Phantom of the Opera (NR, 1998)
Netflix Synopsis: Italian horror master Dario Argento puts his macabre stamp on Gaston Leroux’s story of a madman living inside an opera house. Though not physically disfigured this time around, the Phantom (Julian Sands) harbors internal scars, having been raised by telepathic rats in the opera house basement. The musically talented Phantom finds his muse — and object of obsession — in a talented, young singer named Christine (Asia Argento, Dario’s daughter).
Review: Considering how spooky, shocking, and fun so many of Argento’s previous films have been, his take on Gaston Leroux `s Phantom of the Opera was kind of disappointing. Sure it’s quirky, E.g. A scene where a filthy rat catcher invents what can only be Described as a riding rat sucking vacuum cleaner. The gore effects Are top notch as per usual for Argento films and Ennio Morricone’s Soundtrack is also nice. Unfortunately the films two leads may hurt It the most. Julian Sands (Warlock, Boxing Helena, Witch Hunt, Leaving Las Vegas, and Naked Lunch) plays a mask-less phantom with The hots for Christine. Julian Sands is acting here is over the top, But not to the point where it is entertaining. Daria Argento plays The object of the Phantom’s desires. I have really liked Asia (pronounced Ah zee a) in the two pervious films she made with her Father (Trauma and The Stendhal Syndrome), but here she does not Quite seem to quite fit the part. A weird factoid, Dario Argento is Probably the only director to have directed his daughter in sex Scenes in three movies, creepy when you think about it. Yet it’s not only the films leads that made it a weak outing. It just does not seem to be as slick and stylized as many of Argento’s other films. In fact the reason may be that Argento Basically covered this material fifteen years earlier in Opera, a Superior film. I have to think that knowing this detracted from Phantom. I would recommend his film Opera (available through Netflix) Over the Phantom of the Opera. It might also hurt the film that so Many versions of the Phantom have been made, ad nauseam. I can think Of five off the top of my head.
1. Silent Lon Chaney Version (a classic)
2. The Technicolor Claude Rains version (a rather dull film)
3. The Hammer version, starring Herbert Lom (worth seeing)
4. Brian DePalma’s “The Phantom of Paradise” (which is essentially The same story with a modern twist).
5. The recent Andrew Lloyd Webber Musical Version (has some merits) I give Argento’s Phantom of the Opera
Two and a half out of five stars.
Haroldlovesmaud
