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Fantastic!

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Beautiful scenery and costumes. Tragic story. Ending could have been better. Adds more depth than Andrew Lloyd Webber's 2004 movie version directed by Joel Schumacher. There is more interaction between the main characters and offers a more believable background for how Christine Daee could have loved the Phantom and how she accepted him as a tutor. Imagine how the 2004 movie musical version would have turned out if it had been filmed at the Paris Opera House and incorporated more of the story from this version. Burt Lancaster makes a powerful presence on the screen as Gerard Carriere. Charles Dance plays a highly intelligent, articulate and mildly mannered Phantom. Terri Polo plays a gorgeous Christine Daee. This Christine Daee ends up living the equivalent of the American success story beginning from the bottom and achieving the very best through her hard work and talent. Aristocratic blood lines and culture are depicted as judgmental and opportunistic through the likes of Carlotta played by Andréa Ferréol and even Count Philippe de Chagny, a handsome and wealthy womanizer, played by Adam Storke. Was nominated for five Emmys, winning two. Was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards including Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for TV. All in all this series is worthy of viewing especially for those who seek more of the Phantom of the Opera than Andrew Lloyd Webber's version provided. If only modern TV mini-series could produce similar quality productions!

This is my favorite version of The Phantom of The Opera. Burt Lancaster did a wonderful job as Gerard, Erik's Father. My favorite scene was when Gerard and Erik are talking and Gerard finally tells Erik the truth that he is his father. Erik says "i was wondering when you'd say".Gerard gives him a look.Erik says something like" My eyes are the only thing i can look upon in the mirror with out wanting to break the glass, but they aren't her eyes, they're yours." (Erik and Gerard were talking about Erik's Mother)So Erik knew all along that Gerard was his father.The movie made me cry so much. I haven't seen that movie since it aired in 1990, but i remember that scene.i wonder if it's on DVD or VHS somewhere.

I watched this movie because I wanted to see what Andrew Lloyd Webber was up against. I honestly thought it was going to be horrible. After, I saw the movie not only was I very impressed, but I couldn't get enough of it. I loved the cast. I was extremely pleased not none of Yestin's and Koppit's songs were used.(Now, I saw the Yestin's and Koppit's play long before I even knew a movie of it had been made.)I didn't like what they did with Eric's background story. I felt that it took away from his character. I hated that they didn't make Philippe more of a hero and that he had scenes in which he smoked!!! I was disappointed that we only saw Eric's face once and that it wasn't more believable. His face also really wasn't scary. I also thought that young Philippe, young Christine,and young Eric should have, at least, some dialogue.

To start with, this Phantom reinvents the story line with things that Gaston Laroux never had in his book. Like characters that were never in the book, and to add insult to injury, the reviews of the Kopit/Yestin musical claim it is closer to the book than the more famous Andrew Lloyd Webber version. It actually stuck close to the Lon Chaney classic. Even Phantom star Michael Crawford said many times that he based his characterization on the magnificent work of "The Man Of A Thousand Faces." While utilizing actual sets of the Paris Opera House, it's sumptuous production values mask an almost ludicrous storyline that make Erik the Phantom a plagued wimp.What infuriated me most about this entry in the Phantom film history was that after religiously taping the two parts and eliminating all commercials, the director/writer doesn't even show you the Phantom's face. Instead, we are "treated" with looks of horrified disgust by those who supposedly did see his ugly visage. What a gyp.Actors Burt Lancaster and Charles Dance have been better used elsewhere, and both of them should hang their heads in shame for being connected to this complete overhaul of the great original. To date, the only true Phantom Love The Opera is the 1925 silent classic starring Lon Chaney Sr.To make matters all the worse, this Yestin and Kopit version was made into an even less memorable musical with totally forgettable songs.