We have a decent cast for the film, for the most part, I think. Granted, many do not have the voices to sing the parts as they are on stage. In fact, I believe the only two who could certainly do that are Patrick Wison, a Tony-nominated Broadway actor, and Margaret Preece, who DUBBS Carlotta's singing voice (and appears briefly as the Confidate in Il Muto) and actually has performed the role of Carlotta in London's West End. Emmy Rossum has a beautiful voice, though quite immature, as her years are as such. Truthfully, there is much difference in the voice of a 17-year-old and that of a 21-year-old (the approximate age of Christine in the novel, as alluded to by Raoul's own age). I know, as a 20-year-old myself at college. My best friend's girlfriend is my college's leading soprano, and her voice puts Ms. Rossum's to utter shame. I have heard her sing selections from POTO which give me chills, and yet Emmy, though good, disappoints. If she acts the role well might be a forgivable casting, perhaps even favorable casting if she pulls off the characterization just right. However, as Crysania said, she simply "Does not have a voice that could take Paris by storm."

There is one star whose casting is completely unforgivable, though. That is the casting of Gerard Butler as the Phantom of the Opera. Our worse fears have been realized. Not only has the definative Phantom, Michael Crawford, been prevented from preserving HIS role on film, but the actor who stands in his place cannot even sing the part without stetching and straining his voice in a way which sounds, frankly, terrible.

The truth is, my ideal was always to have Crawford as the Phantom in the film version. However, when I heard mentions of Peter Karrie or Hugh Jackman taking the role in the past, I held out hope that the film might still be a sucessful representation of the musical. I even had an open ear when I first had the opportunity to hear the new soundtrack. After all, Dave Willets, who was London's second Phantom, had no classical voice training. However, I was disappointed... disappointed and infuritated. We not only lost the definative Phantom, but the film is left with a Phantom who cannot, with any sincerity play a character referred to as the "Angel of Music."

My friends want me to see the movie... to comment on it as they themselves love the recording of the original show and have not seen the musical themselves. I am torn, as I am traumatized by the soundtrack itself and have not heard any real positive reviews of Butler's perfomance either, yet am still intrigued by the film and want to provide an accurate assessment for my companions.

I mourn now the loss of yet another definative characterization of a role lost to the ignorance of film producers.

Jake