Dec 04
24
The Phantom of the Opera
I have seen the stageplay back in London, UK, 1996. I still remember it as one of the best stageplay I’ve ever seen. So, for those who never seen “The Phantom of the Opera” on stage and want to know how it looks like or want to remember the feeling of watching it on stage, this movie is highly recommended. For those who are expecting to see a “normal movie” might be dissapointed, after all this movie is a cinematical stage, it’s like “Evita”. Afterall both are Andrew Lloyd Weber’s brainchild.
The movie itself is definetely a stage. The set, the act, the music are all stage oriented. The acting may not very highly qualified but face it, this movie is not just about acting, it’s about presenting the old media, the stage, in the not-so-new media, the screen. And I must said that this movie translate the stage beautifully.
The story itself is still the same as ever, even the dialog are based on the stageplay which itself based on the 1911 novel with the same name written by Gaston Leroux. Read the novel if you find the time, you’ll find love, obsession and tragedy mixed beautifully into one intricated story.
Back to the movie itself. It was beautifully made, I have to admit that seeing Joel Schumacher in the director list made me flinch for a bit. This man is famous for action movie and don’t have any musical movie in his repertoir but I put my faith in the man who made the screenplay, Andrew Lloyd Weber himself. It also got some negative review from some reviewer, professional or amateur. It turned out that my pessimistic was not proven. I can see why those people seeing this movie negatively because as I said, they were expecting to see a “normal movie” instead of “stage translation”.
So, if you are eager to see what is the fuss about “The Phantom of the Opera” is all about, go watch the movie. But I have to warn you that this movie is not everyone’s cup of tea. You either love it or hate it. To end the review, I will give you the lyric of one of the best song from the movie, made popular by Sarah Brightman in the original play in Broadway.
Think of Me
Think of me,
Think of me fondly,
When we’ve said goodbye.
Remember me once in a while
Please promise me you’ll try.When you find that, once again,
You long to take your heart
Back and be free
If you ever find a moment,
Spare a thought for me…We never said our love was evergreen,
Or as unchanging as the sea
But if you can still remember,
Stop and think of me…Think of all the things
We’ve shared and seen -
Don’t think about the way
Things might have been…Think of me,
Think of me waking, silent and resigned.
Imagine me, trying too hard
To put you from my mind.Recall those days,
Look back on all those times,
Think of the things we’ll never do -
There will never be a day,
When I won´t think of you…
6 Comments
only three things I remember, the theme song, the mask and “All I Ask of You” song
I love it too! berhasil bikin gue nangis…dan ooh lagu - lagunya…tak bisa berkata - kata
Avianto,
An unrelated comment…
My deepest condolences for the losses suffered in Indonesia and elsewhere in Asia last week. May the region quickly clean itself up and may the souls of all those lost be blessed.
I have been expecting a post on your blog…is everything ok?
Regards from Banff, Canada.
Phantom of the Opera is the best movie ever. For a Musical It’s the best. The Actors and Actresses are the best to. They act it out so well. The music is the best. It makes you feel compassion for the Phantom and Kristine . But at the same time you feel so bad for them.Especially for the Phantom. Love it!
I love this song. I basically love Phantom of the Opera. I know the whole movie by heart. I’ve read the book and the seen the broadway performance twice. It’s truely an amazing play and the music is great. It makes you feel like you want to sing or get up and express your feelings. Personaly I think that when you first see it you don’t know what they’re talking about because the words they choose. You have to think about it. You have to think about what they mean by that particular word. For example when the phantom says “in this place where all must pay homage to music.” he doesn’t mean that you have to pay to the arts. He means that when your down there you dont talk or disrespect music. You sing play music appreciate it. I love that because i like to express my feelings in ways that others can’t understand unlesss they think about it. and that’s what they do in phantom of the opera.i absolutely LOVE this show,movie,and book!
ayu @ December 26, 2004 12:21 AM
I love it! Every pieces of it. Makes me remember when I watched the stage opera, makes me want to sing, makes me want to work in the Arts Center/Arts House…