Les Misérables

[ThePainefulTruth]

I'm a big musical fan, but this (the 11th film iteration of the book with every how many of those as musicals) as I suspected is a one and a half song wonder. The lyrics are good enough, but for most of the movie, all of the dialogue is set to musical notes placed with a shotgun. Add to that the the subject matter, class warfare between snobs and the miserables with their hands out and chips on their shoulders. The only one I really liked was the little token French Oliver who was sharp as hell and had spunk. Anne Hathaway and especially Amanda Seyfried have superb voices, but the rest were only so so, including Samantha Barks who's probably garners some sympathy points for her character.

I think this franchise gets a lot of support from people (many of whom were applauding at the end), because it makes them feel that by doing so they're doing something for the poor. I'm just glad this wasn't a theater production where I'd have had to endure the endless encore applause with the audience and the cast all making each other feel good, thinking the story applies to modern Western Civilization in some way. 6/10

 

[Riverwolf]

I thought the film was excellent, though of course the stage production is superior. I felt that all the performances except Russel Crow were great, and that it was adapted quite well.

And no, we don't feel like we're doing something for the poor by giving money to people who are anything but poor in order to enjoy a movie. It does inspire us to help today's poor a bit better, even though the situation isn't as bad today as it used to be in many countries (though it is in others). We simply enjoy the music, the story, and the inspiring themes. You would be wise to not judge people for enjoying something that you, yourself, do not.

 

[ThePainefulTruth]

I thought the film was excellent, though of course the stage production is superior. I felt that all the performances except Russel Crow were great, and that it was adapted quite well.

And no, we don't feel like we're doing something for the poor by giving money to people who are anything but poor in order to enjoy a movie. It does inspire us to help today's poor a bit better, even though the situation isn't as bad today as it used to be in many countries (though it is in others). We simply enjoy the music, the story, and the inspiring themes. You would be wise to not judge people for enjoying something that you, yourself, do not.

Sorry, I can see where some would enjoy the themes, I did to an extent myself. It's just that the music, for the most part, just isn't there--uninspired and uninspiring singsong***. They'd have done better to just dump the notes and speak the lines as poetry. And it isn't just me. I've had people tell me, yeah, they were trying to hard to like it because they just wanted to like it. It's a symptom of the 20 year music doldrums Broadway has been in with only Andrew Lloyd-Weber and music revivals (old stage musicals like Chicago, stringing songs together such as Mamma Mia, or bringing Hollywood to the stage like Beauty and the Beast and Lion King ) with any real spark.

Touring companies just don't thrive at all unless they use such musicals almost exclusively.

Gotta be the best Glee episode ever was centered on Les Miz, but the only song from it they ended up singing, "I dreamed a dream", paled in comparison to the rest--so much so they titled the episode after Aerosmith's "Dream On", the show stopper the two trying out for Les Miz sang.

***The word most commonly used in the definition of singsong is monotonous.

 

[Riverwolf]

Sorry, I can see where some would enjoy the themes, I did to an extent myself. It's just that the music, for the most part, just isn't there--uninspired and uninspiring singsong***. They'd have done better to just dump the notes and speak the lines as poetry. And it isn't just me. I've had people tell me, yeah, they were trying to hard to like it because they just wanted to like it. It's a symptom of the 20 year music doldrums Broadway has been in with only Andrew Lloyd-Weber and music revivals (old stage musicals like Chicago, stringing songs together such as Mamma Mia, or bringing Hollywood to the stage like Beauty and the Beast and Lion King ) with any real spark.

Touring companies just don't thrive at all unless they use such musicals almost exclusively.

Ah.

So, it's just a difference of taste. Gotcha.

I actually did like it, though definitely think it could have been better. The 1995 video remains, for me, the defining screen version of the musical.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

 

[illykitty]

I love Les Miserables, and I'm sure this will be beautifully done but I'm doubtful about this version.

I tend to cringe at musicals (I've never seen the play for that reason), as I find it ridiculous that characters are singing all the time. It's distracting to me from enjoying the story. Also they tend to make things quite cheesy. So I'm very picky when it comes to that style.

But yeah, I can't see it yet, not out here until January, IIRC. Be back with an opinion w/e I see it.

 

[Desert Snake]

Anyone read the book? I've got a copy but haven't read it..oops

 

[ThePainefulTruth]

I tend to cringe at musicals (I've never seen the play for that reason), as I find it ridiculous that characters are singing all the time. It's distracting to me from enjoying the story. Also they tend to make things quite cheesy. So I'm very picky when it comes to that style.

A quick scan shows me that there are very few modern examples of the "singing all the time", or what I term, operatic, style of musical. It's very difficult to pull off successfully, and I could only find 4 examples: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (small production), Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita and Phantom of the Opera--all done by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the only ones of his 16 musicals that were made into movies. I can't speak for you, but most people who don't like the operatic form make exceptions for these. If you don't have the talent for that form, Les Miserables is the result, and there are many more which, thankfully, will never make it from stage to film.

Most people today don't object to musicals if the music is incorporated into the story in some sort of realistic way. If is isn't, I think it can still be good but its an acquired taste I suppose.

Then there are the movies with great soundtracks, which are also becoming less common, for budgetary reasons I guess.

 

[Poetic-Misprint]

Personally, I love Lloyd Webber (on most days). Phantom and Les Mis are my two favorites (So sure me for being predictable). I admit his repetitive song-melody themes make me only really pick a few songs that end up standing out (Master of the House, One More Day, Do You Hear The People Sing).
For me, it's the characters, and that credit goes in part to the story by Hugo. Enjolras, the charismatic Apollo-esque leader gets my heart. His death was beautifully tragic. Eponine's sympathy and strength is always there. I liked both of their deaths best in the recent film, truly. We can't help but laugh at Thenardier and his wife, how ridiculous they are. Gavaroche was the cutest boy and his lines always made me smile until he died. The poor angel.... Javert's character is fascinating, though Russel Crowe didn't portray it too well... His singing was pretty bad and I couldn't always hear what he was saying.
I had points of growing tired with Jackman's voice, but mostly his performance was wonderful. Anne Hathaway's voice was beautiful.
I suppose I'm odd for liking the "Singing all the time" thing. It gets my heart pumping faster, makes me feel more intense. But that's all on a whim. I have some moods where I'd soon grow sick of it too.
But all in all, the film was well done and I'm highly fond of the story. I also have an otp of sorts, but that's just me being a fangirl, shipping things.

 

[Nyingjé Tso]

Vanakkam,

We eat les Miserable and other classics soooo much for yeaaaars at every stage of schooooool.....Is the movie worth watching ? I'm not very fond of musicals but if it's good why not take a look....

Aum Namah Shivaya

 

[PassionFruit53]

I heard that this movie will be banned here in China soon. Because it dealt with topics like politics, philosophy, and justice in particular the June Rebellion which was lead by students. Maybe they feared that our own students would start to protest the government.

Ironically before 1980 the book Les Miserables (called BeiCan ShiJie 悲惨世界 in Chinese) was called a "revolutionary literature" and they encouraged people to read it! Now they want to ban the movie. I find that this is very ironic.

 

[Riverwolf]

Personally, I love Lloyd Webber (on most days). Phantom and Les Mis are my two favorites (So sure me for being predictable).

Les Mis isn't Lloyd Webber.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Les Mis isn't Lloyd Webber.

:tsk: Using facts to dull the edge of cogent analysis seems less than civil.