The Phantom of the Opera
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: 08/01/2005
Director: Joel Schumacher
Cast: Gerald Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson

By Uvia Chang/Flora Wang/Cara Steenstra Translated by Cara Steenstra

Named as the top of the four best musicals, the Phantom of the Opera has been seen by over 70 million people. Regrettably, this musical has yet to be brought into Taiwan, so we are lucky that the creator, Andrew Lloyd Webber, brings it to the big screen and, hence, a bigger audience.
The film version of the Phantom of the Opera is similar to the musical itself. The Paris Opera House is controlled by a mysterious figure known only as "the Phantom." He tutors a young chorus girl, Christine (played by Emmy Rossum), and falls deeply in love with her. However, with Christine's childhood sweetheart, Raoul, they form a complicated love triangle. Director Joel Schumacher uses the film narrative method to create a terrible yet beautiful love affair. The film version also includes a lot more scenes, such as the characters appearing backstage and their subplots have all been woven into the main story very naturally. An interesting part is where a newly added character, the dance teacher Ms. Giry, gives the Phantom's mysterious childhood background, thus explaining to the audience his inner struggle and pain.

The reason why the Phantom of the Opera captures so many hearts is, firstly, because of Webber's music. It intricately captures the characters' personality, so that when the music starts, it makes your skin tingle. The film version uses the original score plus 15 minutes of new score and a new closing theme. Secondly, Webber's strong element of love, with all three main characters continually struggling in a whirlpool of love, allows the audience to feel the futility of the tragic romance. This is completely different from the original novel's version, which emphasized the darkness of humanity and the terror brought on by the Phantom because he suffered terrible loneliness and lack of self esteem from his deformity.

Director Joel Schumacher also made a bold choice in this film version by deliberately picking the 18-year-old Emmy Rossum and Gerard Butler, who has never been in a musical before. When the kind and innocent chorus girl Christine meets the dangerous Phantom, an unsettling yet romantic atmosphere brews. Compared with the relationship between two childhood sweethearts, it creates a strong contrast between "sensuality" and "spirituality".