Welcome to Gaia! ::

Of the three listed in the poll, the book. Because that's the only one that really made me cry.

Between the original and the movie, the original. I hated Gerard Butler's performance, I think the casting of him was awful and that he was horrible for the part. Emma Rossum (I don't remember how to spell her name) I thought was a very talented singer, but also wrong for the part.

I know some people liked them, but really that's their own taste, not mine.

I'm a tad belligerent on the subject because I constantly argue with stupid fangirls on the subject, most of who claim Erik as theirs and say that 'I'm wrong, there's no Persian man in the story'.

Dude... I hate it when people think they know so much and don't even know about the Persian. gonk

And I agree about the casting. It wasn't that good. Gerard did a better job as Dracula, but he is no good at Erik. >.>

Yay! You know what I'm mad about, though? Apparently there's a video recording of Michael Crawford's performance... But it's only available to a limited audience. Like those studying the part and whatnot. I really wish I could see it! crying

In their own elements, all are number one in my book. There are certain things and people you can't throw on a stage as well as vice versa with a movie.

Though, it has been said by ALW himself that the movie and musical should not be compared for the simple fact that they are not the same media type. A film is far different from a staged production.

As for the book, I love it. I have two copies (signet classic version which stays in my purse and the Essential Phantom of the Opera version which stays by my bed next to my copy of the Susan Kay book) and read from it whenever I have nothing else to read.

The book was meant as a mystery/thriller. The musical and movie were set as Gothic Romances because ALW wrote the musical for Sarah Brightman. It's useless to compare them all in the same category because such matters will never be settled.

If you hate the movie, fine. Don't watch it. If you hate the OCR of the musical, fine. Buy another cast recording. If you hate the book, then I suggest not reading it. It all depends on your specific taste and ideals of Phantom.

To quote the words of one of my dear aunties...

"They should've kept him. Antonio Banderas IS the Phantom."

That being said, I preferred the book but loved the movie. There was one part in the "Down Once More" bit where Gerard Butler's voice got all raspy and gross, but other than that he wasn't too bad for an amateur. I absolutely hated the Crawford-Brightman version. Their voices made me want to gag.

I like them all to be honest. I love the book because it was so terrifying. You really get to see how much of a monster the Phantom is, and how tortured he is. Plus.. The Persian rocks.

I love the original theatre production because I'm a Sarah Brightman fan. I love her voice. I know a lot of people prefer others, but I adore Sarah Brightman.

I love the movie because there is so much going visually that coule never have been done on stage. I don't think they overloaded anything in the movie, which is what I was afraid they would do. I'm also not an Emmy Rossum fan.

To be completely honest, the thought of Antonio Banderas as Erik kind of frightens me. No offense, but....he has an accent. While a French accent would be very fitting, and a Scandinavian accent almost as much so, a Spanish accent seems very unprofessional.

Personally, I have nothing against Gerard Butler's performance. He's not THAT young (now Ewan McGregor as the Phantom would have been scary), and honestly, he makes a far superior Phantom to Claude Rains in an earlier film version- who, by the way, played a kindly old balding Phantom in a blue mask, which is much worse.

I remain loyal to the Leroux book, which I have yet to see interpreted correctly, and may work on that when I leave school, and is the original record of The Phantom of the Opera.

On the other hand, I found the movie enjoyable, and very well done in some aspects, such as the lavish sets and extraodinary costumes (yes, yes, the deformity could have been done better, so get over it, already!). The acting was more than passively convincing, and I laughed at Patrick Wilson's Raoul, which is really all that I ask in a modern movie.

But I won't push my opinion on anyone else, I'm just expressing it. I personally rather dislike Michael Crawford's portrayal of the role, and am indifferent towards Sarah Brightman, but that's my cup of tea, not yours.

I'll admit to my favorite Phantom outside the literary world being the incomparable Hugh Panaro of the current Broadway cast- which I believe everyone should see, as he has never been recorded in the role, and will be leaving it before the spring.

On the other hand, you all have a right to your respective feelings, and these are just mine.