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Phantom of the Opera: The Motion Picture [VHS] | ![Phantom of the Opera: The Motion Picture [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51V2G12WK2L._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: Dwight H. Little
Actors: Robert Englund, Jill Schoelen, Alex Hyde-white, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Lawrence
Used (2) Collectible (3) from $9.95
Format: Pal
Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: VHS Tape
Discs: 1
Running Time: 93 Minutes
UPC: 780063063432
EAN: 0780063063432
Theatrical Release Date: November 4, 1989
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Trading tragic romance for Faustian malevolence, the 1989 version of The Phantom of the Opera is a surprisingly good example of '80s horror. It was dismissed as gory trash by most critics (no doubt because Kevin Yagher's gruesome makeup effects are effectively revolting), but horror buffs will be more forgiving of this lush production, which ranks well above average for horror films of its time. Set in Victorian London and shot mostly in Budapest, Hungary (for period architecture), the film reunites director Dwight Little (Halloween 4) with "Freddie Krueger" himself, Robert Englund, who had worked together on the Nightmare on Elm Street-based TV series Freddie's Nightmares. It's a good pairing, as Englund does some of his finest work as the Phantom, seen here as a horribly disfigured composer who patches his scarred and mangled face with stitched-on flesh, and makes a deal with the devil to be immortalized through his music. His muse, as always, is the lovely diva-to-be Christine, and the casting of Jill Schoelen gives the film added cachet among genre fans (who will recognize her from the 1987 cult hit The Stepfather). While bearing little resemblance to Lon Chaney's 1925 classic, this Phantom is actually more loyal to Gaston Leroux's original novel, and therefore deserves as much acknowledgement as any other version of the story. Certainly not a classic, but well worth a look. --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews: Read 64 more reviews...
 Gorehound remake of Classic story. March 19, 2009
James Simpson (USA)
Genuine curio piece for Horror buffs updates story with added perversion and explicit violence. It seemed a good idea to cast one of the few actual Horror actors in the lead role, in this case Freddy Kruger himself, Robert Englund. His performance is what makes the film interesting ranging from the effective to the hammy and often times reflecting on his earlier screen creation.
The film is burdened by unneccesary additions to the original story, namely the Phantom having to use pieces of human flesh sewn together to create a mask(underneath he looks alot like Freddy Kruger) and a ridiculous tie to Jack the Ripper, which makes the film fall flat.
It's the level of gore and the inconsistent plot that makes the film hard to take seriously, that combined with uninteresting performances by a boring cast including the heroine of The Stepfather, Jill Schoelen, who unfortunately does not have a gratutious shower scene like that earlier film, leaving the audience to focus on her acting, which isn't that great.
Very little is inspired in this movie from either the Gaston Leroux novel or earlier film versions, even leaving out the chandelier scene!
The final "twist" is about as lame as it gets,and pretty forced, trying to meld a Faustian theme of the Phantom having sold his soul and obtaining eternal life into the present day. It dosen't work because the romantic elements, so crucial to this story, are completely absent as the filmmakers played it trendy and made a Slasher movie out of a classic.
Obviously if your a film fan, get the definitive version with Lon Chaney Sr. from 1925. That one still packs a wallop. Hell, even get the Claude Rains version from 1943.
That at least kept the chandelier scene in.
 Good version September 13, 2008
J. CALDERON (MEXICO CITY)
The performance is good but it has a little touch of modernism, anyway... a new proposal or a new version for this classic French story.
A Modern Horror Twist on a Horror Classic May 21, 2008
G. M. Nelson (Burbs of Chi-town)
This version of the story of the Phantom of the Opera is okay if you are a horror fan and a fan of the story. It's not very suspenseful and definitely won't keep you on the edge of your seat. But if you are a fan of 80's horror films and Freddy, you'll get a kick out of this one.
"Only love and music are forever" December 28, 2007
Byron Kolln (the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
The emphasis is definitely on gore in this effective 1989 take on THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, starring Robert Englund in the title role. Followers of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical might want to bypass this one.
The setting is modern-day New York. Promising opera singer Christine Day (Jill Schoelen) is auditioning for an important producer when a stage accident catapults her back to 19th-century London. She's still Christine, an aspiring soprano, yet haunted by the terrifying Phantom (Englund), a deformed composer who wears a mask stitched from the skins of his human victims.
The time-twisting theme works well to bookend the story, and Jill Schoelen is a luminous presence as both incarnations of Christine (her singing is dubbed by Nancy Fontana). Robert Englund is quite chilling yet imbues his role with a dark comedy streak. The late great Stephanie Lawrence is also memorable playing Carlotta, the resident opera diva.
PHANTOM fans should enjoy this version, which is full of gaslight thrills and chills. Highly-recommended.
 To Crypt "thecrypt777" November 24, 2007
A. Pierre (Somewheres)
I really liked this guys review and he already said alot of things I cannot think of saying. However, I did give this movie one star because I found Englund's acting to be off. The movie scenes were good and the story was well known but the acting was off and very stiff. Englund should have half of his face disfigured instead of his whole face, it probably would make people stop calling it Freddy goes to the Opera.
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