MovieChat Forums > Il fantasma dell'opera (1998) Discussion > This was incredible!!!

This was incredible!!!

posted 16 years ago by aljentra
8 replies | jump to latest

I am so glad I came into this film with no expectations whatsoever, because I seriously think it was one of the most rewarding cinematic experiences of my life.

Where do I even start?

1. The crazy wind machine when Christine was going down the stairs...I mean at first it was just an effect, and then it was seriously getting out of control.

2. Erik reads minds, now? Alright!

3. One sentence: "Are you looking for my treasure?!

4. The rat catcher makes an automobile. To drive around the catacombs with a midget. To kill the rats.

5. Said midget is decapitated.

6. The Phantom's wear switches disconcertingly from ageing country star (velvet floppy western-style shirt and huge belt) to an aging rock star who's 'still got it' (shirtless, wearing leather pants and boots, luscious locks blowing in the wind [machine] while axing the foundations)

7. Raoul and Christine actually looked like they could be related.

8. Turkish baths??

9. The Phantom takes Christine off to his lair to have his wicked way with her. And sometimes from behind. Oh yeah, and the rat catcher watches.

Which brings us to the most incredible part of this whole saga...

10. ERIK PUTS RATS DOWN HIS PANTS.

I don't thinks there is any way any film could surpass that. I just don't.

I cannot wait til I watch this again :D

[–] Simian_Jack 16 years ago

I love this movie more and more every time I see it.

4. The rat catcher makes an automobile. To drive around the catacombs with a midget. To kill the rats.

It's a RATMOBILE! Under the Paris Opera, a freakin' RATMOBILE! I mean...look at it, it has ears! Which makes the midget Robin. And it has it's own theme tune. In a POTO movie. How demented is that?

[–] UndeadKappaPrincess 16 years ago

When I was about 10 or so, I knew of The Phantom Of The Opera (or at least, the musical) and thought this was it, so when I saw it at the video store I rented it.
I realized pretty quickly I had made a mistake, but I still enjoyed the film.
I've rewatched it recently and I still like it- I've seen the actual musical, the 2004 movie, read the book, and seen the Lon Chaney version. This is actually a really good adaptation of the book and is pretty underrated. It really shows the Phantom's bi-polar love for Christine. In the book, he's quite violent with her, and he's a pretty nasty guy here too.
Sure, it's a corny film at times, but I have seen WAY worse, and as far as horror films go, this serious earns a good grade.

We can't stop here. This is bat country!

[–] asgard-5 16 years ago

Right. Just watched it and it was never bad or boring, it's a really well made film! Some people call it one of Argento's silliest movies, but how can they? How can Argento fans find Bird With Crystal Plumage not silly and find this silly? Nothing seems out of place here. Nothing, period. Argento's Phantom of the Opera is ARGENTO's take on the story. It's not a remake of previous film installations of it.

Great movie. Anyone who liked Stendhal Syndrome and didn't hate Terza Madre, will love this!

[–] mmd147 16 years ago

Geez...I gave this movie a 1. Of course, I haven't seen it since highschool, and maybe I'd like it more now, but I just remember thinking it was really awful and lame. I'm intrigued, though. I really didn't expect to see that so many people like it. I think I'll rent it again.

You said you've read the book, though? I have too, but I really can't seen how the two relate in the slightest, unless you're only talking about his "bipolar love" for Christine, in which case I might agree with you. I really should see it again, maybe it'll cause me to change my vote.

Er...just so we're clear here. Do you like this movie because it's bad, or is it actually good?

[–] aljentra 16 years ago

Oh, 100% because it was bad...I've read the book and certainly, Erik/Phantom wasn't the swoony-worthy star that he's made out to be in the 2004 version, so I like the 'bipolar love' element that features in this film. But aside from that, it was one of the funniest things I've ever seen, and that's not to its credit.

[–] mmd147 15 years ago

Ah, okay. I'm definitely gonna rent it then.

[–] asgard-5 15 years ago

Its more like an Argento movie for kids )

[–] topcat_laugh2002 13 years ago

me too, my local library has it. Cant believe it's the only Dario Argento movie they have though. They dont even have Deep Red.