The Phantom of the Opera (2004) REVIEW – While in London, I discovered the greatness of the Joel Schumacher film

I can’t imagine a more magical way to discover this movie than on a rainy London evening, after a night out that culminated in the live production of The Phantom of the Opera at the historic Her Majesty’s Theatre. It was an unforgettable experience.

Later, back in my hotel room, I’ll never forget the thrill of remembering the film and then realizing just how deeply Joel Schumacher was involved in it. Schumacher is a director I’ve always felt was as unfairly maligned as the Phantom himself. My exploration of this franchise and character goes back even further—earlier this year, during this year’s 31 Days of Dread, I reviewed the 1925 silent film starring Lon Chaney, the most indelible makeup performer of all time. I’ve thought deeply about the Phantom as a character, and I remain indifferent to labeling him purely as “evil.”

*** AKAPAD.COM Note: Be on the lookout for a possible Phantom of the Opera HUBZ page since this character will be further explored in the coming year. ***

PETER A DELUCA AKAPD

AKAPAD is a versatile thinker known across Philadelphia, Europe, and even in the vast Multiverse as The Electic One. By day, he excels as an IT Mastermind, assisting individuals, both big and small, with a wide range of simple and complex solutions. In contrast, he is also a talented illustrator, a passionate comic book enthusiast, a creative content creator, and an active live streamer. Additionally, his podcast, “AKAPAD The Film Buff Podcast,” boasts an impressive catalog of over 500 episodes available on nearly every major platform.