The Phantom of the Opera (1990)
Count de Chagnie has discovered Christine's singing talent on a market place and sent her to his friend Carriere, the director of the Parisian opera. However just when she arrives Carriere's dismissed. His arrogant successor refuses to let a woman of low birth sing in his opera, but graciously employs Christine as gadrobiere for his wife Charlotta, who's installed as first singer. He also fights the phantom, an unknown guy who lives since many years in the catacombs below the opera and was granted privileges by Carriere. However the phantom knows how to defend himself and at the same time helps Christine to her career.
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Reviews
Slow pace in the most part of the movie.
Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.
The film may be flawed, but its message is not.
A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.
Every person I know who has seen this film has cried through the second half. It is based off of the Yeston musical, 'Phantom'. Even though it is strange for the disfigured Erik to have loving parents, it is a surprisingly effective point that matches the story perfectly, and does not subtract from the total outcome. The actors are perfectly matched with parts, and they never seem out of place. The score from several operas really bring it together. On it's own, it is very easily one of the best. It is different enough from the musical it is based on (as well as the book for that matter) to be on it's own, but still retains all of the power that you get from both. You hardly realize you are sitting there watching for hours at a time.
I saw this movie 1992 I think... and very often after that, so often that I memorized it. Then someone ruined the VHS- tape and it was lost, but I thought about it many times over the years. Now I just saw it again and I swear I got goosebumps! I love it. I think the last scene with the phantom and Christine (the singing) is the most beautiful confession of love I have EVER seen or heard. I can really feel their emotions (and even the emotions of Philippe where he sits). When an actor can make me feel what the character is supposed to be feeling... that is good acting! I love the costumes, I love how every character seem to fit, even the cop is a little compassionate in the end... I just love it. 10 out of 10
If your looking for mindless gore and horror, look elsewhere. If you are looking for a phenomenal story, incredible cinematography, lavish costumes, superb acting, and all the elements from Phantom of the Opera that you've ever wanted to see wrapped up in imaginative, risk-taking dialog, see this one. Charles Dance is the perfect blend of sympathetic monster and mad, love obsessed gentleman. He loves deeply with an innocent passion. Teri Polo plays Christine with such angelic sweetened and bitter remorse, you'll love, hate, and love her character time and again. Add to that Burt Lancaster's majesty and Andréa Ferréol's over-the-top performance as Carlotta, and this is the strongest PotO cast I have ever seen. Plus, you get to hear real opera beautifully sung throughout the film.
Having not been familiar with Phantom of the Opera when I first saw this at age 10, I fell in love with the delicious storytelling and compelling characters. Charles Dance is superb as Eric- the perfect antihero that you just have to sympathize for. Needless to say, everytime I see Terri Polo in a film, I always think back to when I saw her in this miniseries...she did a brilliant job as such a young actress. While I have heard many praise ALW's version of this tale, I believe this version highly excels many expectations of those who are just suckers for romance and intrigue.