When I heard that someone was making a film version of the musical of the phantom, I was really looking forward to it. I had seen Phantom at Her Majesty's theatre and that was absolutely breathtaking in the theatre. When I saw this I knew it wouldn't be as magical as the stage version, and I was right.
The Phantom isn't as mysterious or as magical in the film compared to the stage version. In the stage version, he shoots fireballs from a walking stick and in the Masquerade scene he disappears at the bottom of the staircase and 1 second later, reappears at the top of the stairs. Surely all this would be included in the film? Sadly not.
The amazing costume the Phantom wears in the stage production (with the red death costume and skull mask and great big red hat) isn't in the film, Why?
And finally, the phantoms disfigurement in the film isn't half as grisly as the stage production. In the stage production, he has swollen lips and his skull protrudes out of his head!! In the film, it just looks like a bad case of eczema.
If you're a fan of Phantom, buy it but don't expect great things (the singing in it isn't all that great either. however the guy who plays Raoul is quite good)
This will never be anywhere near as good as the stage version
(I don't understand why they didn't just film the stage version)