Zeta Minor DVD Review

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

Director: Dario Argento

Starring: Julian Sands, Asia Argento

Dario Argento’s Grand Guignol 1998 version of Leroux’s novel, starring Julian Sands and Asia Argento, is a startling contrast to the 1925 adaptation; a blunt reminder, if one were needed, that the times they are a changin’.

It’s an uninspired remake that rarely demonstrates Argento’s gift for inventiveness and, even when there are sparks, it seems as if Argento is merely rehashing Sergio Stivaletti’s Wax Mask, (which he wrote and produce).

Tartan’s production standards are as lax as ever: their disc is presented in anamorphic widescreen (1.78:1), but only offers 2.0 audio (the US disc is in 5.1). The disc comes with a subtitled behind the scenes documentary il Fantasma d’Argento (Argento’s Phantom) (25 minutes), but quality is compromised by Tartan’s cheapskate decision to present both film and featurette on a single-layer disc.

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