I'm seriously about to die from laughing right now...

[olde_fashioned]

We rented The Phantom of the Opera again, (also known as The Phaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannntommmmmm of the OOOpppppeeerraaaaaaaa) mainly because the last time I was the only one who managed to stay awake for the whole thing. So I decided to subject my brother, especially, to the horrors of OPERAAAA!!! Mwahahaaaa.

Now, mind, I am not a big fan of musicals, but Pretty Costumes + Pretty Music = Not a Bad Movie, and at least no one's swallowing marbles. But I digress.

Spencer has posted the most hilarious, the most painfully funny review of the movie on his blog [link here: This is OPERA!!!!!] and you all have just got to read it. I seriously was about to bust a gut or something I was laughing so hard. *wipes tears from eyes* There's nothing like a brother's amusing take on a musical to make one's evening delightful, eh? ;-)

Now perhaps you all will think of me when you watch it next. Hahahaha. (Oh, yeah, and now all things Phantom have become quite the joke. Cape-swirling temper tantrums, dramatic stances, and especially "THIS IS fill-in-the-blank" is always funny.)

P.S. Spencarian quote of the evening: "I need to watch a MAN movie!" Haaaa haaahahaaa....

Comments

[elainastone.livejournal.com]

Well, I can't reply in HIS blog, so I'll reply in yours --- heh, I laughed VERY hard myself reading that.

The movie is terrible, the broadway play (and it's music!) correctly done is much better, the book much, MUCH better than all of it. The appeal is absolutely to fangirlish/fantasy-immersed preteen and young teenage girls though.

These days I personally just love the instrumental versions of the original broadway music--though Crawford's broadway voice as well as all of the original voices were fantastic. (Unfortunately, I have a good dose of CRINGE every time I listen to it, remembering an essay on the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber I did where I practically drooled all over the report writing about all the POTO songs!!)

Hehe..I have a POTO layout I made before the movie came out stuck in my photobucket account too, actually.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

It's not letting you reply?? Hmm, I thought he allowed all comments! Did you try refreshing it?

Now I have admittedly never seen the play, but I did watch the extra features/making of documentaries on the other DVD, and I did not AT ALL like what I saw of Michael Crawford and the stage productions. I think the movie looks much more "well done" and even though he's not a professional singer, I still think Gerard Butler did a good job of "winging" his songs. I dislike opera in general.

A PotO layout of the stage productions, or the movie promos?

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

I'll tell him! :-D

Thank you! I try. ;-P

[tragic-peculiar.livejournal.com]

When I was at school, I did a parody of Phantom. It involved a lot of "Christee-ee-ee-een," counting the four "ees" on your fingers as you went. I wore a big green dress and a Viking hat and did the most ridiculous opera singing impression. It was all very silly.

But thanks for reminding me of a happy time.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

LOL!! That certainly sounds like fun. :-)

[ladyneferankh.livejournal.com]

* tries to keep from snickering in library *

Hahaha---this is absolutely hilarious, of course, since I've never even seen this movie--I'm now ruined for it :P, if anyone if tries to make me see it !

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

You should have heard me reading Spencer's entry!! I was afraid I was going to wake the whole house up. ;-P

I didn't realize you hadn't seen it. Now you're going to have to so you can join in on all the fun!! (it's worth a watch for the opening theatre sequence, and Christine's dresses alone)

[agguss.livejournal.com]

I understand how the Phantom have become quite the joke... it's very jokable. I only liked the movie in the costume department sense.

I'm off to read your brother's review. :)

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

I understand how the Phantom have become quite the joke... it's very jokable. I only liked the movie in the costume department sense.

Ditto!! It's a costumer's dream. ;-)

[chloeandrudy.livejournal.com]

Ha ha, I love teenager's takes on movies.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

I'm glad we've amused you!! (although I'm not a teenager anymore. heheheh...)

Do you plan on ever making any PotO gowns?

[chloeandrudy.livejournal.com]

Wasn't planning on it. I usually just go for an era, not a movie, although sometimes they influence me. I've got so many I would love to make, there's not enough years in my life left to make them. *joking*

[airehen.livejournal.com]

Ah, boys, boys, boys. :)

When watching a performance like this you have to put other assumptions asside because simply by it's nature, it is not truly meant to work in reality. It is a fantasy, an entertainment.

Oh, yes, I often at times, when watching particular shows/movies think of how I or the character should have acted differently, but then, that is not the way it is supposed to be. It is supposed to be played out simply the way it is without the audience forcing other supposed actions upon it.

I have never seen the musical on Broadway, though I think it would be superb. The movie, I think was a nice adaptation; though there were a few small details I would have either liked to change or leave out.

As for the guy, who played Raoul, I have heard conflicting reports on him, though in my general opinion, I did like his appearance.

And yes, Christine is a bit naive, but then, she is supposed to be.

Even having said all this, I did enjoy Spencer's review. :D

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's not realistic and you can't really judge it by the same ruler, otherwise you'll drive yourself batty. ;-P

You liked Raoul's appearance?? Please tell me at least that you didn't like his hair!! ;-P (and on second thought, looking at your icon makes me think maybe you like that look....)

[sabrinafair2.livejournal.com]

I hate to admit it, but I fell in love with POTO, hook, line, and sinker. Of course that was four years ago, so I was much less mature then. But POTO grabbed onto me like no other movie. Although I know some of it had to do with Butler (lol), I think it's the back line of the story. All the archetypes rolled into one and just waiting for a young girl to snatch on to them. Now, of course I can't bare to see the film. And all of the silly scenes and highly ridiculous schemes. I grant you the Broadway musical is much better. And IMHO Michael Crawford was definitely not the best phantom there's been on Broadway. But the book is even better (of course it's kinda improbable too, lol).

If you are looking to poke fun of POTO more, here's some good parodies:
-Phantom paper dolls (http://www.geocities.com/angel9447646/index.html)
-Phantom in 15 minutes (http://community.livejournal.com/m15m/6231.html)

[midenianscholar.livejournal.com]

Oh.my.gosh. Those links are soooo funny! *giggles*

[exits]

[midenianscholar.livejournal.com]

Erm. Sorry for the second reply, but I was just wondering: I've only seen the movie. Is Raoul less of a wimp in the book?

[ephramyfan.livejournal.com]

LOL I had to fast forward through the majority of that movie. I just couldn't take all of it. I'm not a musical person so I probably was out of my mind when I rented it.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Oh, no!! But that's no fun!!

The music is at least tolerable, as musicals go...*shrug*

[midenianscholar.livejournal.com]

You're brother is so silly. His reaction reminds me a lot of what my dad's would've been, if I made him watch it. :) My older sister, Amy, was positively TERRIFIED of it though. She screamed a lot.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

*laughs at your icon*

Spencer knows that I have *interesting* taste in movies. ;-P

Terrified?? Of what!! Gerard Butler???? Or no, Raoul! (hahaha) I didn't think it was scary in the least. But then maybe I'm just too used to Batman Begins. ;-P

[airehen.livejournal.com]

i also lols at this icon. :)

[no-more-night.livejournal.com]

I found your journal through poto_stills, and I clicked the POTO tag to see what I'd find.

It seems like Raoul is hard-pressed to please anybody. A lot of people criticize him (in the movie) for being *too perfect* and not flawed enough. This reviewer thinks the opposite.

I see Raoul as a type of Christ, who faithfully pursues his unfaithful, prodigal bride, even in the face of daunting, horrific odds. This makes him a favorite hero of mine. I spend quite a bit of time defending Raoul's merits against the Phantom-lovers, so it's a little disheartening to see this new type of criticism.

I realize that it's not really a guy story, but this review's tone seems to be one of mockery rather than fair analysis. :(

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

I understand that you're fond of Raoul, but you've got to understand that my brother (the reviewer in question) hates the movie and only puts up with it because of me. It's all rather "tongue-in-cheek" and in the name of fun, for myself when I make fun of the movie, and being silly and having a good time teasing it doesn't diminish my pleasure, but rather enhances it.