Les Misérables

ujn

gg

Les Misérables_360P

Les Misérables_720p(480P)

source: Les Misérables

After reviewing a number of the other reviews here, it is clear that I just didn't get it. The 'sung- through' style of 'singing' any dialog between the characters was, uh, agonizing to sit through. Of the main characters only Hathaway and Seyfried could hold a note; Jackman and Crowe should really, and I mean really, never appear in a musical again. Another disconcerting thing was the character Gavroche, the little urchin kid, who spoke and sang with an extreme English Cockney accent. Really? If they needed a kid with an accent are you telling me that the producers couldn't find a kid, any kid, with an accent similar to the other actors/actresses in the film, or, hell, maybe a French accent?? Just sayin'. I knew I was out of synch with my feelings about the film when entering the bathroom before leaving the theater I heard the gentleman in the next stall whistling the man theme song. It was apparently a profound movie experience for him.

A well-executed and powerful musical from Tom Hooper, 'Les Misérables' stood alongside 'Skyfall' as Britain's two main entries at the 2013 Academy Awards and left with 3 Oscars. Featuring some bravura performances from an all-star cast including Anne Hathaway (Oscar winner), Hugh Jackman (Oscar nominated), Russell Crowe, Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter. Set against the sweeping backdrop of 19th-century France, 'Les Mis' tells an enthralling and emotional story of passion, love and redemption, accompanied by some stunning cinematography, uplifting musical numbers and flawless direction. While it does drag on at parts, 'Les Mis' is generally an impeccably crafted musical to be enjoyed by all.

Epic, limb-numbing musical-infused version could possibly be the biggest turkey I've seen this side of Christmas (it opened here on Boxing day so the analogy is relevant). Hugh Jackman seems like a tremendous stage actor, full of the exuberance and intensity needed for that medium, but for film, he's consistently over-wrought (in my opinion). Often his portrayal fails to convince me, his expression becomes 'comfortable' looking, failing to exude that sense of despondency that Jean Valjean experiences throughout his life, the subject of the ruthless tyrant Javert's (Crowe) relentless pursuit and character assassination. Big Russ actually seems restrained, almost pensive in some respects and I was glad to see the make-up crew didn't give him a Bonaparte hair-do; Helena Bonham-Carter's, on the other hand, has the look of an electrified troll doll - not to take away from her talents as a thespian, but the look was truly maniacal. I reserve my most ardent criticism for Anne Hathaway. "The Devil Wears Prada" suited her style, whereas she doesn't seem "mature" enough for this role, she always looks adolescent, her porcelain skin defying the rigours of her character's desperate predicament. If perchance you're a fan of the epic film-musical set to battle hymns, then this version of "Les Mis" might pique your interest once more. For me, I'm content to stick with Richard Jordan's more inspired Jean Valjean from the seventies.

I wanted to watch Les Miserables in a movie theater but somehow I did not manage to do it on time, so I bought the DVD.... Sorry for the money. I do not know if my expectations are too high (being myself a musician) but I sort of think that what a musical is all about is singing. Acting is important, costumes can be nice and it does not hurt if the takes are nice too. However, hence the word MUSICal, it's all about music, and Les Miserables are simply miserable in this respect. The main two actors (Jackman and Craw) are undoubtedly very good actors but have no idea how to sing; They are incapable of singing a straight note and it is obvious that they never had any real lessons except probably at acting school (as usual with these cases a month's coaching before the shooting is not enough - all professional e.g. Broadway singers who suffer for years are not stupid, they do it for a reason). Had they not been famous, everyone would laugh. Whoever does not believe me simply please buy the CD with some proper cast (for instance Michael Ball or Anthony Warlow). If one can tolerate the insufferable singing, I admit that the rest is excellent. The acting is superb, the takes breathtaking, the costumes and sets fantastic, and the emotions overwhelming. If.... I take away five stars for the awful music and give full credit to the rest. However, music is in my opinion half the job, and in this case half a job very badly done.

I went into this film with high hopes since the cast has some very talented actors, and then I remember it was a musical, and most of these people can't sing. "Phantom of the Opera" had a similar problem with its lead performer; however the leading lady was superb, and the direction quite spectacular, and it didn't hurt that the songs were good. That's not the case with this big, horrible mess. In addition to being one of the most boring movies ever made, there is very little to like beside some sets and costumes, and the fact that Hugh Jackman can hold a note for almost a minute. Other than that, Hathaway overacts, Crowe looks disturbed most of the film and appears to be missing something. I can't even find words to describe the emotions I discovered with Helena and Sasha. They finally met their match. For years, these two have survived a few cinematic bombs, but this movie is the equivalent of the Black Plague... Very little is left standing. With a camera that seems to be on some type of epileptic seizure, a very truncated story line, and one of the most incredibly unappealing and forgettable song scores of the last hundred years, it's hard to enjoy something that calls itself a musical, but doesn't quite have anything remotely close to a melody. For more than two hours, one hears something akin to the scratching of nails on a blackboard, and why does everyone wear so much rouge? A few years ago the director gathered some of the best British and Australian talent and won a Best Picture Oscar with a very weak film. This type the trick doesn't work because the material and the direction are outstandingly weak. If the musical genre doesn't suffer a painful death after this, nothing will be able to kill it. If Jackman's character got 19 years in jail for stealing a loaf of bread, I can't even imagine what a judge would give the producers and directors for creating this tuneless torture. Fantine was lucky to meet her maker in the first 20 minutes... We had to endure 2.5 hours of this horrible experience.