST PHANTOM FILMS.
ERIK'S STORY HAS CREATED ALL OF THIS. AMAZING, ISN'T IT?
There's lots more, but way to many to add all the photo's. check out this link for the archives.
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