The Phantom of the Opera

Starring Emmy Rossum, Gerard Butler, Patrick Wilson, Minnie Driver

  Rated PG-13

             “Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera” is a glorious musical beyond anything imaginable. Although I admire the play, I have never been a huge “Phantom” fan. I’m not sure why; perhaps the songs weren’t catchy enough, or maybe, something common in my experiences of stage musicals, I just didn’t understand the plot that well. All of these complaints have been put to rest by this extraordinary film version of the classic Broadway play.

            Gerard Butler is adequate as the Phantom, who haunts the Opera House and begs to be the lover of Christine (Emmy Rossum, wonderful in a breakthrough role), the rising star at the Opera House. But she is already the object of Raoul’s (Patrick Wilson) affection, although Christine is taking singing lessons from the Phantom.

            Minnie Driver, Miranda Richardson, and Ciaran Hinds all turn in fine supporting roles, and director Joel Schumacher, who usually directs action movies, gives “The Phantom of the Opera” a great look, even if the film does have boring sections of endless singing.

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