Topic: Les Miserables (2012)

[Dragonfire]

"Big boy pants"!

Marie, there is a fault in my brain that cannot accept the fact that singing to tell a story is somehow considered reasonable. It makes no sense to me! But I will suffer it and probably will enjoy the story...

I told you I couldn't resist.   

The story truly is good.  Not exactly what I would call happy..but it is a very strong story.  Even though it is set over 100 years ago - I can't remember the years covered now - there are story elements that really are still relevant. 
I know singing to tell a story isn't exactly realistic..but I can overlook that and enjoy the story and the songs.  The music in this is wonderful.  Of course, I've only heard little bits from the movie, but I know the music from my soundtracks from stage productions. 

Anyway..I've been watching the website for my local theater to see when they would have show times for Christmas to see if the movie would be here - this theater taken months to get other musicals at times.  Tonight, it showed that there was info for Christmas now ..and the movie will be here.  So far, the only show times they have up for that day are for this movie.  I'm so releaved that the movie will be here.  I was already starting to think about going to Columbus to see it if I had to.  Glad I won't have to do that now.

[Dragonfire]

I finally saw the movie today. 

I'm still wrapping my brain around everything...and recovering emotionally.  But it was a wonderful movie. 

I do want to get a review done...just need to think on it a bit.

[Piffi]

After watching 'The Golden Globe' and Les Miserables winning alot, and Anne Hathaway winning aswell.
And the movie being nominated for 8 Oscars! I have to check it out when it comes out.
Looking forward to reading your review.

[Dragonfire]

It is an amazing movie.  Emotionally stunning.  Anne Hathaway is ...I haven't figured out the words yet.  No performance has gotten to me before like she did.  She deserves every bit of praise she has gotten for the role and all the awards.  I'm emotional when it comes to some movies.  I knew the story before seeing the movie - I have soundtracks and I even saw the stage version once - and it has made me cry.  The movie was so much more emotional.  Seeing the actors closer - way closer than is possible with a stage performance - allows for so much more to be conveyed.  The fact that they sang live on set made a difference too.  That makes it more like the stage performance I think.  I could tell they were actually singing.  People look different when they are really singing and when they are just lip syncing.  I never really thought about it before, but I definitely noticed and it makes a difference for the performance. 

[Piffi]

I gotcha! Looking forward to check out it when it comes out on blu.
I dont watch movies in the theaters here anymore. Some messed up systems here.
But i havent seen\heard anything of Les Miserables before. So i dont know what to
expect really, so looking forward to your review. But after the praises they got on
The Golden Globe, and the trailer.. Look\Sounds like a allright flick. The problem (for me)
with a musical, is that there is a real fine line between a real good musical and a real bad one.

[Dragonfire]

The story could be a tad confusing if you don't know anything about it at first.  I know I didn't exactly know what was going on when I first heard the soundtrack - though that is always harder since we can't see anything that is happening.  Even after I became very familiar with the music, I still didn't get a few things that were going on.

Ohh..this one has more singing than some musicals.  Very, very little spoken dialogue..like just a handful of words - and that is more than there was in the stage show.  In it, there are only 3 spoken words.

[Najemikon]

Saw Les Mis last week.

What an awesome story. Wonderful film, with great characters and beautifully directed.

If only they'd stop with all the bloody singing!! For crying out loud, what purpose does it serve, other than to spoil the flow of the the pissing plot?! Stupid musicals.

It just proved to me everything I've ever said, and I know it's me, and everyone gets dew-eyed about how magical it is, but for f...

For a start, the format of relating the story through song just screws up the pacing; they're racing to get to the next sodding chorus, you don't have time to breathe and incidental scenes suffer. I watched a clip online from the original film where Valjean steals from the priest who helps him and is caught, but humbled by the priests reaction. It's a profound moment, but in the musical, I found it felt rushed.

And I just cannot bear it when they are singing for the sake of singing, overlapping one another or singing AT each other. Ridiculous. Then you have Russell Crowe; most of his role could have been silent and you know what? He's such a great actor, his scenes would have had immense power considering his character. But no! Etiquette demands he warbles and looks like a pillock while doing it!

Taken out of context, several songs were wonderful. It was interesting hearing Anne Hathaway singing Dream A Dream with the proper emotion considering Susan Boyle turned it into a pop hit. In those moments, it was easy to understand how it could work. A graceful performance and I can agree with you, Marie. But that final scene would have had me properly choked up, if they could have stopped with the goddamn singing!! It frustrated me to see sentimentality embraced honestly, which most films can't dare try anymore, yet then it was spoilt. Well, for me, anyway.

That made me realise where one of my problems with musicals lie and interestingly, my girlfriend, despite liking the film, volunteered the same point. She much prefers the stage version and bizarrely, I bet I would! She said they way it is performed through the songs makes more sense than this strange half version, where it's a dramatic film and normally, you'd expect people to just talk to one another.

There is nothing wrong with moments where a character pauses to sing a nice song to themselves, expressing emotion. Dream A Dream and the one Eponine sings (On My Own?) are beautiful and lyrical. Italian Realism at the end of the 60s would have embraced moments like that in any drama and it would have worked. Same way they all start singing suddenly in Magnolia.

But there so many indulgent musical show songs just for the sake of it. "Ididthis...THEN I DID THAT...i'lldoitagain...NOW I'LL SIIIINNNNGGGG THIIIIISSSS BIIIIITTTTT VEEEEEEERRRRRRRRYYYYYYY LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONGbutthenI'llsuddendly..........stop.......andcarry...OOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNN!"

Oh do shut up. Urgh.

[Kathy]

Jon says what I feel but I summed up my reaction to this film a little more succinctly: "I've turned into Pete". 

[Najemikon]

  Not that bad yet. 

This is the scene I was talking about from the original. Interesting comparison, if you forgive it its age...

[Dragonfire]

The stage version is different from the movie. 

I don't watch musicals all the time, but I do enjoy them when I watch them. I probably have to be in the right mood.  And Les Mis has more singing than many musicals..more opera like I guess.  I think the songs work well to move the story forward, though I do agree, it is a little odd for such a ...umm...serious and even borderline depressing story, to be told through song. 

Eponine's song was On My Own.  I first heard that years ago - long before I realized from it was from Les Mis - and I loved it.  It is just a beautiful song.  So is I Dreamed a Dream.  Both of them are emotional.

I really liked the fact that the bishop was played by the man who originated the part of Valjean in London and on Broadway.  Colim Wilkinson is the one on both of my soundtracks..and given the times I've listened to them...he will always be Valjean to me. 

I thought Russell Crowe was better in some scenes than others.  His singing was ...well...  I didn't think he was horrible, but his voice isn't right for this type of musical.

[samuelrichardscott]

The soundtrack has reached number 1 in the UK, the first time a movie soundtrack has been #1 since Evita.

I'm a little surprised as I would've thought perhaps Mamma Mia may have been top of the charts here, but seemingly not.

[Achim]

But there so many indulgent musical show songs just for the sake of it. "Ididthis...THEN I DID THAT...i'lldoitagain...NOW I'LL SIIIINNNNGGGG THIIIIISSSS BIIIIITTTTT VEEEEEEERRRRRRRRYYYYYYY LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONGbutthenI'llsuddendly..........stop.......andcarry...OOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNN!"

Oh do shut up. Urgh.

Yup, still not planning to see it...

[DSig]

I am still trying to figure out how they got a musical out of the book "Les Miserables".  When you read it you will wonder why it isn't called "Most Miserables" 

At least Spring Time for Hitler was just a funny bit in a movie ... not a real thing.

[Dragonfire]

It is ..odd.  Maybe because the story was so strong and has emotional elements..which can be done well with songs when they are well written.

[Najemikon]

I am still trying to figure out how they got a musical out of the book "Les Miserables".  When you read it you will wonder why it isn't called "Most Miserables" 

At least Spring Time for Hitler was just a funny bit in a movie ... not a real thing.

Oh it's moving and passionate stuff, no mistake, if you like the musical format. Isn't it the longest running show musical? In theatre circles, they refer to it as "The Glums"!