(no subject)

[skygiants]

Okay, I swear after this I will get Phantom of the Opera OUT OF MY MIND and not post about it again for a while. But while I'm on the topic of Phantom fanfiction, I kind of want to compile a list of stories that are just Phantom of the Opera: IN SPACE.

I mean, I don't know if there are any that are actually in space. But here, some other examples:

V for Vendetta: Phantom of the Opera WITH REVOLUTION
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: as I have discussed before, Phantom of the Opera IN A SUBMARINE
Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark: Phantom of the Opera WITH TOO MANY LEGS

I know there are more that I can't think of right now. Brainstorm with me, flist!

(And yes, all right, Phantom of the Opera is just basically Beauty and the Beast: IN THE OPERA, JUST DECONSTRUCTED ENOUGH SO THAT THE STALKER MONSTER DOESN'T GET THE GIRL, BUT NOT DECONSTRUCTED ENOUGH THAT THE FANDOM DOESN'T STILL ROOT FOR HIM. So I guess my criteria for something being Phantom of the Opera IN SPACE or whatever is:

a. there is some kidnapping/Stockholm Syndrome action
b. the monstrous love interest/kidnapper/etc. and the ingenue have some kind of SHARED INTEREST. For example, ocean science! Or being arachnids!
c. the monstrous love interest ends up sad and alone and probably dead

But I am willing to hear arguments for things that lack some of these criteria!)

Comments

[scifantasy.livejournal.com]

...stop me before I unload fifteen pages on the false notion of "originality" and the way copyright is killing creativity.

[skygiants]

STOP YOU ARE PREACHING TO THE CHOIR. *laughing* I am all for stories being retold and retold again! But I do find it really fascinating to unpack the way that stories talk to each other and trace the origins of influence. (And that is how you can tell I was an English major!)

My point is, if PHANTOM OF THE OPERA: IN SPACE does really exist, I want to find it and read it!

[scifantasy.livejournal.com]

Well, The Count of Monte Cristo: In Space has been done, and I mean by name and not just in effect...

Come to think of it, by your standards, I think I could make a case for a couple of original Trek episodes.

[skygiants]

Haha, yes, I've seen Gankutsuou!

AND I KNEW there HAD to be at least one Trek episode out there that was Phantom of the Opera. I don't know the whole series well enough to figure out which ones, but I knew it had to exist!

[gramarye1971]

I suppose one could make something of a case for the second and third Pirates of the Caribbean movies, if you consider the Davy Jones/Tia Dalma plot (complete with Underwater Organ of Emo!). And possibly, through Orientalist lenses, the Sao Feng/Elizabeth Swann plot as well.

[scifantasy.livejournal.com]

The one that springs to mind is "Requiem for Methuselah."

[genarti]

I had typed out a comment about how "Space Seed" arguably counts, but really it only has the Stockholm Syndrome and shared interests and skeeviness (to a modern watcher) played as romantic. The love interest is supposed to be handsome, not monstrous, and (SADLY) does not end up lost and alone or dead. It just plays entirely too straight the 60s idea that what a woman really wants is a strong jerk of a man to tell her what to do.

I'm sure there are others that would qualify more, but I've mostly watched the ones generally hailed as particularly good and/or hilarious, so I've missed a bunch.

[vikytickytembo.livejournal.com]

The Fearless Vampire Killers: Phantom of The Opera with vampires. Bonus points: the broadway flops based on it, Dance of the Vampires, starred Michael Crawford in the Phantom-esque role.

[skygiants]

I think the Davy Jones/Tia Dalma plot could totally count! Adding in an Organ of Emo always contributes to the matchup. (Although my forever OTP will be Davy Jones/Ursula the Sea Witch. THEY ARE MADE FOR EACH OTHER.)

[skygiants]

. . . I am SO SAD I missed this on Broadway.

[skygiants]

And thank you, The Sixties. *wry*

Yeah, I think that in order to be Phantom of the Opera there does need to be the monstrous aspect in one way or another - which is what allows the audience to feel sympathy for them and turns the story into an actual tragedy, instead of either A Jerk Who Gets His Comeuppance or A Jerk Irritatingly Triumphant.

[skygiants]

Not familiar with that one - what's it about?

[libitina]

Star Trek IV! Complete with kidnapping and everything. And having to leave the whales on earth to do their thing while Spock has to leave

[vikytickytembo.livejournal.com]

No you're not.

There was a dream ballet orgy, where everyone took off their wigs and whipped each other.

[genarti]

The Sixties say: you're welcome, little lady!

Yeah, I agree. (Although I have a hard time feeling too sorry for the Phantom really... but I am also burned out on the OMG THE JERK IS SO TORTURED AND ROMANTIC thing, and did find it more compelling once upon a time. However it means I have a hard time thinking offhand of variations on the theme. Perhaps one will come to me!)

[skygiants]

. . . . .

. . . . . . . .


well, I'm glad somebody saw it. FOR POSTERITY.

[vikytickytembo.livejournal.com]

OH. And the act 2 openning number was "Total Eclipse of the Heart". With none of the lyrics changed.

Then Michael Crawford sang "Objects in the Rearview Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are", with some of the lyrics changed, because they didn't really have cars in the 1880's.

[scifantasy.livejournal.com]

Old guy lives alone on a planet with a woman named Rayna, his "ward"; the Trio come across them, meddle around, Rayna (intrigued by the idea of other people) falls for Kirk and vice versa, old guy won't let them leave, eventually Rayna is revealed as an android and dies, Kirk leaves distraught, and old guy is left all alone.

It's not just Phantom of the Planet, but it does have those elements.

[innerbrat]

To be fair, it's only Turn off the Dark that's Phantom of the Opera with MAGIC SHOES. Spiderman is just... Spiderman.

wait sorry I had to edit my icon

[skygiants]

(Well, I mean, so am I, AS YOU KNOW. But I do feel some sympathy for the hard-knock life of being shunned by everyone etc! As long as I am not expected to believe this grants a pass on stalking and kidnapping. Surprisingly enough I don't think Gaston Leroux actually expects me to give that pass, which is what makes the original novel more of a deconstruction of Beauty and the Beast than you might think! Andrew Lloyd Webber is another story . . .)

[skygiants]

I actually knew about the Total Eclipse of the Heart part!

. . . BUT NOT ABOUT THAT OTHER PART, and I can't even tell if you're kidding or not. @___@

[skygiants]

Hahahaha man, it has clearly been too long since I've seen that film!

. . . which, the last time was in fourth grade, when I still thought Spock and Data were the same person, so, not surprising, I guess.

[skygiants]

We should relish Turn Off the Dark while it still exists! Now that Julie Taymor's off the show, WHO KNOWS what will happen to Arachne.

[skygiants]

Hah! That may be more Phantom 2, which has both tragically dead women and automotons!

[vikytickytembo.livejournal.com]

I am not kidding.