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DVD The Phantom of the Opera
Trading tragic romance for Faustian malevolence, the 1989 version of The Phantom of the Opera is a surprisingly good example of '80s horror. It was dismissed as gory trash by most critics (no doubt because Kevin Yagher's gruesome makeup effects are effectively revolting), but horror buffs will be more forgiving of this lush production, which ranks well above average for horror films of its time. Set in Victorian London and shot mostly in Budapest, Hungary (for period architecture), the film reunites director Dwight Little (Halloween 4) with "Freddie Krueger" himself, Robert Englund, who had worked together on the Nightmare on Elm Street-based TV series Freddie's Nightmares. It's a good pairing, as Englund does some of his finest work as the Phantom, seen here as a horribly disfigured composer who patches his scarred and mangled face with stitched-on flesh, and makes a deal with the devil to be immortalized through his music. His muse, as always, is the lovely diva-to-be Christine, and the casting of Jill Schoelen gives the film added cachet among genre fans (who will recognize her from the 1987 cult hit The Stepfather). While bearing little resemblance to Lon Chaney's 1925 classic, this Phantom is actually more loyal to Gaston Leroux's original novel, and therefore deserves as much acknowledgement as any other version of the story. Certainly not a classic, but well worth a look. --Jeff Shannon
A back-stage accident knocks New Yorker Jill Schoelen out and into her earlier incarnation as a 19th-Century opera singer in London. Madly in love with her is the Phantom (Robert Englund), a composer who sold his soul (and his face) to the Devil in exchange for musical immortality. Englund coaches Schoelen and eliminates anyone who interferes with her career. He will also stop at nothing to ensure that he and Schoelen are united forever.
We're a long way from Andrew Lloyd Webber, thank God. This is return to the out-and-out horror of the 1925 film. No cute little mask covering a teeny patch of a matinee idol face here. Instead, this Phantom sews the flesh of his victims onto his blasted features, temporarily adopting a face that can be seen in public (and the result is that Englund looks and sounds rather like a waxy Jack Palance). Gruesome and filled with murders, the film is like a particularly gory Hammer flick, with very atmospheric photography and a great, gothic feel. The rather classy look is surprising, given that the producer is veteran exploitationer Harry Alan Towers.
While not a patch on the Lon Chaney film, this version needn't hang its head in shame, either, and I'll wager that it will look even better in the wake of the new film -- the combined talents of Webber and director Joel Schumacher make for gloomy prospects indeed.
A classy slasher
1989's "Phantom of the Opera" is perhapes the truest adaptation of Gaston Leroux's original novel, though I think he would be pretty offended at the slasher movie mentality, the brutal violence and sick gore. Although that is why I loved it so much and remains one of my favorite movies. The story starts in modern day New York where a young actress is tring out for an opera. After an accident she is somehw transported to turn of the 19th Century London, where she is Christein Dea, an aspiring opera singer. Eventually she comes to the attention of Eric, the opera house's disfigured Phantom (Freddy Krueger himself Robert Englund). He sees her as the perfect performer for the opera he had sold his soul to the Devil (which was how he was disfigured in the first place) to create. By the way, if you recognise the music, it is from the opera "Faust". After removing Dea's compitition in grisly fashion, the Phantom kidnaps her and there is a sewer chase and stalk sequence that would make any "Halloween" or "Friday the 13th" film proud. 'Phantom' is directed by Dwight H. Little, who directed several horror movie, including the good "Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers", so he knows his way around a slasher flick. It was the '80s, so yes the murders were ten times gorier than they needed to be, but that is what horror was back then. What is extreamly suprising was the depth of the characters, especially Eric. The scene where he appears in a graveyard and almost manages to suduce Christein is very un-Freddy, and I appreciated it. He is really a love sick, hopeless romantic who just happens to maniacly enjoy slicing to pieces anyone who crosses him or Christein. Robert Englund actually shows he can be more than a psycho clown spewing out one liners in between kills (though he dose that a little here). He is good as the well intentened but deeply disturbed beau. I do not mean to over sell Englund as an actor, he will never be the next Laurence Olivia, but for the horror movie genere, he is more than a one trick pony. 'Phantom' also tried for and achived a spooky Gothic look that is unique for low budget slashers (it was filmed in Budapest, which is a beautiful city changed little from the 1800s) that rises it well above the standard slasher. It tried to be an art house slasher movie, and while a lot of people thought Englund was tring top make a second series character (and maybe he was), the effects were outstanding. It took a serious beating with critics and people didn't turn out in droves to see it like the would for "A Nightmare on Elm Street" or something. It was there loss.
Not Quite An 'Angel of Music'...
This one almost got a horrific FOUR stars, but I had to keep my nostalgia in check, at least a bit. After all, I can't just go around giving every fright flick I saw whilst growin' up a perfect rating, because then what little credibility I have left would be threatened.
Anyway, on to the film. Based on the movie and musical and book and God knows what else concerning the Phantom, a character created by Gaston Lereaux, the story is well-known...Christine is an opera hopeful who is given instruction and guidance by a mysterious figure, the Phantom (played by "Nightmare..." icon Robert Englund), who has an interest in more than just her singing voice. The Phantom takes off with the girl, coming into direct physical contact with her 'normal' boyfriend, who is determined to stop Christine from getting married in the sewer. Blah, blah, blah...
The two things this story does to deviate from the traditional tale set forth previously are as follows:
A) It ramps up the blood. Freddy..oops! I mean, The Phantom, dispatches those who stand in his way in the goriest fashion the early 90's-era Ratings Board would allow.
B) This one uses the present day (well, the late 80's) as a wraparound for the actual story. The more conventional portion of this tale is mostly a dream sequence that occurs when modern-day Christine gets conked on the noggin by a falling sandbag. And NO, I didn't just give away or ruin the ending of the movie.
Overall, it's good fun, but Phantom purists will probably hate it. Also look for an early Molly (TV's "SNL") Shannon appearance, which, if nothing else, proves that she couldn't really act back then, either.
The silent PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has probably been available in dozens of VHS and DVD editions over the years. Virtually all are based on the very heavily re-worked 1929 reissue, the version almost everyone knows--probably even unaware that it isn't the original release and how unlike the original film it is. In fact, the original 1925 version doesn't seem to exist any longer in a decent print: only scratchy, blurred, grainy "play-at-home" 16mm prints survive. Sadly, the original version contained better camera set-ups, better editing, a more coherent story, more consistent acting and direction, and it runs 107 minutes to the reissue's 92 (at the same 20 frames-per-second projection speed of the period).
Although it's not as bold as Oscar darling Chicago, The Phantom of the Opera continues the resuscitation of the movie musical with a faithful adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's blockbuster stage musical. Emmy Rossum glows in a breakout role as opera ingénue Christine Daae, and if phantom Gerard Butler isn't Rossum's match vocally, he does convey menace and sensuality in such numbers as "The Music of the Night." The most experienced musical theater veteran in the cast, romantic lead Patrick Wilson, sings sweetly but seems wooden. The biggest name in the cast, Minnie Driver, hams it up as diva Carlotta, and she's the only principal whose voice was dubbed (though she does sing the closing-credit number, "Learn to Be Lonely," which is also the only new song).
Leaden horror costumer that takes its tenuous starting point from the classic Gaston Leroux novel of the same name. The twist in this variation is that the Phantom was raised by telepathic rats in the subterranean caverns beneath the opera house. Thus our feral Phantom (Julian "Ratboy" Sands) develops an obsessive love for up-and-coming diva Christine (Asia Argento), and sets about to seduce her to his dark, rodent existence. Although beautifully photographed, with lots of ornate period detail to catch the eye, this is largely a by-the-numbers supernatural horror story with scant gory set pieces as diversions. Fans of Dario Argento will yell "Rats!" and all else will merely shrug. And why are the rats telepathic, anyway? Screenwriting credits go to Gerard Brach, best known for his many... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Julian Sands - Asia Argento Director(s): Dario Argento DVD Release Date: Released the 25 February 2003 Usually ships within 24 hours
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Words can't even describe how much I love this Phantom Of The Opera film! When my mother borrowed it from the library back in 2003, I was a bit skeptical to watch it because before watching this one, the only other one I saw which was in the 90's, was some horror version which I think was Dario Argento's version and it was so boring and the main storyline bored me. I hated it so I wasn't jumping for joy when I saw that my mom had borrowed this 1990 version. I know if I started with the Lon Chaney version, I would have been more excited because even though the Lon Chaney version isn't my favorite, it's a good film and I do like it but at least I've seen it since this 1990 one and that's all that matters. I then just decided and took a chance and watched it and man did I totally fall in... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Teri Polo - Charles Dance Director(s): Tony Richardson DVD Release Date: Released the 12 October 1999 This item is currently not available.
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This 1943 version of the horror story is more Technicolor musical than scare piece. Claude Rains plays the unfortunate, masked anti-hero, but he doesn't get the room to showcase a promising and sympathetic performance. Susanna Foster and Nelson Eddy, on the other hand, get plenty of screen time to warble. Well worth a visit just for the look of the film, which won an Oscar for cinematography. --Tom KeoghMore Info about this DVD Director(s): Arthur Lubin DVD Release Date: Released the 12 April 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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