freddie Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 3 of us are going Saturday night. New yrs resolution is to actually go out with my friends once a month, rather than just working 24/7!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charly1979 Posted January 11, 2013 Author Share Posted January 11, 2013 Would it be wrong to go this afternoon when it finishes at 3 and my kids need to be collected at 3:15 and the cinema is a good 30 mins away ??? WIll have to go next week but will be very envious of those seeing it before me hoping you all have a great time and enjoy yourselves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Wonder if I can convince DS that going to see Les Mis with his mama is a good 16th birthday treat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charly1979 Posted January 11, 2013 Author Share Posted January 11, 2013 Wonder if I can convince DS that going to see Les Mis with his mama is a good 16th birthday treat Just tell him its the law then frog march him to the cinema. The look on his face will be worth it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Bless him...none of his male best buds can come home this weekend, but his girl ones can...so I think he may be less than impressed at an enforced musical outing with me on top of an all girl (plus Dad of course!) birthday dinner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 We went to see the stage show with 2 16 year old boys and 2 14 year old boys in November and they all really enjoyed it so I think yours would probably like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charly1979 Posted January 11, 2013 Author Share Posted January 11, 2013 I have the orginal but heres some info that popped up on my facebook page The Les Misérables soundtrack is currently No.1 on iTunes! The physical CD will be out on Monday so let's 'rally the people' and keep it at No.1 where it belongs! iTunes - http://smarturl.it/LesMisITUNES Amazon - http://smarturl.it/LesMisAM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Ok so went to the BFI Imax today with DS to see the film. As already mentioned I am a complete Les Mis novice never having seen the stage show, and don't really know the tunes either....so my verdict of the film for what it's worth - there were some fantastic performances from the two australian boys....but I think it is overly long, the story line didn't hang together very well, I couldn't really understand the motives behind one character at all and it got very bogged down in the whole love story thing by which point I was getting fidgety and checking my watch....and wishing there was some dialogue...so would I go to see it again..no...once was enough for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Just got back, we really enjoyed it. YS said he understood the story more from the film as you can see the actors expressions & hear the words clearer than the stage version. We had tears falling in certain bits, I enjoyed Russell Crowe's singing more than I expected to (Javert is my favourite character). Anne Hathaway blew me away with her interpretation of Fantine, wonderfully done. I was quite impressed with Eddie Redmayne too, when he sang empty chairs at empty tables it really choked me up. Hubby had more tears in his eyes than me, he wants to see it again next week! We bought the movie soundtrack whilst we were there. I have a feeling that Les Mis - either film or stage show might be like marmite, you either love it or hate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 It will be interesting to see what Phil thinks; he's never seen a musical before and doesn't do theatre, whereas I saw it on stage with the original cast and love musicals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 I can see how it could be confusing if you don't know the show or haven't heard the songs, but I realised some things watching the film that I didn't pick up from the songs or the show! I saw Samantha Barks as Eponine in the West End and then she's playing the same in the film, which is quite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Frances Ruffelle was in that role when I saw it Lewis, I have to say that I prefer Sam Barks' voice from what I've heard of it. I've never been a fan of Michael Ball (too full of himself) but Eddie Redmayne is quite yummy for a young lad. I'm getting really excited now. Rosie is with her dad this weekend, she wanted to see it so I invited them along but he seems to have vetoed it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 I can see how it could be confusing if you don't know the show or haven't heard the songs, but I realised some things watching the film that I didn't pick up from the songs or the show! quote As far as I could tell from my one exposure...there was no resolution (which I found ultimately unsatisfying) one character achieves redemption early on...the other doesn't and then acts obsessively and eventually throws everything he stand for away..not sure why? Edited to add...sorry on rereading this seems very negative..didn't mean it to be so... I love marmite and I didn't hate this film... but I didn't love it either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 Spoiler alert do not read any further if you don't know the story ! Sadietoo - I think I now have the measure of javert having seen the stage show twice and now the film (which I absolutely loved ) Javert thinks that a criminal is always a criminal and when he finally realises that Valjean is truly a good man he can't cope with it as it turns his core beliefs upside down and he ends it all I thought the film was astonishing. Russell Crowe was the weakest for me. Anne hathaway's rendition of I dreamed a dream was truly haunting, Eddie Redmayne and Hugh Jackman were brilliant . Everyone clapped at the end. I felt like standing up and joining in with the song ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 We all clapped at the end of our showing as well and Chickendoodle I agree with your summary of Javert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 We've just seen it; such an emotional roller coaster, it took me a bit to get into it, but what an amazing film. Massive performances by all those mentioned above, great cinematography, sets, costumes and make up. Needed my tissues though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 Spoiler alert do not read any further if you don't know the story ! Sadietoo - I think I now have the measure of javert having seen the stage show twice and now the film (which I absolutely loved ) Javert thinks that a criminal is always a criminal and when he finally realises that Valjean is truly a good man he can't cope with it as it turns his core beliefs upside down and he ends it all Thanks Chickendoodle for the explaination , but my problem with it is that I can't see how a professed Christian such as Javert (first song about Lucifer falling etc) would commit suicide and condemn himself ((by his own belief) to hell..... no matter the provocation.... it just doesn't make any sense to me, and weakens the whole plot imo.... Anyway, the songs have stayed with me today, and I still have some images from the film in my head, so it must have impressed me at some level.....Glad everyone who already loves the show is enjoying the film...it's so disappointing when things don't live up to your expectations. One thing that a critic said,and I think it is a valid point and would have added to my personal enjoyment, is that the stage show benefits from an intermission...if only this film had had one. Does anyone remember the days when a film had an intermission...I remember Sound of Music did when it first came out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 I always joke about the old days when the usherettes would come round with trays of ice cream and Kia Ora. I'm a major fidget, just not used to sitting still but managed to sit, enthralled through out the film. I guess it's horses for courses though. Phil loved it too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Marple Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 I'm with Chickendoodle here. Sorry haven't read all posts yet. Just got back in from seeing it- fantastic!!! Seen the stage show twice and never quite got the plot. I think for me what made the difference was the clarity of the enunciation in the film, so I understood every word; especially when different characters were singing their version of events (Sorry Emeli Sande!) I didn't see Javert as a professed Christian, more a man than had been born in a prison and felt that all prisoners were life's detritus and incapable of change. Perhaps we needed his backstory but then I don't think Victor Hugo wrote one as such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 Also I hadn't realised that Marius had a rich family home with a Father. I could never work out how Valjean rescued him but Marius never knew it was him (always assumed that he recovered in Valjean's house). The film made it clear that he recovered in his family home Always thought that the barricades depicted were part of the revolution and had some point but it seems that they were just a hopeless stand and a tragic waste of young lives Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddie Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 Went last night, never seen the stage show, and didn't know the plot at all, only realised this week that "I dreamed" was a song from les Mis. (philistine) Loved it., Thought H Jackmans ' voice was not the strongest, Eddie R was mesmerising, and the passion of youth, both romantically, and politically, was portrayed with such force... Sad film though, really, as everyone has so much to bear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Marple Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 Also I hadn't realised that Marius had a rich family home with a Father. I could never work out how Valjean rescued him but Marius never knew it was him (always assumed that he recovered in Valjean's house). The film made it clear that he recovered in his family home Always thought that the barricades depicted were part of the revolution and had some point but it seems that they were just a hopeless stand and a tragic waste of young lives Tiannanmen Square in a previous life perhaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 Did anyone else notice that Colm Wilkinson was the Bishop who gave away the silver? He was the original Jean Valjean in Les Mis. I thought it was a lovely touch to have him in the film. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 Subjected OH this on Sat night. I loved it!!! I have seen the stage version and cried a bit in that. I sobbed at least 4 times in the film and couldn't stop at the end, hubby was thrilled with that I understood much more of the plot after watching the film, can't believe how well they converted it. Just to warn you Dogmother that not all partners agree on this film Mr Mostin said it was the most depressing and miserable 2 1/2 hours of his life Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charly1979 Posted January 14, 2013 Author Share Posted January 14, 2013 I always thought the final straw re Javert was after Valjean let him go free at the barricade ? Still not managed to see the film yet as I have an ear infection but still looking forward to it. Those who have been my friend read reviews saying it was too noisey ?? It won't bother me as I had a music teacher whose rule regarding classical and musicals that they had to be listened to at full volume so much to hubbbys disappointment that's what I do but my friend is worried she won't enjoy the film because of this ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
