Review – The Phantom of the Opera (1998)

Once again Dario Argento works his odd brand of reverse alchemy, transforming gold into lead. Argento sticks more gore and tit shots into his version of Gaston Leroux’s famous tale than can be found in all the other screen adaptations combined. So if that’s the sole criterion by which you judge cinematic quality, then by all means seek this one out. Less easily impressed members of the audience are likely to be bored to tears by the wooden acting and ludicrous plot. The Phantom, played by a lackluster Julian Sands, skulks about like a drug-addled Ozzy wannabe circa 1975. Oh, and as a child our villain was abandoned by his parents and raised by sewer rats. That’s about as good as it gets. Wish I’d skipped it