There's something about Gerry....

[LadyMinion]

Gerry really has managed to cause quite a stir in his portrayal of the Phantom. Whether you like him or not, he's managed to convey a wide variety of opinions and feelings.

I'd like to know what people personally feel makes him such a special Phantom. What do you feel he brings to the role?

To me, Gerry portrays the Phantom with such emotion and presence it really pulls at your heartstrings. His voice is raw, angsty and tortured, conveying the pain that life has dealt him so effectively. Despite his ill-doings, at the end you are left feeling empathy and love for his character.

Gerry has made the Phantom into a real person, as flawed as he is perfect. A man we can all identify with in our own unique ways.

Plus of course, the fact that Gerry oozes sex appeal and has the presence to make any woman go weak at the knees.

[wolfwynd]

mmmmm...Gerry!

Hmmm... what do I think he brings to the role? Well, he's angry, slightly psychotic but always leaves you feeling sorry for him when its all said and done. He's done very well for someone who hadn't had a singing lesson prior to taking up the role and has worked very hard and achieved much. Plus he's just totally and utterly gorgeous but then again most guys who play Erik are....

[Gerry's Protector]

I think he understands the phantom more than anyone else I've see take on that role. Not everyone can dig deep as Gerry has done. He work very hard to take that role on.

I have found you get a postive feedback as well as negative feedback. And the reason I find it's comes to Michael Crawford. He was the first and so many people look at MC and then they look at Gerry and they compare them both. For me people who are doing that is very unfair to Gerry.

Gerry has done a outstanding job, when I first heard he was going to be the phantom I knew for some reason he was going to do the job well and right. He brought so much emotion out and he has made me fall inlove with the phantom by the ending of the film. I don't think anyone can beat that.

I always cry at the end and everytime I see the movie ( 6 times mind you) I cry . I really truly cry.

~musicofthenight

PS. I've been pro-Gerry since Day one. I've told friends and family this guy ... who was in Dracuale 2000 and TR2. He is going to be the Phantom and he will do the job right. Everyone I told that to says I am right .

[InuKitsune]

I believe Gerry actually becomes the role, instead of portraying him blindly without having any inner knowledge how to play him (Erik). He knows how he(Erik) feels, to some extent... More so than the past Phantom/Erik's I've seen on tour (because I'm a cheap-o and can't afford a trip to London or New York).
Granted, it's hard to compare Michael Crawford to Gerry because... Uhm... They're just not the same. There were some people BETTER than Michael Crawford on Broadway and otherwise, so, those people who are MC purists should really, honestly, broaden their horizons...

But I'm not saying anything new, so... *slinks away*

[Nindeoronra]

It's funny because before seeing the film, I was *very* harsh about the casting of some unknown pretty boy.

No, his voice isn't stage quality. Upon my first visit of the "Official" website, when they played clips of the music--I actually cringed when I heard him singing MOTN. Once I had purchased the soundtrack, I sort of accustomed myself to the music/voices--although still comparing it to my beloved OLC recordings. It wasn't bad, I thought...really emotional sounding.

Then, when I finally saw the movie, it all just clicked into place. Gerry had a way of giving Erik such emotion--such passion, and I could hear it in his voice, the looks he gives Christine, especially during POTO as he's leading her down the hallway and keeps on looking back at her as though he can't believe she's with him. I love the way he could be very cold and methodical--ie. killing Bouquet--and in the next, absolutely heart-wrenching--I ended up brushing away tears at the end of AIAOY.

I've seen the stage production 6 times--5 in London with Scott Davies--and once here in my hometown with Brad Little. I think a lot of the criticism regarding Gerry's Phantom is largely because people are judging him unfairly against the stage Phantoms--which as a lot of you have pointed out--are two entirely different things. The stage Phantoms *have* to have unbelieveable voices--it's how the audience can identify with them, since most of the audience is- just not close enough to pick up on facial expressions. The movie allowed us to see into the Phantom's soul, I think.

And his soul belongs to Gerry.

[Fowl Raoul]

Wow, you all practically read my mind! I too thought his voice was not as harmonious as Micheal Crawford's, but hell could he act! He has so much power towrads his voice, he expresses his anger remarkably, as if Gerry himself grew up with a deformed face too! It was amazing!!! Very convincing, I cried again tonight when I saw the movie again. I mean you know it's coming, you know what happens, but you just can't help seeing how hurt he feels. His expressions were so emotional I felt sharp pains inside of me everytime he shut his eyes! I had chillls running down my spine when he gave Christine these unbelievable, heart-wrenching looks! Ugh, why can't he live in my basement and play on my keyboard?! I promise I'd never break his heart! *sigh*....

[Twisted]

I think what struck me most about Gerry's performance was that he understood Erik far better than either Joel or ALW ever did. He saw the sadness, pain, desperation, and humanity that defines this character.

Not to mention the fact that there are so many layers of expression and emotions in every second of his screentime. He never loses his hold on Erik's personality.

He's just plain fabulous!

[Syl]

I have always been a fan o the phantom of the opera but the emotions that gerry managed to convey in his portrayal of the phantom are unique. He is seductive, sexy, cold, angry and heartwrenching all in one. He makes you fall in love with the phantom whether you like gerard butler or not. Nevertheless, gerry is awesome and excels in every role he takes up. He makes the story of POTO all the more credible because of his way of interpreting the phantom. He conveys the phantom's feelings perfectly and makes the audience understand why the phantom reacts the way he does in certain circumstances and the sadness and solitude that his facial disfigurement earned him. Every single person I know who has watched the film came out with feelings of sympathy for the phantom and praising gerard's performance. In my opinion gerry is the best phantom I have ever seen and who managed to make me feel the way I did each time I watch POTO.

The phantom, as portrayed by Gerry is -- a petulant little boy, an anguished young man, a brooding lover, a watchful guardian, a wise, experienced voice, an inexperienced boyfriend -- he's all these things at once and that's a lot of what's driving us women crazy. At one moment he is powerful and strong, the next moment sobbing in dire sadness, then raging with jealousy, then tender and vulnerable -- omg, he is the recipe for every woman's deepest fantasty! GO GERRY!!

[Lovephantom]

Well, first of all..Hi everyone! I just joined this forum.

His portrayal of the phantom is just amazing. He understands the character very well, he can sing ( quite beautifully) and he's able to portray lots of emotions: Love, sadness, madness..he's just Erik!

His voice has something special that I haven't heard in any other phantom..he feels each note he sings, which is fantastic..

He's just one of the best phantoms I've ever seen Go Gerry!

Lovephantom