Friday, November 27, 2009

A favorite excerpt of the Book~

From Chapter 4, Box Five.
He recognized the clumsy childish hand. He opened the letter and read:

DEAR MR. MANAGER:
I am sorry to have troubled you at a time when you must be so very busy, renewing important engagements, signing fresh ones and generally displaying your excellent taste. I know what you have done for Carlotta, Sorelli and little Jammes and for a few others whose admirable qualities of talent or genius you have suspected. Of course, when I use these words, I do not mean to apply them to La Carlotta, who sings like a squirt and who ought never to have been allowed to leave the Ambassadeurs and the Cafe Jacpuin; nor to La Sorrelli, who owes her success mainly to the couch builders; nor to little Jammes, who dances like a calf in a field. And I am not speaking of Christine Daae either, though her genius is certain, whereas your jealousy prevents her from creating any important part. When all is said, you are free to conduct your little business as you think best, are you not?
All the same, I should like to take advantage of the fact that you have not turned Christine Daae out of doors by hearing her this evening in the part of Siebel, as that of Margarita has been forbidden her since her triumph of the other evening; and I will ask you not to dispose of my box today nor on the following days, for I can not end this letter without telling you how disagreeably surprised I have been once or twice, to hear, on arriving at the Opera, that my box had been sold, at the box office, by your orders.
I did not protest, first, because I dislike scandal, and, second, because I thought that your predecessors, MM. Debienne and Poligny, who were always charming to me, had neglected, before leaving, to mention my little fads to you. I have now received a reply from those gentlemen to my letter asking for an explanation, and this reply proves that you know all about my memorandum-book and, consequently, that you are treating me with outrageous contempt. If you wish to live in peace, you must not begin by taking away my private box.
Believe me to be, dear Mr. Manager, without prejudice to these little observations.
Your Most Humble and Obedient Servant,
Opera Ghost.


I love that part. :) and to finish this post up, I think I'll quote a completely different book which seems, in some way, to contribute to this letter. It is from The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner, and reads as follows:
"His ability to portray a world of threat in so few words was amazing."
- Gen.

anyway, I think my work here is done for the present!
-tinydancer

"No more talk of darkness.
Forget these wide eyed fears!
I'm here, with you beside you,
To guard you and to guide you..."

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Cassie's 'Phantom' Movie Critique

For writing class last year I was assigned to write a critique on a favorite movie and I chose 'the Phantom of the Opera' (big surprise, huh? :D)

Here is the finished 5 paragraph "critique":



The Timeless Phantom

by Cassie (age 14)

“The Phantom of the Opera” is a movie released in December of 2004 which was based off of the highly-acclaimed musical and novel by the same name. It's rating in PG13 because of brief violent images. Warner Bros. Is the movie's USA distributor. Its soundtrack is enchanting. Andrew Lloyd Webber, who previously wrote and composed the musical, produced the movie as well. Superb special effects were created by John Mathieson. Interestingly, the movie's tag line is “Her voice became his passion. Her love became his obsession. Her refusal became his rage.” and it truly describes the movie and successfully draws a person in.

This dramatic film enticingly opens in black and white in the year 1919 as an auction is underway at the dilapidated shell of the once lively and beautiful Paris Opera House. Raoul appears as an old man in a wheelchair and he purchases a music box, which once belonged to the Phantom of the Opera, from the auction. Continuing the auction, the auctioneer reveals the next item, an exquisitely massive chandelier, which had been restored from what the auctioneer calls a “disaster” of “the Phantom of the Opera”. Gloriously, the chandelier is raised as the theme music plays and the movie switches from black and white into color and the old, destroyed opera house melts away, revealing it in its past glory, almost thirty years previously. As a rehearsal is going on for a new opera, attention in drawn to a young chorus girl named Christine Daaé. Raoul is reintroduced, now a dashing young man as the Opera's new patron. Noticing Raoul, Christine confides in her best friend, Meg, that she and Raoul knew each other when they were young and were childhood sweethearts.

Continuing the rehearsal, Carlotta, who is the Opera's spoiled and self-centered diva, has an accident and the two opera managers are distressed because, as far as they know, no one can take her place on center stage at an important gala that evening. Surprising them all, Meg's mother, who is the ballet mistress and Christine's “mother figure” recommends Christine to understudy for Carlotta. Reluctantly, the opera managers give Christine a chance and are joyously surprised when Christine begins to sing with incredible skill and beauty. Christine was the shining star of the gala. After her astonishing success, Christine shared the secret of her voice with Meg. Ever since her father died and Christine began to live at the Opera House, a man's voice, which Christine earnestly believed was the “Angel of Music” that her father had promised to send to her, had been coaching her and giving her lessons. Raoul, who had recognized Christine while she was singing, met with her, but refused to believe her story about the Angel of Music until he later returns to find her missing. The “angel”, who was a mysterious man wearing a mask, had taken Christine down to his lair, far beneath the Paris Opera House. Unaware of drastic and horrible consequences, Christine allows her curiosity to get the better of her and she inconsiderately tears the mask from the Phantom's face. She is horrified! Filled with rage, the Phantom hurried to reacquire his mask as he exclaims that, now that Christine has glimpsed his horrifically disfigured face, she will never be free again. Back above ground, the opera manager, Raoul and Carlotta have all received letters from the Phantom or “Opera Ghost” demanding that Raoul never be with Christine again and that Christine replace Carlotta determinately as the Opera's star. Defiantly, all four of them decided to ignore the letters and the Phantom's orders. Christine returned and she shared her story and professed her love for Raoul and the two of them decided to become married. Seeing the two of them together enrages the already bitter Phantom as he ruthlessly decides to stop at nothing until Christine is his.

Presently, the Phantom composes and presents a new opera to the two managers. They agree to preform it, with Christine playing the largest role. Christine feels extremely timid because, in order to ensnare the Phantom, Raoul and the managers have decided to use Christine singing as bait to lure him in. Raoul attempts to assure Christine that her fear are not necessary, but all it does is convince her that, no matter what, if she sings, the Phantom will take her and never let her go. The important night arrives. Waiting and ready to strike, the police are there. The Phantom, unbeknown to all, has murdered the male lead in the play and had secretly taken his place. Part way through a duet, Christine is horrified to realize that her singing partner is the man she dreaded and feared so much. Thinking through her limited options to save herself, Christine decides to become very close to the Phantom so she could have the chance to unmask him in front of the crowded audience. As she does so, the Phantom acts quickly, grabbing Christine and taking her down to his lair and, in the process, in order to create a diversion, causes the chandelier to crash down, Thus setting fire to the Opera house. Thoroughly invested in saving Christine's life, Raoul pursues them and discovers where the Phantom has been hiding. Cunningly, the Phantom catches Raoul with a lasso and tightens it into a noose. In a fit of rage, the Phantom then forces Christine to chose to either spend the rest of her days living with him in order to save Raoul's life, or chose to leave, but killing Raoul in the process. Raoul urges Christine not to think of him, but it doesn't do much while Christine, after showing Raoul her devoted and pure love for him by mouthing, “I love you.”, turns and passionately embraces and the kisses the Phantom, showing her deep care for him. Christine earnestly loves both Raoul and the Phantom, but both in different ways. Finally, relenting of his past cruelty, the Phantom releases Raoul and urges Christine to leave along with him. As a mob of angry people close in on the Phantom's lair, hunting him down for murder, the Phantom smashes all of his mirrors and shuts himself away declaring with despair, “It's over now, the music of the night!” All that is visibly left of the Phantom as the mob enters his house is his lone white mask, resting on a chair, empty. The movie then switches color again and becomes black and white once more as we see Raoul place the music box that he purchased on Christine's grave. Glancing over, Raoul notices something else left there. It is a red rose tied with a black ribbon, the Phantom's trademark, a sign that the Phantom is still alive and still remembers and loves Christine. Attached to the black ribbon is a plain engagement ring, which was offered and refused so many years ago.

All in all, “The Phantom of the Opera” is an enchanting film, full of intense action, complicated mysteries, horror and twisted romance. This movie would be thoroughly enjoyed, of course, by “phans” of the original musical and a mature audience who enjoys drama and music. Even without the music, the stunning visual effects were nominated for many awards and are a pleasure to watch and a delight to the eyes. The movie was nominated for over 30 awards and won 5 of them. The majority of those wins were bestowed upon Emmy Rossum for superb acting by a younger actress, since she was only 16 years old at the time of the shooting. Emmy did an incredible job at portraying Christine's innocence and longing and she successfully captured the very essence of Christine's emotions and character. The other actors were fantastic as well, especially Patrick Wilson's (Raoul) voice was very well trained and his acting was flawless, especially during the end scenes of the movie. Gerard Butler (the Phantom) was very passionate and emotional and he became better and better in the part as the movie progressed. Phantom is a timeless film that will continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.


Apparently, according to Aunt Becky, my teacher, I had too many details and it was more of a summary than a critique.

Here's take 2...


The Timeless Phantom

by Cassie (age 14)

“The Phantom of the Opera” is a movie released in December of 2004 which was based off of the highly-acclaimed musical and novel by the same name. It's rating in PG13 because of brief violent images. Warner Bros. is the movie's USA distributor. Its soundtrack is enchanting. Andrew Lloyd Webber, who previously wrote and composed the musical, produced the movie as well. Superb special effects were created by John Mathieson. Interestingly, the movie's tag line is “Her voice became his passion. Her love became his obsession. Her refusal became his rage.” and it truly describes the movie and successfully draws a person in.

The movie follows the story of a young and naïve chorus girl named Christine Daaé, who is earnestly seeking for love and protection after the death of her beloved father. The Viscount Raoul de Chagny, is Christine's friend from childhood and, now, is her love. Raoul's rival and Christine's admirer who is a masked man with a horrific facial disfigurement is the mysterious 'Phantom of the Opera' and is passionately involved in Christine's life and success and desires her love in return. The setting is in France and more specifically, the Paris Opera House in the year 1870.

Ever since Christine's father died and she began to live at the Opera House, the Phantom, who she whole-heartedly believed was the “Angel of Music” her father had promised to send to her, has been giving her lessons and helping her to become the greatest singer the world has ever known. Once Raoul comes back into her life and she discovers who the Phantom really is, however, Christine refuses the Phantom's declarations of love and she and Raoul become engaged. This enrages the already bitter Phantom as he ruthlessly decides to stop at nothing until Christine is his.

Presently, while Christine is preforming, the Phantom cunningly kidnaps her and leads her down to his lair, far beneath the lively and beautiful Opera House. Attempting to save Christine, Raoul pursues them, only to become trapped by the clever Phantom. The Phantom then declares that Christine must chose to either live with him forever in order to save Raoul, or leave, but killing Raoul in the process. Pressured and torn, Christine eventually decides to save Raoul and she shows her deep love for the Phantom by kissing him. Christine earnestly loved both Raoul and the Phantom, but both in different ways. Finally, relenting of his past cruelty, the Phantom releases Raoul and urges Christine to leave along with him. Then the Phantom despairingly shuts himself away and is never heard from again.

All in all, “The Phantom of the Opera” is an enchanting film, full of intense action, complicated mysteries, horror and twisted romance. This movie would be thoroughly enjoyed, of course, by “phans” of the original musical and a mature audience who enjoys drama and music. Even without the music, the stunning visual effects were nominated for many awards and are a pleasure to watch and a delight to the eyes. The movie was nominated for over 30 awards and won 5 of them. The majority of those wins were bestowed upon Emmy Rossum for superb acting by a younger actress, since she was only 16 years old at the time of the shooting. Emmy did an incredible job at portraying Christine's innocence and longing and she successfully captured the very essence of Christine's emotions and character. The other actors were fantastic as well, especially Patrick Wilson (Raoul) who's voice was very well trained and his acting- flawless, especially during the end scenes of the movie. Gerard Butler (the Phantom) was very passionate and emotional and he became better and better in the part as the movie progressed. 'Phantom' is a timeless film that will continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.


OK, so MUCH better! I cut it more than in half!

Whew, so, after you spend your entire afternoon reading this gargantuan post, comment and let me know weather you liked the original "summary" or the abridged critique better.



Pitiful creature of darkness,
What kind of life have you known?
God give me courage to show you,
You are not alone...

Friday, November 20, 2009

How the different actors portray the Phantom...

I think I'm truly writing this in response to the last post by ivorydancer, so I'll be using the same pictures (which also saves me the time that I would have to spend looking up pics).
And yes, it pains me to say it, but... the Phantom is ("Phantom, forgive me")... hideous. That's why the original Phantom looks like this:


*sniff*.
I mean, according to Joseph Buquet, he isn't supposed to have a nose! He's supposed to look like walking Death.
That's why, in the last song "Down Once More," he says, "This face, which earned, a mother's fear and loathing, a mask, my first unfeeling scrap of clothing..."
Now what kind of a mother would "loathe" this, I ask you?



So, while I agree with everyone on the matter of Gerard Butler's looks, I don't think he plays the sort of Phantom he could play. The Phantom is supposed to be hideous. That is not hideous!

Everyone share their thoughts!!! tell me what you think and who you think the better Phantom is... :)

tinydancer

"Turn your face away
From the garish light of day,
Turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light
And listen to the Music of the Night..."

Sunday, November 8, 2009

The 'Evolution' of the Phantom...

It's funny to see how drastically the phantom's physical appearance has changed over time. The first time Phantom was made into a motion picture was 1925. Here is what the phantom looked like then:



Yeah, pretty scary! The mask is missing I know, but in the book, the mask wasn't what we picture today. It was a full, life like, wax mask that he would wear when he went out, or didn't feel like giving Christine a heart attack :) lol

Now, the first Musical was the Ken Hill version in 1976. The phantom was played by Todd Alan Johnson:


Cweepy...

The second version of the musical that we are all much more familiar with was by Andrew Loyd Weber in 1986. The Phantom was played my Michael Crawford:


Vonderful...

The musical Haley (tinydancer) and I went to see was AWESOME! The Phantom was played by Jason Mills who did a magnificent job:


He he he...

The movie that is featured in most of the pictures on our sidebar are from the 2004 motion picture. The phantom was played by Gerard Butler:




Notice that they get less scary with each picture and the mask gets smaller... My personal favorite is Jason Mills. His voice was almost exactly like Michael Crawford! Michael Crawford has one of those voices that could make me cry if he wanted me to... Anyway, I will enjoy hearing your thoughts!

~Ivorydancer






Sunday, November 1, 2009

New Background!!!

How do you like it (compared or not to the last one)???
I do like this one... I am not sure which one I like better...
And be sure to continue the debates going on below!

Also, I would like to give a big welcome to our newest members: Earwen (even though I think everyone knows her, anyway) and Nathanael Moss!!! Welcome, and thanks for joining!

I think we'll do this for every two people who follow. :) Anyway... that and the fact that NaNoWriMo has started (which means that I will probably not be able to post as much) is all that I wanted to say. So I suppose I'll shut up now.

-tinydancer

"You alone can make my song take flight;
Help me make the music of the night.

His Music


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