Les Miserables

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   faraujo120posted 11 years ago

   What did everyone think of the 2013 movie version of Les Miserables starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway?  I'd like to hear your opinion. And let me know what your favorite part of the film was.

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      A Troubled Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It was pretty good, for a musical. I cant say though, I was very impressed with the singing abilities of the main actors, especially Crowe. With musicals, the singers must be very good.
      
      I still prefer the 1998 version with Uma Thurman, Geoffrey Rush and Liam Neeson.

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         faraujo120posted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I have it on my movie que for my next Netflix rental. I am not a big fan of musicals but I am curious about this movie because it one Academy Awards and such.  I haven't seen that 1998 version. I will have to check that one out.

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   annajazzposted 11 years ago

   Overall the movie was great. I do not believe that Hugh Jackman was the right person to play Jean Valjean though. He had the right acting ability for it, but his constant attempt to change how the music was suppose to be song was brutal. It did not fit at all. It is one thing to place emotion into a song like Anne Hathaway did(she was perfect for her part), but Jackman kept cutting notes short, talking notes instead of singing them, and singing in a weak voice where a powerful one was needed. I am voicing this opinion as a musician myself and someone who has seen the performance live. I totally thought  the movie was going to be horrible after his opening solos, thankfully, everyone else could sing. A lot of people have been critical of Crowns limited rang for his voice, but I thought it fit very well. He stuck to the melody, sung it right, and only made adjustments for his voice (as any singer should). My favorites part have to have been Anne Hathaway singing I dreamed a dream and Samantha Barks performance of On my Own, beautiful totally beautiful.

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      faraujo120posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with you about Hugh Jackman. And I think Russell Crowe didn't fit his role either and I think he's a crappy singer, hehehee.

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         faraujo120posted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I think Russell Crowe used to have his own band, an Australian blend of I don't know if it's a mix of rock , pop, or what it was, it was nonsense to me, it was called "Thirty Odd Feet of Grunt" or something foolish like that. heheheeee. If you check out a you tube video and type in Russell Crowe's band, I think you might be able to listen to one of their songs. hehe

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      faraujo120posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Have you been watching that miniseries The Bible on the History Channel? Check out my hub for the trailer. Tomorrow is the last episode. It's supposed to be a good one. Thanks for responding! Have  a nice weekend!

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   Lee-Franczykposted 11 years ago

   I watched this movie the other day with my wife. I hadn't really seen another version and really was quite ignorant of the whole piece of work. I found the story to be very depressing. It was brilliant in it's writing and composition, Everyone did a very nice job with the exception of Anne Hathaway.I found her voice to be really stretched for the role that she played. I generally like her but found some of the other female vocals to be much more enjoyable then hers. I would recommend the film to others with a word of caution. If you are in any way depressed or feeling low, this is not the film for you.

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      Kathryn L Hillposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It is about the redemption of of Jean Valjean. Victor Hugo believed in the United States of Europe and predicted that the nations of Europe would join together.

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   Marisa Wrightposted 11 years ago

   Isn't it interesting to hear people's reactions to the voices?
   
   The big obstacle for me was the recitative - I hate it in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals too.  I can't see the point of semi-sung dialogue.  It makes it harder for the actors to express emotion, and it's tuneless.   I would much rather have heard them speaking normally between songs, which would have given them more chance to convey character.
   
   I thought Russell Crowe was awful.   I suppose he was meant to be stoic but he just came across as wooden - especially as all his songs were sung carefully in tune, but without any feeling.   He seemed self-conscious, and it seemed like he was so concerned with getting the singing right, he forgot to act!  It was a mystery to me why he committed suicide at the end, which shouldn't have been the case if it was acted properly.
   
   I did think Hugh Jackman's voice sounded forced at times.  I saw an interview with the director who explained that he had asked everyone to sing for emotion first and melody second, so if Hugh wasn't singing it "straight", he can't be blamed for that.  I'm not familiar with the music so I'm not sure what the songs should've sounded like.
   
   I wasn't that convinced by Anne Hathaway's character - but for me, the high point was her singing I Dreamed a Dream, and the rest of the movie was an anti-climax.  I found myself still remembering that song days later, whereas the rest of the movie was pretty forgettable.

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   Zelkiiroposted 11 years ago

   The 2013 version?! Man, they just released a big Hollywood production version last year in 2012, and they're doing another?!

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      Marisa Wrightposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I guess it depends what part of the world you're in.

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