Nice analysis -- when I rewatched the picture I remember being very struck by that whole scene of Buquet's death, where the Phantom is quite clearly being depicted as the monster out of a horror movie. Very effective (this shouldn't be a nice or an easy scene to watch), but completely at odds with the 'poor woobie Phantom' line taken elsewhere in the screenplay.
There's precedent for reminding us that the Phantom is overhearing Raoul and Christine's love scene, I think (Leroux keeps hinting at an eavesdropper during "Apollo's Lyre"), and it doesn't undercut their happiness together; it's more a case of over-milking the 'ah, woe is me' theme. It's poignant the first time, less so if you keep doing it. Especially as he gets a canon reveal and solo immediately afterwards.
I think you pretty much summed it up in that they were trying to have their cake and eat it -- make the Phantom dangerous and pathetic and have us want to pair Christine off with the Phantom and with Raoul -- although in fact when you phrase it that way, you've ended up with a pretty good description of the appeal of the stage show!
I'm still puzzled by the Raoul-hating fangirls, but I assume that it's blind hate for anyone who gets in the way of the sexy Phantom...
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Date: 2017-09-15 09:17 pm (UTC)There's precedent for reminding us that the Phantom is overhearing Raoul and Christine's love scene, I think (Leroux keeps hinting at an eavesdropper during "Apollo's Lyre"), and it doesn't undercut their happiness together; it's more a case of over-milking the 'ah, woe is me' theme. It's poignant the first time, less so if you keep doing it. Especially as he gets a canon reveal and solo immediately afterwards.
I think you pretty much summed it up in that they were trying to have their cake and eat it -- make the Phantom dangerous and pathetic and have us want to pair Christine off with the Phantom and with Raoul -- although in fact when you phrase it that way, you've ended up with a pretty good description of the appeal of the stage show!
I'm still puzzled by the Raoul-hating fangirls, but I assume that it's blind hate for anyone who gets in the way of the sexy Phantom...