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Hehe today i was browsing through the internet for The Phantom of the Opera and stumble upon a forum which discuss on the movie itself. Actually it is the official forum for the movie.
Interested please click here : http://boards3.warnerbros.com/wbol/forum.jspa?forumID=2000000015

I noticed alot of very meaningful comments on the movie and the storyline, on each scenes and stuff. I found it very amazing and somehow I never took notice or realise that it might mean that way.
And also there are people commenting that those movie critics who said the movie is bad are really strange cos they think the movie is a hit and is really wonderful. Then some commented that not all will like musical movie as it is hard to please the commercial crowd -_-

But even if that is the case, I don't think those movie critics should give such a bad review to the movie BASE on THEIR OWN COMMERCIALISED VIEW on COMMERCIALISED MOVIES! They should keep those opnions to commercialised movies. Not on musical movie! Even in Singapore, those reviewers gave a bad review. I am so utterly disappointed with them! It in turn affect the performance of the movie box office! My friends who love the musical nearly don't want to watch it because of the bad reviews in magazines. >:( That! Made me really angry! But luckily I am there to assure her that this movie is really GREAT! No doubt she agreed after watching it and she watched a second time! And she in turn spread the good word to her other friends. I have already watched the movie 3 times and I am still spell bound by it. Those people at the forums watched like 5 times already! :D

Anyways I am going to post those comments and messages here, for remembrance. I can only hope that blogger will be kept "alive" forever so when I am old, I can refer back to "now" :)

Someone wrote this about the scene where Raoul placed the monkey musical box on Christine's grave while Phantom placed the ring and the rose...

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carolynw

Posts: 388
From: Las Vegas, NV
Registered: 9/24/04

Re: Post FILM SPOILERS Here & REVIEWS with SPOILERS
Posted: Jan 5, 2005 10:45 AM

I have read another persons answer to this and it gives me meaning to this scene so here goes. The Musical Monkey Box belonged to the Phantom, a favourite toy and Christine had spoken of this to Raoul. The Ring was a gift from Raoul to Christine so it was an item belonging to Raoul. The Phantom and Raoul were placing items belonging to the other person on Christines' grave acknowledging the love the other had for Christine. Acknowledging that Christine needed the safe love of Raoul and the passionate love of the Phantom. This explanation made sense of the scene for me, I hope it did for you. Yes, that is what I got from the ending. That is why I think it was so nice, plus I think the two men had come to grips with each others confrontation from earlier days. When Raoul looks up to see if the Phantom is around it seemed he almost smiled and wanted to see his old nemesis.

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:) Hmm I never thought that scene meant that. But now that I have known, I felt so glad!

Another post which I think is meaningful...

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phangirl321

Posts: 32
From: Show Me State
Registered: 1/9/05

Re: Post FILM SPOILERS Here & REVIEWS with SPOILERS
Posted: Jan 11, 2005 8:31 AM

In some of the posts I've read here, some people seem confused about the ring, especially as to why it changes hands so many times. I was too until I watched the movie a second time and listened to this part of the soundtrack several times. Here's my take on it. I would appreciate any feedback on this. The first time we see the ring is at the Masquerade, on a chain around Christine's neck, a sign of her secret engagement to Raoul.

Then Phantom steals it, saying: "Your chains are mine! You belong to me!" Later when he kidnaps Christine from the stage he puts the wedding veil on her head and gives back the ring saying: "Turn around and face your fate! An eternity of THIS before your eyes." Essentially this action means that to him, from that moment they are married (The ring now representing a wedding band instead of an engagement ring). It is a clever and kinda cruel thing to use the same ring that Raoul gave to her, but that's what he's all about, right?

Then after Phantom forces Christine to choose between him and Raoul, Christine says: "God give me courage to show you that you are not alone", gives the ring back to him along with that awesome kiss (actually two), and completes the "wedding". Raoul, not having seen the first half of the "ceremony" probably has no idea why Christine is giving away his ring, or maybe can't even see her give it to him since Phantom's back is to him. He may even have go on for years never knowing about the exchange, but thinking Phantom had it the whole time. Phantom understands immediately what Christine is doing, knows that she loves him in the deepest, truest way possible and is choosing him, not just to save Raoul's life, but because he is her soulmate.

The line in the song "Phantom of the Opera" hints at this: "My spirit and your voice in one combined." This is a true union of the heart. In the song "Stranger Than You Dreamt It" Phantom says: "Fear can turn to love. You'll learn to see, to find the man behind the monster, this repulsive carcass who seems a beast but secretly dreams of beauty."

Right here, with the ring and the kiss, this happens. Christine sees and loves the man, and the monster disappears. Now he can neither hold her prisoner nor can he give her the life she needs and he sacrifices his own happiness for hers, just as she did when she gave him the ring. His line: "Christine, I love you" is a reaffirmation of their union, and proof for Raoul that he truly is a changed man.

I think this is why Raoul gives up his quest to destroy Phantom (his own dark obsession)and leaves him alone from then on. I also think he figures out somewhere along the line where Christine's heart really is and knows that if he were to continue his quest he would be worse than the Phantom because he would have no excuse for his actions (no tortured childhood or horrible disfigurement).

Finally, when Raoul finds the ring at Christine's grave, he realizes that Phantom has finally let her go, and/or leaves the ring as a sign of official acknowledgement that Raoul loved her and deserved her love as well. In the end all three of them sacrificed something for love: Phantom and Christine their chance for a life together, and Raoul his own obsession to eliminate the competition and have Christine all to himself.

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Another one, Someone asking whether at the end of of the movie, Raoul have tears in his eyes is because Christine is "in love" with Phantom

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ella_child

Posts: 4
From: a dream
Registered: 1/2/05

Re: Mask Removal
Posted: Jan 3, 2005 3:00 PM

ella_child , Is that why Raoul had tears in his eyes???? been meaning to asked this question to the forum.
Was that tears of Raoul seeing how much Christine is "in love" with the Phantom?

I'm not sure if I would use the term "in love" at that moment, but they had a passion that Christine didn't share with Raoul. It was darker yes, but it possessed her nonetheless. She was vulnerable to the Phantom's seduction, and it was just as powerful as the security Raoul's love provided.

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Will share more when I post blogs :)
Today while I was exploring the forum, I stumble upon this thread where they say the monkey musical box (it played "Masquerade"!!!) which was treasured very much by Phantom is for sale on a particular website.

So I click on the website and found so many musical boxes of different designs! There was one that is of Phantom and Christine, then another is Raoul with Christine. I like a particular one which looks just like a jewellery box. It is so exquisite!

But too bad -_- they don't ship to Singapore, only within US >:(

I was so disappointed! Although Ebay have sale for the monkey musical box, it costs way too much, the highest bid can go up to US189 O_O
That is so expensive and adding the shipping fees, I can imagine how expensive it is going to be!
But then I really wish to have one ;_; Sigh, guess me and the monkey musical box have no fate
:(

I can imagine myself, every night before I go to bed, I will listen to it. And the music box, playing "Music of the Night" or "Masquerade" or "All I Ask of You" will coo me to sleep :D Isn't it wonderful!? I think it will bring me sweet dreams! ^^

Anyway interested party can go to this web page

http://www.funtocollect.com/phantomofopera.html

Who knows you might have a overseas relative residing at US area. If yes please do inform me! I want that musical box!!! Haha! Thank you! ^-^



ps: I read the forum, they said The Phantom of the Opera Dvd might be releasing on the April/June '05 if not, it will be on the Nov/Dec '05 period. Which is kind of long isn't it -_-


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