The Phantom of the Opera (Film) ~ Lost in Adaptation

A break down of what the 2004 film by Joel Schumacher and Andrew Lloyd Webber has in common with the musical theatre production it's based on.
The Company of Death by Elisa Hansen
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[@artemiswolf4508]

I love how through adaptations the phantom’s deformity went from “ *OH LORD THE HORROR, I just saw the face of death itself!* “ to “ *I hope that man’s pink eye gets better* “

[@llouie4999]

Artemis Wolf I love it! That is going up there with my list of responses alongside "Oh no! Third degree sunburn!"

[@corvusalbus7276]

@@llouie4999 Yes, he and live-action Zuko should really invest in some lotion.

[@05bastille]

this comment and the responses had me crying on the floor from laughter

[@Grim_Sister]

According to Lindsay, he may have eaten some shellfish that didn’t agree with him. That or it’s a bee allergy. My own theory is that the Phantom just rubs his face in poison ivy whenever he feels like it

[@mystii8134]

GrimSister he bathes in opera sewers he is clearly allergic to the human feces.

[@maryloohoo8526]

Raoul’s grossed out face when Christine is kissing the Phantom is also my second favorite part of the musical

[@gew393]

I'd love to see you do this when the nightmare cgi cats movie comes out

[@TheAnonyomusGuy]

Gary Wright actually I think they've gone the way of Sonic and actually fixed some of the CGI it actually looks better in newer trailers then it did last year

[@danielallen3454]

My question is, why try to CGI them at all? I didn't personally find the results nightmarish, but I do wonder why they bothered, when makeup works perfectly well. Have you ever seen the 1998 direct-to-video they did? Stellar makeup jobs. Why wasn't that type of thing sufficient?

[@Valdagast]

@@danielallen3454 Too expensive?

[@renoutlaw8371]

@@Valdagast They have a massive budget and CGI is expensive af

[@danielallen3454]

@@Valdagast Well then we have the question of what's more expensive. A makeup team or a CGI team?

[@pacoromes]

"...we'd like to offer you the role of deformed monster in our next movie!" "Oh, man. That's going to take a lot of makeup!" "...You think so?"

[@StergiosMekras]

Best part of the video.

[@legoworld246]

"Oh, so we're doing it with CG then." "...CG?"

[@Grethrey123]

My favourite of all of Don’s sketches!!! And put into words something I’d struggled to for ages that I always thought was a fail on the film’s part.

[@SirThinks2Much]

I snort-laughed at the comparison of "He's here! The Phaaantom ooof the ooooperaaaa!" Vs. "He's here. The Phantom of the opera."

[@sabrinagibby4167]

+

[@jasonblalock4429]

Seriously. One of the problems with this movie is that it's campy in all the wrong places.

[@MrDUneven]

*ding* Roll credits.

[@elizabethtrudgill9900]

HE'S THERE! THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA! he's there, the phantom of the opera.

[@aubreyackermann8432]

@@elizabethtrudgill9900 oh yes, that's nice dear. Pass the marmalade?

[@Pinkyyyy13]

I actually saw a production of Phantom where in the scene when the piano starts to play itself and the cast all sings in unison, only Christine is reacting to the ordeal and when they stop singing, everyone goes back to what they were doing as if nothing happened, except for Christine who is FREAKING out. It really gave the impression that Christine hallucinated it and is being driven crazy by all the Phantom related stress, in contrast to the royal albert hall version where the Phantom magically possesses them all.

[@adamnomdeplum3]

Do you know which production??

[@Pinkyyyy13]

@@adamnomdeplum3 Sorry, it's been a few years. It was in Seattle at I think the Paramount Theatre, though I don't remember when. I think 2018?

[@brxzbze]

That's probably the North American touring production, but it's also kind of present in the regular Broadway and London production as well?

[@kellydepaz525]

I thought them singing in unison in the Royal Albert Hall version was just a collective reaction the the piano playing on its own. Eva use they’re all arguing about how the song should be sung, and then all of a sudden the piano starts playing. They all look terrified, like “Oh! He’s been watching us!” This is also in contrast to. Carlotta making fun of the composer, thinking that he’s not there. So them singing in unison felt more like then o eying his directions about how the song should be sung, no questions asked. That he can creep into all aspects of Christine’s life if he wants to, which causes her to freak out. At least that’s how I interpreted that scene.

[@wjzav1971]

Keep in mind that singing scenes in theater are not necessarily a 100% representation of what happens in-universe. The piano starting to play itself and them singing in unison might be symbolic for them being all enamored by the music to the point where it might just play itself.

[@joeevans5770]

10:30 by setting the movie in 1870 it ignored the fact that Paris was under siege and eating cats to survive.

[@joeevans5770]

@Hans Hanzo That has the potential to be the greatest musical of all time and the worst

[@justinbeath5169]

It could take place before the Prussian army arrived

[@Roadent1241]

~sniff sniff~ Is that a crossover idea I smell? Phantom with the CGI CATS just trying to survive this horror?

[@searchingfororion]

"We don't gnaw on our kitty." . . . . . . . . A now ancient pop-culture reference. --- However; upon reflection, I wish I'd had it tattooed just above my bikini line. It would have prevented an alarming amount of strife as well as extreme physical and interpersonal discomfort. (This would be hilarious if it weren't true.)

[@searchingfororion]

As an aside, (and completely unrelated from my other comment) there are lots of cultures that used to *and still* eat dog in the world, and it doesn't always have to do with famine or a lack of other food resources. Before cringing or judging that - think about how the Hindi/Brahman feel about us eating cows. And honestly- which is an easier, more quickly multiplying, faster developing/maturing meat source? More importantly left to it's own devices will *overpopulate* and usually outnumber humans? Don't believe me? Ask your vet, or the buffalo. *Disclaimer*: (although I don't think it's necessary) - I don't personally advocate eating cats/dogs in the western world, I'm just pointing out that in *some* societies it makes sense.

[@samuelbarber4154]

In the film it just looks like a particularly bad sun burn.

[@danielallen3454]

Right!? You had a Hollywood budget and the ability to do anything and you go with . . . He got punched in the face . . . ?

[@michaelbryson3756]

I honestly hate the movie purely on the basis of that one decision. I mean if you look at any previous version, they ALL get the fact that the Phantom is supposed to be deformed right. The only one that didn't, as far as I'm aware, is this thing. It also makes The Phantom appear as being more of an asshole. In the play its all "no one could ever love someone that looks like me" and talking about him being in a freakshow and laughing at him...if a freakshow in the 1850s or thereabouts displayed THAT, the only legitimate laughter would be directed at the people who organized it for being so crap. It was the era of John Merrick, how do you screw that up?! My one theory is that Lloyd Weber overheard how sexy people thought his version was and realized "no, we can't have this sexy character actually BE deformed! We'll lose out on that market." When you take into account he may have based The Phantom in part on himself and his marriage to Sarah Brightman...yeah, I buy that. My advice in regards to the 2004 movie is simple - if you want an amazing movie musical version of The Phantom Of The Opera...watch Phantom Of The Paradise. At least that is campy fun.

[@deathknight75]

Who knew the Opera Ghost and Prince Zuko would have something in common.

[@doesntmatter2467]

He's actually still pretty conventionally attractive, deformity or no deformity I don't think the otherwise very handsome, athletic, genius. Would actually have any trouble getting laid just saying.

[@QuikVidGuy]

and someone put nair in his shampoo

[@true7295]

"Kind of depressing and confusing because it means Christine died really really young" Love Never Dies PTSD Flashbacks

[@meep5667]

Nope! Nope! Nopenopenopenopenope!

[@leadingblind1629]

Am I the only person who celebrates when bad shit happens to Christine or Raoul?

[@wandanemer2630]

We do not speak of that.

[@pompe221]

Shhhhh, it's ok. It was just a nightmare. There's no such thing as "Love Never Dies."

[@wandanemer2630]

@@pompe221 You're right... You're right. We're safe. There is no war in Ba Sing Se...

[@alejandramoreno6625]

I find it really creepy that they cast a 16 year old to play the lead.

[@jimwall1484]

Sadly that's incorrect. The character of Christine is 16, but Emmy Rossum was (not much better I know) 18 when this was made

[@handler8838]

@@jimwall1484 What do you mean 'sadly'

[@clcj4393]

@@jimwall1484 she might have been 18 when is premiered, but she could very well have been 16 when they cast her/filmed the movie

[@jaycievictory8461]

@@clcj4393 She was definitely 16 when cast.

[@otterzrkuhl]

Jim Wall Christine isn’t 16. There was a version of the book that mistranslated a line, but she’s older than that. Emmy Rossum was 16 when she was cast and was 17 while filming.

[@sigyn3976]

I didn't know I needed you, dressed as three iterations of the Phantom, singing 'Music of the Night' in a barber shop trio with yourself (yourselves?), but it turned out I was wrong. Thank you for that. The three part harmony, the kickline, the jazz hands, it was a perfect end to this miniseries.

[@tinahawley320]

YES! One of my favorite parts of the video by far. And can we acknowledge that Dominic has the incredible editing skills to make all of those sync up? Legendary.

[@sigyn3976]

@@tinahawley320 We definitely can. The only other people I've seen do that are PAINT (four part harmony with himself, as well as moment where three of him are reacting to the fourth) and Peter Hollens (An a cappella singer who is often joined by copies of himself in his videos, up the the double digits). Both have said it's not an easy task to edit all their copies into sync (no citation for this, just fan Q&As I saw way back). Both are trained singers while PAINT studied filmmaking in college. Dominic did very well.

[@Bookdragon11]

Sigyn I agree. That was some good sh*t 😆!!

[@timothymclean]

​@@sigyn3976 There are a surprising number of musicians who do that. tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SelfBackingVocalist ...but I'll add Miracle of Sound to the list, since he does the primary vocals, backing vocals, _and_ instruments for his songs. (Also the songwriting and composition, barring the odd cover or parody.)

[@lalaliet]

Holup, I need a timestamp

[@xFyreWytchx]

My sisters and I stumbled on a theatre showing of the movie version by a fluke and we loved it. However. We were teenagers and had not seen the stage production. I actually liked Gerard Butler as the phantom as I was taking a class about classical opera/ballet and interpreting them. I thought using Gerard, a baritone, to play the phantom interesting as his part is a mixture of baritone and tenor. Traditionally you can identify villains and heros by their singing range, baritones are villains and tenors are heros. Raoul, for instance, is a solid tenor. I thought Gerard did well trying to sing the tenor parts for being a baritone, but there was some obvious straining. I interpreted this as the phantom *trying* so hard to be a good and righteous person, but eventually succumbing to his darker side. Which made his turn around at the end and letting her go a bit sweeter.

[@madeleine5561]

Nah, that wasn't the Phantom trying to be a good and righteous person. That was Gerard not being able to sing the proper notes and sounding like a water buffalo with laryngitis being strangled. You are correct about the hero-villain thing though. Honestly, this version is awful and I always recommend the 25th Anniversary version to anyone who hasn't seen it as with a few exceptions due to the constraints of the venue, it is practically a perfect version. I can see why people who haven't been exposed to a GOOD rendition of Phantom would like this piece of crap but once you've seen the stage show, you've passed the point of no return. I'm just sorry this is such an awful movie as I know it is how many people are exposed to the story.

[@polyhymnia701]

Rae Grainger This is actually a pretty good interpretation! It also seems like most of the notes Gerard can't quite hit occur in the last few scenes, where Erik's mask is literally off and he's gone full crazy. As if his state of mind effects his voice. I definitely have some issues with this movie - especially the bizarre staging of the Masquerade scene and the fact that ERIK LOSES A SWORDFIGHT TO RAOUL (as if) - but I still really enjoy the film.

[@madeleine5561]

@@polyhymnia701 The movie, in my opinion, is just bad both from a storytelling standpoint and a technical standpoint. It's because of that that I cannot enjoy the film

[@helenl3193]

I really love this interpretation, Rae! 😁

[@llouie4999]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts Rae! I'm in the camp where i'm pretty sure that's overly generous to what was more likely but I love that your knowledge of music made for an awesomely cool interpretation

[@MrsBlack88]

Me: Knows this film is bad Also me: *HNNGNGHGG AESTHETIC*

[@cielcanterville1834]

Lol me, I know it's awful but i love it so much uabdowndkemrkrmrkrkrjr Watched plenty of times already

[@amberblackwell7687]

Me too. It's one of those awful movies I just love,

[@diegodankquixote-wry3242]

_true_ *A E S T H E T I C*

[@kerrychristensen7204]

😂👌

[@liberty6395]

Moooooood

[@VictorianDemonica]

There’s a fun fact that I found out and made me feel bad for Gerald Butler as the Phantom - he was told to not see any previous versions of the Phantom, at all, and worst still, wasn’t allowed to see any previous productions, let alone hear them. And yes, I think the make-up artist should be fired for how his disfigurement is suppose to be.

[@rusted_ursa]

The make-up artist does what they are told, same as an FX house. Their work is commissioned and approved by the director.

[@PlayerZeroStart]

Not watching previous versions of a part you play is actually somewhat common in the acting industry, specifically so you won't be influenced by the other interpretations of the character and your performance becomes truly your own. Usually it's a choice by the actors though, this is the first time I've heard of the actor being told by the studio to do so.

[@strahinjagov]

Lon Chaney's Phantom is still the most terrifying by far

[@wrenreed9310]

@@PlayerZeroStart Whereas in musical performances, including musical theater and opera, it's common to watch and listen to as many as you can get your hands on. *shrug*

[@ArrowOdenn]

I've heard an interview indicating that Butler wanted to do much more with The Phantom, but was directed to just "make it sexy".

[@actress5256]

Wait but this movie with Anne Hathaway and Hugh jackman May actually have been watchable

[@krystallights1325]

But then we wouldn’t have princess diaries 2!!

[@mrclueuin]

@@krystallights1325 😏

[@thaissa215]

Also wow, can you imagine Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman starring both phantom of the Opera AND Les Mis??

[@RoseBaggins]

@@thaissa215 right??

[@joelmole3157]

Just as long as Russell Crowe and Tom Hooper aren’t involved, I’d be happy

[@MerBaby-xoxo]

When will the Rat Catcher get the love and representation he so rightfully deserves?!?

[@emilymarley4505]

Someone write the musical ASAP

[@brxzbze]

He's actually in the stage show very briefly haha. idk about the 25th recorded production though

[@strahinjagov]

He's in the 1925 Lon Chaney silent film version

[@unsinaltenmaeren8735]

he's in the hammer horror version from the 50s, played by a doctor who!

[@mggardiner4066]

Super late but there is a creepy horror version of this story (very much NC17) that features the rat catchers. But also has the phantom raised by rats and a little too…close… to them

[@kittygrimm7301]

I confess: this movie is my guiltiest of guilty pleasures.

[@WaspandUnicorn]

Me too! I think it's because of where I was in that time of my life, when I watched it for the first time, and it takes me back there every time I watch it and I love it.

[@nika9479]

Same! I mean, I study opera singing, I preform in theaters, and i STILL enjoy this movie, and I kinda like Phantom's voice. I guess it's just that I grew up with it xD

[@NoWayAimee]

I was about to say this too

[@mirjanbouma]

A friend of mine has a term for this; "costume po-" I don't think I'm allowed to say that word in KZbin comments.

[@llouie4999]

I love the spectacle and the ham still

[@bribrichan1]

May the algorithm Gods accept this offering of a comment.

[@katherinemorelle7115]

I think we all know that Minnie Driver as Carlotta made that entire film worth it. She was amazing!

[@emrys4386]

The Erik Barbershop Quartet turned Trio is hilarious.

[@torababble3046]

I have to like this video just for that Erik outro.

[@arson55]

I think he missed a chance at a joke though with the movie phantom singing obviously worse than the others.

[@ForeverDegenerate]

@@arson55 No offense to Dominic, but that joke would only work if he could actually sing in the first place. Don't get me wrong, he's not terrible (I've heard worse... a LOT worse), but he's, obviously, not a trained singer.

[@arson55]

@@ForeverDegenerate Oh, it's certainly evident that he's not a trained singer. But like you said, I've heard a lot worse, so I think the joke could still work.

[@WateverWatever04]

Right?? I actually teared up laughing

[@gayahithwen]

Re: the dancers living at the opera (mentioned around 13:46 )... I've been told that part is actually period accurate. They were underpaid, overworked, and boarded at the Opera, not out of kindness, but simply so the Opera managers could make sure they spent all day every day practicing (it takes a LOT of time and effort getting into and staying in shape to do the required choreography)... and also to make sure those young girls didn't accidentally get knocked up by some ardent admirer.

[@captainjakemerica4579]

Gosh that is so messed up so glad that my girlfriend and her dance history from being head cheerleader to attending Juilliard didn't have to do anything like this

[@alicethemad1613]

I don’t think the opera cared much about those young girls getting “knocked up” by ardent admirers. It was how they made most of their money. The ballet dancers, especially les petites rats, were essentially sex trafficked and expected to sleep with male patrons who paid subscriptions for the privilege. Most of these girls began this around 12 or 13. If the younger ones washed out or fell pregnant or quit there were always more to replace them and they barely fed them anyway so it wasn’t much trouble to find new meat for the grinder. Yeah. It was cartoonishly horrific.

[@gayahithwen]

@@alicethemad1613 You're not entirely wrong, that shit did happen. Now ask yourself why it specifically was the young girls getting sold like this. Obviously one of the answers is that they were young kids in a place where no adults were actually looking out for their best interests. But the other reason is because the older girls were too valuable to do this to, because it takes time, effort, and so so much training to become a ballerina. Anyway, beyond that, I'm not sure why you felt the need to correct me, I never actually said no girls ever got pregnant, I said that it was a high control environment that used the threat of potential pregnancy as one of the excuses for being a high control environment.

[@ZoeKitten84]

So when the Love never dies review

[@HetLedie]

No

[@thelandoftea9995]

Don’t please for the sake of our sanity don’t

[@Dreigonix]

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU _THIIIINK!_

[@TheKawaiiSlartibartfast]

No!

[@blauespony1013]

For the love of God: NO!

[@EndisNi]

Speaking as a ginger, I've had sunburn worse than Erik's face!

[@sokkvabekkr5973]

i'm not even a ginger and even I've had worse sunburns

[@aubreyackermann8432]

I've had sunburns that scarred, ones that peeled multiple times, etc. That's not even a bad one, he's just a bit flushed. He looks like a movie star that walked into a swinging door, not a monster.

[@morphing_erebus]

12:36 : "Ah, good news Gerard! We'd like to offer you the role of deformed monster in our next movie." "Oh man, that's going to take a lot of make up." "Actually it will be super easy, barely an inconvenience."

[@thedatabase677]

I will always love this movie. It introduced me to Phantom, and I've never had the money to see a stage production of it. Plus, 'point of no return' just feels more emotional to me here than the cast recording I could find.

[@priestessmikokikyo77]

Exactly this movie got me into phantom too I ADORE THIS MOVE ITS MY FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME.. No other movie can come close. yes i ship ErikxChristine. They are a tragic love couple and I just adore them. Im a woman and everything about this movie is so spectacular from biginning to end.

[@sps6374]

I think the hand-held candelabras are likely to be an homage to (or a rip off from, couldn't say) Jean Cocteau : they famously appeared in a similar setting in his La Belle et la Bête adaptation.

[@troyschulz2318]

Bingo.

[@sirrliv]

Honestly a little surprised Dom didn't have a surprise cameo by Kyle Kallgren mentioning that considering Kyle's famous review of that film with Some Jerk With A Camera... Actually, that might've been even better. Tony Goldmark: Actually, the hand-held candelabras, or "handelabras", are likely a visual reference to famed French surrealist director Jean Cocteau's seminal work La Belle et la Bête. Dom: Oh, well, thanks for the input. But, um, how do you know so much about French cinema? Tony: Oh... I know a guy... *Cut to Kyle sneezing while watching Disney's Beauty and the Beast*

[@mekinot]

I think he knows, he just wanted an in-universe justification for that scene since it clashes with the rest of the movie.

[@Nejvyn]

I'm sure he knows, Lindsay Ellis mentioned it in particular detail in her video and in the beginning of this series he recommended watching her video since he wouldn't be going into detail on all that non-adaptation-related stuff.

[@Firegen1]

I went with drugs because I read the book first. Also all I have in my head is Lindsay saying "Jean Cocteau arms"

[@BestBoyPatrick]

It’s funny that in 2004 Karimloo was just a picture of Christine’s dad before 7 years later playing one of the best phantoms of all time (possibly the best imo). Just shows how life works in cycles sometimes

[@belagrolaub8746]

I think Gerard Butler redeemed himself with his singing performance in How to train your dragon 2.

[@korialogo]

Giske Großlaub That was him? Good to know.

[@Dreigonix]

The difference is that _that_ moment was supposed to be raw, intimate, and very non-performative. (Not to mention Stoick isn’t supposed to be this musical prodigy.)

[@belagrolaub8746]

@@Dreigonix I know.

[@belagrolaub8746]

@@korialogo Oh yes! Absolutely loved his performance.

[@eadlynjune]

Yeah, honestly he isn’t bad just not “Angel of music” amazing. I remember watching it in chorus and despite finding it hilarious his singing never really bothered me.

[@sinclairethomas8197]

The end where all three phantoms sing together always makes me smile!😁

[@Dolly-bc1dy]

I wonder how rich Erik was at the end of his reign. 20,000 a month is a lot. Especially in the late nineteenth century.

[@ireysword]

Does this mean you now have three Erics as roommates? Additionally to Terrance, Nega-Dom and the two future Doms. Man it must get crowded.

[@billuraral1870]

Don't forget Reginald

[@pykenotpike]

nega-dom??

[@ireysword]

@@pykenotpike From the Scott Pilgrimage

[@eliasapollo4131]

Now you'll have to do les mis huh Have fun with them sewers 😳

[@QuikVidGuy]

Victor: fuck, do I REALLY have to write a book about revolutionary proto-socialism? Look guys, I was all for the cause but why can't you just buck up and enjoy some ARCHITECTURE? Here, if I throw in some sad people it's almost 20% plot! well can I at least make most of the non-architecture stuff backstory?

[@eliasapollo4131]

@@QuikVidGuy He just wanted to really give us his insight on the battle of Waterloo and parisian architecture,,, huh

[@sarahgent2674]

@@eliasapollo4131 Don't forget complain about how people these days don't give their children good French names and that's a travesty.

[@eliasapollo4131]

@@sarahgent2674 "Marius is such a terrible name! At least _your_ name is Théodule!" Lmao

[@cpink102292]

There are times when an actor needs to have their singing voice dubbed. This is one of those times.

[@Xehanort10]

Emma Watson in the live action Beauty and the Beast needed to be dubbed over as well.

[@drartemisa21]

Not for Minnie Driver though :(

[@pineapplefrostyfruits9225]

​@@Xehanort10 More like they workshopped her voice to the point it was "perfect", AKA so robotic and lacking emotion you can feel what's wrong very easily. They did the same to the Beast. All in all, the live action movies are just ... badly made, and bank on nostalgia earning them money more than putting in real effort. The only exception might be their first remake of Cinderella. Anyway you can watch Sideways' videos on the disney remakes, it's very good and the music theory man goes into a lot of effort to explain how they fucked up the music theory.

[@isobelduncan]

This!

[@catconte6919]

Honestly, I really love the Phantom movie. I grew up watching it, and I actually really liked Gerard Butler's singing in it; He can sing, the issue was he's not classically trained in musical theater. He was in a rock band for a while actually, his voice is really just too gruff and deep for the roll of the Phantom. You can really hear him struggle with the higher notes. Believe me, I'm more than aware of the inadequacies of the movie compared to the stage production, but I still enjoy it as it's own entity! Also I was cackling throughout the whole video, because you made some fantastic points about characters and scenes!! Also!!! The Phantom is much more sympathetic (you can sympathize with him much more easily) in the film than either the book or stage play. Maybe its because he's more hot. Something about how sadly Gerard Butler sings his lines: "This face which earned a mother's fear and loathing. A Mask, my first unfeeling scrap of clothing. " and at the very end of the Layer scene, "Christine I love you." Always ALWAYS make me sob like a baby when I rewatch the movie. He thinks Christine will never love him because of his face, when in actuality its because he's fucking MURDERING PEOPLE. This isn't how we deal with our problems Eric 🤦‍♀️.

[@kelliedowling4872]

Cat Conte I have the same position on the movie. It got me into the phantom of the opera, and I don’t see it as bad as others say. Yes, the talent is better in the play, but I can’t help but still love the movie

[@ace.squirrel]

I hate this movie so much 😂 like, Gerard walks around with a mask that covers his upper face and then it's ripped off and suddenly there's deformity where there was smooth skin a second ago. Also sure, THAT voice is what put Christine in trance 😂

[@SergGirl]

Plus his hair! He totally had a normal hairline until she pulled the mask off and revealed the deformity. Did his mask have extensions attached to it?

[@arozeisarozie]

A trance...a state of shock...SAME DIFFERENCE.

[@QuikVidGuy]

@@SergGirl it was some kind of wig attached to the masque mask... with latex temple make-up????

[@o0BlackSand0o]

Ahh, that is because he is allergy to his mask being removed. Take it off and he has a bad case of pink eye and receding hairline. You can tell by the fact that Gerards eye isn't swollen and looks identical to the other eye until the mask is pulled off. Unclear if the reaction appears if he takes the mask off willingly though.

[@jswatch9270]

Are u guys crazy? 😡😡😡😡😡😡

[@jessielefey]

If you love the rat catcher, I highly recommend the OG (haha) black and white silent movie. Dude on fire with 1920's technical effects is *amazing*.

[@Azazreal]

''Stay away from her, I call dibbs'' Well done sir, you made me laugh so hard i snorted

[@fangthedergon1863]

Butler did actually have a background in music but it was in basically a garage rock band and to be honest I still love the movie's music

[@nathaniellevesque2782]

That was also the same thing with Russell Crowe in Les Miserables. The problem is they are using different styles. Rock is more naturalistic and subdued, while musical theater is grander and more stylized. As a result, it makes it easy to spot a faker.

[@eadlynjune]

Yeah, like you can’t make Kurt Cobain into an Opera star.

[@polyhymnia701]

Same! I still like Gerard in this role - you have to suspend disbelief about his voice, but he has the charisma and the craziness down. Also, Emmy Rossum is an underrated Christine, who captures the gentleness and naivety of the character without making her stupid.

[@QuikVidGuy]

@@polyhymnia701 I mean, it's hard to suspend disbelief about something where actually witnessing it is vital to the entire story

[@polyhymnia701]

Macaroni and Cliches Every movie ever made requires suspension of disbelief. Star Wars asks us to believe that people can travel casually in space - all the planets have the same passage of time, and apparently humans can breathe on whatever planet they land on. They don't even float when travelling in space! Compared to the massive amount of imaginative gymnastics required to enjoy that franchise at all, pretending that Gerry Butler sings like a choir-boy is super easy, barely an inconvenience! (H/t Ryan George). But that's my opinion.

[@Emma-sj6wp]

I grew up on the Phantom movie and it has contributed to my aesthetic and love of musical theater. Upon watching it again at the start of quarantine I realized how many people hated it and found (like most things) I enjoyed the book better. One thing that struck me as odd was that they cut out most of Erik's true backstory and kinda swept the character ages under the rug. Christine is like 20 in the book and Erik is in his 50-60 if I remember correctly.

[@Druzica18]

Yeah, that's accurate. Raoul I think is said to be about 21, so Christine is around the same age.

[@Catglittercrafts]

My 10 year old daughter was obsessed with this movie

[@Mila-sw2ns]

Don't worry, I also was obsessed with this movie when I was 10 ...

[@sarahriddle7211]

This was my first experience with Phantom and I was twelve when I saw it. I honestly thought I was going to hate it (my mother insisted in showing it to me one very snowy day we were trapped inside) but oh, I was so wrong! 😂

[@pineapplejester7191]

I loved this film when I was that age too. Now I much prefer the stage versions

[@MerBaby-xoxo]

I was like obsessed with this movie when I was 10/11 too, seems to be a thing for girls around that age I guess lol

[@ezelfrancisco1349]

This is my first Phantom and the reason that I love musical theatre now. So this is not a bad way to be introduced to it. BTW you should introduce her to the 25th anniversary, as it is the current best version out there

[@syntheticat-3]

I honestly love Patrick Wilson in this movie and think his is the most earnest portrayal of Raoul. But! I'm massively biased towards both Patrick and this film, so take my opinion with many grains of salt

[@gonzaloegonzalez8106]

Wait... is Patrick Wilson in the Phantom of the Opera? Is this another prequel to The Conjuring??

[@Dreigonix]

OMG BOIZ IT’S DA PHANTOM

[@desi1790]

lol

[@sokkvabekkr5973]

yes

[@snoopynoopers1488]

It’s.. Something demonic

[@antoniettabombardelli8868]

"Bill, I'm no psychiatrist, let's get to business, shall we?"

[@m.b.7560]

>Dom starts talking about how upvotes and subscribing help his channel. >I move my screen down a little to press the like button. Notice I pressed it the moment I opened the video. Check bell. Yep, still checked. I guess there's nothing else I can do to help the defeat algorhythm-zilla... oh wait.

[@SereneDancer]

The phantom of the kitty would be adorable.

[@a.s6803]

Ill just leave this here. Pleasing the algorithm.

[@stephenmarco2927]

We offer up this comment to you oh holy algorithm please do not remove this video or this channel in thy mercy

[@diegodankquixote-wry3242]

Place a comment to please the might lords of the long men instead. Slice and dice bruvas.

[@Dolly-bc1dy]

21:43 Major “YOU CAN’T SIT WITH US!!!” vibes

[@sulsulii810]

The barbershop trio at the end was really cute btw it honestly made my day

[@xzonia1]

I loved that one of them didn't sing that well compared to the other two. X)

[@scouttyra]

+

[@bradleyemery]

"That's gonna take a lot of makeup." "Actually it'll be super easy -- barely an inconvenience!"

[@darkroninmarvel]

At least they didn't casted Russell Crowe as the phantom

[@joeevans5770]

Don't you'll give ALW ideas

[@gew393]

MY FIGHTIN'S POETRY. DON'T CUT MY POETRY

[@DiarraHarris]

YET!

[@xela413rocks]

My literal thought!!

[@Dreigonix]

AND I’M JAVERT

[@Spoonicide]

This film was my very first introduction to Phantom and even though I can see the flaws, I do still have a bit of a soft spot for it. And it wouldn't have inspired me to seek out the other versions!

[@Beacuzz]

I just realized that the phantoms hair color changed 3 times!

[@korialogo]

Beacuzz I think that that’s just how the lighting and density of the hair made the hues look.

[@Beacuzz]

@@korialogo probably but I is kinda funny to see black, pale blond, and a proper brown

[@korialogo]

Beacuzz True

[@stephanie22345]

Beacuzz it’s a wig. You can barely see Christine take it off during Don Juan

[@BanazirGalpsi1968]

the ending with the phantom barbershop trio from Radio city was amazing!

[@leadingblind1629]

" you have to appreciate a man who will risk his testicles for love" ... if you ever read the novel That was supposed to have inspired Love Never Dies, you'll discover that Raul didn't have any testicles to risk. But then again that's going down a darker rabbit hole than Love Never Dies

[@Dreigonix]

The fanbrats literally have to castrate Raoul in the name of making the Christine X Phantom ship work. That says a lot.

[@leadingblind1629]

@@Dreigonix I don't bother with Christine. Who needs that Minx?

[@librochica]

@Brina Owens The Phantom of Manhattan

[@Dreigonix]

@librochica And it’s somehow _even worse_ than LND. Hell, if I remember correctly, the Phantom actually flat-out rapes Christine at one point, and that develops into love. Screw that noise.

[@Roadent1241]

Dreigonix I would say 'that's not how it works' but according to the Young Adult novels I've forced myself to slog through for the rest of the story, that IS how it works. Consensual or not (because the girl has happened to be underage everytime), it leads to love. Clearly I don't know what love is as a virgin. And at this rate I don't want to find out.

[@Starlilaclight]

the creepy Christine mannequin is in the stage version, they just left it out of the royal albert hall version :)

[@JojokimVT]

1:56 A 16 year and a Spartan general screaming ´´TONIGHT WE DINE IN HELL!´´ or ´´ THIS IS SPARTA!´´

[@AishaVonFossen]

Producer: "Ah, good news, Gerard, we'd like to offer you the role of deformed monster in our next movie." Gerard: "Ah, man, that's gonna take a lot of makeup." Ryan George from Screen Rant: "Actually, it's gonna be super easy, barely an inconvenience." :P

[@CrypticCharm]

the hands holding candlesticks is a refrence to le belle et la bete by Jean Cocteau.

[@nyxshadowhawk]

The phantom is a Nice Guy.™ I GAVE YOU MUSIC, CHRISTINE! WHY WON'T YOU LOVE ME? He even wears a fedora in some productions! 21:43

[@lux0rd01]

This movie was my first experience with this story and sparked my love of it. Might have it's downsides but I still love it so much!

[@sarahriddle7211]

This was my first experience of Phantom as well, and honestly eleven years later I'm still in love with it. Maybe it's that bias but I've always been able to enjoy both the musical and the movie.

[@Wander85942]

I sort of wish it was the 1925 version since that’s the direct adaptation of the book. Also because Lon Chaney and what he did to his face is amazing

[@jakarnilson]

It's clear that some scenes from the Albert Hall production lift the costuming and prop placement from the Lon Chaney movie, mainly the unmasking and the masked ball.

[@KatieLHall-fy1hw]

Noel Luna what did he do again? I forget off the top of my head

[@jakarnilson]

@@KatieLHall-fy1hw He used tape to pull back his nose and ears to give his face more of a skull look, along with a few other tricks.

[@Wander85942]

Katie.L Hall gum and fishing wire among other things

[@helenl3193]

Yes! The Lon Chaney transformation is remarkable - shocking that the 2014 version has worse special effects for Erik's face than a film made almost a century earlier! (edit: autocorrect thinks his name was Charney! 🤦‍♀️)

[@RavenStarMedia]

I feel pretty much the same as you, Dom-While the movie certainly does have its problems, it's the reason I became a fan of Phantom in the first place, and the music and lyrics were amazing. After seeing The Greatest Showman though, *dang* Hugh Jackman would have been awesome. I wouldn't object to another musical film of Phantom being done.

[@thequietdreamer2186]

16:05 Maybe it’s a metaphor for the quality of the film.

[@SamAronow]

I only just clicked on the video but this comment is already hilarious.

[@mickymcbryan4814]

The moving arms in that scene are a reference to an old french movie adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. Appropriate considering the similarities of the dynamic though the story is less sympathetic to the Phantom than most adaptations are to the Beast. (Yet another reference. The Phantom is never called by his name but has the canonical name of Eric in the musical/movie and the Beast is never called by his name but has the canonical name of Adam.)

[@thequietdreamer2186]

2:41-2:59 I had basically the same experience with Tuck Everlasting, Dom.

[@whyjay9959]

According to IMDB, filming started just after Rossum turned 17, and lasted exactly 4 months. (It's under Filming & Production)

[@historymysteries4134]

Liked just for the final song. 24:41. What waaaas that, Dom?

[@tuckapenguin681]

You're adorable and we love you. My eyes light up everytime I see your update.

[@starshapedseal]

dom adapts phantom of the opera as a one man musical.

[@Nsun07]

When he needs to be more than one character at once he just puts in parts of all their costumes and runs from place to place as he is needed

[@ArcaneEther]

One small change between play and movie that you didn't cover was the change of vocals. In the play, Raoul is typically sung by a baritone and the Phantom is sung by a tenor. They switched this in the movie, making Raoul the tenor and the Phantom a baritone. Personally, I like this little change. It makes Raoul come off as more of a naive boy with his higher pitch singing.

[@PerfectKirby]

He probably didn’t mention that change because he’s not really a music guy and might not even know those terms

[@kirstenpaff8946]

I was listening to Music of the Night a while back. When I heard the lyrics "Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in", I was for some reason reminded of Kylo Ren trying to talk Rey into joining the Dark Side. That resulted in me imaging Kylo Ren in a Phantom mask singing his heart out. Needless to say, I can no longer look at Adam Driver without bursting out laughing.

[@ShawndaPrawn]

Ironic how the deformed Phantom wore only half a mask, whereas Ben Solo wore a full helmet despite not really having anything wrong with his face.

[@minerva147]

now i want read fanfiction, Kilo Ren as Phantom, Rey as Christine and Finn as Raul.

[@chrismanuel9768]

I'd watch a Phantom Menace of the Space Opera

[@candycane1744]

@@minerva147 I'm pretty sure there's a bunch out there

[@JJHeff]

I now demand more LiA musicals so we can get more Dom singing finales.

[@EraNex97]

you started singing at the end and my husband who had been listening said "he's already better than Gerard Butler"

[@lubystkaolamonola529]

Once I made a comparison of "Music of the Night" sang by Gerard "This is Sparta" Butler and Andrea Boccelli. Although Boccelli voice is beautiful and angelling, Butler manages to bring some real emotions, and some horror and terror. In conclusion, Butler wins, for his wild charisma and creepy sweetness, plus hard work of learning to sing well enough to impress ladies, or at least me.

[@wildwesley9328]

Even 8 year old me, who liked Batman and Robin initially, hated this movie

[@GleeChan]

An 8 year old hated a film about opera? No! You don't say!

[@wildwesley9328]

Christina Lacey 8 year old me loved every movie, I’d ever seen, including Catwoman and The Cat in the Hat so... The Phantom of the Opera was the first movie I ever remember hating.

[@troggdorthesecond]

Wild Wesley Again, the examples you give is a superhero movie and a movie meant FOR kids, and comparing them to a musical about opera.

[@Takisan111]

Honestly, younger me forgot she even saw this movie. I remembered a foggy graveyard scene that looked haunting yet pretty with a classy old timey lady who looked sad but I never knew where it was from. Wouldn't be till the invention of internet reviewers sometime in high school that I'd see the scene again.

[@lizziebowen4127]

I saw this movie when I was a kid, and became obsessed. So much so that for my seventh birthday my mum took me to see the musical in London. It was a magical experience. But I have to say that I will always adore this film, because it was what inspired my love for music and the creative arts. It's a beautiful film, and I like the actors voices even though the stage production is obviously superior. Side note, the three phantoms at the end... man I nearly spat out my tea. That was hilarious, and this video was lovely! I'm glad I stumbled upon it.

[@mermanhellville]

I low key envy mr Webber's confidence in his own skill tbh

[@handler8838]

It's not like its unwarranted

[@ShawndaPrawn]

True, though there can be a thin line between confidence and arrogance. I feel this film is testament to that.

[@pomporokostrawberry6997]

The poor rat catcher is always forgotten. At least he's kind of here in the Dario Argento adaptation, it's more the rats than him as such though

[@hannahbrennan2131]

The Persian: Am I a joke to you?

[@MLF4468]

Have a comment to help with the KZbin algorithms

[@nvis2715]

19:32 the mannequin is also in the stage production.. Christine also faints in the stage production because the Phantom shows her a mannequin dressed in a wedding gown that looks like her.. so that part was not changed from the stage to the movie.. the mannequin was omitted in the Royal Albert Hall performance due to they can't bring all the props (stage-size reasons).. on stage productions, while Christine is singing her cadenza towards the end of the title song, the piano glides on the stage from the right and a covered thing from the left while the boat (that turns into a bed) glides on to the center... during Music of the Night (the same time in the movie), the Phantom uncovers the thing to reveal a broken mirror with a mannequin inside dressed in a wedding gown that looks exactly like Christine, and it kinda moves/bends towards her which makes her faint

[@michaelgriswold5663]

My best friend who's favorite musical is Phantom was also first introduced to the movie, but only because her dad wanted her to have some understanding of the plot when it came time to see it on Broadway. After she saw it on Broadway, as well as the recording at Royal Albert Hall, she admits that she hates the movie too,but she was happy she saw it before the Musical So she could understand the story. Otherwise, it is rubbish.

[@morgangobin9985]

That’s literally the only reason I’m glad I saw the 2004 movie first. It got my familiar with the story and the songs so that I could thoroughly enjoy the musical live.

[@gummybearofdeath]

This poor movie was doomed from the start. I remember when I first saw it, so many things were confusing. I was like 10. Schumacher confused a 10-year-old. Not even his Batman did that.

[@sammygfilms9393]

Dom harmonizing with himself is so deeply impressive 😍

[@Kingpin1880]

Clearly they were filming the film in Minecraft and they didn't want to spawn any Creepers in any dark spaces they left behind.

[@g.strobl4458]

ooookay, I'm fairly sure this is not the Phantom of the Opera film I remember... and I think it must be 20 years since I last saw it, so the one I remember would have preceded this one. I'm confused, because IMDB has yielded nothing I recognise. Maybe it's just my colander of a memory... Awfully puzzling!

[@ireysword]

There actually have been a handful of movie adaptations. Cause I saw a black and white adaptation of the book as a kid and wanted to know which one it was. Wikipedia has got you covered.

[@Musicanimedork01]

There's about a billion movies, so you could be thinking of one of those? you can check out Lindsay Ellis' loose canon videos on the different iterations if you're interested in rewatching it

[@BadgerPride89]

There is a Charles Dance miniseries that is completely different from this movie, maybe you're thinking of that?

[@RoseOfPhantom]

The one that directly preceded this one was an Argento horror film with Julian Sands that came out in 1998. Is that the one you mean?

[@jasminessomewhere]

Yeah, what things do you remember from the movie you saw? I've been exploring Phantom adaptations for a while now and might be able to help you out.

[@ansgarsilberberg]

Mr Butler's singing was actually quite decent in comparison to some other actors we had to endure being cast in movies like this ... (just as an example: Les Mis. Russell Crowe. I like the man as an actor, but oyyyy ... worst Javert EVER.)

[@madeleine5561]

I have to disagree. While Russell Crowe was certainly terrible neither Butler or Rossum had the talent to hit the notes that make the music so sublime. Add the fact that they screwed up the deformity and cast someone who could not sing as the effing "Angel of Music" and you have a film that is total trash.

[@estherchristensen5557]

Also Pierce Brosnan in Mamma Mia

[@ansgarsilberberg]

@@madeleine5561 That's why I said "quite decent" instead of hopping around singing hymns of praise. I still have to find a singer (aaand yes, we're not talking about actors but actual singers) who is able to hold a candle to Michael Crawford. Never heard one yet.

[@madeleine5561]

@@ansgarsilberberg I'd say Ramin Karimloo comes the closest

[@ansgarsilberberg]

@@madeleine5561 Never heard of him before ... I'll look him up, thanks for the tip :)

[@beingmegucaissuffering.5326]

Video three of politely asking Dominic to find out what the story is with Wishbone (or at least take a look at one or two episodes, since the full series might be a little much). Also these videos are making me want to go watch the various adaptions of the Phantom of the Opera.

[@LilyK314]

++

[@llouie4999]

Yes! Much love for Wishbone. They did so well making the most of a few scenes to get the story across and it's always fun to see which part Wishbone would play. Wishbone and the Simpsons were a major source of adaptations and parodies growing up for me

[@arubinojr5670]

"It means Christine died really, really young." Well it turns out she did, did she not?

[@stephenmarco2927]

We don’t talk about love never dies

[@almightycinder]

65 is fine. Stage show, she's like 40.

[@Formoka]

Dom’s got a decent singing voice. ❤️

[@itsmist-er]

Someone please explain how Butler can't sing. Now, I can't speak because I sing like a dying walrus, but he sounded really good. His "yelling" suited the tormented character and really said a lot about the phantom's explosive, abusive personality.

[@jessicawurm23]

I humbly believe I have a pretty good ear for music, and will grudgingly admit that even my favorite musical (film edition) of Les Mis suffered dreadfully from the live singing. But in this film, I really don't agree with the criticism of Butler's singing. Michael Crawford is of course the superior talent, but his tenor just doesn't fit the character as well as Butler's baritone. It really isn't horrible

[@isobelduncan]

It's more that he can't sing tenor, and yes that *is* important for the role.

[@camk8856]

Time to drop everything and watch the greatest adaptation reviewer you tube show ever!!!!!

[@LeeLee-pk4ss]

I felt like the movie was showing that Madame Giry was in love with the Phantom and may have had a relationship with him which kinda explains Meg and the half hearted attempt to start a story but never do anything about it.

[@tovavikstrom202]

Okay, same. I actually used to really like the movie as a teenager, but when I saw the musical in London in 2009 my opinion changed.

[@bubblegum1366]

I have to admit I actually LIKE Gerard Butler's singing as Phantom. He's probably my second favorite in fact. Yes I know he's not a soprano but honestly the deeper, rougher edge to his voice isn't bad and suits the character. That said this ONLY applies to Butler. I love Emmy Rossum as an actress but I wouldn't hire her to sing Happy Birthday.

[@isobelduncan]

Tenor is the word you're looking for actually. Sopranos are the female roles. And I can understand why they chose someone young for Christine because she'd be more vulnerable to Erik's grooming. Whereas it wouldn't make much sense for a 20 yr old woman.

[@bubblegum1366]

@@isobelduncan Her age isn't the reason I wasn't a fan lol

[@Evee_b_music]

Oh my God. The imagery of Gerard Buttler Scuba Singing in a puddle. 😂

[@kevincorey4406]

My goodness, The Dom, I can’t do that! My theater just burned to the ground thanks to a badly-singing ghost and now I’m broke!

[@amyclarke900]

When I first saw the film I liked the singing... Then I saw the 25th anniversary one and I realised my foolishness.

[@GwenS320]

I always liked this movie version and thought that Gerard Butler did a pretty decent job singing. I don't get why people say he's such a bad singer I really enjoyed his work. And he's far from the worst Phantom I've ever seen I've seen several adaptations that were much much worse as far as singing goes.

[@traceylshore9305]

Truly enjoyed this. Can't wait for the inevitable analysis of Cats.

[@calmcloudlesssky3443]

I don't know that it's inevitable, but I am super-invested in that analysis because I read the poems first and was under the impression that the musical was going to be about, like, a washed-up feline thespian finding himself thrown willy-nilly into the manifold intrigues of Cat Moriarty. And of course it turns out that Andrew Lloyd Webber doesn't even know a Moriarty when he sees one. Grizabella's fine, Grizabella's great, but the waste of plot potential here is still staggering.

[@vanyadolly]

Yes! The utter lack of plot in CATS always makes it interesting to hear people talk about it. If there's one thing I want out of the movie it's more videos about the musical on youtube

[@pykenotpike]

YES

[@Leitoparkouringsk8er]

I Know minnie driver does a phenomenal job as carlotta but they passed up a very good singer. I think she would have been a fantastic christine.