The Movie of the Phantom I

Image source: http://phantomthemovie.warnerbros.com/

終於，我去微風國賓看了"The Phantom of the Opera"，同時度過了非常滿足的兩個半小時。即使有些人認為，作為電影，沒有超過音樂具的範疇，它的表現並不夠好，但是對於我這個已經喜歡音樂劇版本的音樂十年以上，卻沒機會去Broadway直接觀賞音樂劇的人來說，這實在是一部太值得去電影院看的電影。不論是音樂本身或是影像，都實在是相當出眾。電影中，完全讓人陷入一種「想閉上眼聆聽音樂，卻捨不得錯過任何一幕」的矛盾。

首先來討論音樂吧。在看電影之前，我就已經先知道是由演員本身作聲音的演出，所以對歌聲的要求自然就有心理準備，不能用Sarah Brightman和Michael Crawford的水準去要求，即使看電影前我可是作足功課，把音樂劇的完整版CD聽了一遍，同時也稍微聽了一點電影原聲帶的內容，對落差有點心理準備。不過，演員的表現卻出乎我意料的令人滿意。

以Christine的角色來說吧，當然當年的Sarah是無人能敵的，畢竟這是Andrew Lloyd Webber為她量身訂作的角色，即是是現在的Sarah也無法再次達到當初的水準。而Emmy Rossum的詮釋，基本上，她的聲音沒有Sarah那種如教堂鐘聲般的清亮，比較黏而青澀。當然，聲音表現是需要天分和相當練習的，對十九歲的人來說，確實是還需要些時日。不過，顯然地，Webber也稍微變更了一點編曲，使Emmy可以利用一些技巧去展現自己聲音的特質，而不用演唱當初Sarah那種「就是實力」的歌曲。而且雖然根據資料，她可是七歲九開始有舞台劇經驗的人，我對她的印象還是"Mystic River"和"The Day after Tomorrow"那種清新女孩的樣子，這種表現自然是令人驚豔。當然，也許青澀的表現更適合Christine新人女伶的身份，但是，畢竟那可是可以讓Raoul聽了就愛上她的聲音啊，沒有相當的魅力是不行的。所以，雖說Emmy的表現，已經出乎我意料地好，不過，總還是不免有不如Sarah的評價。

那麼男主角The Phantom呢？也許，因為Gerard Butler所表現的The Phantom和Michael Crawford是不相同的面相，所以在電影中，比起Emmy的Christine或是Patrick Wilson的Raoul，Gerard可是相對稱職的。因為，Gerard的聲音比起Michael來說，是比較厚實的，所以他的The Phantom，就感覺比較沈穩而獨特，令人覺得耳目一新。難以想像他可是和Angelina Jolie演"Tomb Raider"的動作演員啊。那種似穩定卻具備野性的The Phantom是很特別的。不過，也因為如此，The Phantom那種有才華卻孤傲的特性就顯得薄弱，這點Michael表現的就是經典了。其中，最清楚地莫過於在"The Music of the Night"這首歌曲裡的表現。（啊，這是我整齣劇裡最喜歡的歌曲嘛。）

關於Raoul，即使在劇情上是很重要的角色，但在音樂劇裡，相較男女主角，聲音演出的部分並不多，所以我一直就不是非常注意這個角色。更何況，他還是男主角情敵的那種角色，而在原著小說裡，他甚至更不討喜。最重要的表現要算是是"All I Ask of You"這首歌曲吧。（第二喜歡的就這首啦。）音樂劇裡的Steve Barton，聲音是比較成熟的，而Patrick就是一個更少爺的形象的Raoul了。

....to be continued

The Coming of New Year

Image source: http://tw.yahoo.com

2004年的結束，對這個世界來說，是嚴肅而哀傷的。原本該是迎接新年的歡樂氣氛，瞬時成為諷刺。

一場地震與海嘯瞬間帶走的百萬計的生命和等量破碎的家庭，而這樣可怕的事情就這樣的發生在世界邊緣的許多國家。對這些國家來說，原來主要由觀光和人力輸出為主要經濟命脈，而地震和海嘯所帶走的，則是近乎破碎的打擊。

人心是淒哀的，尤其是當信仰遭受破滅之時。除了失去家人的傷痛之外，由於死傷者過多的情況下，倖存的親人甚至無法為逝去的生命進行應有的信仰追悼，只能任其日曬雨淋。不僅如此，這些困苦的人們，即使在災難中保住性命，但生存卻是難解的問題。

人心是自私的，尤其是把一切當作事不關己之時。殘酷的是，當那些了不起的會計計算之下，這些國家的損失，大概對世界經濟沒有太大影響。也難怪那個為私利重金出兵的世界第一強國，在賑災上，原本是惹人訕笑得小氣。

人心是溫暖的，尤其是伸出跨過種族與信仰的援手之時。各種援助，從世界各地，藉由著人心，傳遞到破碎的土地上。而在這塊曾經經過地震傷痛的島嶼上，這群人們總是樂觀與熱情的。在傷痛中站起來之後，看到別人的痛苦，便毫不猶豫的出手相助。這讓我們看到，災難之後依然可以燃起希望。

2005年在白蠟燭的祈禱聲中來臨，願世界在新的一年當中，藉由彼此的扶持，走出傷痛，邁向未來。

Super Heroes II: Batman and Spider-Man

Image source: http://batmanbegins.warnerbros.com/
and http://spiderman.sonypictures.com/

Unlike Superman, Batman is a hero in the dark. Due to his parents' death in maraud, Bruce Wayne started to be the nightmare of bad guys. Actually, Batman has no super power, and all he has is "Waynes are rich". Therefore, he catches bad people with cool cars and fancy technology, so he is like 007 in super heroes. Oh, I forgot... His most powerful weapon is the hate in his mind. Maybe it's just corresponding to his character, almost all his enemy have mental problems. Also different to most super heroes, his romantic history is complicated, Catwoman, Batgirl, and others... BTW, the character, Robin, is also a special point in Batman's stories.

Though Batman is going to become the super hero who has most movies, his movies never bring lots of money for companies. Those movies are much worse than the cartoon series. (The dark angel of revenge is gone in the movies...) Maybe that's the reason why the leading actor of each movie is different... (No one wanna be link with his movie any more...)

Peter Parker is much lucky than Bruce... He is the almost famous super hero belong Marvel. Of course, his movies are also the symbolic movies about super heroes in these few years, though in his stories, he is a poor photographer in a post office with sarcastic boss. However, who will care that, he has better movie producers, directors, and writers to make he become popular on silver screen. Also, even he is not going to have beautiful future with MJ in comic books, I don't think he will break up with MJ in movie... Tobey and Kirsten are always ready to have more Spider-Man movies, if it still has such box-office.

Well, about Spider-Man's stories, actually I almost only got from movies... Fortunately, unlike most movie series, the episode 2 is even better the episode 1. Depending on the great setup of stories, Spider-Man become much real than other super heroes on silver screen. People found identification from the weakness and paradox between Peter and Spider-Man and followed the stories to feel the path to become better. It's also a important reason for people keep seeing movies--Finding good things in our life.

Super Heroes I: Superman

Image source: http://www.supermanhomepage.com/news.php

I watched a old movie series, "Superman", in these two weeks. Though it's a long time ago when I watched those movies in the past, there're still many scenes I remember, of course, they include the time travel by rotating the Earth from the East to the West and the one with Superman become a normal person for Lois. These movies made the leading actor, Christopher Reeve, became a famous actor in the world, even after his accident. And the music of these movie were made by the most important movie theme composer, John Williams, who let people remember "Star Wars", "E.T.", and "Jurassic Park" from ears. If we talk about the special effect, this series may be incredible at 1980s, and I am very surprised that from the episode 1 to the episode 3, the movies are about 2 hours long! (The episode 4 is just about one and half hours.) They must spend a lot of money to make these movies... Even the episode 3 is actually a very boring movie... Maybe that's why the episode 4 become a shorter movie and its story is more compact...

Well, Superman is a strong, honor, loyal, and kind person. He leaved his homeland, Krypton, when he was just born, and under the radiation of our Sun, he has the super power. His romantic story is very simple that Lois is always there, and he is very lucky that he already doesn't have to keep his secret identity from the woman he loves by the writer's kindness. It may make other super heroes jealous! At least, Clark has a glasses which makes Bruse and Peter feel they are fool to wear so much... His stories are shown in many kinds of media, comic books, cartoons, TV films, movies. The 5th movie is also discussed for many years... (but it seems Batman has already gotten his 5th movie first and becomes the super hero who has most movies...)

He serves the same comic company with Batman (DC comics) for almost 70 years, but he is still the Americans' most favorite super hero... (He wears the flag color of United States...) Now, he still hides in Plant Everyday and is always ready to save the world!

Be More or Be Less

Image description: A scene in a port near SBC Park

人生是很有限的，
我們不會有機會得到最好的結果，
即便在上天的眷顧之下。
所以我們只能把握對自己真正重要的東西，
然後，努力不要讓自己放棄。
最後，期待在一番波折之後，
如果還保有這最重要的，那便是有福。

希望，在不完美的世界裡，我們仍能有退而求其次的選擇...