"The biggest casting error of all was the decision to use Gerard Butler in the role of The Phantom. As the cast sing all their own parts, his voice was not nearly up to the task of taking on Webber's pseudo-operatic score; plodding through the melodies sounding more like a bad 1980's glam metal singer than someone suited to the sounds of musical theater."

wow i could not disagree more i think he did a great job singing.
heres the actical if anyone else wants to take a peek.
http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/phantom-blu-ray-1456.shtml
*shh*

My biggest issue about criticism for Gerry in Phantom is that they compare him to Michael Crawford/other Broadway Phantoms. This article said, "his voice was not nearly up to the task of taking on Webber's pseudo-operatic score"...HELLO?! ALW himself chose Gerry for this role! If he thought Gerry couldn't do it/handle it, he sure as hell wouldn't have chosen him. He wanted a change...and he got one. Gerry did amazing in this movie. I honestly couldn't see anyone else playing that role.

Thanks for the article, phantom9119! *hrt*

I've got nothing against Michael Crawford--we know he has a beautiful voice! He did a magnificent job on broadway---but we ALL now the broadway Phantom was not what we got on the big screen. Miachel Crwaford/Broadway Phantoms might have been ones to evoke sympathy, or pity, or whatever---but they did not make an EROTIC statement---Gerry was the first truely EROTIC Phantom! And his voice was right for that role, raw and full of sex and unexpressed passions! And what bugs me is all these people with their 'TRAINED" voices---I mean where exactly was the Phantom susposed to get this TRAINING! He was deformed and grew up in a gypsy circus===HELLO!!!!
Gerry's voice was right for the role and Andrew Lloyd Webber was pleased.
People should just get off the case and move on! *1*

Gerry sounded perfectly fine to me. I admire his courage in taking the role and in rising admirably to the challenge. He really brought passion to the role. I would have chosen him in a heartbeat. *hrt*

How come I didn't see this article? I'd like to kill this guy! Who the heck is he to talk about gerard like that?
*grr* *ugg*

********************************************************************
Let's talk about the sequel.

Posted: Mon., Mar. 24, 2008, 7:25pm

DO YOU HAVE an idea for what to call the musical sequel to Andrew Lloyd Webber's fantastic hit "Phantom of the Opera?" The sequel will tell the story of how the Phantom got away in the big fire and was taken to a thriving Coney Island in old New York. Whatever they choose as a title, its director will be the man who just nabbed all those Olivier Awards in London for "Hairspray" and received the highest accolades for his NYC production of Tom Stoppard's historic "The Coast of Utopia," Jack O'Brien. Andrew has already written the music for the sequel and waits impatiently for Tim Rice to do the lyrics. "Tim is brilliant, but he likes to do whatever comes easily. I'm fond of him, but he's most irritating. Because really he should be doing the lyrics for the new 'Phantom.' He knows he should phone me." Andrew says of the sequel, "It's a great story and I think I've written a fairly strong score. I write quickly and have written it in my head all the way through. So all the building blocks are there; I just need to put it in shape. But this show will be the toughest thing I have ever done. Even if it is the greatest thing ever written artistically, it will never come up to what the first one was commercially." ... Andrew turned 60 Saturday and has started a new TV talent search for the BBC1 called "I'll Do Anything." This will discover young stars for a re-do of Lionel Bart's "Oliver!"; more than 6,000 girls have applied to play Nancy.

*hm* *hm* *hm*

What do you think folks?

Maybe I missed something...I didn't read anything deragatory towards Gerry in that article....

:um: