Read more

Good old-fashioned movie musicals are all too rare these days, but it's still surprising that it took so long for {|Andrew Lloyd Webber|}'s {|Phantom of the Opera|} to leap from stage to silver screen. After all, this wildly popular musical was almost tailor-made for celluloid: It shares its plot with a classic horror movie; its setting in (and beneath) the opulent Paris Opera invites spectacular cinematic grandeur; and Lloyd Webber's music itself owes much to Hollywood's lush scores. Phantom fanatics may debate the merits of Joel Schumacher's 2004 film, but it's clearly a must-see. The soundtrack, featuring all of the highlights of the romantic score, is no less essential. Longtime aficionados shouldn't discard their copies of the original-cast album - Michael Crawford and {|Sarah Brightman|} were iconic as the Phantom and Christine, and newcomers Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum have their work cut out for them in assuming the roles. But these talented singer-actors ride the surging waves of Lloyd Webber's melodies with confidence, and they use their voices dramatically to invest the characters with convincing flesh-and-blood personalities. Best of all, the rich orchestrations sound absolutely gorgeous here -- more spine-tingling than ever. To listen to this soundtrack is to remember all over again why the musical became such a phenomenon: With its thematic mix of thrills, chills, and romance, Phantom holds the audience's emotions firmly in its grip from start to finish, and this performance never fails to hit the right dramatic chord.