First snow fall last night. 
Also, why is it so difficult to copy youtube videos to my computer? 
Well, here comes a movie review. I was thinking about doing something that most people would know about. But for quite a while now, I have been holding in a rant that I have wanted to go on about this film... The Phantom of the Opera (2004).
First I'd like to say a few things. This film is based on the musical, first brought to the stage in 1986. The musical, created by Andrew Lloyd Webber, was a master piece. Not only is it the longest running and most popular musical, it's also considered to be the most successful entertainment project in history. I love it. It's my favorite musical of all time.
For those who don't know, it tells the story of the deformed Phantom of the Opera, who lives under an opera theater. He hears the voice of young Christine Daae and falls in love with her voice. He wishes to train her as a singer. His love for her leads to kidnapping and other problems, involving her fiance Raoul.
The parts of the Phantom and Christine were originally played [on Broadway] by Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman (Sarah Brightman was actually Webber's wife, and the singing role was created for her). While the musical enjoyed success on the stage, Webber intended of having a musical film based on the play, led by Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman... But eventually, Webber and Sarah Brightman divorced, and things became a little awkward between them. So plans for the film were put on hold for over a decade... Finally, in 2004, we got this.
Alright, well I'm VERY critical of this film. So I might have a lot to say (though I doubt many will read this review 
, I'm mostly doing this because I gotta). First of all, I'd like to talk about the casting of the characters.
There's Emmy Rossum, who plays the lead female Christine. I really like her as Christine. She was a great pick. Maybe her acting wasn't top notch, and Sarah Brightman was definitely a better singer. But Emmy Rossum is just all around great. I also love the passion in her voice, especially in her solo during the second act. Another thing, while not quite as important, is that she really looks the part. When I watch her in this role, I forget that she was seventeen at the time. Yep, she was given the impossible task of playing one of the hardest female roles in musical history, at the age of seventeen. In fact, she was actually sixteen when she was first casted! But I have to say, this isn't her best role. I've seen most of her films and heard her songs, and she's done better. She has more of a pop voice (also, I'd like to note that, sometime after playing this role, she "left the c|assical world" and began doing pop music). She also, overall, isn't as good as Sarah Brightman (at her peak, I'd like to add; Sarah Brightman's voice really went downhill over the years). But still, Emmy was very good, and we can't forget her age. So I give a lot of credit to this girl.
Her fiance, Raoul, is played by Patrick Wilson. I've always liked him in this role. Like Emmy, he's not as good as the original person who played the role, but he's very good. He has that "pretty boy" look that Raoul seems to have, and has a great voice (although, this isn't his best). All the other roles are also fine. Carlotta, the previous diva before Christine became a star, acted the part well. Sure, it isn't exactly her singing, as her singing was dubbed over by another singer (even though the actress, Minnie Driver, is a good singer, this singing role is way too hard), but she acted the part so well, so I like her. Most of the other roles are also good.
Now... what is my problem with the casting? Well, it has to do with the main lead himself... the Phantom, played by Gerard Butler. Seriously, what was Webber thinking in casting this guy? Well he claims that he wanted a more rock quality in the Phantom's voice. First of all, that's stupid for a role like this. Second, Gerard Butler isn't even a singer; he had to learn totally from scratch. So... how do you cast a non-singer as the biggest singing role in musical theater? It doesn't seem like a very logical decision to me.
Also, the Phantom is described as the perfect tenor (a tenor is basically a male who can sing higher notes)... Then why does Gerard Butler sing a load of things down the octave? Also, his mediocre voice is very inconsistent. Sometimes, while he's singing, his voice will just suddenly sound really different. Not to mention, there's one scene where he sings with a thick Scottish accent (which practically comes out of no where). I mean, isn't the Phantom supposed to be Christine's teacher? Why is she 5x's better?
Honestly, Gerard Butler's performance are bad to the point where they are so entertaining, simply because he's so bad. I get a kick out of watching this guy act and sing. And it's a shame, because I have trouble watching this film to appreciate Emmy and Patrick Wilson and the others. Gerard Butler is so hilarious it's distracting.
And you know what? So many people like him as the Phantom. I have no problem with people having their own opinions, but many of them are just fangirls who are in love with Gerard Butler. I'm sure he's a good actor in other films, but come on, let's be serious.
As for the rest of the film, honestly, I can go into detail on every song in the show, but I won't. Maybe I will add that later, but for now, I'll talk about a few other things. First of all, the set is amazing. I can't imagine how much money it costed. They built the magnificent theater in this film from the ground up. The orchestration is also lovely, and is much bigger than in the musical.
But now onto my second problem with this movie. Some directions and decisions that are taken are horrible. A famous chandelier scene, where it falls at the end of the first act, was changed. First of all, this is a scene that shouldn't have been changed. But if they want to try something different, then fine, but the point where they had the chandelier fall is bad. The scene itself is fine, in fact it's exciting. But that's the problem. In all the excitement, the chandelier is pretty much pushed aside, and is the last thing you are thinking about while watching the film.
There are also other problems I have. There is a sword fight scene that is totally out of place, and I despise the unmasking scene at the end of the film. There are probably other things too. Basically, you can see that I am very critical of this film.
So how about my final thoughts? Well, as much as I criticise it, I will say, I do like it. Sure, it's not great, and in no way does it do the musical any justice, but it's decent. Other than Gerard Butler, most of the people are good, and Emmy Rossum's "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" is one of my favorite performances of that film because of her wonderful singing, her passion, and the atmosphere. I just really have mixed feelings about the movie, but it's fine, and I will surely be watching it again.
Well, I might be adding to this review in the future (because I feel like I'm missing a few things), and I might add my opinions about all the songs. But for now, I'll just give a grade to all them.
Overture: 9/10
Think of Me: 8/10 (Christine)
Angel of Music: 7/10 (Christine and Meg)
The Mirror: 4/10 (The Phantom and Christine)
The Phantom of the Opera: 6/10 (The Phantom and Christine)
The Music of the Night: 2/10 (The Phantom)
Prima Donna: 7/10
All I Ask of You: 8/10 (Christine and Raoul)
All I Ask of You: 3/10 (The Phantom)
Masquerade: 5/10
Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again: 10/10 (Christine)
The Point of No Return: 5/10 (The Phantom and Christine)
The Final Lair: 6/10 (The Phantom, Christine, and Raoul)
Final Grade: 6/10
Alright, that's about it for now. Tune into my next review!
My friend was screaming (for a good thing), and then I said "What? Are you having an orgasm? Cause I've been trying to get you in the sack for years!"
She's single, so am I (now I am), and she just all of a sudden kissed me. Guess it was pretty good news, I got to second base
But I'm confused...are we together?
Behold, I am now enjoying my winter break. My 1st semester of college is finally over, and it wasn't too bad, but some of my exams were pretty tough. My finals were pretty much easy, though, except for my Chemistry final, which was kind of a b!tch.
Anyways, I just came by to comment on this site since I realized that it has now pretty much been dead without my awesomeness to keep it alive. **Sigh** Yes, I know you are all angry that I couldn't keep my awesome self here, but when you realize that you're just too good for a site, you kind of have to leave it. Still, I have sympathy for all of you young underlings here, and perhaps one day you will be cool enough to join Animation Revelation, the site which I now reside on.
Well, anyways, I honestly don't really have much to say. As far as anime goes, I've kind of lost a lot of interest in it. Most shounen today are pretty bland and dull, and despite what people say, even if seinen may be more mature, many of them also have tons of unlikable and despicable characters to ruin their enjoyment factor. Also, 99% of harem anime is garbage (its pretty much like softcore hentai, for the most part, as far as I can see), and even though I do like myself a good romance story, the fact of the matter is that most anime do a seriously amateur job at developing good romance, in my honest opinion. So, recently, I've just been revisiting some of the classics, as well as watching some older stuff in general.
I started Fist of the North Star, a few days ago, and its pretty good. I love the martial arts, and the Bruce Lee inspired character, Kenshiro.
I've also been reading the Dragon Ball manga, and its absolutely excellent. It reminds me of the elements that drew me into shounen anime in the first place, and makes me wonder why most modern shounen anime, which do take influence from it, can't try and at least copy of the elements of it that actually worked really well.
As for games, I'm STILL playing Ninja Gaiden 2, partly because its a fun challenge to try and overcome the higher difficulties, but mainly because I simply can't afford to buy anything new, especially since I'm spending all of the money that I currently have, which is not in my bank account, on gifts for my family and friends.
Well, that's all, folks.
If any of my old friends actually happen to be on this site, leaving a comment would be nice. In fact, anyone can pretty much feel free to leave some response comments on this blog of mine. Seriously, you don't have to be intimidated by my awesomeness to feel that you just aren't cool enough to comment on my blog (even though you really aren't ).
I haven't been on barely at all over the last few months cuz I have been busy.....sorry?
Ya, but in the time, I got scholarships to all my colleges, including enough for U of M Ann Arbor so I don't have to pay anything. I was also on Prom Court and, of course, I am graduating in less then a week.
idk...what else do you want to know?
Starting Monday, I read around 4 manga series, namely
Basilisk:
This is a really good manga. The story is basically about two rival ninjaclans Iga and Kouga at the beginning of the Tokugawa era. Unable to find a worthy successor among his grandsons, listening to advice from his personal advisor, he decides to break the peace treaty keeping these two clans from killing each other. Both clans are to choose ten ninjas and fight against each other to the death. Each clan is to represent one grandson and the new shogun will be decided by which clan survives.What follows is a bloody battle in which all 20 ninjas are killed. The different Ninja techniques displayed in this series are good but I feel most of the charaters are underdeveloped. They could've made this series a bit longer. My friend doesn't like it beause he feels it's too realistic but I felt it was a welcome change from all the unrealistic battles I've been reading about recently.
Trinity Blood:
This is the series that truly exceeded all my expectations. The story is about a world after Armageddon. For around 800 years, the Vatican has ruled as a major power . They are willing to use even a Krusnik(a vampire who feeds on vampires) to combat the threat of extremist groups led by Methuselah(vampires) and such. Thus, the Ax(the foreign affairs branch of the Vatican) sendsits agents abroad to exterminate Methuselahs who are causing problems. Instead of being portrayed as fiendish monsters, the Methuselah are portrayed as entities as complex as humans but with a great sense of pride and honour. They even have a whole empire. And, strangely, the Krusniks play a major role in the politics of this world(Abel Nightroad alias Krusnik 2 is the main character of the series and an AX agent; his sister Seth alias Krusnik 3 is the ruler of the Methuselah empire and their brother Cain Nightroad alias Krusnik 1 is the main antagonistand the leader of the Rosencruez orden which is the most powerful of the extremist groups). The manga is based on a series of novels by Sunao Yoshida who, unfortunately, died before he could conclude the series(refer Wiki for details). Although,I must say,The story'sreally great.
Hellsing:
Yet another vampire story. This manga is about the Hellsing organisation which combats the threat of vampires in England. Their secret weapon is a vampire named Alucard. What I like about this series isthe action. the series is pure action but also has a good story.
D. Gray Man:
Yet another good series. The story's about a guy named Allen Walker who joins the Black order, a group of excorsists who work to defeat the Millenium Earl, a phantom who is building an army of Akumas(or demons) to destroy the world. The plot seems cliched and the series seems highly influenced by Bleach and Fma but it's better by far than Bleach is or ever was. it seems to be a highly underappreciated manga/anime series but I would highly reccomend itto any fan of Bleach or Naruto.
Currently, I'm downloading Berserk and looking forward to reading it.
I know, a big newsflash right?
Guess I'll get back to raising hell on the forums 
