The Phantom of the Opera 2/5

Directed by Joel Schumacher, a successful, mainstream Hollywood director, the latest film incarnation of the The Phantom of the Opera should appeal to the masses, but it left me a bit cold.

Christine, (Emmy Rossum, a chorus girl, is coached into becoming an opera lead by a mysterious, unseen musical genius who lives in the opera house, taking away a job from the obnoxious diva, played by Minnie Driver.

Soon, Christine comes to the attention of the opera house's dashing young patron, Raoul, who also happens to be a childhood friend. As the two fall in love, the Phantom, her unseen tutor, falls in love with her, as well, and descends into madness, terrorizing the opera house if they fail to follow his written instructions for artistic direction, etc. The Phantom wants her but realizes that he's in a hopeless struggle for her love. He was a circus freak due to his facial deformities, but managed to escape to hide out in the opera house, thanks to another young actress who became the guardian of the orphaned Christine, years later.

At times, I wished more of the dialogue was spoken rather than sung.

The sets are beautiful, several of the songs are well-known and catchy (if not cheesy), the Phantom's lair is creepy and elegant at the same time, and there is a sense of gothic style that you would expect from this period piece. Still, the film felt empty, despite dressing up all the emotion in such exquisite splendor and song. See it if you must but don't have expectations of greatness or anything Oscar-worthy like Chicago, a superior film.