Case (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
case) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomsecrets2008-08-16 04:03 pm
case) wrote in fandomsecrets2008-08-16 04:03 pm
[ SECRET POST #589 ]
⌈ Secret Post #589 ⌋
Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.
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Notes:
Secrets Left to Post: 25 pages, 619 secrets from Secret Submission Post #085.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 1 2 3 4 5 - not!secrets ], [ 1 2 3 4 - not!fandom ], [ 1 2 3 4 5 - too big ], [ 1 2 3 - repeat ], [ 1 - posted twice ], [ 1 - take it to comments ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.
Re: 101 (TL;DR. Sorry!)
The problem is that (a lot of) those of us who were fans of the story, in one form or another, before the movie came out, came to the movie with certain expectations. May not have been fair to the show, but there you go: when ALW says he's going to make a movie version of the stage show, okay, it might not be any closer to the original novel than the stage show was, but I think most of us really expected it to be a lot closer to the stage show than it was.
I'm not a "Broadway elitist". Frankly, I've never even been to New York, and I've seen/heard only a handful of shows that have played there. However, I do like to think that, given my background and education, that I have discerning tastes, and that, taking the movie on its own and judging it by its own merits as much as I can (and fully accepting that it's almost impossible for me to be completely unbiased here), I can still say, "This was a wonderful acting job," or "This didn't ring true to me," or whatever.
If you enjoyed them, then I'm glad. God knows there seems to be few people who really enjoyed The Phantom of the Paradise (which I loved). If you like it then like it, and don't stop just because someone else says you shouldn't, or it isn't worthy.
However, just because one likes a particular work doesn't automatically mean it's free of flaws. And I am afraid that one could (and often do, heh) argue that the 2004 movie does have a lot of flaws. A lot of those flaws only really emerge when one compares it to other versions (the whole "The Phantom's too young/sexy/not crazy/vocally ept" thing, for example), but certain aspects, for example the acting, stand or fail on their own merits.
Are Butler and Rossum bad actors? Frankly, I haven't got a clue. I like him in other things, but to be honest, I just can't sit and watch the damned movie all the way through. I can't stop cringing (and I've watched the Argento version *shudder*). Do they have bad voices? Well, not really, not bad. Believe me, I've heard bad. But do they suit the characters? Do either one of them have voices that can make one believe that they are working professionally in one of the foremost opera companies in the world as a singer (Christine), or that said professional singer would be so blown away at the sound of his voice that she would think him literally an angel, a supernatural being not of this earth (the Phantom)? Well... there, I'd have to say no, to both.
And that's why we so-called Phanazi's/Broadway elitests dislike those actors in that role, and that version, so much. Because we know what it's "supposed" to look like/sound like, and when people come along and say, "Yeah, but still, you know, I did like it," that's fine (or should be. We all like what we like, whatever). But when people come along and say how fantastic their voices are, and how perfect they were for their respective roles... well, then, it gets very hard to not step up and say, "Well, actually..." It's a bit like suddenly having PeeWee Herman play Batman, and taking the character in a completely different direction. Who knows? Perhaps he'd do a damned fine job of it. But if people then started going on about how perfect he was for the role, then I can assure you that those of us who were Batman fans before that version would be biologically unable to resist telling them just how little he actually resembled the "real" Batman.
Wow. Another long rant. Jesus, I need to get a life. At least I didn't swing it around to NAFTA, heh.
Anyways, you like them, cool; I wish you much joy of them. I wish I could like them too, because it sucks not being able to find any decent fanfic that isn't movie-based. Personally, I think their voices were wrong for the roles, but if you like to listen to them, then have at 'er.
Re: 101 (more TL;DR. Sorry!)
The problem is that (a lot of) those of us who were fans of the story, in one form or another, before the movie came out, came to the movie with certain expectations.It may be just me, but I loves the story before the movie came out, and I didn't have those 'expectations'.
I'm not saying that the movie is flawless, because I think it is. Like, I agree Emmy Rossum's performance is not very good, for instance, but to judge the movie just on that, and not as a whole, or, worse yet, to say they're voices are hideous, which almost everyone seems to think, it's a little too much for me.
As you say, ppl tend to hate this movie because they're always comparing it with the other versions. I think that, yes, it's impossible not to think about the other versions, but ppl should be more open-minded about the movie, you know what i'm saying? Maybe the other performances are bether, but that doesn't take away the merit of the film, I'm not saying you all should love it, either, I understand everyone has tehir own taste, but it just seems like every Phantom fan hates the movie for this same reason, which kinda gets on my nervs, sometimes.
If you say their voices are not suited for the roles, well, I personally don't think Sarah Brigtman's suit, either. But that's just mt personal taste, I think that there's something weird about her voice, and althoug I thinks she has a pretty voice and amazing vocal range, there's always something bothering me.
I'm not saying Rossum and Butler's voices are amazing, either, but I seriously have nothing against it, and for me it works quite well. To tell you the truth, Butler's Music of the Night is one of my favorite versions ever, I don't think he butchered the song at all. I think his voice is powerful enough to enthrall anyone. May not be wonderful, but I think if fits it's purpose.
What pains me the most is that I can't show my appreciation to the movie without having ppl telling me I have bad taste, or that I didn't read the book/ don't know the story. Nobody can assume that, which is what apparently everyone does. It's a little insulting, even.
I don't mind ppl not liking it, really, it's FAR from the best movie ever, but it seems like 99% of the fandom not only hate it, but they MAKE SURE you know how much they hate it, and that's a lot.
Well, big rant is big. Thank you for your answer, really, I enjoyed reading your point of view. :)
Re: 101 (more TL;DR. Sorry!)
Re: 101 (more TL;DR. Sorry!)
sorry
Re: 101 (more TL;DR. Sorry!)
I mean, I've said it time and time again that I was first introduced to Phantom of the Opera by the 2004 movie (unless you count Wishbone's rendition...) and I give it all the credit for making me curious about the novel, about the original musical, and about the other renditions of the story. I never knew anyone interested in it before that point and I'd never heard enough about it to want to actually go out and pick up the book.
The movie definitely has its flaws (my main complaints involving the overall plot), but I still enjoyed it. However, I also enjoyed the original novel, Kay's Phantom, and Siciliano's Angel of the Opera as well. I know I haven't seen all there is to see or heard all there is to hear where Phantom is concerned, but I agree with scapegoat1989 about how frustrating it is to be shot down for liking one particular version and being told I haven't read the book as a result.
It does all come down to personal taste, like both of you said and, honestly, I don't feel like people should be shot down and flamed for liking one version or another. I'd much prefer to agree to disagree because, let's face it, not everyone's the same and not everyone has the same preferences as a result. I'm not going to shoot someone down for hating the movie and I find it ridiculous for anyone on either side of the fence to flame one another over personal tastes.
Besides, I think people should take into consideration the fact that if the movie had featured purely Operatic renditions of the songs, it wouldn't have appealed to its target audience, which probably also explains the portrayals of the characters... Personally like Opera, but I know I'm in the minority there. >__> My own family doesn't understand me...
Hooray for ranting! XD