The Phantom Of The Opera (2004)

Those who thought that smoke machines and cobwebbed candelabras were the stuff of Halloween parties and dance clubs need to think again. In Joel Schumacher's film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Broadway musical THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, these moody set devices--and countless others--make every scene an atmospheric vision of souped-up 19th-century Gothic bliss. Christine Daee (a luminescent Emmy Rossum) is a tortured young star who is haunted by the voice of the phantom (Gerard Butler--who also played the lead in DRACULA 2000), a musician who hides in the shadows to hide a facial disfigurement, yet sings to her obsessively. Dwelling in the dark, damp chambers beneath the Paris opera house, the phantom lords over the cast and management with artistic autocracy--he writes the shows, casts them, and threatens all who disobey his plans with dramatically violent outbursts. But when his young student Christine falls for the rich and dapper Raoul (Patrick Wilson), the phantom descends into madness. Webber's memorable songs are performed with aplomb by Rossum, whose background includes singing with the Metropolitan Opera, and Wilson and Butler provide ample accompaniment. One of the treats of the proceedings is Minnie Driver's deeply exaggerated portrayal of the jealous diva, giving this PHANTOM a very appropriate dose of comic relief.

Special Features:

• The Making of Phantom of the Opera
• Production: Swarovski Featurette
• Special FX featurette
• Music
• Recording Featurette
• Production Design Featurette
• Costumes
• Make-up Featurette
• Editing Featurette
• Alex Bailey's Production Stills
• Behind the Mask - The Story of the Phantom of the Opera
• The History
• The Music "The Music of the Phantom of the Opera featurette"
• "The Phantom of the Opera" - Steve Harley and Sarah Brightman
• "The Music of the Night" - Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman
• "Wishing you were Somehow Here Again" - Sarah Brightman
• Look out for hidden Extras!