Ok... someone else started a thread on this a number of weeks ago. Wife wanted to watch it this past weekend.
We've both seen at the Wang Theater in Boston. Both have listened to the theatrical soundtrack from the Opera....
This was horrible. Some of the sets were interesting. I couldn't stand voice that played the phantom. Perhaps it wasn't only his voice but his choice is phrasing the songs that pained me. In addition the actor that played the phantom was like very handsome (aside from his mask covering the right side of his face). This made it VERY difficult to feel compassion for him until much later in the movie.
The Musical score was far from impressive. I'd rather throw in some Bach organ music then watch that DVD again. There was perhaps only two places in the whole movie when I felt as if I was enveloped with music.
In comparrison, I followed this up by putting in Amadeus. Whenever music played, it would wrap itself around you. You can feel it. Warm, cold, etc.
It made Phantom's soundtrack look amaturish.
A final note: it was very nice to see some of the imagery on the sets within the opera house. Other then that, I'd rather hear a live pit ochestra, and a stronger voice on the Phantom.