Masquerade, Paper Faces on Parade. Masquerade, Hide your Face so the World will Never Find You...

Boyfriend happens to be pretty fond of The Phantom of the Opera, so it was really no surprised when he asked me to rent this one last friday after his qualify. The truth is we both like the movie very much, but we're not so excited about the story. What makes us really interested in it is the gorgeous songs.

Which means we didn't remember the story at all. No one remembered how it ended, no pne could tell if any of the characters died, it was kind of ridiculous, since boyfriend has watched it quite a few times (I admit I realized I'd never watched the entire movie).


The Phantom: [singing as he descends the staircase at the Masquerade Ball] Why so silent, good monsieurs? Did you think that I had left you for good? Have you missed me, good monsieurs? I have written you an opera! Here I bring the finished score - Don Juan Triumphant! Fondest greetings to you all. A few instructions now before rehearsals start: Carlotta must be taught to act, not her normal trick of strutting 'round the stage. Our Don Juan must lose some weight; it's not healthy in a man of Piangi's age. And my managers must learn that their place is in an office! not the arts. As for our star, Miss Christine Daae... no doubt she'll do her best. It's true her voice is good; she knows, though, should she wish to excel, she has much still to learn, if pride will let her return to me, her teacher... her teacher.

Firmin: What a way to run a business. Spare me these unending trials. Half your cast disappears but the crowd still cheers. Opera, to hell with Gluck and Handel; have a scandal and you're sure to have a hit.

The Phantom: [singing to himself] Masquerade / Paper faces on parade / Masquerade/ Hide your face, so the world will never find you

Lefevre: Gentlemen, good luck. If you need me, I shall be in Australia.

Andre: [trying to convince Carlotta to come back and sing] Your public needs you!
Firmin: We need you, too!
Carlotta: Would you not rather have your precious little ingenue?
Andre, Firmin: Signora, no! The world wants you! Prima donna, first lady of the stage! Your devotees are on their knees to implore you!
Andre: Can you bow out when they're shouting your name?
Firmin: Think of how they all adore you!
Andre, Firmin: Prima donna, enchant us once again!
Andre: Think of your muse...
Firmin: And of the queues round the theatre!
Andre, Firmin: Can you deny us the triumph in store? Sing, prima donna, once more!

Madame Giry: [about the Phantom] He's a genius, monsieur. He's an architect and designer; he's a composer and magician. He's a genius!
Raoul: Yes, but it seems genius has turned to madness.

Andre: [as Carlotta storms out] What do we do now?
Lefevre: Grovel. Grovel, grovel, grovel.

Raoul: [to himself] A collector's piece indeed... every detail, exactly as she said... will you still play when all the rest of us are dead?

PS: I didn't know it was Gerard Butler who played the Ghost. But it wasn't hard at all to recognize him. He was gorgeous!!