http://www.hdlibrary.com//viewtopic.php?t=2046
My comments relate to nit picky performance.
If you have never seen this on Broadway then by all means get either the SD or HD version and enjoy yourself!
Watching again for the second time on HD DVD was a treat. The cinematic experience on my new 10 foot big screen along with the huge difference in sound performance made it worth seeing again for this viewer.
None the less I remain disappointed with the casting of this film. Minnie Driver as Carlotta turned in an absolutely phenomenal performance but that seems to be where the kudos stop. Our main character Christine may sing the part well but there is little expression in her acting; whether on her own volition or by the director. Our main character, the Phantom, as played by Gerard Butler does an astounding job in terms of acting which really comes out in the final sequence yet delivers a disappointing vocal performance through out. Patrick Wilson as Raoul seems capable but hardly inspiring. The actors playing the theater owners Firmin and Andrea also deliver a lack luster performance.
One of the most colorful scenes of the Broadway version is Masquerade, the opening sequence to the second half of the play. For the movie gold, white and black costumes rule the day and while that is one artistic look it hardly compares to the colorful Broadway version which with HD DVD would have been simply fantastic.
The only reason I can make all these comments is due to having seen the Broadway version twice and many hours listening to the original Broadway cast recording. In that regard I am not alone and everyone I know with a similar history agrees, the Broadway versions were better!
How about buying it? Well with a Dolby True HD 2CH soundtrack I really wanted to do exactly that and listen to it over my HD audio 2CH system but since the vocal performances are lacking I found myself yearning for the SD CD version I have heard for years. A further note... On 04/23 I was in a Best Buy and looked at this movie on the HD DVD shelf and I swear it said Dolby True HD 2CH. 2 weeks later I was in Walmart and the back of that one said Dolby True HD Multi. If anybody else has seen some documentation on this packaging error please let me know.
Very happy to have been able to rent it instead of buying!
http://www.highdefinitionrentals.com/
Bottom line is this film remains Highly Recommended if you have not seen the Broadway version. Even if you have it remains recommended due to the very different delivery that film can provide as stated in the SD DVD review.
Either way make sure you have the Kleenex box nearby for the second half...
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