I saw this movie 1992 I think... and very often after that, so often that I memorized it. Then someone ruined the VHS- tape and it was lost, but I thought about it many times over the years. Now I just saw it again and I swear I got goosebumps! I love it. I think the last scene with the phantom and Christine (the singing) is the most beautiful confession of love I have EVER seen or heard. I can really feel their emotions (and even the emotions of Philippe where he sits). When an actor can make me feel what the character is supposed to be feeling... that is good acting! I love the costumes, I love how every character seem to fit, even the cop is a little compassionate in the end... I just love it. 10 out of 10

If your looking for mindless gore and horror, look elsewhere. If you are looking for a phenomenal story, incredible cinematography, lavish costumes, superb acting, and all the elements from Phantom of the Opera that you've ever wanted to see wrapped up in imaginative, risk-taking dialog, see this one. Charles Dance is the perfect blend of sympathetic monster and mad, love obsessed gentleman. He loves deeply with an innocent passion. Teri Polo plays Christine with such angelic sweetened and bitter remorse, you'll love, hate, and love her character time and again. Add to that Burt Lancaster's majesty and Andréa Ferréol's over-the-top performance as Carlotta, and this is the strongest PotO cast I have ever seen. Plus, you get to hear real opera beautifully sung throughout the film.

I have seen all other film version of this story, and have read the original novel, and I can say this is absolutely the best adaptation. It surpasses the original story, it is presented with A-list actors, superb mounting, flawless film-making savvy across the board, but most importantly the changes to the original story, and the ignoring of every previous film effort, have made this TV production of The Phantom of the Opera the Classic cinema adaptation! I assume the fact of my missing this film in 1998 is due to it being an overseas TV production but the DVD I viewed is available in at least two of the giant rental chains in the U.S. And I found the soundtrack CD on Amazon.

There has been many movie-version's of well known story of Phantom- the tragic figure, who has found home in the Opera house in Paris. But for my own surprise best version is not made for the cinema, but for the TV. Movies strengths seem to be the atmosphiere and actors. It is only Phantom movie that is filmed on location as well features french actors. Everything seems to be in place. You can feel one with the characters, nothing supernatural. There's not even silly clisés that seem to be necesery add-ons for any movie that deal with anykind lovestory.It is actually second Phantom of the Opera movie I had seen back on 90's and it is also only one that is equal in quality to Lon Chaney's silent movie. When you have a question: to see it or not, I believe it is one of the "must-see"'s.