Classics: Why the Phantom Bores Me

Okay--I might watch this version.

I recently tried to read a M/M story based around The Phantom of the Opera--and didn't get very far. I was a little surprised. It was well-written, evocative with a story history aura...

It's The Phantom, I realized. He bores me.

Sure I've seen the musical (yup--live). Sure, I've seen the movie and enjoyed it. I've even read the original book--and to be fair, it's a rollicking good ride. Lots of action! 

But ultimately, as a romantic figure, The Phantom just doesn't grab me (ha ha).

I always assumed that my eventual disinterest--the fact that my enjoyment of the book and the musical never went further than a brief indulgence--was Christine. In the world of passive heroines (who fall for thugs, no matter how lovely their voices), she's kind of high on the list.

But in actuality, I think it comes down to the thug. Strip away the operatic gloss and The Phantom is a guy who kills, makes a lot of excuses, then yammers on and on and on about one thing. 

At a dinner party, he'd been the guy cornering people with discussions about MY ART. 

Obsession just isn't all that interesting.

Great ambiguous bad guys have hobbies or philosophies or stable ideologies. There are also adaptable. Put Elias in a room and he is interesting to listen to. Put Spike in a room--he will ramble on about something. Put Baal in a room--he wears great clothes and plays clever mind games while looking out for his own interests.

Put The Phantom in a room:

"Oh, Christine, Christine, Christine. Music. Christine. Music. Christine."

Like watching other people's home videos, eventually it gets kind of tedious.