I read Gaston Leroux’s The Phantom of the Opera. I, being a slow reader, took over four hours to read the text even though the size was around 350 pages, slightly more. It was all right. I was not enthralled, but it was not terribly boring. I simply cannot find it amazingly memorable. Truthfully, it is somewhat a blur now that I have finished.

It had occurred to me once, after I had watched the 2004 movie that it oddly reminded me of the infamously mentioned story that I began when I was thirteen. After reading the book though, I feel self-assured they are barely alike in text. The topic of the latest movie version does make me consider the main characters deformity, though.

In the book, he is like a “living corpse”; in the musical on Broadway (I have not seen this version) and the latest movie half of the face is intact. From the small amount of research I have done, it seems to be toned down each passing decade. It would not surprise me if in the end he were merely a tormented artist with moments of insanity – no disfiguration that causes need to hide.

Seriously.

Looking at the movie, he did not look frightful at all. If anything were to be terrified of it would be his anger. Sure, sure… one could say that back in that century such a deformity would make a great commotion. These days though, it is “nothing”. For impact, I say stick with the original concept. He is not supposed to be some gorgeous, dark, brooding, mysterious, seductive man.

Wait… never mind. This is year 2005. People go for eye candy and complete distortion of original pieces. Disney is a great example for that.

… I think the entire book is lost to me now. My memory is not a wonderful one. I still believe I have the main points in mind… they just are not in order. Oh well.

~ That is all…