subscriptions-75702 When I watched this the first time, I was also taken a bit aback by it. But after thinking about it for a few days and watching it again, I saw why.When POTO starts, the audience is introduced to the Opera Ghost, someone unseen yet powerful and threatening. At POTO's conclusion, the Opera Ghost is reduced to a mere human, looking for love but not knowing how to find it. It's the human Phantom in this sequel, with the child-like emotions of someone who grew up alone and abused. Be prepared for that.The freak show he runs on Coney Island is definitely different from the Paris Opera House, but it makes sense: he can be visible, he can be in control, and he can also work out whatever demons he has from being in one as a child (though this isn't dealt with in the show that I could see). I just wish they'd finally given the Phantom a name (doesn't have to be Erik) instead of a silly pseudonym.The laughable part is that Lloyd Webber uses Hammerstein's new Manhattan opera house as the reason Christine Daaé is coming to town. Whether or not Hammerstein did open an opera house at that time is irrelevant to me. The moment I hear the name, I see the Alps, and hear the hills singing with the sound of music followed by a chorus of O-O-O-O-Oklahoma! It broke the world Lloyd Webber was trying to create.I also didn't like how Rauol, Mme. Giry, and Meg Giry were rewritten. They feel like they were re-constructed solely to have sub-plots. I found the sub-plots boring and unnatural, because of how the characters were written. The actors, though, are phenomenal. Even felt sad for Raoul at the end.However, the Christine-Phantom-Gustave triad completely enthralled me. Yes, it's melodramatic, but show me one scene in POTO that isn't. This is Lloyd Webber's style. This triad, though somewhat soap-opery, delves deep into the psyche of the Phantom, which the original could not. I loved the bar scene with Raoul and the Phantom. One thing the original was missing which the 2004 movie and now this sequel developed was more interaction between the two. The fact that Ben Lewis towers over Simon Gleeson helps in this scene, especially when Raoul declares that the Phantom doesn't scare him, and then he shows up out of nowhere.And I'm completely taken in by The Beauty Underneath. Love the haunting feeling it gives you. It also explains beautifully how music affects the Phantom.I thought the ending was a cop-out, though. I don't like it when someone is shot for what seems to be dramatic purpose. Let her live through the decision she came to: to stay with the Phantom and leave Raoul behind. The ending was also a bit over the top for me. Touching, but too many clichés.Ben Lewis and Anne O'Byrne, though, have a chemistry on stage that I haven't seen in a long time. Both of them deliver an incredibly powerful performance. You can see the passion and conflict Christine and the Phantom feel throughout. Lewis gives us a full range of emotions - the Phantom is indeed a human being who's not sure how to get what he wants. But he's also capable of love and simply wants to be loved and remembered when his time is up. O'Byrne portrays a Christine with a backbone - she knows what she will and won't do. She's not on stage to look pretty (though she is incredibly stunning), she's on stage to show us all in the inner workings of Christine, and she does it wonderfully. I'd love to see both of them live someday.

ruick78 . I am a huge phantom of the operas fan. I seen old versions even not greatest one, and seen few Broadway shows. For people who seen 2004 version of Phantom of Opera may not enjoy this all due this very much different casting, then from what they may seen. This movie not as bad many people say music is amazing, story may not be most solid but I came for the music the story just a bonus. In my opinion I recommend this movie if you love Phantom of the Opera you watch this movie, rent it first i recommend to the ones who only watched 2004 movie, or if your still unsure about the movie. If you like it buy it. Thats what I did. I admit i wouldn't mind maybe seeing the 2004 Phantom of the Opera movie crew do a version of this, but unsure if that will happen but overall. I give it 10/10 8 for the music, and 2 for the story. The story does continue off the original movie idea but just in this movie few characters seem a bit dry, i have watched other versions its not that bad, just depends on the actors and actress.

mngnm94 I saw The Phantom of the Opera when I was 12, and I heard the Original London Cast Recording of Love Never Dies when I was 16. By then my life had gone through some MAJOR changes. For one thing my Dad died 2.75 months after I saw The Phantom of the Opera on stage (believe it or not) and my life was continuing to get worse, so my personality like the characters in "Love Never Dies" changed with life. What I'm trying to say is "Misery loves company" especially from close friends. When I was 13 I had read "The Phantom of Manhattan" so it was not a surprise to me when Christine died. :(!In a class called "Working with Young Children" I learned that If a child is born less than a year into a marriage it most likely falls apart, which contributes WHY Christine chooses the Phantom. Furthermore, Gustave's attraction to music, and also having the same concept of beauty as the Phantom, can be explained by the existence of the Hobby Gene. This means that because both of his parents like music, he is more likely to as well.Also gambling was popular among rich people during the time that the Phantom of the Opera was set. This would most likely result in a lower income, which would put stress on Raoul and Christine's marriage, Which would contribute to WHY Christine chooses the Phantom. Raoul in the original novel is immature and immature people are impulsive, and do things like drink too much, and gamble. I know that the dates between "Love Never Dies" and the auction at the beginning of "The Phantom of the Opera are correct because alcoholism causes premature aging, by reducing the amount of collagen, (which is what makes your skin look young) by reducing amount of the antioxidant vitamin A which is important in slowing down the signs of agingBut what Meg said before she shot her sounded JUST like I was feeling by the time I was 16. (added to that my relationship with my sister had gone tough the same stages as Meg and Christine's in "Love Never Dies" the Australian production in the past eight years at the time) but I HADN'T killed anybody. Why? Because our undying love we've had since we were children, for our family (including pets) friends, jobs,our favorite media, hobbies, and interests, and ourselves enables us not to change when change is making our world fall apart around us, even over a period as long as ten years. We are the same people we always were because love never dies that's what misery causing change taught me, and "Love Never Dies" affirmed. When I saw the DVD The blocking for "Please Miss Giry I Want to go Back" made it look like Meg MEANT to shoot Christine. Also she has UNTREATED Bipolar Disorder, and has these symptoms:1. Feeling unusually "high" and optimistic OR extremely irritable 2. Unrealistic, grandiose beliefs about one's abilities or powers 3. Sleeping very little, but feeling extremely energetic 4. Racing thoughts; jumping quickly from one idea to the next 5. Impaired judgment and impulsiveness 6. Acting recklessly without thinking about the consequences 7. Delusions and hallucinations (in severe cases)I now know why I didn't kill, because I got the emotional support and love Meg didn't get from "Love Never Dies", and with out it I definitely wouldn't be where I am right now.

kwinrockz I was cautious to watch this sequel to "The Phantom of the Opera" because of how much I loved the original. I was shocked by how much I enjoyed it. The cast is great and really embrace their characters and their character's way of thinking, feeling, and position. The music is fabulous and the main reason I enjoy it. "Till I hear you Sing" is by far my favorite. Although I like Ramin Karimloo's voice as the phantom better. But take what you can get right? Just watch it with an open mind and you will enjoy it. Don't look for continuity issues with the first. All in all it was well put together somethings I would change just because I like happy endings in everything. Be prepared you will in fact cry if you are a cry baby like me. Be prepared to hear music that will blow you away. And be prepared to be opened up to a whole new area and the world of The Phantom of the Opera.