StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Well, I watched the 2004 version of the movie by Joel Schumacher. It was an interesting movie, but it really bugged the hell out of me. Why?

Because they spent the whole movie singing! Now, I don't mind musicals per se, but my experience up until then with them was that it was mostly dialouge with the occassional musical number thrown in. This, on the other hand, was one very long musical number, only broken up by tiny snippets of dialouge along the way.

Now, I actually enjoyed most of the songs (like "The Phantom of the Opera" when he first abducts Christine; I really liked that one) and it had a good rendition of the Phantom theme throughout. But the constant singing just got on my nerves. Just not my taste in movies I suppose.

At any rate, this leads me to my question: how is the "original" Phantom done? Is it the mostly musical with short bits of dialouge, or is it mostly dialouge with musical numbers in it?

Incidently, a quick look on IMDb showed a lot of versions of the movie, not surprisingly. Any recommendations for a "mostly dialouge" version that's pretty good?

How about one with no singing?.... Or dialouge?

I love the silent movie version. I got it legally on a DVD along with Nosferatu for $1 at Halloween. It's an exceptional version, and I'd advise it very much.

Phantom is very much music with small bits of talk. Even when they 'talk', they are in song most of the time. Which is typical Webber.

It's been a while since I saw the musical though, but if the CD soundtrack is accurate and it is, then it's very much a musical through and through.

You'll have to forgive my relative ignorance, but isn't a play/movie that is mostly singing and hardly no talk more an opera than a musical?

Ninja of the North wrote:You'll have to forgive my relative ignorance, but isn't a play/movie that is mostly singing and hardly no talk more an opera than a musical?

yes the Phantom of the Opera IS an opera

I think that Phantom movie where the Phantom steals people's face-skin and has sex with hookers is awesome!

Ninja of the North wrote:You'll have to forgive my relative ignorance, but isn't a play/movie that is mostly singing and hardly no talk more an opera than a musical?

The question is whether you can understand what they are singing, if you can, it is a musical, if you can't, it is an opera (cynical view of operas talking here).

Les Miserables is also heavy towards singing moving the plot forward.

Shroom Man 777 wrote:I think that Phantom movie where the Phantom steals people's face-skin and has sex with hookers is awesome!

Don't spam.



RI, that version of Phantom is done in as an opera. The sort of musical you're thinking of where the songs are peppered throughout the story are musicals like 'West Side Story,' where there are very clear beginnings and ends to songs. There are plenty of versions of Phantom out there to choose from, so shop around until you find the one that fits your style best.

Oh, and moving to AMP. *punts*

That version sounds like it is akin Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Almost all music, very, VERY little diologue. I think that's more or less a recurring thing in Webber's works.

Aeolus wrote:

Ninja of the North wrote:You'll have to forgive my relative ignorance, but isn't a play/movie that is mostly singing and hardly no talk more an opera than a musical?

yes the Phantom of the Opera IS an opera

No it isn't. It's a musical.

Why? Because ALW calls it a musical. Had he called it an opera, then it would be an opera. And we opera snoods would have laughed him out of the theater. Mwahaha.