The movie "Phantom of the Opera" is one of the most popular plays in the world and is based off a novel by Gaston Leroux. The movie opens in a grand theater as the main character Christine shocks the entire cast by her magnificent voice and takes over the lead roll. The Phantom is constantly listening to the music of opera as he hides out and lives under the theater. The Phantom in fact is the one giving Christine music lessons as she thinks it is her deceased father's "angel". The Phantom falls madly in love with Christine during the movie but is completely crushed when he finds out the she is already in love with another man. Christine is confused throughout the entire movie. She knows that she is in love with the man but there is something mysterious and curious about Phantom that keeps her interested. The Phantom causes several distractions throughout performances and practices to cause diversions. No one can ever see is entire face because he keeps it hidden by a half mask. The Phantom captures the girl at the end of the movie and takes her to his dungeon underneath the theater. Her lover comes to her rescue but Phantom is ready for him. He ties him up and says to her lover either you die or she dies.Then the Phantom suddenly has a change of heart and releases the girl and her lover to go and live happy. He disappears and is never seen again in the film. At the end of the movie, an old man goes to a gravestone that says Christine on it to place flowers. Assuming the man is Christine's lover, there is already a red rose lying by the gravestone leading only to believe the Phantom is still in love with Christine but wanted her to be happy and live a normal life.
Analyze:
During the movie, there a several hints as to how the Phantom ended up in the opera and why he still remains there. There is a scene in the movie where a young boy that has a deformed face is made fun of in a circus. He is called the "devil's child" and is beaten. A young girl comes to his rescue and frees the boy leading him to the theater to hide. The young girl is another character in the movie who works at the theater. The young boy hides out in the theater and never comes out, I believe because he is too terrified to leave. He grows up there and learns all of the ends and outs of the theater. He shows up mysteriously and leaves notes with a special envelope seals throughout the movie.
Interpret:
There are several things to interpret in this movie. Why the Phantom is so mean and cold, why Christine is so obsessed with the Phantom, and several other sub-stories throughout. I believe the Phantom is cold and bitter because he was abused as a child and never knew what love really felt like until he meet Christine. Christine would listen to him and and show him affection. I believe Christine is so obsessed with Phantom because of her father. At first she believes that the Phantom is an "Angel of music" sent by her father to help her. After she finds out the it is actually the Phantom, she becomes even more interested in him. His mysterious ways lead her on and his romantic voice keeps her attracted. I believe she wants to bring the good out in the Phantom and show him what love feels like.
Evaluate:
In middle school, our chorus sang each of the songs in the Phantom of the Opera. I was lucky enough to have the lead in Past the Point of No Return, by far my favorite song in the film. It is mysterious and dark but also has a quality that is catchy and fun. After not watching the film since eighth grade, I picked up on several things I had missed. I learned to appreciate the love he had for Christine a little better. Allowing her to live a happy and normal life why he suffered is what true love is, making the one person you love the most happy, whether you are or not.
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