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The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall (2011)
A must watch for all phans
I got this DVD as a gift a couple of years ago. I mistakenly thought I had already seen it and didn't have a strong desire to watch it again. I was content with watching the 2004 film whenever I felt the need to watch POTO. It had it's problems, but I was content. Well one night I got bored and decided for kicks and giggles I would watch it. I quickly realized I had never seen this performance before. I got excited and curious to see how this version would play out. And I was not disappointed.
Just a heads up to anyone curious - this is not a film version of POTO. This is a recording of a play performance. It's not shot like a film so if you hate seeing plays in film format, then skip this and go to the 2004 film. However, if you are curious to see what the heart of Phantom of the Opera is, I strongly encourage you to watch this production. It is stellar. The music is top notch - the live orchestra brings so much passion and warmth to the sound. The costumes are glorious and the excellent use of technology is well placed. The support cast is fantastic and made me all the more invested - fearing for them and laughing with them (though I am disappointed by the lack of an audience response at the humorous bits but that's nitpicking). But the real stars are Raoul, Christine, and the Phantom.
First Raoul - Hadley Fraser has a different take on the childhood sweetheart of Christine. Fraser brings an energy and eagerness to the character. I always found Raoul in every performance to be fairly bland - he promises to protect Christine and shelter her. But aside from the dialogue, there is not much else to draw me to him. I loved Fraser because he brings a new energy and charisma to the character. He is a great contrast to the dark and passionate Phantom. Sierra Boggess portrays the innocent and charming Christine Daaé and Boggess is my favorite Christine by far. Her voice has such a sweet and warm sound to it. She captures perfectly both the innocence and sexuality of the young chorus girl as her world is turned upside down. But what makes her stand out is her chemistry with both Fraser and Karimloo (the Phantom).
And finally, the Phantom himself, played by Ramin Karimloo. I am convinced that if Morgan Freeman is the voice of God, then Ramin Karimloo is the singing voice of God. Good Lord is his voice gorgeous. The way he goes from a growling baritone to a delicate tenor blows my mind. He is both very threatening and very vulnerable. He is both aggressor and victim. He captures the fragility of the Phantom's mind and the strength of the Phantom's will. His rage, his passion, his trepidation... it's breathtaking. His chemistry with Sierra Boggess is unbelievable. I could watch the two interact all day it's that good. By far, my favorite couple performance.
This movie is wonderful. I can't express enough how much I enjoyed it. It actually made me cry. The only movies I have ever cried in where Schindler's List, The Pianist, and Les Miserables. The emotions are so raw and beautifully executed that it was impossible for me not to be moved. If you are a phan, then this film is a definite watch. Enjoy the magic and prepare to be amazed.
Into the Woods (2014)
Judge for yourself - you'd be surprised
I'm kinda of surprised to see the only reviews that are receiving attention on this film are the negative ones. That doesn't seem fair to the film. I wouldn't say it's a great movie but it's certainly worth paying attention to. I feel like a lot of viewers either had never seen a play production of "Into the Woods" or expected the movie to be a perfect transcription of the play. I am a huge fan of the play - written originally in the 1980s, it was avant-garde and was very clever in the way it twists classic fairy tales before it was done everywhere. The music is reminiscent of a sing-song style that captures a childlike innocence. Stephen Sondheim is a musical and lyrical genius - he's widely acclaimed as one of the greatest lyricist to have ever lived. So any criticisms of the music astonish me as Into the Woods is among some of his best works. The clever lyrics and syncopation are wonderful.
The play and film (at its heart) is about different fairy tale characters all trying to get their wish to come true. But once they all get their wish, they realize that what they got isn't what it's cracked up to be. So now they have to correct the mistakes of their past actions and discover what it is they truly want in order to get their happy ever afters. I am a huge fan of the play and was excited to see it adapted as a movie. I was also aware that this is one of the most difficult adaptations to possibly pull off. The play version constantly breaks the fourth wall and a lot of its humor comes from the interaction and connection is has with its audience. The film could never pull that off. And I knew that. For what we got, I thought it was okay. It won't live up to the play, but I think it's the best we could hope for. There are some stand out performances, such as Streep and Pines. The kid actors do surprisingly well and every does their part okay. I realized how complicated and confusing this story was to a new audience when watching this film. It doesn't help that we don't have intermissions in movies, which this film really needed. My biggest issue with this film is that it can't capture the changing moods of the play. The play has a lot of subtle changes in mood and atmosphere as it covers so many gray areas in these characters' lives while still maintaining a collective message of relying on those around you to get you through life's greater troubles and to not let the past prevent you from acting in the future. There are many messages, but those always come clear through in the play. The film does not do justice to this. It tries, but the subtle messages on parenting, abandonment, lust, greed, regret, obedience, trust... there's just too much to cram and the film has no idea on how to balance out these messages. What comes out is a cluttered mess, with the moods being... I don't even know.
So I wouldn't say this is a good film. But I don't think it's horrible. The original play itself is genius. I disagree with opinions that say the play is horrible and badly written with bad music. It's won numerous awards for its music and script. I can completely understand if it's not your cup of tea though - it's a weird play that can be hard to get a grip on. The music may not be to your liking, but by no means does it make it bad music. If you're a fan of the musical, give the film a watch - it's worth checking out. And to be honest, it's probably the best we will get since it's a difficult adaptation to pull off. Personally, I'm glad to have seen. Don't let the bad review prevent you from checking this film out for yourself.