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Tell Others About This Page By Using This Button "THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA" (2004) (Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Moderate Mild Extreme Moderate Moderate Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate Minor Extreme Minor Minor Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Moderate Mild Moderate Mild Heavy QUICK TAKE: Drama/Musical: A mysterious, masked figure falls for and tries to further the career of a young and beautiful singer in the 19th century, Parisian opera house that he haunts. PLOT: It's Paris 1919, and an elderly, wheelchair-bound man is brought to an auction at the once grand but now dilapidated opera house. The sight of the place brings back memories to Raoul (PATRICK WILSON) when he was the young and dashing patron there in 1870. During that time, the opera was undergoing big changes with Andre (SIMON CALLOW) and Firmin (CIARAN HINDS) taking over, as the previous owner could no longer put up with demands of lead diva, Carlotta (MINNIE DRIVER). The one constant, however, is the stagehands' belief in The Phantom of the Opera (GERARD BUTLER), a reportedly masked and mysterious figure thought to haunt the place, and whose production-related demands occasionally appear in written form. His latest concerns Christine Daee (EMMY ROSSUM), a young performer who's been brought to the forefront after Carlotta refuses to perform in a new show, much to the chagrin of ballet mistress Madame Giry (MIRANDA RICHARDSON), whose daughter, Meg (JENNIFER ELLISON), is Christine's best friend. Raoul also knows Christine from the past, and the two soon fall in love, even as still she believes that her late father sent an angel of music to watch over her. In this case, she begins to believe that The Phantom is that angel, but his intentions and behavior are not always heavenly. When those running the opera don't follow his demands and especially after learning that Christine has fallen for Raoul, the mysterious, masked man sets out to get his way, no matter the costs, including that of others' lives. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Unless they're fans of the Broadway musical and/or someone in the cast, it doesn't seem too likely, especially among younger kids. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For brief violent images. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: GERARD BUTLER plays the partially masked and mysterious Phantom who haunts the opera house in which he also resides. He makes various demands on those who work there, including wanting to make Christine a star. When they don't agree and Christine ends up falling for Raoul, he becomes angry and jealous and takes it out on various people (including murder). EMMY ROSSUM plays the young, beautiful, and up and coming opera star who takes over for Carlotta but must contend with the Phantom's attraction to her. PATRICK WILSON plays the opera house's wealthy new patron who knows Christine from the past and becomes romantically attached to her. SIMON CALLOW and CIARAN HINDS play the opera house's new managers who must contend with Carlotta as well as the Phantom's unwelcome involvement in their work. They drink a bit. MINNIE DRIVER the opera house's resident diva who throws various tantrums when things don't go exactly as she desires. MIRANDA RICHARDSON plays the ballet mistress who knows the truth about the Phantom and his origins. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this dramatic musical that's been rated PG-13. Profanity includes a handful of minor expletives, while a few colorful phrases are uttered. Brief and non-explicit, but sexually related dialogue is present, a few sensuous moments occur, as does a brief but bawdy stage presentation. Various classical-style nude statues are seen, and various women show varying amounts of cleavage, while a man moons a woman. Violence consists of the Phantom killing several people (one dies by a hanging), while a swordfight occurs (with a little bit of resultant blood, while the Phantom has a badly scarred face from a previous event) as does other threatening. A boy is beaten, and some perilous moments occur (including a near drowning) all or some of which may be unsettling or suspenseful to younger kids and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material. Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, some drink and/or smoke, some imitative behavior is present, and a young woman laments her late father's absence. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Miscellaneous people drink backstage. Miscellaneous stagehands drink. The new opera house owners have drinks in front of them. A woman drinks from a small bottle. People drink at a party. A stagehand has a beer. One of the owners pours champagne into Carlotta's shoe and the other drinks from it. The owners have champagne. A miscellaneous person holds a bottle. Miscellaneous people drink. BLOOD/GORE We see a large painting of Carlotta holding a tray with a man's severed head on it (no blood). Raoul and the Phantom duel with swords, with various resultant close calls. The Phantom ends up slicing Raoul's arm (leaving some blood on his sleeve as well as in the snow). We see various severe scars on one side of the Phantom's face. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Carlotta is a spoiled and temperamental diva who refuses to do the show. The Phantom switches Carlotta's throat spray (for her singing voice) with an unknown substance that causes her voice to crack in mid song. The Phantom has a bad attitude for killing various people and trying to force Christine into loving him (including abducting her and threatening to kill Raoul if she doesn't choose the Phantom over him). A small person mischievously lifts a woman's dress at a party (we don't see anything). We see a flashback to when the Phantom was a boy in a circus "freak show" where he was dubbed the "Devil's Child" and was subjected to abuse by an adult for the amusement of spectators and forced to wear a hood. We see brief views of the man flogging and otherwise striking the boy. FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence" may be unsettling, suspenseful or scary to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material. A large backdrop falls from the fly space above the stage, nearly hitting Carlotta (and caused by the Phantom). All of the candles in the opera house are suddenly and mysteriously blown out. Meg finds a hidden tunnel behind a mirror and slowly enters and goes through it. A hand then suddenly grabs her shoulder, but it's just her mother. A stagehand tries to avoid the Phantom high above the stage on a bunch of rigging. The Phantom eventually captures and struggles with him, seemingly strangling him. A moment later, we see the body fall and snap to a stop just feet above the stage where the man struggles for a moment before dying as he dangles there via the noose. The rope then comes loose and the body falls the rest of the way to the stage floor. We see a flashback to when the Phantom was a boy in a circus "freak show" where he was dubbed the "Devil's Child" and was subjected to abuse by an adult for the amusement of spectators and forced to wear a hood. We see brief views of the man flogging and otherwise striking the boy until the boy ends up strangling his abuser in private. The Phantom causes the opera house's huge chandelier to drop and swing toward the stage into which it crashes and narrowly misses hitting many people (while others panic and flee). We do see, however, a seemingly dead man wrapped in rope. A raging fire then breaks out in the opera house. While descending a stone staircase to rescue Christine, Raoul falls through a trap door opening and lands in a body of water. A large metal grate then lowers toward and then descends below the surface of the water, trapping him beneath it. Raoul then races to stop and reverse its course before it causes him to drown. The Phantom ties Raoul to a large, vertical grate, including placing and then tightening a noose around his neck. He then makes Christine choose between loving him (the Phantom) and Raoul's life. GUNS/WEAPONS Swords: Used by the Phantom and Raoul to duel and by the Phantom to threaten others, while some are also seen as stage props. Various police officers carry rifles while looking for the Phantom. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Damn you," "To hell with..." and "Who the hell is he?" As Carlotta passes by in a huff, a male stagehand turns around, drops his pants and moons her (we see his bare butt). The Phantom switches Carlotta's throat spray (for her singing voice) with an unknown substance that causes her voice to crack in mid song. A small person mischievously lifts a woman's dress at a party (we don't see anything). In a flashback to a circus, we see a fire breather doing his thing as well as a man pulling his eyelids quite far away from his head. JUMP SCENES Meg finds a hidden tunnel behind a mirror and slowly enters and goes through it. A hand then suddenly grabs her shoulder, but it's just her mother. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) An extreme amount of suspenseful, ominous and heavily dramatic music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) At least 2 damns, 2 hells, 1 possible ass, 2 uses of "My God" and 1 use of "Oh God" are heard in various songs. PROFANITY At least 2 damns, 2 hells, 1 possible ass, 2 uses of "My God" and 1 use of "Oh God" (all appearing in songs). SEX/NUDITY Various large, ornate and classic-style sculptures/statues located throughout the opera house show bare breasts, with some also showing partially bare butts (seen in many scenes). Christine, Meg and others in an opera wear harem type outfits (with small and tight, bra-like tops just covering their chests). Carlotta shows varying amounts of cleavages (sometimes a lot) in her period style opera outfits (that are low-cut in the front). Both Christine and her friend Meg show varying amount of cleavage in various outfits in several scenes. The Phantom sensuously sings a song to Christine and caresses her corset with his gloved hands while doing so. As Carlotta passes by in a huff, a male stagehand turns around, drops his pants and moons her (we see his bare butt). An opera has a bawdy number with a male character making an exaggerated motion of patting a woman on her clothed butt, while another view is that of a man's hand at a woman's bent over, but clothed butt. Raoul and Christine passionately kiss during a song. Some miscellaneous women show cleavage. A small person mischievously lifts a woman's dress at a party (we don't see anything). During a sensuous operatic piece between Christine and the Phantom, he guides her hand over her clothed chest (while we also see her dress straps fall down off her shoulders in her low-cut dress). Christine comments on the Phantom's lust for blood being replaced by his lust for the flesh. He then states that he was denied the pleasures of the flesh due to his appearance. Christine passionately kisses the Phantom. SMOKING An actor has a prop pipe during an opera. Various character smoke cigars, including the two owners (once), in several scenes. TENSE FAMILY SCENES We hear that Christine was orphaned at the age of seven. We see a brief flashback image of Christine's father on his deathbed (as she talks about him in the present). Christine visits her father's gravesite where she sings a song of melancholy about him being gone. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT We hear that Christine was orphaned at the age of seven. We see a flashback to when the Phantom was a boy in a circus "freak show" where he was dubbed the "Devil's Child" and was subjected to abuse by an adult for the amusement of spectators and forced to wear a hood. We see brief views of the man flogging and otherwise striking the boy until the boy ends up strangling his abuser in private. The opera, and performing in or working on one. Obsession. VIOLENCE A large backdrop falls from the fly space above the stage, nearly hitting Carlotta (and caused by the Phantom). Madame Giry slaps a stagehand on the face for telling young women tales of the Phantom. After Christine pulls the Phantom's mask from his face (for a better look), he pushes her down in anger. A stagehand tries to avoid the Phantom high above the stage on a bunch of rigging. The Phantom eventually captures and struggles with him, seemingly strangling him. A moment later, we see the body fall and snap to a stop just feet above the stage where the man struggles for a moment before dying as he dangles there via the noose. The rope then comes loose and the body falls the rest of the way to the stage floor. The Phantom wears and then holds a sword on others at a party while making his point. Raoul chases after the Phantom who's disappeared via an opening in the floor. Raoul finds himself in a room of mirrors where he strikes out at the Phantom's reflections. We see a flashback to when the Phantom was a boy in a circus "freak show" where he was dubbed the "Devil's Child" and was subjected to abuse by an adult for the amusement of spectators and forced to wear a hood. We see brief views of the man flogging and otherwise striking the boy until the boy ends up strangling his abuser in private. We see the motion of the Phantom hitting a carriage driver over the head, knocking him out. Raoul and the Phantom duel with swords, with various resultant close calls. The Phantom ends up slicing Raoul's arm (leaving some blood on his sleeve as well as in the snow), but Raoul then disarms and is about to kill the Phantom, but Christine stops him from doing so. The Phantom jumps down onto an actor, but we don't see the impact. The Phantom causes the opera house's huge chandelier to drop and swing toward the stage into which it crashes and narrowly misses hitting many people (while others panic and flee). We do see, however, a seemingly dead man wrapped in rope. A raging fire then breaks out in the opera house. While descending a stone staircase to rescue Christine, Raoul falls through a trap door opening and lands in a body of water. A large metal grate then lowers toward and then descends below the surface of the water, trapping him beneath it. Raoul then races to stop and reverse its course before it causes him to drown. The Phantom ties Raoul to a large, vertical grate, including placing and then tightening a noose around his neck. Reviewed December 3, 2004 / Posted December 22, 2004

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