Plot: What’s it about?
The Paris Opera House is home to some of the greatest voices and music in the world, a place where thousands of people retreat to be entertained. The operas hit all the right notes and the crowds never fail to be respectful, so it is a place of happiness and entertainment. But there is a darker force within the structure as well, one that remains hidden in the shadows. At least hidden from most eyes, but this dark presence, known as The Phantom (Gerard Butler) has become visible to a young chorus singer named Christine (Emmy Rossum), whom he tutors to improve her performances. At the same time, he terrorizes the other performers and demands that Christine be given lead roles. This spooks one of the top singers and causes her to leave, which allows Christine a chance to shine. But when her childhood sweetheart Raoul (Patrick Wilson) returns and the two fall in love, The Phantom is enraged and promises revenge. He then kidnaps Christine and plans to make her his bride, but only Raoul can stop his horrific plan now.
This story has been adapted more times than I can count, though each one seems to have a unique focus on elements and themes. Universal crafted tales that played up the horror angle, while others focused on romance, and of course, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s version, which embraced the music. Now The Phantom of the Opera is best known as a musical and after an epic run on stages worldwide, the story has once again been drafted for a motion picture. The reaction was mixed, but mostly positive with a lot of respected critics claiming it was even better than the stage production. I have said this before, but I am not that much of a musical fan, though in this case, even I had to see for myself. As expected, the production values are lavish from the detailed sets to the gorgeous costumes, so no expense was spared in that regard. The story is thin, as Webber’s take has always been thin, glossing over the depth within the original source. But as a musical with focus on music over plot, this is a solid production and fans of the musical should be satisfied. But for me, I’ll stick with the 1925 production with Lon Chaney. Warner has crafted a single disc with just the movie itself, as well as this double disc Special Edition, so make sure you rent or purchase the version you prefer.
Video: How does it look?
The Phantom of the Opera is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. With such lavish visual presence, this movie demands a flawless presentation. So I knew this movie would look good, but I didn’t know how good, since not all new releases are given elite level treatments. As it turns out, this is one of the best transfers I have seen in recent months. The incredible visual details of the sets and costumes come off well, thanks to a pristine print that shows no debris or grain. The colors glow here, with rich golden and red hues that charm the eyes to no end. No problems from contrast either, as black levels perform at a high, flawless level and never disappoint. In the end, this is as good as we could want and in this case, that means as flawless an effort as DVD allows.
Audio: How does it sound?
This is a musical and as such, you might the audio’s highlights come only from the songs, which simply isn’t the case here. The included Dolby Digital 5.1 option does shine during the musical numbers, which have a rich, expansive presence. The music booms when it needs to and can be as subtle as it wants, while the vocals always have a crisp, lively tone. But there is more here than the music and this soundtrack excels even in the non musical situations. A few scenes kick up raw power, but the real skill of this treatment is in the small sounds, ones that help maintain atmosphere. So the music sounds excellent here, but the rest of the elements have also been given the attention they deserve. This release also includes a French language track, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
In Behind the Mask, we’re taken on an hour long journey through the history of The Phantom of the Opera in the world of entertainment. The original silent version to this new musical production, the entire movie life of this story is explored. Not just the movies either, but the novel is discussed and the stage productions are also given some screen time here. All in all, a solid look at how the material has evolved and been adapated in many different ways over the years. A second piece focuses on this production, with about forty-five minutes of behind the scenes material. The entire process is covered, with emphasis on the casting process, the production design work, and the soundtrack album. Not an in depth look, but a brisk one that allows a decent amount of insight. This release also includes an additional scene, as well as the film’s theatrical trailer.
