The Phantom of the Opera: The Movie (with pics)

Post by **Zaia** » 2004-12-11 05:26pm

Fire Fly wrote:The ONLY thing that I am slightly bothered by from the movie is that the tempo of the music and the intensity of the singing is a little slow and lacking; it seems to lack a little passion (this shows true in the theme song).

Do you know that for a fact? Have you heard the entire soundtrack already? If so, do you know which orchestra performed on the soundtrack?

Fire Fly · Post by **Fire Fly** » 2004-12-12 04:14pm

This is based on the actual soundtrack from the actual 2004 movie. You can hear excerpts from here:

Phantom of the Opera 2004

This is only my personal opinon, but the music just seems to lack a little intensity from the broadway versions I've seen and the Phantom (played by Gerard Butler) lacks the bright tenor quality that you normally hear. Others I've asked say that the Phantom is better in the 2004 version because he sounds more like a man but I personally like that bright, tenor quality there.

That's just me, though.

Fire Fly · Post by **Fire Fly** » 2004-12-12 04:18pm

No, I'm not sure which orchestra performed the orchestral works, but I've read that the orchestra in the 2004 version is much larger than it was in previous works.

Post by **Zaia** » 2004-12-12 04:24pm

Sorry if I came across a little brusquely with my questions--I just read what I wrote before, and I sounded a bit rude. My apologies for that.

Am listening to all the excerpts now, and I hear what you're saying. The instrumentals (so far, anyway) sound gorgeous (although I wonder how the transition from 'Masquerade' to 'Why So Silent' will be), but the vocals sound a little emotionally flat. But I could just be biased.

Edit: Read this in a review: "Original show orchestrator David Cullen has fashioned compelling new contemporary arrangements to frame Webber's songs -- which now conclude with the lilting, upbeat new ballad he wrote for the film, "Learn to Be Lonely," sung by Minnie Driver's Carlotta."

It finishes with an upbeat ballad sung by Carlotta?!

Edit 2: Just read another review, and apparently it's just the closing credits song, which is still random, but not as bad as what I'd thought. Here's the quote: "The tagged on new song, sung my Minnie Driver is fine, but does not FIT with this show. I understand why it is placed over the closing credits.....My recommendation, DO purchase, and do so with an OPEN mind!! If you do, you won't be disappointed."