Les Miserables - The Musical Movie

[YOhio]

One part in the movie really made me laugh. It was near the end when Jean Valjean and the two lovebirds were in a big mansion singing and then out of nowhere pops up Marius' old grandpa, a dead ringer for Colonel Sanders. It reminded me of those 90's Adam Sandler movies where random characters would show up like Abe Lincoln in Happy Gilmore.

[LiveCoug]

I'll start the bidding at $0.00

I will quadruple your bid, but I go no further.

[Blueintheface]

Hopefully they don't sign along

It can be very distracting.

[dabrockster]

I saw it tonight and I was really disappointed that the Rave Cinemas don't offer free refills like Showcase Cinemas did before Rave bought them out. OTOH, I now am in possession of a Hobbit collectors cup that I would be willing to sell for the right price.

This is a good report. I will now stay clear of the Polaris Mall and the Rave Cinemas up there...

[LA Ute]

It can be very distracting.

I am sorry, but I have the exclusive right to use that image on CUF in any thread in which YOhio is participating. This will be your last warning.

[Moliere]

Very fulfilling.

Spoiler for Not much of a spoiler:

When Javert is first singing while walking around the top of the building he is facing Notre Dame. Given his location in Paris he is very likely walking along the edge of the Prefecture, which is kind of a police station/government law office. It's a great shot with him holding to his roots at that time and disregarding (or maybe facing) the mercy portrayed by the cathedral.

Then when he commits suicide he is walking along a bridge behind Notre Dame, which is likely one that connects onto Ile Saint Louis, which is the first settlement spot of the Parisians back around 0ad. I guess I just liked the contrast of Javert making the change from that of holding to the law as to embracing mercy as it is shown with his location, especially his locaiton as it pertains to Notre Dame.

[Northwestcoug]

That's a musical.

Doesn't matter. Even in a musical, there is some spoken dialogue. There couldn't have been more than 5 spoken lines in les mis!

It really needed an intermission!

[scottie]

Doesn't matter. Even in a musical, there is some spoken dialogue. There couldn't have been more than 5 spoken lines in les mis!

It really needed an intermission!

LOL--not in Les Mis there isn't.

[MarkGrace]

LOL--not in Les Mis there isn't.

That doesn't mean they couldn't have done it. They already chose to do it in parts - just should have done it more.

[scottie]

That doesn't mean they couldn't have done it. They already chose to do it in parts - just should have done it more.

If only they knew what they were doing...

Just seems quite funny to me that a criticism of a movie based solely on the musical Les Freaking Miserables would be "Too much singing."

[MarkGrace]

If only they knew what they were doing...

Just seems quite funny to me that a criticism of a movie based solely on the musical Les Freaking Miserables would be "Too much singing."

Why? I've seen it mentioned in a number of reviews. You've chosen to cast people who aren't the most gifted singers and then asked them to sing constantly. It makes some of their shortcomings more glaring IMO and in some ways undercuts the decision you've made in the casting. And Hooper already seems aware of this as he's made the decision to talk-sing instead of full out sing in several parts. I just think it could have benefitted by going a step further. But that's just my $.02. Jay disagrees!

[Northwestcoug]

If only they knew what they were doing...

Just seems quite funny to me that a criticism of a movie based solely on the musical Les Freaking Miserables would be "Too much singing."

The 'too much singing' was a little TIC. I know what the musical was like going in, as I've seen the play at the prestigious Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary. But it just didn't translate well in a movie. There was too much singing

[LA Ute]

A little on the nature of "sung-through" musicals:

"Les Mis" is a sung-through musical, meaning there's very little spoken dialogue. It's almost entirely in song, which turns the seamless musical numbers into pure expressions of emotion.

It's not the first sung-through musical film, but the concept is still alien to most audiences. It's a testament to the power of the musical genre, though; it's only through song that characters can express their pure anger, lust, sadness, greed and the like.

It's not all that unusual. Here are a few other musicals that are sung-through:

Cats
Evita
Jesus Christ Superstar
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Miss Saigon
Starlight Express

You're welcome.

[MarkGrace]

A little on the nature of "sung-through" musicals:



It's not all that unusual. Here are a few other musicals that are sung-through:

Cats
Evita
Jesus Christ Superstar
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Miss Saigon
Starlight Express

You're welcome.

Nobody said it's unusual. The question is whether it worked in adapting from stage to screen (or I suppose you could question how well it even works on stage). I say it could have been done differently because the experience from stage to screen is different, especially when you've chosen to employ actors not singers. Others disagree. But the discussion is fun.

[OrangeUte]

A+

Absolutely incredibly done. I had no problems with this movie, the casting, or the performances. If a movie was ever going to be made of Les Mis, this absolutely exceeded my expectations.