Sets, music and Costumes overshadowed the story

The only Phantom I ever liked is the one in the book 'The Phantom of the Opera'. I am a great fan of this book and watched the movie only for that single reason. But I am disappointed to see that the major elements were missing in the movie. At the same time I was equally delighted to see the spectacular sets and costumes which I couldn't do while reading. The director gave so much importance to the sets and costumes that he completely forgot to bring the main elements alive. He managed to make a visual spectacle but he, unfortunately failed to bring in romance and danger (ore horror) onto the silver screen.


Plot

I don't think there is any need to tell anything about the plot as everyone is aware of it. But I am giving the brief story.

The story is about a musical genius referred to as the Phantom who was disfigured and has a scarred face. This makes him hide and he lives in the watery labyrinths under the opera house in Paris. He scares the people and he killed many people. He admires the voice of Christine Daae (Emmy Rossum) who is an actor and after listening to it for ten years, he thinks of making her the main actor and he uses letters to scare people and to get his job done. He hopes to win her love by making her a star. Christine has love for her childhood sweetheart Raoul(Patrick Wilson) who comes back into her life. She has an attraction( and an undeniable pity) for the Phantom too.
After knowing about her love for Raoul, the Phantom imprisons him and tells Christine that he would kill him if she does not accept him. But Christine talks to him with affection which makes him know that she loves both Raoul and the Phantom, but in different ways. As he hasn't received such love earlier, her kindness deeply touches him and he allows both of them to leave.


My Opinion

The visuals make this movie spectacular to watch. The sets, the costumes were extravagant. Music is very original and is very good to listen to. The phantom's face doesn't seem disfigured at all and it looked like a burn. All the actors did a great job but the romance and horror which are the tag words for this title are completely missing in the movie. This made me feel very disappointed as without soul nothing seems good.