i listened to the score once and i was hooked. i then bought the cd and movie and never regretted it. Gerard Butler is amazing and Emmy Rossum is a perfect Christine!
I thought it was a great movie. Made me cry. Always a plus when movies can do that. Didn't seem like Gerard Butler, because he makes me think "romantic comedy," but he did an excellent job in his role. Emmy Rossum was also very good. I haven't seen the Broadway version, granted, but this version is great!
Phantom of the Opera is one of the most brilliant musicals to grace the theatre! Of course, it doesn't hurt that Andrew Lloyd Webber has written a sequal with tickets for sale for the West End!