(Cert 12A, 142 mins): Starring Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson, Simon Callow, Ciaran Hinds and Minnie Driver. Directed by Joel Schumacher.

Responsible for everything from Cats and Starlight Express to Joseph And His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Andrew Lloyd Webber has established himself as a one-man factory churning out world-conquering musicals on an impressively regular basis.

Now, one of his most famous productions, Phantom Of The Opera, is to hit the silver screen in a new film version directed by Joel Schumacher (Batman Forever, The Client, Phone Booth, Falling Down).

One of the most popular stage musicals of all time - the original cast recording has sold 40 million copies, making it the biggest selling cast album of all time - you're probably familiar with the story.

But for those who aren't, it focuses on a talented and beautiful chorus girl named Christine (Rossum), who is drafted in to the lead role when diva La Carlotta (Driver) walks out at the 11th hour.

Of course, the audience is smitten but so too is the theatre's resident Phantom (Butler), a brilliant but disfigured composer who haunts the building.

The Phantom is none too pleased when Christine falls for the opera's wealthy patron (Wilson), setting the scene for a highly charged climax.

While this is not the first screen adaptation of the Gaston Leroux novel, the involvement of Hollywood director Schumacher ensure this is the most lavish and visually impressive to date.

And in the producer chair is Lloyd Webber himself, ensuring the music is represented as faithfully as possible too.