Worst Movie Ever!!!

Gn2Dlnd · 01-14-2005, 02:22 PM

I paid good money (is there bad money?) to see "Phantom of the Opera" last night and I want those 9 1/2 hours of my life back! I've deliberately avoided all reviews and only seen the trailer, so who knows, maybe this movie's been getting trashed, but you'd think AMC Theaters would put up a warning sign.

Warning: This movie was edited by a papier-mache monkey, no attempt at logical storytelling has been made. Caveat: If you liked "Battlefield Earth" or "Light Magic," we bid you WELCOME and ENJOY! Fool.

Ok, real points:
Actions onscreen that contradict the words being sung
Nearly unintelligible lyrics
Continuity problems galore
Terrible lip-synching
No attempt at a story that makes sense (he's going to kidnap you, walk out of the theatre)
It's 2005, could we update the arrangements? A clap-track?!?
If they walked into the Phantom's hidey-hole why do they have to gondola out? Standing?

This movie was ridiculous on so many levels, and I had to restrain myself from
making smart-ass comments so often, I think, after a good 45 minutes are edited out, that it may have a future as a midnight movie.

"Well, don't you have anything good to say about the movie?"
Two things. It had a budget and Minnie Driver. That's it.

Eliza Hodgkins 1812 · 01-14-2005, 02:42 PM

Awww, I really enjoyed it.

However:

1. The lip sync *was* off. LOL

2. The Phantom of the Opera looked like he got burnt blowing out the candles on his birthday cake, rather than looking like seriously deformed human being of Gaston Leroux's book (or, heck, even the make-up used in ALW stage productions...)

3. Emmy Rossum, I love your voice, and your look, but WHO goes to bed wearing what you were wearing? Women who wore corsets to bed sometimes died because of it. And those thigh highs? Are we watching a White Snake video here? Also, dear, please close your mouth once in a while. You sometimes looked...well...obscene.

Still, I really, really enjoyed it.

Ah, well.

Gn2Dlnd · 01-14-2005, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eliza Hodgkins 1812

...WHO goes to bed wearing what you were wearing? Women who wore corsets to bed sometimes died because of it. And those thigh highs? Are we watching a White Snake video here?...

HA! And backlighting her in that oufit! That's when I knew we were in for some bad directing choices.

blueerica · 01-14-2005, 03:16 PM

How come they couldn't get lipsynching together for the movie???!?!?!?!?!

Did you guys go to the same theater, I wonder?? Because that's rare... How sad!!!

What does everyone else have to say about it. I haven't seen it yet, and I don't want to be let down, so give me the lowdown!!

Gn2Dlnd · 01-14-2005, 03:24 PM

It was clear that the actor's weren't actually singing to the track, that always looks bad, the breathing is wrong.
Characters in impossible physical situations singing away with no extra effort also strained credulity. Look, he's tied to a metal gate and has a noose around his neck, which is being yanked around, and he's singing! What talent.

Eliza Hodgkins 1812 · 01-14-2005, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueerica

How come they couldn't get lipsynching together for the movie???!?!?!?!?!

Did you guys go to the same theater, I wonder?? Because that's rare... How sad!!!

What does everyone else have to say about it. I haven't seen it yet, and I don't want to be let down, so give me the lowdown!!

I only noticed it in some scenes. I also know some of the tracks were actually live recorded. Actually, I think a lot of it was, or I read that somewhere. So, I was confused at times when the singing / mouthing seemed off.

I loved it, E, but I'm loathe to recommend it to people because I love the cheesy musical, and enjoyed the movie for what it is, sexy Phantom and all.

But, when it comes down to it, I'm in love with the book. The book is my first PotO love.

Ponine · 01-14-2005, 03:59 PM

Okay, I'll play.... I adored the book, and the musical, and think I could sing Emmy out of house and home... that said....

Yeah... they did pre-record the singing... and yes, the lip synch/breathe synch *sucked*

The backlighting... I hated that. HATED.

The stockings... yeah what was with that???? Nary a garter in sight... wrong on too many levels knowing the age of the actress and the character. Not to mention the time period.
Seems to me, that Christine, in the musical, wore a robe over the 'slave girl' costume when she went into the lair the first time..

I agree with Eliza, he wasnt deformed enough. And I didnt need the extra 15 minutes to explain his past... really I didnt. If anything it took any pity I had for him away.

what was the other thing you said... hmmmm...
Oh the lyrics....
I said that when I left the theatre, I had slight pity for my escort. She had never seen the show, and lord knows wasnt a theatre geek.
I wondered if anyone else could really understand what the heck was going on. I knew the words, and hence, could follow the lyrics.

But.. that said... i did like the movie, but knew better than to ask a man to accompany me.

Eliza Hodgkins 1812 · 01-14-2005, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ponine

But.. that said... i did like the movie, but knew better than to ask a man to accompany me.

Much to my surprise, my father really, really liked it. But he's kind of a manly girlie-man type. Heh.

Eliza Hodgkins 1812 · 01-14-2005, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ponine

But.. that said... i did like the movie, but knew better than to ask a man to accompany me.

Much to my surprise, my father really, really liked it. But he's kind of a manly girlie-man type. Heh.

Also, have you ever read Susan Kay's retelling? The first 3/4's are very, very good because she's so very faithful to the tidbits revealed about Erik by the Persion in Leroux's novel. The last 1/4, with Christine, starts to read a bit like Mary Sue fanfiction. But it's certainly, as derivative retellings go, worth the read for any fan of this story. It's out of print, so to the library you must go if you haven't read it and don't want to spend a fortune.

I'd like to see an actual opera based on the book. In French.

Ponine · 01-14-2005, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eliza Hodgkins 1812

Much to my surprise, my father really, really liked it. But he's kind of a manly girlie-man type. Heh.

Wow... I am not on Eliza's communication level today...

I knew better than to ask a person of male gender in my own age group and hetrosexual to accompany me.

wait... no... your dad's just cool... thats all there is to it. He could prob see the craft, and the spirit that was being put into the film, and the tremendous amount of work, and detail.

01-14-2005, 02:22 PM	#1
Gn2Dlnd Parmmadore Jim Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Casita del Queso Posts: 3,810	Worst Movie Ever!!! I paid good money (is there bad money?) to see "Phantom of the Opera" last night and I want those 9 1/2 hours of my life back! I've deliberately avoided all reviews and only seen the trailer, so who knows, maybe this movie's been getting trashed, but you'd think AMC Theaters would put up a warning sign. Warning: This movie was edited by a papier-mache monkey, no attempt at logical storytelling has been made. Caveat: If you liked "Battlefield Earth" or "Light Magic," we bid you WELCOME and ENJOY! Fool. Ok, real points: Actions onscreen that contradict the words being sung Nearly unintelligible lyrics Continuity problems galore Terrible lip-synching No attempt at a story that makes sense (he's going to kidnap you, walk out of the theatre) It's 2005, could we update the arrangements? A clap-track?!? If they walked into the Phantom's hidey-hole why do they have to gondola out? Standing? This movie was ridiculous on so many levels, and I had to restrain myself from making smart-ass comments so often, I think, after a good 45 minutes are edited out, that it may have a future as a midnight movie. "Well, don't you have anything good to say about the movie?" Two things. It had a budget and Minnie Driver. That's it. __________________ Does anyone still wear a hat?
	Submit to Quotes

01-14-2005, 02:42 PM	#2
Eliza Hodgkins 1812 Sputnik Sweetheart Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,685	Awww, I really enjoyed it. However: 1. The lip sync was off. LOL 2. The Phantom of the Opera looked like he got burnt blowing out the candles on his birthday cake, rather than looking like seriously deformed human being of Gaston Leroux's book (or, heck, even the make-up used in ALW stage productions...) 3. Emmy Rossum, I love your voice, and your look, but WHO goes to bed wearing what you were wearing? Women who wore corsets to bed sometimes died because of it. And those thigh highs? Are we watching a White Snake video here? Also, dear, please close your mouth once in a while. You sometimes looked...well...obscene. Still, I really, really enjoyed it. Ah, well.
	Submit to Quotes

01-14-2005, 03:16 PM	#4
blueerica Nueve Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,497	How come they couldn't get lipsynching together for the movie???!?!?!?!?! Did you guys go to the same theater, I wonder?? Because that's rare... How sad!!! What does everyone else have to say about it. I haven't seen it yet, and I don't want to be let down, so give me the lowdown!! __________________ Tomorrow is the day for you and me
	Submit to Quotes

01-14-2005, 03:24 PM	#5
Gn2Dlnd Parmmadore Jim Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Casita del Queso Posts: 3,810	It was clear that the actor's weren't actually singing to the track, that always looks bad, the breathing is wrong. Characters in impossible physical situations singing away with no extra effort also strained credulity. Look, he's tied to a metal gate and has a noose around his neck, which is being yanked around, and he's singing! What talent. __________________ Does anyone still wear a hat?
	Submit to Quotes

01-14-2005, 03:59 PM	#7
Ponine Virgin Ears Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,075	Okay, I'll play.... I adored the book, and the musical, and think I could sing Emmy out of house and home... that said.... Yeah... they did pre-record the singing... and yes, the lip synch/breathe synch sucked The backlighting... I hated that. HATED. The stockings... yeah what was with that???? Nary a garter in sight... wrong on too many levels knowing the age of the actress and the character. Not to mention the time period. Seems to me, that Christine, in the musical, wore a robe over the 'slave girl' costume when she went into the lair the first time.. I agree with Eliza, he wasnt deformed enough. And I didnt need the extra 15 minutes to explain his past... really I didnt. If anything it took any pity I had for him away. what was the other thing you said... hmmmm... Oh the lyrics.... I said that when I left the theatre, I had slight pity for my escort. She had never seen the show, and lord knows wasnt a theatre geek. I wondered if anyone else could really understand what the heck was going on. I knew the words, and hence, could follow the lyrics. But.. that said... i did like the movie, but knew better than to ask a man to accompany me.
	Submit to Quotes