I think Gerard Butler did an excellent job portraying the Phantom. While I'm still a Michael Crawford aficionado, I feel he gave the viewer alot of attachment even though devotees of the broadway genre may not agree. 😎
I have seen PTO 10 times on stage 2x on Broadway and was skwptical before watching this film. The numbers were dead on and the scenery dramatic and gorgeous....I loved the movie just as much as the stage musical. Excellent. 😄
Ok well this is quite late compared to when everyone else wrote but I haven't been on this forum long. i saw the movie, not the play and absolutely loved it. It made me fall head over heels for Gerard Butler, even tho i saw him in Dracula 2000... I loved it so much hes so hot and fair enough for people who think its boring but anyone who does love musicals please see it its the coolest!!! 🙂
I've seen the play on a Broadway tour, and I must agree with some when I say that there is no comparison between movie and play....
But then again, I hated the movie. By the time "Music of the Night" rolled around (my favorite song from it..), I felt like bashing my head into a conrete wall. Butler's voice really wasn't up to par, and since I'm used to hearing Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman singing on the soundtrack, I thought that Rossum wasn't nearly good enough either. Perhaps comparing to Brightman is unfair because she is a spectactular soprano, but Rossum really didn't have the tonal quality to give those notes the power they need.