Beware the Fandom of the Opera...
Actually this one's pretty old, as I usually steer well clear of Phantom of the Opera message boards.

Background: A movie version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical is slated to come out in December; many fans are up in arms at his casting of Gerard Butler--who has almost no previous musical experience--as the Phantom over Michael Crawford, who played everyone's favourite masked psycho in the original production and whose spectacular voice graces the original cast recording. The only problem is that Joel Schumaker is shooting for a 'young, sexy' look, and Mr. Crawford is in his sixties and his voice and acting talent are deteriorating. Despite this, there is a large mob of angry fans who want him back.

Cut to the Musicals.net Phantom of the Opera message board, where GungaDin posts a thread in defense of Gerard Butler.

After a bit of honest discussion on the subject of Gerry Butler's voice training, or lack thereof, MrsJemimaMistoffelees compares it to Chicago:

But look at Renee Zellweger in Chicago. She admitted that she had never had a singing lesson, and a lot of people think she was the best thing about the movie.

La Boheme retorts:
you are referring, of course, to the blind/deaf people who saw it I assume?

The OP drags Michael Crawford into it for no apparent reason, simultaneously taking a potshot at the quality of voice needed for the role:
I agree w/ MrsJ's example. My father who doesn't care for musicals, was totally taken by Renee, thinking she was even better than Catherine Z-J!! BTW, did the Phantom/Erik take singing lessons in that he has to sound beautiful? No, if anything, because he is living in those dank sewers and doesn't talk to anybody else, then he would have a very rough, raspy voice.
Spoilsports, please, MC is history. Move on...

(oh, it's a pity, the formatting is lost... think big blue text on the last line)

Gunga is told to shut up, and JuanDonSupreme elaborates.
Would you please show me where we mentioned MC in this thread? If you were thinking of my post where I said that "Yeah, but.... Butler training his voice for a couple months before shooting a film can't hold a candle to an actor who has trained his voice for years... "
I WAS NOT referring to MC... B/C I personally believe there are Phantoms out there that are a whole lot better. I was simply talking about an actor who has had training....
Please, the MC thing is over, we all have moved on, and I am honestly tired of seeing you post about it so much...
NotoriousFunnt was right... please MOVE ON!

Gunga's scathing retort, in BIG BAD BOLD FONT SIZE=6 PRINT:
NotoriousFUnnt -
F*CK U, DICKW*D!!

O.G. tells him to stop acting like a kindergartener. Gunga sulks and brings in unrelated topics of controversy:
Uhmmm, I haven't checked kindergarten levels lately, but I think my choice words for notorious putz are not theirs. Now, not unless that's what they're teaching in France after banning all sorts of identifiable religious symbols in school. (BTW, I agree with that. What's with the scarves and yamulkes? What if I cme to school with a chainsaw and said that was part of my religion? Now...there's an idea.. )

I don't know about you and Michael jackson, but kindergarteners aren't my type, OG.

Jaded Mandarin gets it back to Michael Crawford. Again.
This fight seems to have got started over Crawford...
I personally don't want Michael Crawford in the role.
If his later recordings are anything to go by, his voice HAS aged quite significantly...
Also, I read an article about how his inflated ego helped bring Jim Steinman's goth-rock masterpiece "Dance Of The Vampires" into ruin on Broadway - insisting that Steinman's serious, romantic rock opera be transformed into a Mel Brooks style camp comedy.
No one with such a disrespect for mad-genius Steinman is OK in my book. Serves him right for his awful behavior on the set of "Vampires" that he's been passed over for the "Phantom" movie.

Following are several kerfluffles about whether the Phantom traditionally has the "weakest" voice of the leading trio, Crysania revisits Gunga's sewer comment, and people argue almost politely over their preferences as to how the Phantom should sing. Yawn. It's mediocre wank, I admit, but it amuses me.

I leave you with an entry from the Michael Crawford Phantom Movie Campaign Guestbook:

I have listened to Michael Crawford sing the hypnotizing, extravigant, enchanting role of the Phantom of The Opera ever since I was a little girl. I still listen to him sing every day. I someday want to light up the stage by playing the role of Christine. I would be very proud to say that I am a Phan of The Phantom of the Opera itself. But to not have Michael Crawford in the movie would be an act of stupidity. Who else could sing such a part? NO ONE!!!!!!!!!!! Michael Crawford was the original Phantom. He should do the movie. Who cares who else wants to do it? He should be the Phantom. Wait, rephrase that last sentence. He IS the Phantom! Anyone who thinks otherwise, look out. Andrew Lloyd Webber, I am a fan of your work, but if you do not put Michael Crawford in AS THE PHANTOM, say bye-bye to one of your fans (that fan you are saying bye-bye to is me, if you can't figure it out).-Carlye (PS-I think that Christine made a big mistake when she loved Raoul instead of the Phantom. Who could pass him by with a voice like that?!"

Hi again! I know that I have already written an entry, but I have to write another one. Here it goes: I have just read the maybe script for the movie and it made me cry. I am still crying right now. I now know how the Phantom feels. It is not easy to be left out. Michael Crawford is the right man for the role of the Phantom. I won't go see it without him. I MIGHT rent it when it comes out, but I will only go see it about six times in the theater, buy it, and watch it for the rest of my life IF Michael Crawford is in it and that is a promise I intend to keep. WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED!!!!!!!!!!!