I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

I won't talk about the plot, It was just horrible and unnecessary. POTO ended with Christine choosing Raol, end of the story. The music of LND is very good, i like many songs - "'Till I Hear You Sing", "Beneath the Moonless Skye", "What a Dradful Town", "Beauty Underneath" and of course "Love Never Dies".There are things, that didn't work for LND. First - location. I mean move it from Paris, one of the most romantic cities on the world, to New York? I don't find New York very romantic. There are many European cities more suitable for romance - Venice, Prague, Wienna, Budapest... And the shift from opera to... what? A circus. It could have worked in the opposite way, not this way.And the characters...Raoul: Maybe he was spoiled, but to turn him into drunkard? I don't think even him was so reckless, plus, he loved Christine.Christine: She may have loved Phantom, but in the end, she was more frightened of him, though she took a pity on him, but searching for him and have a child with him? Really?Phantom: He may have burned the opera down, that's like him, but I don't think he could ever be chased down by the mobs? And he was hiding from the world and now he works in public normally? ALW lost his mind.And the Giry's...Madame Giry: She loved Christine in POTO "I think of her as a daughter also" was the movie phrase. She did care for her. And now? Nothing. She led Raoul to Phantom's lair to rescue Christine and now she blames her, for choosing him? What a nonsense. And she also feared Phantom and wanted to stop him. Now she loves him and idolize him? Seriously? That doesn't even make sense.And Meg, poor, sweet Meg: She was a dancer, not a singer, really. And her trying to impress Phantom was pathetic. But the revelation, she was sleeping with rich men... just awful. Not to mention she shot Christine.

Truly a disgusting disappointment. Andrew Lloyd Weber consistently does fantastic work, from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to Phantom to Evita. This is a dark, disgusting smudge on his impeccable record. It is cheesy, and almost insultingly baseless. The set and melody may be adequate, but the lyrics and plot have no depth or meaning. There is no logical motivation for any of the characters, not to mention abundant plot holes, and completely overhauled personalities.If you have any respect for Phantom of the Opera (or Andrew Lloyd Weber), DO NOT WATCH THIS. It has permanently damaged my perception of ALW, and the original Phantom of the Opera.

I am a huge phantom of the operas fan. I seen old versions even not greatest one, and seen few Broadway shows. For people who seen 2004 version of Phantom of Opera may not enjoy this all due this very much different casting, then from what they may seen. This movie not as bad many people say music is amazing, story may not be most solid but I came for the music the story just a bonus. In my opinion I recommend this movie if you love Phantom of the Opera you watch this movie, rent it first i recommend to the ones who only watched 2004 movie, or if your still unsure about the movie. If you like it buy it. Thats what I did. I admit i wouldn't mind maybe seeing the 2004 Phantom of the Opera movie crew do a version of this, but unsure if that will happen but overall. I give it 10/10 8 for the music, and 2 for the story. The story does continue off the original movie idea but just in this movie few characters seem a bit dry, i have watched other versions its not that bad, just depends on the actors and actress.

I thought LND paled in comparison to POTO but what the hell, how could it not. I thought that if they released a sequel to POTO on film, it must be good but wow was I wrong. Phantom is amazing, thrilling and exhilarating... and the LND movie is boring and creepy. It was entirely too predictable, cliché, cheesy, you name it and there was too much of it there... or too little. I found myself fast forwarding through the movie because either the song was horrendous or it was really boring. But I will say, from watching YouTube videos of Ramin Karimloo and Seirra Boggess (illegal? probably, but I didn't do it so I'm gonna take advantage of it)The two (flipping Amazing) actors really made it a lot better. In my opinion they should film a show of Ramin and Seirra and put it up for sale and see what the reviews of that are. Prediction: they would be sky high. just my opinion but seriously if they brought those to back and made a DVD of it I would die of happiness!