wswj519 Review of The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera (1989)

Entertaining but could have been so much more *SPOILERS*

[4/10 · 16 November 2005]

I remember when I first saw this movie after my parents bought the ALW musical on cassette. I fell in love with the Phantom immediately. When I rented the movie I didn't expect to see what I saw. Of course I was only eight at the time so this movie really scared me. Especially when Carlotta finds Joseph in the closet YUK! I couldn't watch it after that. Anyway, now I'm older and finally was able to find and rent the movie. I watched it not expecting much, but it was surprisingly decent. I felt it could have been so much better though. I know this is supposed to be a horror/gore film but the story didn't need such violence and gore, I guy getting his head cut off and the officer getting his heart ripped out! The worst part for me was the Phantom ripping off his face. Also if the movie cast better actors I think it would have done better. Yes Englund is a great Freddy but he can't come close to Michael Crawford, Colm Wilkinson, or Gerard Butler (yes I thought Butler portrayed the Phantom very well). Their was no apparent reason why Christine would be so drawn to him, his voice is even scary. I would be scared to death if I herd his voice calling to me from a mirror. All in all a good entertaining cheap horror flick. Though didn't provide much of a scare. I recommend it to curious viewers and horror/gore genre fans.