Les Mis

[JenniC]

Enough... I am now singing all of them over and over again

[Romig1]

I liked them all.

Full credit for the fact that the singing was recorded live and not lip-synched later.

The acting skills to be able to show that emotion (close-up on the big-screen) whilst singing are phenomenal. I know that some have criticised Russel Crowe's voice, but I thought he played a good part and his final scene was great, displaying the angst he felt being torn between duty and conscience.

I'm starting to sound like a 2nd rate critic...so I'll shut-up now!

[Romig1]

BTW...when does the DVD come out?

[Holiday Planner]

I really enjoyed it. I tried to read it on my Kindle on Tuesday, knowing I was going to see it on Wednesday evening. After 2 hours I was 5% through! 5 minutes into the film, I whispered to my friend 'That's where I got to!'. It was the point where Jean Valjean met the Bishop and stole from him.
In spite of having not read the book, I found ther plot easy to understand, and one of my friends who has seen the stage show 3 times, says sho now knows the story for the first time!
I couldn't see why Russell Crowe has had such poor reviews, but those I went with who know the stage version were very down on him, saying he wasn't cruel enough. They also hated Sacha Baron Cohen, who I thought was brilliantly funny.
There aren't many times when I've seen a cinema audience break into spontaneous applause as the credits roll, but they did this time, which I think says it all.

Angela

[frintonite]

Have booked tickets to go and see the film again tomorrow (Sunday) but with Sue this time as she is feeling better now

[Romig1]

I really enjoyed it. I tried to read it on my Kindle on Tuesday, knowing I was going to see it on Wednesday evening. After 2 hours I was 5% through! 5 minutes into the film, I whispered to my friend 'That's where I got to!'. It was the point where Jean Valjean met the Bishop and stole from him.
In spite of having not read the book, I found ther plot easy to understand, and one of my friends who has seen the stage show 3 times, says sho now knows the story for the first time!
I couldn't see why Russell Crowe has had such poor reviews, but those I went with who know the stage version were very down on him, saying he wasn't cruel enough. They also hated Sacha Baron Cohen, who I thought was brilliantly funny.
There aren't many times when I've seen a cinema audience break into spontaneous applause as the credits roll, but they did this time, which I think says it all.

Angela

Angela, we had a discussion about this at a dinner party tonight. I do wonder if the people who criticise aspects of the film for not being "true to the stage show" actually realise that it is all based on the Victor Hugo novel? And, if so, have they read it? IMO, any criticisms of the film should be in comparison to the book, and not the musical show.
Having not read the book I feel unable to make such criticisms.
Besides....I thought it was all fantastic!

[frintonite]

Was is as good second time around ?

YOU BET !!!!!

[oldbluefox]

Ray
I trust Sue enjoyed it too. Glad to hear she is much better.

[david63]

I do wonder if the people who criticise aspects of the film for not being "true to the stage show" actually realise that it is all based on the Victor Hugo novel? And, if so, have they read it? IMO, any criticisms of the film should be in comparison to the book, and not the musical show.
Having not read the book I feel unable to make such criticisms.
Besides....I thought it was all fantastic!

To be pedantic it is actually a film of the stage show of the book.

I gave up trying to read the book after the first 100 pages or so. The trouble with Victor Hugo is that he wanders off at tangents all over the place.

All the same brilliant film and what we found was that you actually listened to the words as there were no distractions.

(£2.50 for a bottle of water was, in my opinion, extortionate )

[Romig1]

I do wonder if the people who criticise aspects of the film for not being "true to the stage show" actually realise that it is all based on the Victor Hugo novel? And, if so, have they read it? IMO, any criticisms of the film should be in comparison to the book, and not the musical show.
Having not read the book I feel unable to make such criticisms.
Besides....I thought it was all fantastic!

To be pedantic it is actually a film of the stage show of the book.

I gave up trying to read the book after the first 100 pages or so. The trouble with Victor Hugo is that he wanders off at tangents all over the place.

All the same brilliant film and what we found was that you actually listened to the words as there were no distractions.

(£2.50 for a bottle of water was, in my opinion, extortionate )

Thank you Mr P Edant.

I read that Victor Hugo goes off on tangents for pages and pages.

Can't believe you paid for water...we took our own (of course), but were Top-Trumped by a couple of women on the row infront - who had a bottle of red open!

[Holiday Planner]

I do wonder if the people who criticise aspects of the film for not being "true to the stage show" actually realise that it is all based on the Victor Hugo novel? And, if so, have they read it? IMO, any criticisms of the film should be in comparison to the book, and not the musical show.
Having not read the book I feel unable to make such criticisms.
Besides....I thought it was all fantastic!

To be pedantic it is actually a film of the stage show of the book.

I gave up trying to read the book after the first 100 pages or so. The trouble with Victor Hugo is that he wanders off at tangents all over the place.

All the same brilliant film and what we found was that you actually listened to the words as there were no distractions.

(£2.50 for a bottle of water was, in my opinion, extortionate )

Thank you Mr P Edant.

I read that Victor Hugo goes off on tangents for pages and pages.

Can't believe you paid for water...we took our own (of course), but were Top-Trumped by a couple of women on the row infront - who had a bottle of red open!

Like David I tried to read it. I read the whole of the first 'Book', which didn't feature in the film at all as it was introducing the Bishop. The second book tells of Jean Vlajean looking for lodging, so the opening sequence in the film must appear later in the book ... but I didn't get that far! (I read for 2 hours, and can finish an Agatha Christie in that time, so am no slouch, but the Kindle showed I had read 5% of the book).
I took my own water too! (How do you smuggle in a bottle of Red?)

[frintonite]

if you every get to Guernsey, Victor H had a house there which is now a museum, and it was only a few pounds each to have an escorted tour, well worth it

Ray

[Kendhni]

For all you Les Mis fans, have you seen the South Korean airforce parody?

Link here

[Mrs007]

Just watched your link Ken, it was very funny and surprisingly well sung, just wished I'd realised sooner that there were English subtitles below the South Korean ones!

So the next time you're clearing your driveway of snow remember to break into song too.

[Anne D]

Hi OBF


To put it into a few words I would say ....for those who haven’t seen the stage musical then you’ll absolutely love this film...if you have seen the stage musical you’ll still love it but you may feel the film didn’t do the stage musical justice...I can’t quite put my finger on the reasons why but perhaps it had something to do with a couple of below par singing performances...

Regards

Keith

I couldnt have put it better. Thought the film was great but having seen the stage show four times I do prefer it. I think for me when I see the live show I really feel part of it and more involved. The music goes round in your head for days after. A truly wonderful show.

[oldbluefox]

For anybody suffering withdrawal symptoms there are also the Les Mis 10th and 25th Anniversary live concerts at the Royal Albert Hall with most of the original cast.

[frintonite]

We have the 25th DVD from the O2

Excellent !!!

[JenniC]

I have all the DVDs and CDs. I loved the film, but stage show still has the edge, gives me goosebumps ever time I hear "Do you hear the people sing"

[Mervyn and Trish]

We loved the show and the film, but may give the book a miss!

There were two big pluses for the film for us. One was that we understood the story from the beginning. The first half hour of the stage show was a bit of a mystery to us and we never did fully get the story, though we enjoyed the music and the spectacle. We'd like to see the stage show again now we have the plot sussed. The second plus was being able to enjoy the big wide shots and the intimate close ups on the soloists. In the theatre we were so high up and far back we needed oxygen and binoculars. For all we could see it could have been Dame Edna Everage playing Cosset!

[ItsmeAnnC]

Hi OBF


To put it into a few words I would say ....for those who haven’t seen the stage musical then you’ll absolutely love this film...if you have seen the stage musical you’ll still love it but you may feel the film didn’t do the stage musical justice...I can’t quite put my finger on the reasons why but perhaps it had something to do with a couple of below par singing performances...

Regards

Keith

I couldnt have put it better. Thought the film was great but having seen the stage show four times I do prefer it. I think for me when I see the live show I really feel part of it and more involved. The music goes round in your head for days after. A truly wonderful show.

I first saw Les Mis (affectionately known as The Glums) when it was on tour in Bristol. Then I saw the film and absolutely agree that the film doesn't quite work for me. The Thenadiers just didn't seem to belong and stuck out like pantomime characters in a serious film. In the stage musical this works much better, in my opinion, and the comedy element they bring is a brilliant juxtaposition with the tragedy scenes.
Last night I went to see the junior section of a local operatic company perform the school edition. What a fantastic show! The singing and acting were superb and I cried buckets (something that the film did not move me to do). Most of those taking part were between 15 and 18, apart from the boy who played Gavroche and the girl who played the young Cosette, both of whom were better singers than those in the film. One of my singing students (a 15 year-old bass) played Javere , and another (an 18 year-old tenor) played Marius. There was not a bad voice among them. I truly have not seen a better show all round for years - and I include cruise shows in that. They got a well-deserved standing ovation.

[towny44]

Hi OBF


To put it into a few words I would say ....for those who haven’t seen the stage musical then you’ll absolutely love this film...if you have seen the stage musical you’ll still love it but you may feel the film didn’t do the stage musical justice...I can’t quite put my finger on the reasons why but perhaps it had something to do with a couple of below par singing performances...

Regards

Keith

I couldnt have put it better. Thought the film was great but having seen the stage show four times I do prefer it. I think for me when I see the live show I really feel part of it and more involved. The music goes round in your head for days after. A truly wonderful show.

I have to agree with this, only seen snippets of the film on the seascreen on Azura, it failed to hold my attention and only made me look up from a Jack Reacher novel I was reading as a particular song made me listen. But even the highlight arias failed to keep me watching and I quickly reverted to Lee Childs dialogue. I was very disappointed.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Loved the stage show and love the film. There are so many changes of location and time at the beginning we didn't really fully understand the story until we'd seen the film.

[Dark Knight]

must be me then, thought the film was an overblown mess
and some of the songs were butchered with a very blunt knife
Master of the house was a travesty and it was to me ,a case of style over substance