[Katie Reynolds]

I thought the movie was done very well overall, but ...





(Warning! Spoiler Alert!)









The Bad

• Gerard Butler: Gerard Butler played an OK Phantom. His voice was so-so, and he didn't portray the character as well as the stage version. I also didn't see the Phantom with Michael Crawford, but just listening to the soundtrack, MC sounds more .... insane, whereas GB sounds more ... aggressive and jealous. No one will ever top Michael Crawford's voice for the Phantom.
  
• Spoken Parts: Some of the parts sung in the stage-verison are spoken in the movie. That was more annoying than anything, though some things (especially when Raoul and Christine meet for the first time in her dressing room!!) should definitely have been sung.
  
• Mask on poster: Ever notice that, in the movie poster, the Phantom's mask is on the http://phantomthemovie.warnerbros.com/_images/g_photo07.jpg]wrong side?[/url] It's intentional - for promotional purposes (an artist’s rendition) - but it's still annoying.
  
• Red Death's Costume: A minor thing, really, but in the stage-version it is soooo elaborate and in the film it was just a white mask and red suit. Big deal. It's a masque - dress up!!

The Good

• Emmy Rossum: WOW!! Not only is she gorgeous, that girl can sing!! Between Emmy and Sarah Brightman, I thought Emmy definitely had the better voice. Christine is supposed to be young and naive, and that came through so much better in Emmy's voice.
  
• Patrick Wilson: Again, he has an amazing voice - much better than Gerard Butler, IMHO. Not to mention, Patrick Wilson is very attractive.
  
• La Carlotta: In the stage-version, I hated her. But in the movie, I thought the character was awesome. So catty, and a total diva for sure! But Minnie Driver was played the part perfectly; you hated Carlotta so much, you loved her.
  
• Black and White Scenes: I thought the scenes later in the Viscount's life were an awesome addition; they really tied the rest of the story together. And the rose/engagement on Christine's grave at the end? Brilliant.
  
• The Sets: So elaborate; so brilliant. Favorites of mine were the Phantom's lair and the entrance of the theatre (especially during Masquerade!!) And the Chandelier!! I got chills when they resurrect it in the beginning of the films. Just ... wow.

The Other

• Chandelier falling: I thought moving that to the end (rather than in the middle of the show) made more sense, especially for the movie. I noticed (the second time I saw it) they changed some lyrics to accommodate the move; most specifically in Masquerade ... "to a prosperous year/and our new chandelier" to "to a prosperous year/and our friends that are here."
  
• Notes: A plug for my favorite song in the show - it's so well-written! I thought the characters of Andre and Firmin were cast perfectly, too.
  
• Raoul vs. Phantom: I definitely liked Raoul more here than in the stage-version. When I saw the musical, Raoul came off as more of a rich-boy-who-gets-whatever-and-whoever-he-wants ... it was like, "where do you come off romancing Christine like that!!" and the Phantom stood out as more of the good guy. In the movie, I felt the opposite. Raoul was the brave hero, fighting for true love while the Phantom was more of a "bad guy".

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I think that's it - for now at least! The DVD comes out May 3rd, and I'm planning on buying the movie soundtrack this weekend (I have the 21 song, 1986 Michael Crawford/Sarah Brightman/Original Cast soundtrack playing right now!!)