The DVD

Video:
The Phantom of the Opera is presented in an absolutely stunning anamorphic 2.40:1 widescreen format that beautifully captures the highly stylized look of the film. The range of colors used in this film is vast, and every single hue comes across perfectly. From the opening scenes in grayish black and white to the vibrant gold tones in the opera house and the blue-gray scenes in a snowy cemetery, The Phantom of the Opera is one of the most visually lavish and stylish films to grace the screen in quite some time. This transfer is nearly perfect in its execution of light and shadow, the richness of its colors, and the deepness of its black tones. While there are several scenes that are purposely shot in soft-focus, the detail in the rest of the film is incredibly deep and intricate. The only that keeps this transfer from being reference-quality is a barely-noticeable layer change and the slightest hint of edge enhancement. There is a fair amount of grain present in scenes that are lit by gaslight or candlelight, but it is clearly part of the inherent look of the film. Aside from those two minor quibbles, this is one of the most gorgeous transfers that I have seen in a while.

Sound:
The audio on this disc is presented in a Dolby Digital 5.1 format that does a fine job of capturing the elegance and beauty of the opera performances, while also knowing exactly when to turn it up a notch to knock you out of your seat. Dialogue is always clear, crisp, and distinct, and spatial separation across the front channels is excellent. The best, and most important part, of The Phantom of the Opera is easily the musical performances, and here is precisely where this track really shines. The orchestra is intricately balanced throughout every channel, and the surround channels do a great job of providing even more ambience to the performances. When the Phantom sings (and even when he speaks) the surround channels come alive with his eerie, deep voice. They, of course, also come alive during several major sound effects sequences, but they are most affective in their use of the Phantom's dialogue. Even the LFE channel gets involved in providing a nice low rumble that makes the masked-man's speech seem even more ominous and foreboding. Overall, this is a very well balanced and dynamic audio presentation.

Extras:
It was a wise move to allow this lengthy film one disc basically all its own. The only extra included on the first disc is a theatrical trailer, and the addition of the second disc (for all the extra features) really allows the film to thrive in the audio-visual department on its own disc.

The first, and best, feature on the second disc is "Behind the Mask: The Story of The Phantom of the Opera," which takes just over an hour to detail the journey of the story from Gaston Leroux's novel to the silent screen, to Andrew Lloyd Webber's stage version, and finally to Joel Schumacher's feature film. Included in this documentary are interviews with basically everyone that's been involved with the various productions in one way or another. The real treat, however, are the clips from some never-before-seen performances. We get to see a promotional video made to sell an earlier screen version of the musical (which was never made), and several clips from early performances that took place in Andrew Lloyd Webber's own estate before the musical was completed. Always interesting and entertaining, this documentary is a fairly exhausting look at the progression of The Phantom of the Opera from its start as a novel to its adaptation into several different mediums.

Also included on the second disc is a 45-minute feature called "The Making of The Phantom of the Opera." You have the option of either watching it in three separate segments or as one long feature, which actually cuts together pretty cohesively. The first segment is called "Origins and Casting of The Phantom of the Opera," and it features interviews with Director Joel Schumacher and most of the other principles. Schumacher explains how the film finally got made after fourteen years of waiting. He also tells us a lot about the casting process and how each part was chosen. We also get to see interviews with the major players, as they talk about how daunting it was to step into a film based on one of the world's most popular plays.

The second segment is called "Designing The Phantom of the Opera," and it basically details the creation of the elaborate sets and highly detailed miniatures. We also get to see interviews with the film's costume designer and many of the other artistic crewmembers. The third, and final, segment is called "Supporting Cast and Recording the Album of The Phantom of the Opera," and it not only allows Schumacher to explain his choices for a mostly British supporting cast, but also provides a glimpse into the recording studio as each actor records their parts for the musical performances. It would have been great to be able to see even more of this, but what we have here - including a look at the recording of the huge orchestra - is really entertaining. Overall, "The Making of The Phantom of the Opera" isn't your typical studio EPK fare. It is, rather, a detailed and intriguing look behind-the-scenes at "the most expensive independent film ever made."

In addition to those two great documentaries, the second disc also contains an additional scene. The excised scene features Gerard Butler as the Phantom singing his part in "No One Would Listen." The scene is short and, although it isn't clear why it was deleted, makes for a nice little bonus feature.

Finally, we have a very funny Easter Egg that is pretty easy to find, and also a DVD-ROM weblink to the Phantom's Online World.

Final Thoughts:
Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera is undoubtedly the most famous version of Gaston Leroux's novel to ever be created. It has been seen on the stage by 80-million people worldwide and continues to play on Broadway to this day. Webber has seen his musicals make their way to the silver screen more than a few times (with some mixed results), but The Phantom of the Opera took upwards of fourteen years to make the transition. Nevertheless, the timeless gothic romance still manages to send chills up my spine every single time those Phantom chords come pounding out of the organ. While Joel Schumacher's version may not be the perfect adaptation, there is certainly more good than bad to be found in his film. Emmy Rossum's performance alone is worth the price of admission. The film alone would make for a simple recommendation, but the inclusion of two excellent documentaries makes this disc highly recommended. If you were only lukewarm to the film in theaters, do yourself a favor and pass up the one-disc version that Warner Bros. is also offering. This is a case where the extra features actually make you appreciate and enjoy the film even more.