Phantom of the Opera

R

1998

1h 43m

Horror

List

10%

10 Reviews

Tomatometer

22%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

A menacing catacomb dweller (Julian Sands), raised by rats beneath the Paris Opera, falls for an understudy (Asia Argento).

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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 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 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 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 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Argentos "Opera" is better. SInce the two films are basically the same though it's hard to say why this one is bad. BUT at least with his "Opera" it had more..interesting take on it.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It's hard to choose what is worse: characters, scenes or dialogues. Poor Phantom.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

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Dario Argento

Director

Julian Sands

The Phantom

Asia Argento

Christine Daaé

Andrea Di Stefano

Baron Raoul De Chagny

Nadia Rinaldi

Carlotta Altieri

Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni

Honorine

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Ed Gonzalez

Slant Magazine

Argento's lowest moment.

Rated: 1/4

Dec 4, 2001

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

I daresay this might be the worst of all adaptations, take-offs, and knock-offs, and, yes, I've seen the version starring Freddy Krueger as the Phantom.

Rated: 1/4

Jun 18, 2022

Full Review

Frank J. Avella

Edge Media Network

I can only recommend this disaster for its camp value, if you love ghastly murder scenes and/or if rats 'n' bats are your thing.

Rated: D

Jun 13, 2022

Full Review

Michael Szymanski

International Press Academy

Rated: 3/5

Sep 23, 2005

Full Review

Alex Sandell

Juicy Cerebellum

Bland

Rated: 2/5

Jun 28, 2005

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jun 13, 2005

Full Review

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Synopsis

A menacing catacomb dweller (Julian Sands), raised by rats beneath the Paris Opera, falls for an understudy (Asia Argento).

Director: Dario Argento
Producer: Claudio Argento
Production Co: Medusa Film
Rating: R
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Feb 25, 2003
Runtime: 1h 43m
Sound Mix: Surround