Almost every decade, someone has created a film adaptation of Gaston Leroux’s popular novel, The Phantom of the Opera, starting with Lon Chaney’s masterpiece in 1925, Claude Raines in 1943, Hammer Studios in 1962, and more recently Joel Schumacher’s adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical in 2004. In 1989, just as Phantom Phever began to catch fire here in the states as Webber’s musical hit Broadway, producer Menahem Golan hired Dwight Little (hot off Halloween 4) to direct a new take on the subject matter with Robert Englund (also hot off the Nightmare on Elm Street movies as Freddy Krueger) in the title role, using sets left over from Golan’s Three Penny Opera, which had just wrapped production in Budapest. The result was a lavish, often confusing horror film that has gained a cult following.
Studio: MGM
Distributed By: Scream Factory
Video Resolution and Encode: 1080P/AVC
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: English 2.0 DTS-HDMA, English 5.1 DTS-HDMA
Subtitles: English SDH
Rating: R
Run Time: 1 Hr. 33 Min.
Package Includes: Blu-ray
Amaray Blu-ray KeepcaseDisc Type: BD50 (dual layer)
Region: A
Release Date: 02/17/2014
MSRP: $24.97
The Production Rating: 3/5
Director Dwight Little and screenwriter Duke Sandefur made a wise choice by using the original novel as their source material, rather than try to remake any of the previous movie versions (although, as Little notes in both the commentary and featurette on this disc, he wanted to pay homage to the Hammer Studios). This is a much darker story, although the film does have a definite late 1980s and early 1990s horror vibe by showcasing many of the makeup effects in the film (such as the Phantom stitching new patches of skin directly on his face and a man who is still barely alive after being skinned). Where the movie really shines is in the lavish sets, both those leftover from Golan’s Three Penny Opera and redressed actual locations such as the opera house just outside of Budapest, as well as the cinematography by Peter Lyons Collister, using lighting techniques to bring life to the actors’ eyes. Robert Englund fares very well in the role, only delving into Freddie-isms on one or two occasions. Jill Schoelen makes do as the young American actress in London, while Bill Nighy provides some glimpses into his scenery-chewing roles in Pirates of the Caribbean and the Underworld films. Phantom of the Opera is an often fun and frightening ride that is quite beautiful to look at, even if the modern-day bookends (which were supposed to set up a modern-day sequel) feel a bit out of place.
Video Rating: 3.5/5 3D Rating: NA
Audio Rating: 3.5/5
Special Features Rating: 4/5
Behind the Mask: The Making of “The Phantom of the Opera” (1080p; 37:43): Shout! Factory rarely disappoints with their newly-created featurettes, and this one is no exception, featuring interviews with Dwight Little, Duke Sandefur, Kevin Yagher, John Carl Buechler, Misha Segal, Robert Englund, Jill Schoelen, and Alex Hyde-White.
Theatrical Trailer (1080p; 1:53): It’s a bit odd that the trailer here is in the 1.33:1 aspect ratio, but clips from the trailer in the documentary are 1.85:1.
TV Spot (upconverted 1080i; 0:31)
Radio Spots (2:04)
Still Gallery (1080p; 5:26)
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewed By: Todd Erwin
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