The Phantom of the Opera Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The Phantom of the Opera Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 22, 2022

There’s so much to appreciate about Dario Argento’s work in the 1970s and most of the ‘80s, with the helmer in full command of his moviemaking powers, still burning with youthful creativity and audacity when it comes to shocking audiences with mysteries and horror. The 1990s welcomed the beginning of a creative decline for the helmer, who struggled with a changing film industry and audience tastes. 1998’s “The Phantom of the Opera” is a prime example of Argento’s desire to create something extraordinarily bizarre and lavish, only to be held back by budgetary issues and a blurred vision for romanticism. It’s an oddball endeavor, with occasional flashes of inspiration, but the overall effort is often confused, poorly cast, and a bit too random with its ideas.

At the Paris Opera House in 1877, diva Carlotta (Nadia Rinaldi) rules the stage, overshadowing young singer Christine (Asia Argento). In the catacombs underneath the building lives the Phantom (Julian Sands), a man raised by rats with a reputation for terror, but he’s fallen in love with Christine after hearing her sing, determined to claim her with his dark magic, including a telepathic connection. While the company goes through changes, and rats rule the underworld, Christine’s life is complicated by Raoul (Andrea Di Stefano), another potential suitor, while the Phantom seeks to keep the singer for himself, working to make her the star of the Paris Opera House’s latest production.

There have been many adaptations of Gaston Leroux’s original “The Phantom of the Opera” story, inspiring Argento and co-writer Gerard Branch to make some changes, helping to find their own way through the familiarity of the tale. This Phantom has been raised by rats and lives without masked disfigurement, enjoying magical gifts of mental control, which help him make an instantaneous romantic connection to Christine. He’s a Fabio-style commander of the catacombs, which introduces some confusion concerning the character’s arc of pain, but “The Phantom of the Opera” doesn’t stop to really consider its storytelling choices, which, to be fair, has always been the Argento way.

“The Phantom of the Opera” isn’t mysterious, dealing with the grotesqueries of the Paris Opera House, which is basically ruled by vermin of all kinds. There are rats underground (with grimy ratcatchers around to remove them) and pedophiles in the mix, with old men trying to have their way with pre-teen ballet school dancers. Argento also includes a lot of gore to hold attention, with mangled bodies and bloodshed a common sight, offering a more effective cinematic presence than any seductive elements, which turn coldly sexual in a hurry. The story isn’t always clear in “The Phantom of the Opera,” which has difficulty achieving intended emotionality due to the limitations of the cast, and Argento tends to be easily distracted by textures and random ideas, including a bewildering scene where the Phantom climbs to the roof of the opera house, dreaming of rat- like humans caught in a giant trap and a heavenly visit from a partially nude Christine, who’s bleeding from her crotch. Edgar Degas is in the movie, but where’s Sigmund Freud when you need him?

The Phantom of the Opera Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "The Phantom of the Opera" preserves much of the production's technical achievements. Detail is strong throughout the viewing experience, exploring the textures of ornate costuming and strange facial particulars. Practical effects are open for inspection, along with opera house and catacomb interiors, which offer decent dimension. Color receives a boost from outfits, which carry brighter primaries, including deep blues, and interior decoration favors reds. Skintones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory, handling shadowy encounters well. Grain is fine and film-like. A few stretches of damaged frames are detected.

The Phantom of the Opera Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

English and Italian-language tracks are available on "The Phantom of the Opera," with the 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix offering a clear understanding of dialogue exchanges, or at least performance intent, as some accents get a little out of control when panic sets in. Scoring cues retain intended orchestral warmth, offering distinct instrumentation and a circular presence. Atmospherics are appreciable with opera house and catacomb environments. Sound effects are defined, along with the Phantom's magic voice, filling the surrounds. Low-end isn't too demanding.

The Phantom of the Opera Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historians Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson.

• "Behind the Red Curtain" (18:07, HD) is an interview with co-writer/director Dario Argento, who shares a childhood memory of seeing a version of "The Phantom of the Opera" as a child, completely charmed by the experience. Setting out to study the novel and create a screenplay, Argento was joined by co-writer Gerard Brach, who suffered from agoraphobia, creating pages at home while the helmer visited the Paris opera for research. Originally looking to set the story during the Russian Revolution, Argento changed the setting to Paris, also detailing additional deviations from the source material. Casting is highlighted, with Asia Argento dealing with a nude scene photographed by her father, and Julian Sands needed work to overcome his extreme rat phobia. Locations are highlighted, along with work from cinematographer Ronnie Taylor, with Argento looking to Caravaggio paintings for inspiration. The interviewee also explores his hunt for the musical mood of "The Phantom of the Opera."

• "Into the Phantom Cave" (18:13, HD) is an interview with set designer Antonello Geleng, who tracks his working relationship with co-writer/director Dario Argento, having originally met him while making "The Sect" and "The Church." Working mostly in Budapest, Geleng oversaw a major effort to use a theater space during non-performance hours, constantly building and dismantling sets. The interviewee discusses the rats, which he claims were painted guinea pigs, and he highlights several technical achievements, including the creation of a rat killing machine. The production used real caves for the shoot, and Geleng recalls his time in a vast network of tunnels found in Budapest, requiring a map to navigate.

• "Welcome to the Opera" (18:07, HD) is an interview with producer Giuseppe Columbo, and he recalls his first introduction to co-writer/director Dario Argento, first learning of his interest in turning "The Stendhal Syndrome" into a movie. Partnering with the helmer, the pair were working to remake "Rififi" when the opportunity to have their way with "The Phantom of the Opera" arrived, changing career plans. Casting is the highlight of this conversation, as Columbo admits Julian Sands refused to play his Phantom as disfigured, and Julie Delpy was the first choice for Christine. Anthony Hopkins was also considered for a part, along with Roberto Benigni. The interviewee shares his memories of using real caves for the shoot, and goes into his eventual fallout with Argento, as a project involving the men fell apart, resulting in numerous lawsuits.

• A Trailer has not been included on this release.

The Phantom of the Opera Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Phantom of the Opera" is supported by strong design elements, including costuming, and cinematography by Ronnie Taylor provides elegance and some degree of menace, working with real performance spaces and labyrinthine caves. And the score from Ennio Morricone does a lot of the heavy lifting for Argento, summoning a sense of longing and suspense when Argento loses his way. The helmer is backed up by a competent crew, but his instincts fail him here, unable to find the right tone for his exercise in grandeur, fumbling his way through an ineffective study of obsession and opera.