well the phantom grew up just as Madame Giry did... I think it was Madame Giry at the end... that makes more sense to me. If Madame Giry was a child when she met the Phantom that means the phantom grew up and what not also showing that the phantom was still alive because he left the rose at the grave and Raoul left the music box for the phantom.
I have seen the play 3 times and have loved the story and the music for many years. Finally got to see the movie. Had to rent it but saw it none the less. I was worried that they would "Hollywood" it too much, but as soon as it started, I was floored. Visually and musically the movie exceeded my low expectations. I got a bit worried when they didn't drop the chandelier at the end of "All I Ask of You," but I'm okay with moving it to the end.
Unfortunately, Gerard Butler was a terrible Phantom. He sounded like he was singing with a mouthful of oatmeal. The Phantom was supposed to be a musical genius and he sounded like more like the Elephant Man ("I'm not an animal"😉. I am almost angry at the choice of Gerard Butler. The rest of the movie lived up to the story that it was, but my he ruined the whole thing.
Sorry for the rant, but I had to vent.
I never stated that it was anything other than an opinion. While I did grow up knowing Michael Crawford as the Phantom, I was ready for someone else's interpretation of the character. While I think Mr. Butler did an okay job portraying the character, I thought his enunciation was horrible. He could carry the notes, but (and I'm not saying this in a rude discriminating way) he sounded like a retard. When we reached the crescendo at the end of the first act. He attempted to sing, "You will curse the day you did not do, all that the Phantom asked of you." And what more like, "Yoh will cuhrse the day yoh did not doooh, all that the Phantom asked of Yoooh."
The Point of No Return was better, I must admit. The emotion of that scene was well played and I had very little problem with it, but once they started Down Once More, it was over. Music of the Night has always been one of my favorites, but he mutilated it.
I guess what I'm trying to say was that his accent got in the way.
Everyone else was fantastic. If it wasn't for Butler the movie would have been perfect. But as it is, I will not be adding to my collection. Again, this is only my humble opinion, but it would have been a much better movie with someone else at the lead.