Angel of Music, John Woosley, 2009, Lisa J. Mader & Doug Kisgen
Title
“Angel of Music”
Production
Lighthouse_Limited_Pictures (http://www.lighthouseltdpictures.com)
Website
http://angelofmusic.lighthouseltdpictures.com
Releasedate
2009
Media
DVD, Regionfree, NTSC, with Bonusmaterial (15 Deleted Scenes/ Alternate Ending/ Test Footage/ Trailers)
Length
ca. 45min
Synopsis (taken from amazon.com)
The Phantom of the Opera was based on true events…Sometime after the events of the novel, Christine Daae, the heroine, gave birth. A CULT rose up to protect the truth of the child’s lineage. Years passed, and fact became fiction…people forgot…until now. Eric Nelson (Doug Kisgen) is a reporter for the Daily Epoch, hot on the trail of a story that could change everything you know about the novel. As he gets closer to the truth, the CULT moves to stop him, and Eric begins visualizing his life paralleling the events in the novel. Will he expose the truth in time?
Directed by JOHN WOOSLEY, the film also stars Lisa Mader as Eric’s wife Kristen, and Jordan Baranowski as their new neighbor Raymond. This film will challenge everything you know about a story that has inspired books, musicals, and films…
Cast
Doug Kisgen (Eric)
Lisa Mader (Kristen)
Jordan Baranowski (Raymond)
Anita Cordell (Meg)
John Redmond (Dr. Gabriel Persing)
Michael Casey (Jacques Rosseau)
Jeff Fellin (Richard)
Nehemiah Deason (Young Raoul)
Claude Thompson (Phillip)
Quinn Austin (Young Christine)
Helen Asbury (Mother)
Crew
Props by Imani Glasgow
Costumes by Joyce Walsh
Period Hair & Makeup/ Phantom Mask, Special Makeup Effects by Gina Boyce
Music by D.H. Rottering
Written by John Woosley & Jason Vivone
Produced by Jason Vivone & John Woosley
Directed by John Woosley
Music
“Myth Angel” written by Doug Kisgen performed by Sylvia Niccum
“I used to know you” written and performed by Emily Miles
Phantom-Characters
Erik
Christine
Der Perser
Raoul
Nadir’s Review
To be quite honest, whoever expects a Hollywood epic from this movie will be disappointed. This does not mean that the film is worse than his predecessors or worse than it’s successors will be. It is an attempt to show the story from a different angle, and in this, it succeeds.
The main point in the plot is a certain association, or CULT, whose main goal is to keep the secret of Christine Daaé’s bloodline by any means necessary.
The reporter, Eric Nelson, comes dangerously close to this secret. So close, that the CULT is forced to take action. Eric’s ambition ultimately culminates as the events of the past begin to project themselves to present day. Erik, the “Phantom of the Opera” and Christine’s “Angel of Music”, is apparently still ubiquitous and he begins to exercise his power over Eric Nelson.
The movie promises to change everything you ever knew about the “Phantom of the Opera”. However, this promise is only fulfilled if the audience is not familiar with the many versions of the theme. If you are, then it is certainly a new insight and some food for thought. For the connoisseur, however, is not an innovative perspective of the events. The idea that the characters of today parallel the characters of the past is not new. On the other hand, the idea to create a cult that exists to protect Christine’s bloodline is a somewhat unusual and different view of things. Unfortunately, this only gets interesting when flashbacks / visions link the events together and seemingly everyone gets a place in history. This leaves the question – and this is certainly not a disadvantage – whether they are really just visions, or if there are some ideas of “rebirth” and “reunion in the next life” to be addressed. Therefore, there is a lot of room for speculation.
The story, told in 45 minutes, offers new approaches for consideration. The thread is lacking a little, and sometimes the sound quality makes it difficult for a non-English speaking audience to understand the text. But as a whole, the plot is conclusive and the cast is well chosen. In some places, the sound quality and camera work could be better.
The movie clearly derives its quality from the idea of showing things in a different light. Precisely, this is what makes it interesting and worth it, for a connoisseur. For a layman, in matters of “Phantom of the Opera”, there would be some problems while following the plot because some knowledge is assumed. Therefore, as an introductory film, it is not recommended, especially if you have at least read Leroux.
Thanks to a good friend who edited my translation!
Where to get it
amazon.com
http://www.lighthouseltdpictures.com
Comments