My Thoughts
I finally got to see Les Miserables in the theatre. I went with my sister during Christmas break. First off, let me say it was amazing!! The emotion, the music, the singing, every last detail. The fact that Colm Wilkinson is the Bishop (google him). I had high expectations for the movie since I love the musical so much. I used to play the soundtrack on my ghettoblaster (yes, it was on a tape) as act it out with my dolls. I know every word. So my standards are pretty high. Within 5 seconds of the movie starting, I was impressed.
My notes: No wonder they had to sing live. Most, if not all, of the dialogue is sung and a kind of spoken/singing hybrid. If it was prerecorded, all the actors would be mimes for the entire movie.
I bawled. Like a baby. But I wasn't the worse in the theatre. There was a lady in front of me who I could hear sobbing. I'm glad I brought extra Kleenex.
Some if the songs were out of order. I Dreamed A Dream is supposed to come right after Fantine gets fired, not after she becomes a prostitute. But I should say it makes more sense where the movie has it. So much more powerful. Also, On My Own isn't right after A Heart Full of Love. She's joined the fight on the barricade and Marius has given her a letter to take to Cosette and as she walks to her house, she sings the song. Again, I kinda like the movie's interpretation. She has just witnessed Marius and Cosette sing how much they love each other and she comes to the conclusion that she is all alone. Then there is the Hugh Jackman version of Val Jean singing Bring Him Home. And while I am a huge Hugh Jackman fan (and he did a good job) nobody sings this song better than Colm Wilkinson. There might be more songs out if order but I may have missed it. There is a new song. I was horrified when I heard that they added an original song but it it in so well that it didn't bother me at all when I watched it. And in the end when Fantine come to Val Jean to take him to heaven, Eponine also appears and sings with her. In the movie, it's the Bishop. I always figured Eponine is there to represent the students and the revolution. She does show up in the end of the movie at the barricade so that's a nice touch. And once more, the movie version makes more sense. It was the Bishop who led him to God in the first place so it only makes sense that he opens the gates if Heaven for him.
The only let down? Russel Crowe. Now I'm not a big fan to begin with so maybe I shouldn't talk. He did have some strikes against him to begin with. One, Javert is kinda a one dimensional guy until the end. And Russel Crowe isn't known for his singing, even though he is in a band. But then I was told he was on Broadway. Really? He sounded like he was singing too high and he mumbled everything. Also, not a big fan of the Thénardiers in the movie. I love them in the musical but they seemed so much worse and mean in the movie. In the musical, they are so much more comical and somewhat harmless (to a point). And they weren't as funny in the movie which was kind if a let down because they are so great in the musical (watch the 10th anniversary movie sometimes played on PBS. All they do is sing at a microphone and its still better than the movie version).
I see that iTunes has the soundtrack out for download. I was all ready to buy it all until I got there. There are only 20 songs on it (its called highlights for a reason I guess). I listened to a bit of it but its kinda strange - it's one thing to watch them sing these songs but to hear they by themselves is just odd. For me, it reminded me when the soundtrack to Walk the Line came out. Why would you buy a CD of Joaquin Phoenix playing Johnny Cash singing Johnny cash songs when you could just buy a Johnny Cash CD? Besides I have that album so ingrained in my brain that any other version sounds weird.
So those are my notes. Excuse the longwindedness. I'm really glad I got to see it and even more glad that I got to see it with my sister! I can't wait until it comes out to own. No doubt I will be right there to hear the people sing.
My notes: No wonder they had to sing live. Most, if not all, of the dialogue is sung and a kind of spoken/singing hybrid. If it was prerecorded, all the actors would be mimes for the entire movie.
I bawled. Like a baby. But I wasn't the worse in the theatre. There was a lady in front of me who I could hear sobbing. I'm glad I brought extra Kleenex.
Some if the songs were out of order. I Dreamed A Dream is supposed to come right after Fantine gets fired, not after she becomes a prostitute. But I should say it makes more sense where the movie has it. So much more powerful. Also, On My Own isn't right after A Heart Full of Love. She's joined the fight on the barricade and Marius has given her a letter to take to Cosette and as she walks to her house, she sings the song. Again, I kinda like the movie's interpretation. She has just witnessed Marius and Cosette sing how much they love each other and she comes to the conclusion that she is all alone. Then there is the Hugh Jackman version of Val Jean singing Bring Him Home. And while I am a huge Hugh Jackman fan (and he did a good job) nobody sings this song better than Colm Wilkinson. There might be more songs out if order but I may have missed it. There is a new song. I was horrified when I heard that they added an original song but it it in so well that it didn't bother me at all when I watched it. And in the end when Fantine come to Val Jean to take him to heaven, Eponine also appears and sings with her. In the movie, it's the Bishop. I always figured Eponine is there to represent the students and the revolution. She does show up in the end of the movie at the barricade so that's a nice touch. And once more, the movie version makes more sense. It was the Bishop who led him to God in the first place so it only makes sense that he opens the gates if Heaven for him.
The only let down? Russel Crowe. Now I'm not a big fan to begin with so maybe I shouldn't talk. He did have some strikes against him to begin with. One, Javert is kinda a one dimensional guy until the end. And Russel Crowe isn't known for his singing, even though he is in a band. But then I was told he was on Broadway. Really? He sounded like he was singing too high and he mumbled everything. Also, not a big fan of the Thénardiers in the movie. I love them in the musical but they seemed so much worse and mean in the movie. In the musical, they are so much more comical and somewhat harmless (to a point). And they weren't as funny in the movie which was kind if a let down because they are so great in the musical (watch the 10th anniversary movie sometimes played on PBS. All they do is sing at a microphone and its still better than the movie version).
I see that iTunes has the soundtrack out for download. I was all ready to buy it all until I got there. There are only 20 songs on it (its called highlights for a reason I guess). I listened to a bit of it but its kinda strange - it's one thing to watch them sing these songs but to hear they by themselves is just odd. For me, it reminded me when the soundtrack to Walk the Line came out. Why would you buy a CD of Joaquin Phoenix playing Johnny Cash singing Johnny cash songs when you could just buy a Johnny Cash CD? Besides I have that album so ingrained in my brain that any other version sounds weird.
So those are my notes. Excuse the longwindedness. I'm really glad I got to see it and even more glad that I got to see it with my sister! I can't wait until it comes out to own. No doubt I will be right there to hear the people sing.
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