PHOTO PROVIDED Emmy Rossum and Gerard Butler are pictured in a still from 2004’s “The Phantom of the Opera.”

When I say in my headline that 2004’s movie adaptation of “The Phantom of the Opera” lives up to the hype, I specifically mean in terms of how my friend, who loves musicals, has described it.

We recently watched this musical turned movie — after months of me being told that I NEEDED to watch it. Mind you, I’m not done being educated when it comes to musicals either.

Backstory behind why I watched this movie aside, let’s get into my Throwback.

“The Phantom of the Opera” was released in December of 2004 and was based on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1986 musical. Webber himself was actually involved in the making of the film alongside screenwriter Joel Schumacher.

The movie takes place inside an opera house in Paris, France, between two timelines — 1870 and 1910. The film expertly separates the two with 1910 being in black and white and 1870 in color.

“The Phantom of the Opera” opens in 1910 at the opera house, now rundown, and with many of its items up for sale. This timeline focuses on the elderly Viscount Raoul de Chagny who bids for one small item at auction. The largest item up for bid, a fallen — but now fixed — chandelier is soon hoisted in the air as the auctioneer tells of the famed phantom of the opera house.

This opener is really cool, with color coming back into the surrounding opera house as the chandelier rises, transporting the viewer back to 1870.

It’s here where the bulk of our story takes place. The opera house, now under new ownership and with the financial backing of a young Viscount (Patrick Wilson), is preparing for the premiere of “Hannibal.”

However, a phantom looms to threaten the play — setting its sights on removing Carlotta (Minnie Driver) and replacing her with the young Christine Daae (Emmy Rossum) who has felt this spectors presence since the passing of her father year’s prior.

The phantom has competition for Christine’s affections however, as she and Raoul were once childhood sweethearts. And neither’s affections for each other have truly gone away.

Overall, I found this dark, gothic musical to be very entertaining. Not only is the music well done and gripping — particularly the phantom’s own introduction — but even the music featured from other plays the opera house is putting on.

Personally, I found the relationship between Christine and the phantom, expertly played by a young Gerard Butler, to be unsettling — as I’m sure was the point. It’s clear pretty much from the start that this man has an unhealthy infatuation with our young lead. This becomes more apparent over time as he shows his willingness to murder anyone just to keep her.

However, once you learn the phantom’s origins and how society cast him out and treated him like a monster it’s really no wonder he turned out how he did.

His storyline is a tragic one, however to some degree you could argue it’s his fault. At times he laments how he’s isolated with no one. But in a flashback we learn he was actually saved by a young girl who helped him flee to the opera house he would call home. That same girl — now Madame Giry — continues to keep his secrets even when he creates chaos.

The cruelty he faced from a young age clearly wounded him and he allowed those wounds to guide his actions, overlooking those acts of kindness shown to him in his life.

“The Phantom of the Opera” is the perfect mixture of gothic tones, big and epic musical numbers, an intricate storyline all set within the confines of a single opera house.

I’ve never seen it performed on the stage but I feel like this adaptation was a pretty stellar one. Specifically because it still had a feel like it could easily be moved onto a stage.

The sets remained pretty much in the opera house, the phantom’s home beneath the building or the graveyard where Christine’s late father was buried.

It didn’t feel the need to add anything extra and kept to the plot of the musical. I would have to attribute that in some degree to Webber’s direct involvement. It helps, when possible, for adaptations to utilize the original creator so it doesn’t ruin the tone of the story.

And, of course, the leads’ singing capabilities are top notch. I never would have expected Butler — who I only know from gritty action films — to have such a great singing voice. However, just based on what I’ve researched, it would have made a little more sense to go with an older actor to really showcase the age difference between the phantom and Christine.

Rossum, who became well known for her role in the TV show “Shameless” well after this movie premiered, did an amazing job as well. I actually learned she’s classically trained and it’s a shame she didn’t find herself in even more musical movies. But, then again, maybe she preferred the stage instead.

I’d certainly recommend giving this movie a chance if you enjoy intense and catchy music with great instrumentals, gorgeous sets and costumes and interesting storylines.

“The Phantom of the Opera” is rated PG-13 and may be watched on Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV and Fandango.

— — — —

Laura Jameson is managing editor of The Express.