Rating: 
Summary: The "definitive" Phantom of the opera!
Review: This is the best version of "The phantom of the opera" period. First this is the complete version of the 1929 reissue version. It runs 94 minutes and is played at the correct running speed. The version on IMAGE runs 79 minutes, and also has little tidbits cut out. When I want to see a film, muchless a "Classic" film I want it complete! Second this film is shown in B+W. NO TINTS! This movie was filmed in Black and White and that is the way that it should be shown. NO greens,reds, blues, or purples. This DVD also includes the "ORIGINAL" technicolor Bal Masque sequence. Third off,no box presentation. Unlike the IMAGE DVD where the film is shown in a boxlike fasion (little bars on all 4 sides of the screen). This version covers the complete screen. There are (unfortunately) no bonus materials included and itwould have been nice to include the original 1925 version which has different footage than the 1929 reissue version which is included here. The price (...) however overcompensates for these little drawbacks. I am so happy to finally get one of my favorite films is this correct and respectful version. Bravo to Alpha Video for getting it right.
Rating:
Summary: Very Good Restoration
Review: The IMAGE entertainment restoration of the 1929 "Phantom of the Opera" starring Lon Chaney is a bit hit. The two-disk set is definately the definitive choice to own by all serious collectors. The clarity is better than any version I've seen to date, and for the first time, the correct running speed has been instituted here. The tradeoff however, is that the motion is somewhat choppy from too few frames. The characters move in proper real-time, and for the first time, you can see naturalistic movement in such scenes as the opening ballet sequence.True fans need look no further than this two-disk Masterpiece Collection set from IMAGE. This is definately the one to own! The film is tinted and comes in a selection of three seperate sound tracks to choose from: a terrific new orchestrated score, the original sound score from the 30s, and a voice-over commentary track, which is insightful. The second disk contains the original 1925 film, which few people have ever seen today. The quality is poor, but there are many scenes that are different from the version that we're all familiar with. It's worth watching. But you cannot beat the restoration of the 1929 version on disk one of this set. It isn't quite the job that KINO put into Fritz Lang's "Metropolis" last year, but is terrific nonetheless. Thank you IMAGE. Great DVD!
Rating: 
Summary: Wow!
Review: After the closing sequence of this phenomenal movie ended and the word "Finis" flashed on the screen i applauded for five whole minutes to the television at home. There is so much to praise in this: - The settings are marvellous. The gargoyle in the scene on the roof of the opera house, the grandiose opera itself, the parisian streets, and the dungeons! - Lighting was marvellous: shadows on the walls in the first scene, shadows in the scene with the horse, shadows in the dungeon scenes. - The characters are marvellous: Christine, Raoul, The Phantom, and a delightfully mysterious character who lurks about. Chaney is fantastic - remember acting had to be bigger in the silents, and emotions had to be conveyed with the body, and this can sometimes look a little stagey - but Chaney is fantastic in my two favourite scenes, the roof of the opera, and the whole closing sequence. Look out for the unmasking scene, the Bal Masque (especially the scene on the roof) all scenes in the dungeons, for example when two characters set out to look for the Phantom. I'm not going to spoil it for you - just see it, you'll know what i mean.
Rating:
Summary: Image Entertainment's "Phantom" Is a Winner
Review: I assume that just about anyone reading this review is familiar with Chaney's Phantom of the Opera, so I intend to concentrate on the particular aspects of this release rather than on performances and/or story, since such reviews are the ones I personally find most helpful when shopping.
This print is the version of the film prepared for re-release in 1929 (the film was originally released in 1925). The ballet and opera sequences were reshot and the entire film was re-edited; I believe it's shorter than the original release. This print isn't perfect (this is, after all, a VERY old film), but it's in astonishingly good shape, has been gorgeously remastered, and is a pleasure to watch. It has been remastered to its correct running speed of 20 frames/second, so there's none of the hurky-jerky movement that's often found in public domain issues of silents. The film is tinted according to Universal's original specs, and the Bal Masque sequence appears in its original two-strip Technicolor. The digital stereo score, written by Gabriel Thibaudoux, it entirely appropriate to the film, although one wonders what the original score was like.
An informative essay by Chaney scholar Michael F. Blake is included and there are a few nice extras consisting mainly of shots from the production of the film; the re-release trailer is also included, although it lacks music and doesn't appear to have been remastered.
I'm very pleased with this disk. I can't compare it to the two-disk set released by Milestone because I don't own it yet. I seem to recall reading reviews to the effect that one can't fast forward or reverse with the Milestone set--that isn't the case here. Chapters are easily accessible, and the film opens with the "lantern man," which I seem to recall reading isn't the case with the Milestone set. The film itself is captivating and it bears mentioning that Chaney's performance is poetry in motion--it's impossible not to watch him, even when he appears only in shadow. I can't imagine anyone's being dissatisfied with this disk--its only drawback is its cheesy snap case. Highest recommendation--my hunch is that it hasn't been superceded by the Milestone release.
Rating:
Summary: BATTLE OF THE PHANTOM DVD'z!
Review: ... THE ULTIMATE EDITION 2 DISC SET (Image/Milestone): WOW! I remember watching the restored Metropolis and wondered when someone would ever restore Phantom and Nosferatu as beautifully. Well, they're coming close. This isn't quite the restoration job of Metropolis, but damn, it's gotta be the absolute best that's available. As far as the three DVD's reviewed here, this by far is the best in clarity and dare I say, it's a gorgeous restoration worthy of the most jaded film buff's archive (all that's missing is MAGICIMAGE's Filmbook on the film as a companion piece). The film is tinted throughout, with the addition of the Handschiegl color process during the Apollo scene which I'd never seen before being a nice touch. Steve MacQueen's commentary provided some great insight into the movie's background. The optional score from the 1930 sound release was a welcome bonus track, being reedited to fit this "remix" of a film. Thusly, was the best viewing of this movie that I've ever had. The original 1925 version of the film is on disc two and is a bit murky, along the lines of the usual worn out print, but hell, you take what you can get and in this case I'll take it, having never seen THIS version of Phantom before. On my copy, despite the overall clarity of the restored movie ('29), I still noticed those trailing/blurred action lines thingies when a character was moving quickly. It may be a defect in my disc it may not, but everything else in the scenes (and this occured throught), stayed pretty clear, save for the fast movement. Someone told me that was part of the restoration, which I thought odd, but who knows,I don't see it occuring in the other copies. Hmmm. Outside of that, this is quite the package. If you are serious about having this classic in your film library, this is the best bet. Until someone manages to come up with ALL of the versions, New York, LA, SF Reissue etc all together, then this truly has got to be the ULTIMATE EDITION!
Rating:
Summary: Milestone version is the best!
Review: Over the years, I have just about bought every version of the silent PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. In my opinion, the Milestone version is THE BEST. The elements have been cleaned up and the image is crisp, clear with good contrast for 90% of the film. This two disc set has both the 1929 and hybrid 1925 original. Actually the film is cleaner and better looking in this version than a lot of the official Universal thirties classic that have come out.
It has an excellent commentary by Scott MacQueen and a real treat is hearing the music originally composed for the sound version accompanying the action from original sound elements.
The Technicolor sequences are the nicest I have seen and through proper use of the colorization process, other scenes originally in color, are presented and match the actual color stuff very well.
This version has been made from the initial Photoplay restoration which also includes Carl Davis' original stereo score for those that must have modern stereo for their films, however, I prefer the mood and music of the original '30 soundtrack. There are a plethora of extras, and I don't think it is false hype to say this is the ULTIMATE EDITION of this classic film.
That's my two cents.....
Rating:
Summary: Very Good Restoration
Review: The IMAGE entertainment restoration of the 1929 "Phantom of the Opera" starring Lon Chaney is a bit hit. The two-disk set is definately the definitive choice to own by all serious collectors. The clarity is better than any version I've seen to date, and for the first time, the correct running speed has been instituted here. The tradeoff however, is that the motion is somewhat choppy from too few frames. The characters move in proper real-time, and for the first time, you can see naturalistic movement in such scenes as the opening ballet sequence. True fans need look no further than this two-disk Masterpiece Collection set from IMAGE. This is definately the one to own! The film is tinted and comes in a selection of three seperate sound tracks to choose from: a terrific new orchestrated score, the original sound score from the 30s, and a voice-over commentary track, which is insightful. The second disk contains the original 1925 film, which few people have ever seen today. The quality is poor, but there are many scenes that are different from the version that we're all familiar with. It's worth watching. But you cannot beat the restoration of the 1929 version on disk one of this set. It isn't quite the job that KINO put into Fritz Lang's "Metropolis" last year, but is terrific nonetheless. Thank you IMAGE. Great DVD!
Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: After the closing sequence of this phenomenal movie ended and the word "Finis" flashed on the screen i applauded for five whole minutes to the television at home. There is so much to praise in this: - The settings are marvellous. The gargoyle in the scene on the roof of the opera house, the grandiose opera itself, the parisian streets, and the dungeons! - Lighting was marvellous: shadows on the walls in the first scene, shadows in the scene with the horse, shadows in the dungeon scenes. - The characters are marvellous: Christine, Raoul, The Phantom, and a delightfully mysterious character who lurks about. Chaney is fantastic - remember acting had to be bigger in the silents, and emotions had to be conveyed with the body, and this can sometimes look a little stagey - but Chaney is fantastic in my two favourite scenes, the roof of the opera, and the whole closing sequence. Look out for the unmasking scene, the Bal Masque (especially the scene on the roof) all scenes in the dungeons, for example when two characters set out to look for the Phantom. I'm not going to spoil it for you - just see it, you'll know what i mean.
Rating:
Summary: Lon Chaney: The Art Of Horror
Review: This DVD has restored the original 1925 and 1929 versions of Lon Chaney's incredible performance in "Phantom Of The Opera". It's got better sound quality and picture, uses sequences from the Charles Gounod French opera "Faust", dialogue and musical soundtrack/score. It's a must have for fans of Lon Chaney and for those who admire the art of early horror in cinema. Lon Chaney was the first, real horror film star. He was known in his day as "The Man With A Thousand Faces". His films were tinged with horror, violence (whether external or internal), and heavy tragedy and melancholia. He morphed into different characters by putting on layers and layers of costume and make-up. He could be everything from the tragic murderer-clown in "Laugh Clown Laugh" (inspired by the Leoncavallo opera "I Pagliacci") the hunchback Quasimodo in The Hunchback Of Notre Dame and in this case the frightening living spectre in Phantom Of The Opera. The Phantom Of The Opera was first a French novel. By the time of the 1925 and 1929 Lon Chaney film, it was already popular and a familiar story to many. Later, it would enjoy even more success in other film versions and even as a Broadway musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The simple but tragic story involves a pianist/organ player who was scarred for life in a fire in a theatre and forced to live under the new Paris Opera theatre. He has fallen in love with the soprano Christine. But he is feared and hated by those who work in the theatre- the ballerinas, conductor, musicians and singers ( who incidentally are rehearsing for performances of Gounod's Faust, an opera about the man who sold his soul to the Devil and regarded as Gothic and scary in its day) The sheer scale of suspense and horror in the film is tame by today's standards but it was great back then. It really is a film of great art. It would be a perfect addition to you're film collection. If you love Lon Chaney, this film is the one to get. You can always build upon Lon Chaney films since his movies are numerous. Five stars well earned.
Rating:
Summary: Come On Get Up and Buy This DVD! Cause it's Covo Vida Loca!
Review: If you wanna live your life you have to live it right don't wanna waste it! you know you gotta live it right it's not a watse of time get up in taste it Let's Get Loud! Let's Get Loud! The Phantom Of The Opera's gonna bring us down. Let's Get Loud.
Come and Watch this on DVD rather than on digital TV you gotta see this! Lon Chaney's gonna make you scream as soon as his new face takes up the screen! Let's Get Loud! Let's Get Loud!The Phantom Of The Opera's gonna bring us down. Let's Get Loud!Come on! Turn on this real quick Norman's gonna make you flip cause he's so sexy! You just can't resist his look cause it's not from a book that's why I love him!! Let's Get Loud! Let's Get Loud! The Phantom Of The Opera's gonna bring us down Let's Get Loud! Let's Get Loud! But this DVD and when you get it tell me what you gonna do! HEY!
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