Well, a group of us Broadway junkies went yesterday to see the film version of The Phantom of the Opera. Some kept saying, "I like it as theatre better." That goes without being said, but the film version was far superior to what I expected. It is beautifully conceived with spectacular sets, costumes, etc. (much like the show is full of spectacle). I missed the complexity of the staging of some of the musical numbers because in the film they were able to put the characters in different locations and just cut back and forth. It is more fun when they are all on stage together.

Christine was to-die-for gorgeous, and I loved her singing. The Phantom's singing was inadequate in places; his voice just wasn't strong enough. That surprised me, because he wasn't a star, so you think they could have cast someone who could vocally pull off every part of the role. But with Michael Crawford in our memories, that would be difficult for anyone.

I thought that the film was sexier and more romantic than the stage productions I've seen. Part of this is because you can get so much closer to the action with a camera and the acting can be subtler.

Overall, I quite enjoyed it.

3 1/2 film reels
4 1/2 popcorn kernels