Why has this film bombed so badly?!

I've watched it now 3 times and have loved it.
Sure, Gerard isnt the best Phantom there ever was..but Michael
Crawford is too bloody old for the part.

Emily Rosseum is only 17 and she was bloody brilliant as Christine
Daae..her voice was very mature.

The play is one of the most popular stage shows in the world.

I know fans of theatre wont necessarily be fans of cinema..but
still...i really thought that it would do better!

From:	damnfine
Subject:	Re: Phantom Of The Opera a flop?!?
Date:	Mon, 10 Jan 2005 08:12:58 +1100

"Matthew.c.2005" wrote:
> Why has this film bombed so badly?!

Because it has one of the rare double acts in recent memory, Andrew Lloyd
Webber and Joel Schumacher each being among the absolute worst hacks ever to
succeed in their respective mediums.

--
/^\damnfine/^\
"Where is Richard Nixon when we finally need him?"
- Hunter S. Thompson

From:	Matthew.c.2005
Subject:	Re: Phantom Of The Opera a flop?!?
Date:	Mon, 10 Jan 2005 08:51:57 +1100

On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 08:12:58 +1100, "damnfine"
wrote:

>"Matthew.c.2005" wrote:
>> Why has this film bombed so badly?!
>
>Because it has one of the rare double acts in recent memory, Andrew Lloyd
>Webber and Joel Schumacher each being among the absolute worst hacks ever to
>succeed in their respective mediums.

But that doesnt explain why fans of ALW have stayed away in droves.

I read that that the film is only in limited US release until
Jan21st....but 17million in 3 weeks is still poor.

It's is a suprisingly good film, a much better adaption than Evita.

From:	damnfine
Subject:	Re: Phantom Of The Opera a flop?!?
Date:	Mon, 10 Jan 2005 08:37:38 +1100

"Matthew.c.2005" wrote:
> But that doesnt explain why fans of ALW have stayed away in droves.

Perhaps fans of ALW are too stupid to notice when a new movie comes out.
Quite possibly they're too stupid to know what day it is.

--
/^\damnfine/^\
"Where is Richard Nixon when we finally need him?"
- Hunter S. Thompson

From:	Seruhndipuhtee
Subject:	Re: Phantom Of The Opera a flop?!?
Date:	Mon, 10 Jan 2005 10:08:24 GMT

"damnfine" wrote in message
news:JWhEd.1$8X2.473@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...
> "Matthew.c.2005" wrote:
>> But that doesnt explain why fans of ALW have stayed away in droves.
>
> Perhaps fans of ALW are too stupid to notice when a new movie comes out.
> Quite possibly they're too stupid to know what day it is.
>
they're all waiting for the $150 million dollar production of Cats ...

From:	Luke Hooft
Subject:	Re: Phantom Of The Opera a flop?!?
Date:	Tue, 11 Jan 2005 00:00:53 +1030

"Seruhndipuhtee" wrote in message
news:susEd.113030$K7.45399@news-server.bigpond.net.au...

> "damnfine" wrote in message
> news:JWhEd.1$8X2.473@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...
> > "Matthew.c.2005" wrote:
> >> But that doesnt explain why fans of ALW have stayed away in droves.
> >
> > Perhaps fans of ALW are too stupid to notice when a new movie comes out.
> > Quite possibly they're too stupid to know what day it is.
> >
> they're all waiting for the $150 million dollar production of Cats ...

That would be the bottom of the barrel, I think.

Unless it was animated (traditionally 2D style)... that would actually make
a lot of sense. But grown adults in cat costumes on film... has a bit of a
"furry" vibe to me.

LH

From:	Seruhndipuhtee
Subject:	Re: Phantom Of The Opera a flop?!?
Date:	Mon, 10 Jan 2005 13:38:29 GMT

"Luke Hooft" wrote in message
news:isvEd.182$8X2.7315@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...
> "Seruhndipuhtee" wrote in message
> news:susEd.113030$K7.45399@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>
>> "damnfine" wrote in message
>> news:JWhEd.1$8X2.473@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...
>> > "Matthew.c.2005" wrote:
>> >> But that doesnt explain why fans of ALW have stayed away in droves.
>> >
>> > Perhaps fans of ALW are too stupid to notice when a new movie comes
>> > out.
>> > Quite possibly they're too stupid to know what day it is.
>> >
>> they're all waiting for the $150 million dollar production of Cats ...
>
> That would be the bottom of the barrel, I think.
>
> Unless it was animated (traditionally 2D style)... that would actually
> make
> a lot of sense. But grown adults in cat costumes on film... has a bit of a
> "furry" vibe to me.
>
if they can pretend gerald butler can sing they can train a common,
household moggy to screech 'meeeeeeeeeeeeeemories ...'

From:	sbr
Subject:	Re: Phantom Of The Opera a flop?!?
Date:	Tue, 11 Jan 2005 08:02:13 GMT

On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 08:51:57 +1100, Matthew.c.2005
wrote:

>On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 08:12:58 +1100, "damnfine"
>wrote:

>>
>>Because it has one of the rare double acts in recent memory, Andrew Lloyd
>>Webber and Joel Schumacher each being among the absolute worst hacks ever to
>>succeed in their respective mediums.

And a lot of fans of that kind of musical are people who think they're
above movies: they'll see trash in the theatre but wouldn't see a
masterpiece in the cinema.

sbr
sbr@cinephobia.com
Movie reviews, essays and more at http://www.cinephobia.com

From:	dewatf
Subject:	Re: Phantom Of The Opera a flop?!?
Date:	Fri, 14 Jan 2005 10:15:12 GMT

On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 00:14:12 +1100, Matthew.c.2005
wrote:

>Why has this film bombed so badly?!

How badly has it done?

The critics don't like it because it is stagy melodrama.

However fans of such will love it and by the time you add up the
boxoffice, DVD and cable sales it will make a tidy profit I'd guess.

dewatf.

From:	Onelia Herriot
Subject:	Re: Phantom Of The Opera a flop?!?
Date:	Mon, 10 Jan 2005 20:27:47 +1100

"Matthew.c.2005" wrote in message
news:1bb2u0tnplo4mkoandp5mndl5p9a2sh9gu@4ax.com...
> Why has this film bombed so badly?!
>
> I've watched it now 3 times and have loved it.
> Sure, Gerard isnt the best Phantom there ever was..but Michael
> Crawford is too bloody old for the part.
>

If you actually understand the role of the phantom then you would know
Crawford is not too old! Even the book (the original story, not the ALW
release) the phantom is of undefineable age due to bad scaring.

As for the theory of Christine being in love with the phantom thats not the
case. The phantom was a mentor who saw promise and Christine felt gratitude
to him which is why she tries to help him.

From:	Seruhndipuhtee
Subject:	Re: Phantom Of The Opera a flop?!?
Date:	Mon, 10 Jan 2005 10:07:00 GMT

"Onelia Herriot" wrote in message
news:41e24a99$0$12232$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
>
> "Matthew.c.2005" wrote in message
> news:1bb2u0tnplo4mkoandp5mndl5p9a2sh9gu@4ax.com...
>> Why has this film bombed so badly?!
>>
>> I've watched it now 3 times and have loved it.
>> Sure, Gerard isnt the best Phantom there ever was..but Michael
>> Crawford is too bloody old for the part.
>>
>
> If you actually understand the role of the phantom then you would know
> Crawford is not too old! Even the book (the original story, not the ALW
> release) the phantom is of undefineable age due to bad scaring.
>
well, after enduring butler sing/shout in scottish throughout the whole
movie i was badly scared too ...
maybe he'd heard the cast recording???

From:	Matthew.c.2005
Subject:	Re: Phantom Of The Opera a flop?!?
Date:	Mon, 10 Jan 2005 21:11:39 +1100

On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 10:07:00 GMT, "Seruhndipuhtee"
wrote:

>
>"Onelia Herriot" wrote in message
>news:41e24a99$0$12232$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
>>
>> "Matthew.c.2005" wrote in message
>> news:1bb2u0tnplo4mkoandp5mndl5p9a2sh9gu@4ax.com...
>>> Why has this film bombed so badly?!
>>>
>>> I've watched it now 3 times and have loved it.
>>> Sure, Gerard isnt the best Phantom there ever was..but Michael
>>> Crawford is too bloody old for the part.
>>>
>>
>> If you actually understand the role of the phantom then you would know
>> Crawford is not too old! Even the book (the original story, not the ALW
>> release) the phantom is of undefineable age due to bad scaring.
>>
>well, after enduring butler sing/shout in scottish throughout the whole
>movie i was badly scared too ...
>maybe he'd heard the cast recording???
>

oh Come on, he wasnt that bad!
Still would have prefered John Travolta though!

From:	Matthew.c.2005
Subject:	Re: Phantom Of The Opera a flop?!?
Date:	Mon, 10 Jan 2005 21:09:59 +1100

On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 20:27:47 +1100, "Onelia Herriot"
wrote:

>
>"Matthew.c.2005" wrote in message
>news:1bb2u0tnplo4mkoandp5mndl5p9a2sh9gu@4ax.com...
>> Why has this film bombed so badly?!
>>
>> I've watched it now 3 times and have loved it.
>> Sure, Gerard isnt the best Phantom there ever was..but Michael
>> Crawford is too bloody old for the part.
>>
>
>If you actually understand the role of the phantom then you would know
>Crawford is not too old! Even the book (the original story, not the ALW
>release) the phantom is of undefineable age due to bad scaring.

Oh, i dont think he couldnt perform the role, i just htink he is too
old for todays audiences.
I can just imagine the parents complaining about a 62 year old man
running around with a 17 year old girl.
Michael is one of my all time favourite singers and actors.
Just about every night at work ( i'm on leave right now) i listen to
the cast recording with him and Sarah.

Come to think of it...his age would have worked against him with the
story presented.
Madam Girry rescued The Boy ( i still cant call him Erik ) when she
was a child. From memory i think Girry was about 35-40. The boy
couldnt have been much older or younger. Crawford would clearly have
not been right in this case.

As for the Leroux novel..well, it isnt really the same story.
>
>As for the theory of Christine being in love with the phantom thats not the
>case. The phantom was a mentor who saw promise and Christine felt gratitude
>to him which is why she tries to help him.
>

This bugs me with a lot of people who have seen the film and play.
The Phantom didnt seem like he had a ual love for her.
I've heard people say that he is a sick freak because she is so young
and he is old ( even though in that time period that kind of
relationship wasnt unusual! ).

He had a love for her as performer, maybe even as a vehicle to bring
his work to a world that will never know him. Yes, he had a wedding
dress and ring for her..but i saw that as symbolism. Maybe he
wantedher to be married to the music.
Hell, maybe he was even friends with her dad.
Mr Daae did say he would send her the Angel of music.
The Phantom may have promised him that he would look after christine
should anything ever happen.

This is simply a story of two blokes fighting over a chick.

I think it is funny how people try and make out He was an arsehole and
she was just an innocent young girl.

When she first took off his mask you could forgive that, but when she
ripped his mask off during Don Juan ..that was stupid.

I still dont know what to make of the final scene at the gravesite.

I think the ending of the play was better.

God, i hope they dont do a sequel :)

From:	Seruhndipuhtee
Subject:	Re: Phantom Of The Opera a flop?!?
Date:	Mon, 10 Jan 2005 11:39:02 GMT

"Matthew.c.2005" wrote in message
news:m0k4u01r73cpfmv3flevk8rfb8in0a6lea@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 20:27:47 +1100, "Onelia Herriot"
> wrote:
>
>
> God, i hope they dont do a sequel :)

That truly would be The Phantom Menace ...

From:	pharro
Subject:	Re: Phantom Of The Opera a flop?!?
Date:	Mon, 10 Jan 2005 21:52:14 +1100

"Matthew.c.2005" wrote in message
news:1bb2u0tnplo4mkoandp5mndl5p9a2sh9gu@4ax.com...
> Why has this film bombed so badly?!
>
> I've watched it now 3 times and have loved it.
> Sure, Gerard isnt the best Phantom there ever was..but Michael
> Crawford is too bloody old for the part.
>
> Emily Rosseum is only 17 and she was bloody brilliant as Christine
> Daae..her voice was very mature.
>
> The play is one of the most popular stage shows in the world.
>
> I know fans of theatre wont necessarily be fans of cinema..but
> still...i really thought that it would do better!

Perhaps if they'd made the film 10 years ago...

pharro

From:	NewcastleBoy
Subject:	Re: Phantom Of The Opera a flop?!?
Date:	Mon, 10 Jan 2005 13:03:30 GMT

It might be popular but the Broadway show was critically panned by
most theatre critics. I tend to believe them than your general public
who are easily manipulated in believing this musical is theatre craft
of the finest kind..

I've listened to the music - 3-4 songs all repeated over and over
again with different lyrics on a different variation. I think the
lyrics are quite cringefest and the music is obviously so Puccini
plagarised it's not hard to tell why this musical really suxs.

- NewcastleBoy

On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 21:52:14 +1100, "pharro" wrote:

>> The play is one of the most popular stage shows in the world.
>>
>> I know fans of theatre wont necessarily be fans of cinema..but
>> still...i really thought that it would do better!
>
>
>Perhaps if they'd made the film 10 years ago...
>
>pharro
>
>

From:	NewcastleBoy
Subject:	Re: Phantom Of The Opera a flop?!?
Date:	Sun, 09 Jan 2005 21:09:15 GMT

They should have cast Anthony Warlow as the Phantom.. He's not too old
and has the best voice for the role - even better than Michael
Crawford.

Sometimes the success of on-stage musicals don't convert to bums on
seats with the movie versions.

- NewcastleBoy

On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 00:14:12 +1100, Matthew.c.2005
wrote:

>Why has this film bombed so badly?!
>
>I've watched it now 3 times and have loved it.
>Sure, Gerard isnt the best Phantom there ever was..but Michael
>Crawford is too bloody old for the part.

From:	Matthew.c.2005
Subject:	Re: Phantom Of The Opera a flop?!?
Date:	Mon, 10 Jan 2005 14:24:35 +1100

On Sun, 09 Jan 2005 21:09:15 GMT, newcastleboy@yahoo.com

(NewcastleBoy) wrote:

AW would have made a great choice, i wish i had of seen him play the
role back in the 90's...i saw the other bloke..Rob (last name slips my
mind!)

I actually wanted John travolta to take the role.
>They should have cast Anthony Warlow as the Phantom.. He's not too old
>and has the best voice for the role - even better than Michael
>Crawford.
>
>Sometimes the success of on-stage musicals don't convert to bums on
>seats with the movie versions.
>
>- NewcastleBoy
>
>On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 00:14:12 +1100, Matthew.c.2005
>wrote:
>
>>Why has this film bombed so badly?!
>>
>>I've watched it now 3 times and have loved it.
>>Sure, Gerard isnt the best Phantom there ever was..but Michael
>>Crawford is too bloody old for the part.

From:	yoo-hoo
Subject:	Re: Phantom Of The Opera a flop?!?
Date:	Mon, 10 Jan 2005 15:12:03 +1100

"Matthew.c.2005" wrote in message
news:f9t3u0deocr7b8er4m6fckvtdr26l9dp0t@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 09 Jan 2005 21:09:15 GMT, newcastleboy@yahoo.com
>
>
> (NewcastleBoy) wrote:
>
>
>
> AW would have made a great choice, i wish i had of seen him play the
> role back in the 90's...i saw the other bloke..Rob (last name slips my
> mind!)
>
>

Rob Guest?

From:	NewcastleBoy
Subject:	Re: Phantom Of The Opera a flop?!?
Date:	Mon, 10 Jan 2005 06:18:10 GMT

I saw Rob Guest play the Phantom in Sydney. I was very underwhelmed by
the music and especially with his singing - I felt he wasn't right for
the part. His singing totally unimpressed me.

I gave Rob Guest a second chance by buying one of his CDs for $2.95.
The same thing happened - his singing totally unimpressed me. Anthony
is king!

- NewcastleBoy

On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 15:12:03 +1100, "yoo-hoo"
wrote:
>
>Rob Guest?
>

From:	Matthew.c.2005
Subject:	Re: Phantom Of The Opera a flop?!?
Date:	Mon, 10 Jan 2005 15:16:06 +1100

On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 15:12:03 +1100, "yoo-hoo"
wrote:

>
>"Matthew.c.2005" wrote in message
>news:f9t3u0deocr7b8er4m6fckvtdr26l9dp0t@4ax.com...
>> On Sun, 09 Jan 2005 21:09:15 GMT, newcastleboy@yahoo.com
>>
>>
>> (NewcastleBoy) wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> AW would have made a great choice, i wish i had of seen him play the
>> role back in the 90's...i saw the other bloke..Rob (last name slips my
>> mind!)
>>
>>
>
>Rob Guest?

Yeah :-)
I saw the show many times and couldnt remember the bloody name!
I've heard warlow sing the songs and agree that he is excellent..but i
dont think he was as good as Crawford.
I've also got a cast recording that features Paul Stanley as the
Phantom.

Out of all the recordings i have the original is still the best.
I am still trying to find an Aussie recording.