Mookie Riffic

I don't understand why, but all the reviews I've read or heard about it say it stinks. I've seen it twice, and I have the sound track, and I love the movie. I think quite a few of the critics are bad mouthing it because they think Emmy Rossum is a royal... Witch. The DJ on Sirius even said (let see if I can quote this right) "Don't waste your money. Save your $12.95 and wait for it to come out on DvD. Better yet, steal it once it comes out. Or even better! Come up to Time Square and buy it Bootleg!!". What I really want to know about this quote, is "Who the hell pays $12.95 to go to the movies?!" I only pay 8 bucks. 5 if I remember to show my student ID.

But back to the subject: The Phantom of The Opera. This movie is everything I had hoped for. For months prior to the release it was all me and one of my friends could talk about. When we all went to go see it (it was me, 2 friends that graduated, and my English Teacher) we were all crying at the end of it. The second time I saw it, I knew the story well enough that I could look at the more subtle aspects of it, and I enjoyed it even more the second time through! By the end of the 1st Act I was crying (I knew it was the first act because I listened to the CD), and I didn't stop until the end. The only other movie that has made me cry in the past 5 years was The Notebook(it comes out on DvD February 7th-ish!).

For those that don't know the story line, I'm going to attempt to summarize it with out fawning too much over it:

The Phantom Of The Opera 2004 movie starts out at in the year 1917 at an auction where an old, graying man bids on a music box. The old man recognizes another one of the bidders, and while they don't talk to each other, they both show respect. The scene is done with a sepia coloring, so it looks like an old photograph brought to life, and at the end of the scene the auctioneer asks the workers to raise "the very chandelier that figures in the famous disaster. Our work shops have repaired it, now perhaps we can frighten away the ghosts of so many years ago with a little illumination." As the chandelier is raised, color comes to the scene and with some wonderful special effects we see the cast and crew getting ready for rehearsal of their latest show. We come upon Carlotta, an Italian woman, played by Minnie Driver, who is the lead soprano. She is, to say the least, obnoxious, but plays an important role as comic relief. The cast is informed that there are new owners of the Opera house, and as Carlotta sings for them, a back drop falls on her, knocking her down. She is infuriated and storms out, leaving the Opera house with out a lead on opening night. Panicking, the owners decide to humor the ballet instructor when she suggests Christine Daie to take Carlotta's place. Christine, needless to say, does splendidly, and performs on opening night, where her child hood sweet heart- Viscount De Chaney- Raoul falls in love with her all over again. The Phantom then makes his first appearance that night in her dressing room right after Raoul leaves, and takes Christine down to his Lair and they sing the trademark song The Phantom Of The Opera. The song is closely followed by Music of the Night, and the Phantom, played by Gerard Butler, casts a spell of sorts upon Christine. Christine is infatuated [and rightly so since he's mad Hott]. This show progresses, and Carlotta comes back to take back the lead role- but the phantom is having none of it. During the show he sabotages Carlotta and then kills a man with the "magical lasso". The poor fool forgot to "keep his hand at the level of his eye". Upon the fool's death, Christine and Raoul run to the roof top and have their wonderfully sweet song, All I Ask Of You, and the Phantom witnesses their love. The Phantom is crushed, and in the reprise of All I Ask You he curses both Christine and Raoul.

That's act one. I'd say more, but I'd give away too much. But in the reprise of All I Ask Of You, Butler is amazing, and it is you can actually see the Phantom's heart breaking. It is just one of the most moving scene's I've seen in a movie in a long time. After watching that scene, it was no longer possible for me to even think that possibly the Phantom could be a "bad guy". Insane? Maybe. Bad? No.

The Phantom Of The Opera, in my opinion, is not a bad movie, its not even close. And I suggest seeing it, even if all the critics don't. After all, What does a critic know? They've only studied for several years and have worked their way up to their current position... but hey, who ya gonna trust? Them or Me?

Trust me. It's worth it.