Phantom of the Opera

[House of Mustard]

Here's a line from Ebert's review.  I think it's really funny:

There was something unwholesome and pathetic about the 1925 Phantom, who scuttled like a rat in the undercellars of the Paris Opera and nourished a hopeless love for Christine. The modern Phantom is more like a perverse Batman with a really neat cave.

[Tekiel]

I've not heard a lot of good reviews for this, which really saddens me cause I love the Broadway of Phantom.

[House of Mustard]

I actually don't like the Broadway version, and I think it's interesting because Ebert's complaints about the movie are the same things I have about the play: it is not a story -- it is a spectacular. The Phantom of the Opera Extravaganza. The story is completely secondary to the fireworks and costumes and falling chandeliers.  The story seems shallow, present only to give the stage manager another excuse for setting off a smoke bomb.

(I'm being a little harsh here.  I like it okay, I just think it is vastly, vastly overrated.  It's escapism -- which isn't necessarily bad -- it's just the Jerry Bruckheimer summer blockbuster of Broadway.  It serves a purpose, but doesn't deserve all the devotion it gets.)

[Fellfrosch]

Phantom is to Broadway what Armaggeddon was to Hollywood: a mindless, shallow blockbuster with big names and flashy effects, designed solely to make money. It gives me no end of joy to watch the movie version get slammed for, essentially, faithfully recreating a terrible show.

[Gemm: Rock & Roll Star; Born to Rock]

So is that why I kept falling asleep when I went to see it with my family at Shea's? I don't feel so bad anymore.

[42]

Well, it is at 41% on rottentommatoes. Course I believe that is 41% of critics who have obviously been mis-informed about this movie.

It also been nominated for a golden globe for best picture. Another sign that there are alot of uninformed people out there.

[GorgonlaVacaTremendo]

Phantom is to Broadway what Armaggeddon was to Hollywood: a mindless, shallow blockbuster with big names and flashy effects, designed solely to make money.

Hey, I liked Armaggeddon.  Especially more than Phantom of the Opera.  I am inclined to agree that it is overrated

[MsFish]

Okay, so I haven't actually seen the musical.  Or the movie.  (Is it even out yet?  If so, when did that happen?) I've only heard the music.  But sometimes musicals are worth it just because the music is SOO cool that you don't care what the plot is.  

Take Rent for example.  Rent does have a good plot, but it's really not the sort of plot I go around exposing myself to for fun.  There's alot of sex; there's alot of swearing; there's alot of other content I generally avoid.  
But the music is awesome.  Like amazingly awesome.  So I listen to it anyway, because the music blows me away, still, and I've been listening to it for six years.  

I think Phantom is sorta like that.  People enjoy the music, so they don't care that they aren't interested in the plot.  The music from Phantom isn't really my style, so it isn't my favorite, but for some people it is.  

[fuzzyoctopus]

Take Rent for example.  Rent does have a good plot, but it's really not the sort of plot I go around exposing myself to for fun.  There's alot of sex; there's alot of swearing; there's alot of other content I generally avoid.  
But the music is awesome.  Like amazingly awesome.  So I listen to it anyway, because the music blows me away, still, and I've been listening to it for six years.  

Me too!!!!!

Though if it ever came locally, I WOULD  have to see it.

[Mr_Pleasington]

I've seen the musical and I've never been able to see what the hype is really about.  The story, the songs, the set, none of these things do anything for me at all.  

My fiance and her family are the opposite and have been trying to drag me to the movie.  Let's hope I can hold out...

[MsFish]

I saw Rent when it was in San Fran, at the Orpheum.  That's how I first heard about it.  Absolutely amazing.  Best show I've ever seen.  If you ever get the chance, GO!

We should have a Rent party.  I don't run into a lot of LDS people who like it (or have heard of it) and I'm always afraid to play it for people.  

[fuzzyoctopus]

Hey, it's a deal!

[MsFish]

Yay!  I'm going to hold you to that.  When I get back to Utah, that is.  

[Fellfrosch]

I've only heard one song from Rent and I thought it was pretty pedestrian and boring (the one about measuring a year). I've heard that the show is good, but based on my reaction to that song I've never been able to muster the will to see/hear the rest of it.

And the music in Phantom? Heaven help whoever can sit through that much repetitive grandstanding without getting irate.

[MsFish]

Sadly, that is the one song everyone knows, and probably the least imaginative and impressive song in the show.  Try listening to "Rent" or "Today for you, Tomorrow for me" or "No Day but Today."  I'm also partial to "Happy New Year" and "Living in America," but that could be just me.  "La Vie Boheme" is good also, but I generally only listen to the first half, because after that it gets really bad (like, content bad, not quality).  It also helps if you know the story, because then you understand what they're saying with the songs.