Fan Reviews ( Spoiler Alert)

[birchie]

Jan 5, 2013 22:03:05 GMT -5 jo said:

<snip>
Sorry, for probably boring all of you

Jo

For me it's not boring at all. I think I've mentioned that I'm a bit of a history buff. I remember reading many news accounts when that was taking place. Also, I'm still wondering about your friend's book which you talked about a while back. I remember it sounded very interesting. Is it available yet someplace like Amazon? I hope he included lots of images from the period.
Sue

[carouselkathy]

Jo,
Bravo for sharing your experiences with us. We see these historical events unfold on the evening news, but it means much more when the personal experiences are shared by someone we know and care about.

[jo]

We have heard of long applause and ovations when the movie ends -- but here is a slightly different account

...As the movie ended with the peaceful death of Jean Valjean and the beginning of Marius and Cosette’s happily ever after, Valjean’s spirit left for the big barricade in the sky with all the martyrs of the 1832 uprising joining him in a reprise of “Do You Hear the People Sing?” I heard a hearty “Amen!” from the audience.

Jo

[mamaleh]

By the way, Jo--in one or more of the trailers for the movie, you hear someone say, "I know who you are--you're Jean Valjean." That bit of dialogue does not appear in the film. Must have been in the original cut before it was edited down.

Ellen

[jo]

Thanks.

That was one of the observations on the IMDB board - how the scenes showing Valjean going from one place to another until he found refuge at the Bishop's house must have been edited.

Hooper said that the original assembly of the film was 4 hours. His director's cut ran to 3 hours...which he first cut to 2'47"...then further cut to its final length of 2'37" ( his goal!). But I am not sure that the 3 hour-initial cut has the full orchestrations. His thoughts on an extended cut or a director's cut are fluid, as to whether he will have something maybe for inclusion in the DVD.

In the Collider.com interview, he discusses this at length.

Jo

[chessie]

I have finally had the chance to see Les Miserables after some frustrating delays (Jo - I feel your pain ) We've been traveling and had to leave home earlier than planned because of the threat of nasty weather. There went the day I'd set aside to go to the movies! Of course, the wait in no way diminished my enjoyment of the film.

I saw Les Mis in an older-style theater, which had a large auditorium with lots of seats as well as a much larger screen than is the norm in many of the megaplexes. I think that enhanced the whole experience for me.

It was wonderful. I was mesmerized by the movie every bit as much as my first experience seeing the play on stage. Hugh and Anne were amazing. If the two of them don't receive Oscar nominations, AMPAS will have no credibility in my view.

I was so impressed by both Eddie and Aaron. The voices and acting were superb. Eddie's "Empty Chairs" was touching and beautiful.

Perhaps the most powerful scene in the movie for me was the death of Gavroche. As a former elementary school teacher, I was so shocked at the fate of the students and teachers from Sandy Hook that I had pretty much blocked it from my mind. That scene in the movie literally took my breath away. I knew it was coming but, as others on this board have said, it was such a shocking reminder of what had happened that it was difficult to process. Javert's reaction was poignant, although I thought it was not at all consistent with his character.

There weren't many people in the theater for the early matinee I attended, and there was no applause. But - once the credits started rolling at the end, no one got up, no one moved. It was as if they were all just trying to absorb what they had just seen. I have a feeling that I wasn't the only one in the theater who knew immediately that they would be seeing Les Miserables again and again. It's been a classic play, and now it will be a classic film.

Carol

[JH4HJ]

Talk to me about the end of the movie. Weren't the "ghosts" more ethereal on stage? Fantine, in particular, seemed a bit too "real" for me. I also overheard two younger audience members discussing that they were happy to see Aaron Tveit back on the barricade at the end "I was SO sure he got killed" () Were they just not paying attention?

We understand the Curtain Call aspect from theater. Even the dead take a bow at the end... but how does this work on film? ...and is Javert there? Cossette? Marius?

I've also decided that I did not appreciate the foreshadowing of Javert's suicide while he sings Stars from the battlement. He's only got two good songs, and visually they were a bit too much the same for me. Anyone else think it was odd to stage both his songs in such a similar manner?

I'm still blown away by this movie. There's just SO much to take in. I get sort of caught up in the scope of it and can't concentrate on details - which is a compliment. The whole thing is awesome. I can not say that about Lincoln, and I'm not sure why Argo is even being discussed RE: Oscars. I saw both and was not terribly impressed by either. Good films, but nowhere near Les Mis.

[birchie]

Jan 8, 2013 14:12:48 GMT -5 JH4HJ said:

Talk to me about the end of the movie. Weren't the "ghosts" more ethereal on stage? Fantine, in particular, seemed a bit too "real" for me. I also overheard two younger audience members discussing that they were happy to see Aaron Tveit back on the barricade at the end "I was SO sure he got killed" () Were they just not paying attention?

We understand the Curtain Call aspect from theater. Even the dead take a bow at the end... but how does this work on film? ...and is Javert there? Cossette? Marius?

I've also decided that I did not appreciate the foreshadowing of Javert's suicide while he sings Stars from the battlement. He's only got two good songs, and visually they were a bit too much the same for me. Anyone else think it was odd to stage both his songs in such a similar manner?

I'm still blown away by this movie. There's just SO much to take in. I get sort of caught up in the scope of it and can't concentrate on details - which is a compliment. The whole thing is awesome. I can not say that about Lincoln, and I'm not sure why Argo is even being discussed RE: Oscars. I saw both and was not terribly impressed by either. Good films, but nowhere near Les Mis.

I think the ending suffered the most from the editing that was done to make the movie shorter. It was supposed to be many years later, 1848 after a more successful rebellion and the "ghosts" were going to be interspersed with the people celebrating that victory including an older Marius and Cosette. I hope the extended BluRay/DVD will show more of that ending.

I'm not sure about Javert's songs, I'd have to see it again to compare as I wasn't paying as much attention to his part before. You're right Valerie, there is so much to take in. I think that's why so many people are seeing it more than once, some several times.

I agree with you about Lincoln and Argo. I've written my opinions on them in a couple places and while they are both good movies they are not great movies. Les Miserables has so much more going for it in every way. I hope it receives all the awards the producers, director, technical artists and actors can carry.
Sue

[birchie]

I thought this was a very well done fan review. www.speroforum.com/a/WREKFFEQXB54/73417-Les-Miserables-movie-review

There is something in me which resists popular movies, music, and TV series. That new piece of entertainment which everyone is talking about so often disappoints me by its shallowness or downright offensiveness. “It can’t be good if it’s that popular,” I argue, “we have such abominable collective taste”. A quick view of the cable film offerings for New Year’s Day, including such winners as The Hangover and Knocked Up confirms this cynical attitude about entertainment. I was finally convinced by my insistent teenagers that I must see Les Miserables.

I had seen the play on Broadway, as well as three earlier film versions, so it wasn’t the story I was resisting, just the fact that the latest version is so popular. There must be some Church bashing, offending of traditional morality, or just plain banalization of Victor Hugo’s eternal themes of repentance, redemption, and sacrifice, I feared. I did not want to see a beautiful story deconstructed by some egotistic director.

I humbly admit I was wrong. From the breathtaking opening scene, the soaring music and ethereal cinematography held my emotions captive, causing me to laugh and even weep. I was not alone. The theatre was full of seniors and college age kids who stayed behind after the credits engaged in passionate discussions of the film’s themes, the advantages of operatic style, and even the idea of redemptive love. The poignant acting of Anne Hathaway (Fantine), Hugh Jackman (Jean Valjean) Amanda Seyfried (Cosette as an adult) and Russell Crowe (Javert) was the perfect complement to the passionate score.

Only Amanda Seyfried and her younger counterpart Isabelle Allen (young Cosette) have the angelic voices required by the demanding songs, but that didn’t diminish the film’s commanding impact. It rather heightened it as I was moved by the raw emotions in voices, not their beauty. Jean Valjean was in agony for much of the film, and if his voice had the range and power of Pavarotti it might have been distracting, even comical. Did it ever bother you that Mimi in La Boheme sings a full bodied aria just before succumbing to consumption? Save the operatic voices for the CD, the actors’ singing was sensitive to the story and kept this viewer engrossed more than any previous version.

Les Miserables was beautiful in an even more vital manner. Never in recent films has the Catholic Church's role in the life of an individual been so poetically depicted. The genial bishop who evoked St Jean Vianney, the feminine grace of the wimpled nuns, the splendor of the chapels of Jean Valjean’s conversion and final departure into heaven, the Catholic Church’s important role in the conversion of a bitter convict to a saint is one which is drawing even the cynical to the theatres.

We have experienced God’s grace, we know it when we see it, and there is nothing more rewarding than to see a true artist’s depiction of it on screen. The screenwriters, composers, and directors not only didn’t hinder Hugo’s original intent, they magnified it using the best of special effects, cinematography, and orchestration. That is what art is meant to be, raising one’s mind and heart toward heaven, or, in other words, prayer. Les Miserables reaches that height at times and I left the theatre comparing my own attitude towards my loved ones to Jean Valjeans’. In other words, were there more films of the beauty and power of Les Miserables there might be more Jean Valjeans in the world.

The moral impact of the film rests upon stark contrast between the noble and ignoble: depictions of sexuality, immodesty, disturbing violence and vulgarity. This is not a film for children or young adolescents. Older teens will find this film inspiring. It’s the must see of the year.

Spero contributor Leticia Velasquez is the author of A Special Mother is Born and also writes at The Cause of Our Joy.

[klenotka]

I finally saw it. It´s been in our theaters since 25th (advanced screening) and premiered on Thursday but for different reasons, I got to see it today. And I will go to see it again.

I didn´t care for close-ups, I barely noticed them and if I did, then it was in a good way.
All actors were great, with two slight exceptions.
I had a little problem with Amanda´s singing but it was not just here, I have a problem with her voice in general. She sounded a little weak but for Cosette, it was OK. Acting-wise, I have no complaints, especially because she did as much as she could with a role that really is not that great - she is important for the story and for lives of two men, but she herself does nothing.

Acting-wise, it was Anne. I love her and she is one of my favourite actresses but I felt like she overacted terribly...or didn´t act enough? Does it make any sense? Her "I dreamed a dream" was great, as expected, but especially the factory scene was a little...cringeworthy? I don´t know, she just seemed like a little girl who has no idea how to act. In one moment, she overacted (that scene when Valjean saves her), and then she doesn´t know *how* to act (the factory scene). But that´s pretty much it. I think she deserves all the praise for that I dreamed a dream scene alone.
Also, the editing was weird in some places, a little distracting.

The other actors were great, especially Isabelle and Daniel as little Cosette and Gavroche.

Hugh´s "Bring Him Home"? They changed the setting of the scene, they made him *walk* around while singing, and the feeling of that song was entirely different than in the stage version. So I have no idea what is the problem here. I didn´t find any.
I had to get used to Russell´s singing, but he wasn´t as bad as some people claim.

Cohen and HBC made me actually like "The Master of the House" and Eddie´s "Empty Chairs at empty Tables" was the best solo song imo.
My favourite thing from the whole movie was "One Day More" because it worked so much better in the movie.

Czech audience is very cold, so no applause, it is not our thing (only at conventions, with fellow movie geeks) but I felt that people around liked it, knew exactly what to expect (so no suprised "they sing" as I read in some reactions in our movie database) and I heard some sniffing and I believe people just really liked it because they managed to sit still for almost 3 hours (only one person left for the bathroom)

The lenght didn´t bother me, I was shocked it was already two hours when I looked at my watch. It drags a little around the time Marius meets Cosette but nothing major, just 10, 15 minutes of it.

[JH4HJ]

Thanks, birchie. Yes, there's so much to "absorb" - it's a bit overwhelming.
...and what happened to the line "She was my sister"? Did I miss it, or did it get lost in the editing? I'm hoping for an eventual DVD with a 4-hour "Director's cut" and many "behind the scenes" extras.

klenotka - I agree with many of your feelings, but not The Thenardiers. It may be that I'm not fond of the two actors... but it's more than that, too. I prefer more rotund Thenardiers. I think that points up the fact that they are living well while everyone else is scrounging to survive. I also know they are quite intentional "comic relief" in the play, and that has "worked" for me on stage - but I never cracked a smile during the movie, despite liking the "Master of The House" number. (OK, the bit where he keeps getting "Collette's" name wrong was *almost* a smile - but no one in the theater laughed. I'm sure of it.)

Come to think of it, the movie as a whole could have used a "smile" here or there. I realize the title is Les Miserables - I "get" it - but even the young lovers are glossed over so quickly that I never felt I had a moment to enjoy their happiness with each other before it was on to the next loss/trauma/misery.

The movie needs a moment where you can take a breath of "good, clean" air. How about a scene where JVJ is happy/content with the new life he's made for himself? He's obviously worked hard to get there, but we only see him for a sec before he's off and running from Javert again. Does Hugh/JVJ *ever* smile during the film??? When? Where?

[jo]

From the original staging at the Barbican of Les Miserables --

Colm Wilkinson - Valjean
Zoe Hart - Cosette
Thenardier - Alun Armstrong
Mme Thenardier - Sue Jane Tanner

The Thenardiers were not originally portrayed as rotund characters - Sue Jane is rather slim actually.

Alun ( whom you might remember as the Bishop in Van Helsing who sends Van Helsing on his way to his mission) and Sue Jane Tanner were members of the Royal Shakespeare Company which co-developed ( represented by directors Trevor Nunn and John Caird) and co-produced with Cameron Mackintosh the reimagined musical from the French version. The casting of RSC actors was part of the arrangement for artistic and creative support from RSC.

I don't know why over the years, their portrayals have been given a different physical mage.

Jo

[birchie]

Jan 8, 2013 18:47:53 GMT -5 JH4HJ said:

Thanks, birchie. Yes, there's so much to "absorb" - it's a bit overwhelming.
...and what happened to the line "She was my sister"? Did I miss it, or did it get lost in the editing? I'm hoping for an eventual DVD with a 4-hour "Director's cut" and many "behind the scenes" extras.

klenotka - I agree with many of your feelings, but not The Thenardiers. It may be that I'm not fond of the two actors... but it's more than that, too. I prefer more rotund Thenardiers. I think that points up the fact that they are living well while everyone else is scrounging to survive. I also know they are quite intentional "comic relief" in the play, and that has "worked" for me on stage - but I never cracked a smile during the movie, despite liking the "Master of The House" number. (OK, the bit where he keeps getting "Collette's" name wrong was *almost* a smile - but no one in the theater laughed. I'm sure of it.)

Come to think of it, the movie as a whole could have used a "smile" here or there. I realize the title is Les Miserables - I "get" it - but even the young lovers are glossed over so quickly that I never felt I had a moment to enjoy their happiness with each other before it was on to the next loss/trauma/misery.

The movie needs a moment where you can take a breath of "good, clean" air. How about a scene where JVJ is happy/content with the new life he's made for himself? He's obviously worked hard to get there, but we only see him for a sec before he's off and running from Javert again. Does Hugh/JVJ *ever* smile during the film??? When? Where?

Unfortunately, Valerie everything that would have made it more enjoyable for you was cut for time. No time for a smiley JVJ! That line where Gavroche acknowledges that Eponine was his sister was one that I was so happy to see in the screenplay but I new it was cut before I saw the movie because someone who saw a screener reported on it. I really wanted the movie to do what the stage show didn't...let the audience know that he's the Thenardier's son.
As for the Thenardiers, they weren't my favorite part at all, but I did laugh out loud when SPOILER ALERT!!

they were being dragged out of the wedding still singing Beggars at the Feast. It's the most I've ever enjoyed that number!
END OF SPOILER!!

I'm really hoping for an extended cut BluRay/DVD so they can put back some of the things I was looking forward to from the screenplay!
Sue

[jo]

I do not know where this came from ( but it does sound like a local post because of some references to popular culture aspects here) -- someone has reposted it for a local Philippine message board that is now excitedly discussing Les Miserables - due for release on the 16th. But guess what -- I found a way to see it in an advance screening on the 15th! For every pre-order of the local release of the soundtrack, you get a free movie pass! Great deal, especially as I was already planning to give the soundtrack as a gift!

I am getting ready for a 4-day marathon! Then a weekend break -- and then back for a few more screenings the following week >


Jo

[njr]

You'd think they could at least have spelled Russell correctly!

[jo]

Forgot to say --

It seems pins of Fantine and Cosette have been found/selling but no word on whether pins of Valjean et al are known to also be available. Usually, only the young demos put on pins as part of their cool getups -- so I guess that means there is much interest from the young people here! We are a music-loving people so that doesn't surprise me!

Besides, our own Lea Salonga and less known but West-End acclaimed Joanna Ampil ( who played Fantine) are part of the legend of the stage musical. When the movie was filming, Joanna hosted a dinner for friend Claude Michel Schonberg ( who comes here quite often) and CMS told him that he had written a new song for Les Miserables. Following that, Joanna sent a congratulatory tweet to Hugh because she had heard ( obviously from CMS) that it was a stunning performance!

Also, there were many Filipino musical theatre actors/actresses who originated MISS SAIGON ( and went on to play the roles in other parts of the world)... Right now, there is a local production of King and I with Leo Valdez who was the second Engineer in London and Monique Wilson who alternated with Lea as the original Kim in MISS SAIGON. Prior to that, Joanna had a very successful run in a revival of SOUND OF MUSIC. It is not surprising that the new rounds of auditions for a possible MISS SAIGON revival ( and maybe even a movie adaptation , if Les Mis proves to be a big box office success as Mackintosh has hinted) were held here in Manila recently.

We love our music, that is for sure! And we also love drama, maybe even melodrama .... And that bodes very well for Les Miserables!

Jo

[jo]

Armadoo Moviesþ@armadoo

@russellcrowe @realhughjackman @thejoblopodcast @eonline Bumped into Stephen Hawking on his way to watch #LesMis pic.twitter.com/uYyCD0ST

Wow - quite a tribute to Les Miserables! Stephen Hawking is the very famous physicist genius who is a quadriplegic! He must love either the music or the story to have gone out of his way to see the movie, instead of just waiting for a DVD release!


Jo

[njr]

Jan 14, 2013 16:35:57 GMT -5 jo said:

Armadoo Moviesþ@armadoo

@russellcrowe @realhughjackman @thejoblopodcast @eonline Bumped into Stephen Hawking on his way to watch #LesMis pic.twitter.com/uYyCD0ST

Wow - quite a tribute to Les Miserables! Stephen Hawking is the very famous physicist genius who is a quadriplegic! He must love either the music or the story to have gone out of his way to see the movie, instead of just waiting for a DVD release!


Jo

Stephen Hawking has a motor neuron disease similar to ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking

Nancy

[jo]

Amazing Opening Weekend reactions in the UK!

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2262428/Les-Mis-mania-cinema-Smash-hit-fans-sobbing-aisles.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Les Mis mania at the cinema! Smash hit has fans sobbing in the aisles
Big screen version of the popular musical made £8.1m in its first weekend
The film accounted for 40 per cent of the weekend's cinematic audience
Audiences are said to have been in 'floods of tears' as the credits rolled...

Sob ...sob ;D > ;D


Jo

[jo]

Some thoughts:

I was initially wary that the reactions in the UK would even be more snarky than some of the critics or fan reactions in the USA. That is the land where the English version has originated and where the popularity of the musical really spread out...to Broadway...and the rest of the world.

But I forgot what Michael Ball once said that there is only a very small percentage of the UK population who actually go to the theatre ( not sure, but I think it was less than 5 %) and the more populist form of entertainment are movies, TV fare, pop concerts, and others. Plus the reviews have generally been favorable to the movie! It looks like the response to the movie will be really excellent. Not even if Hugh did not sing the perfect BHH ( if fans of the stage musical were to be sided with) or that Russell was too much the rock opera voice

If 60 million people have seen the stage musical in around 27 years worldwide... just think : if the movie has already grossed $ 234 million ( revised figures) and we assume that the average ticket price is $ 10 ( here in the Philippines and the rest of Asia, presumably the equivalent ticket price will be much smaller), that would already be approx 23.4 million people who have seen it in roughly 3 weeks of release! Just imagine - this movie will likely draw closer to that 60 million before it leaves the big screen. And this does not count those who see it in bootlegs...and will see it on DVD/BluRay/VOD...on TV ( regular and cable) eventually!!

Mindboggling ;D

Will it top any other movie Hugh was involved in?

Lol - I am chattering...because tonight is my first date with Les Miserables on the big screen >

Jo

[birchie]

Jan 14, 2013 21:38:30 GMT -5 jo said:

<snip>
Lol - I am chattering...because tonight is my first date with Les Miserables on the big screen >

Jo

That's great! Does that mean you are about to see it for the first time or that you just saw it? Can't wait to hear your reaction. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy and then enjoy it some more!!!! :-/ :'( :-/
Sue

[jo]

Not yet!!

In half a day's time ;D

I have several dates to see it ( there is one group I am going with on Friday evening - pre-show dinner and then the movie -- I waited so long for this special date -- and when I reserved for 8 seats -- I found out all the center seats were taken ( except for the first rows which are not supposed to be great) and only left and right side orchestra seats were generally available...and I was late by only a day or two to do the online reservations )

But I shouldn't be complaining -- it has finally arrived here!

Jo

[jo]

Okay -- just got in after my first screening of my beloved Les Miserables!

My first reaction--

As I got out of the theatre, a young lady asked me " What did you think of the movie?" and I replied spontaneously in a matter of seconds ( I thought she was just sharing reactions with co-viewers of the movie) :

"Beautiful! Magnificent! Better than the play -- and I had seen the play 9 times!" :o

without realizing before I had said that that she was actually holding a small video camera and was likely interviewing to promote the movie on our lifestyle channels. LOL! So, my reply was my gut reaction to the movie!

I am just a bit high-strung about what I have just seen -- so I will share my detailed reactions later...and after I have seen it a few more times.

Jo

[alma]

Jo,

Can't wait for your detailed reports... I have to wait another month for it to hit our theatres!

Alma

[annetter]

I'm so happy for you Jo,that you have finally seen the movie and Hugh's award winning performance. I've seen it 10+ times in all areas of NY/NJ and even Georgia. Headed to Florida soon so hope to see it there too. Each time it gets better and better and I notice more details. Looking forward to your review.