Queralt T
What was this. I didn't even last 5 minutes. So much blood. Raised by rats? Who taught that was a good idea!
Not worth a watch if you're sensible or you are a true fan of The Phantom of the Opera. I'm usually quite optimistic with movies and I always give them a chance, but that concept is not applicable for this movie. Nope.
Rated 0.5/5 Stars •
Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars
03/09/25
Full Review
Emily P
I saw this movie when I was 11 years old only because the movie place I rented from had it and it wasn’t rated so I got to see it. Um, I’m usually pro movies for the most part if I think they’re good 9 out of 10 times I often feel like that…with this nope! It deserves its very sad, but low rating. I mean Julian Sands incredible actor but this movie, uh, yeah, no words. 10% rating over all agree.
Rated 0.5/5 Stars •
Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars
07/02/24
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Rosana B
Tenho curiosidade por assistir a uma Ópera, numa temerosa certeza de que a odiarei, aqui tive uma experiência pouco atrativa, muita ópera, claro, roteiro interessante, mas demasiadamente longo e musicas, figurinos e ambientação perfeitos, tudo muito envolvente, para os amantes do gênero, entediante a mim, enalteço os entremente com recortes de imagens em Preto e branco, um lindo drama, embalada por uma linda trilha sonora… All I Ask of You (versão nacional "Tudo que se quer" Tieta s2)...
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
11/14/22
Full Review
Audience Member
Many cinematic enthusiasts go into this film with the wrong mind-set. They are expecting to see a typical Dario Argento horror classic and they don't understand that this is perhaps one of the finest minimalist satires of its decade. Argento had already produced a serious version of Gaston Leroux's famous tale in the form of 1987's "Opera." Now, the Italian legend was out to gently skewer pop culture, showing us a side of himself his fans had not been privy to previously. This ain't your granddaddy's "Phantom" . . . this Phantom is a miserly telepathic mesmerist which is certainly a unique first.
There are a lot of little touches which illustrate the fact Argento is winking at his audience. The child being abandoned in the sewer, to be raised by rats instead of penguins as in "Batman Returns." The character of Christine Daae taking the stage at the empty opera house brings to mind Diva Plavalaguna from "The Fifth Element." Seriously, watch the two sequences back-to-back and tell me you don't see the similarities between the exaggerated arm movements and the hitting of the impossible high notes.
How about the hilarious moment when the head rat catcher tries to keep his hand from entering the trap? The bird that makes the "woo woo" sound when Alfred and Paulette are getting it on? The biting out of Paulette's tongue which references star Julian Sands's own "Warlock" film from 1989? The waterlogged argument over the more important poetic influence, Rimbaud or Baudelaire? And you still want to tell me this isn't supposed to be a comedy presentation?
Add to that the dwarf-riding rat killing machine which looks like a cross between something that came out of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" and one of the torture devices from Tinto Brass's "Caligula" and the "Looney Tunes"-like puff of dust Carlotta emits after being cold-cocked by the pillar and the laughs are definitely piling up. In fact, the only thing one should truly take seriously from this film is the fantastic score composed by Ennio Morricone. There's still plenty of blood and guts for the gorehounds but whenever I want some smiles attached to my tale of terror, I know I can rely on this motion picture to provide me with a few.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
01/28/23
Full Review
don s
Classic Italian horror by the master, Dario Argento. This is not Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical version; it is a grittier, gorier, less compassionate version that didn't play well to me. The Phantom, raised by rats who saved him from certain death by pulling him out of a river before he hit the waterfall, is not deformed on the outside but he definitely is on the inside. The lovely Asia Argento, who is not a great actress, plays Christine. The music scenes are not believable in the least. There isn't much to recommend this, other than if you want an example of Italian horror, here it is.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
Audience Member
The beginning of the end for Dario Argento's career might also be his lowest point until Dracula 3D. There is really nothing to save there, except maybe some scenarios and costumes.
Rated 0.5/5 Stars •
Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars
02/26/23
Full Review
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