Phantom Of The Opera?

[Grega77]

Hey has anyone seen this movie?
I saw it on DVD for sale and it stars Robert Englund.
Is this version worth renting or buying?
Let me know your opinions. Thanks.

[blacksnake]

This review of Thr Phantom Of The Opera, is of the 1989 version. The film is based on the novel by Gaston Leroux, and is set in modern day. The film is about Christine, who loves to sing and act and is auditioning for a play. While auditioning on stage a sandbag falls from the top of the theater and knocks Christine, out. Christine, then wakes up back in the 1800's where she is also auditioning for a play and there's a phantom hovering over the theater and he likes Christine, and her voice. Whenever she gets a bad review or someone will take her place in the play the phantom will kill them and soon the Phantom, falls in love with Christine, but she is already in love with a man named Richard, so then the phantom takes Christine, to his lair under the theater and the police as well as Richard, have to go and stop him and get back Christine. The phantom also has a grisly appearance because he was once named Eric Destler, and was writing music and one day was approached by some men who asked if he would love for his music to be heard around the world. Eric, says yes and he signs a contract leaving his soul to Satan, and then after received his appearance which he covers up with a rubber mask. This version of The Phantom Of The Opera, was the only version next to the 1925 version to feature the Masquerade Ball scene from the original novel and it is the first version not to have the falling chandelier. So far there are seven movie versions of The Phantom Of The Opera, and another one is coming out next year released by Warner Bros. I really enjoyed this version. It was dark, atmospheric, stylish, very visual and I just found it entertaining through and through and I think Robert Englund, did a pretty good job as both the phantom and Eric Destler. This film was also the winner of The Brit Award for Best Soundtrack.

[MadmanMARZ]

AAAAAhhhhhh the soundtrack is great...I own it on cd...
The DVD is a must buy for you (one of the few great horrormovies coming in 1989 "the year that destroyed horrormovies")
I bought the DVD myself but haven´t got around watching it yet, but heard that the film got cut in the States (is the DVD uncut???)
My brother owns the uncut Japanese Laserdisc and I know the US laserdisc was cut in a few places...
Anyhow BUY BUY BUY!!!!!!!!!

[Bear]

it was ok, nothing special.

[countchocula]

I watched this last night, and it didn't appear to be cut. Personally, I loved it. The visuals are luminescent (the "graveyard" scene is beautifully shot), the acting is strong (did anyone else chuckle when Molly Shannon popped up?), and the pacing is tight. Jill Schoelen is gorgeous as Christine Day. She desperately needs to stage a horror comeback. Englund gives a fervid, impassioned performance as Eric, and does the role justice. I was thrilled to see the infamous red costume make an appearance during the Bal Masque sequence. The soundtrack is indeed canorous. Schoelen didn't actually sing those songs herself, did she? She's either an amazing vocalist or an amazing lip-syncher.

There wasn't much that I didn't care for. I give it my highest recommendation.

[JurassicMik]

I just bought this on DVD for 8 bucks. Hadn't seen it in like 10 years, but I remember it being good. Luckily it was as I had remembered, very good acting, atmosphere, pacing and some brutal killing scenes. Definitely worth buying since it's so cheap.

[Inglorious]

I saw this version, AND Argento's version earlier this week. Argento's Phantom Of The Opera was quite horrid and even boring.

The Robert Englund version was entertaining, and I believe he makes a good Phantom!

[countchocula]

Yeah, Argento's version is a mess. It's gratuitous, but none of the characters are endearing. As cool as Julian Sands is, the Phantom of the Opera shouldn't be dapper and clean-cut.

[Inglorious]

Originally posted by countchocula
Yeah, Argento's version is a mess. It's gratuitous, but none of the characters are endearing. As cool as Julian Sands is, the Phantom of the Opera shouldn't be dapper and clean-cut.

Is Dario's over-all style getting worse as he gets older, would you say? I seem to like his oldest works much more than anything that goes past 1995.

[countchocula]

I wouldn't know. I've yet to see his older films. I'm more of a Bava/Fulci kind of guy.

[Inglorious]

Originally posted by countchocula
I wouldn't know. I've yet to see his older films. I'm more of a Bava/Fulci kind of guy.

I see...

A little off topic, but do you have any good Bava recommendations? I'd rather ask right here than open a whole thread on the subject.

[countchocula]

Start off with Black Sabbath, Black Sunday, and Blood and Black Lace. You'll be a Bava junkie in no time.

[Grega77]

I got the DVD and i loved the movie.
I thought Robert Englund made a great Phantom.
Thanks for your opinions everyone.

10/10 Highly Recommended!