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Post by cijay on Dec 28, 2012 16:38:13 GMT
Saw it on Boxing Day, wondering if there are any fans of the musical who have seen it and what did you think? I've heard some negative comments but mostly by people who were comparing the BOOK to the movie...always a bad idea, or by people who don't like musicals.
I have seen it about a dozen times on the big stage here, high school productions, the mother stage in London and the two anniversary productions and have never seen it done poorly (given allowance to high school students of course).
I just loved the movie. Russell Crowe has been taking a S ;D ;D ;D kicking for his 'poor' work. I don't even like him and I thought he was great. (Bearing in mind, these people were not trained opera/musical stage stars).
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Post by Avenger on Dec 29, 2012 11:15:19 GMT
I love the music and story but haven't seen it on stage and am really looking forward to it reaching the UK. My favourite film is Evita and it looks like this is similar in that they've made a stage musical into a proper film instead of something that looks like a camera pointed at a stage...
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Post by the light works on Dec 29, 2012 12:25:09 GMT
though I'm not a fan of LeMis, I actually have the opposite complaint about many stage shows converted into movies. in too many of them the cameraman seems to be WAY too impressed with his zoom lens, and keeps flipping the camera about giving the impression of a camera pointed at the stage by a spastic with ADD. (of course, too many modern shows also appear to be edited by the same guy)
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Post by User Unavailable on Dec 29, 2012 16:31:04 GMT
Have not seen it, will wait for it on DVD. I have seen clips and was not impressed by Russel Crowes singing.
My son has seen it, liked the movie, though also was not impressed by some of the actors singing ability.
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Post by cijay on Dec 29, 2012 18:30:19 GMT
Yes, this is very much a "movie", with the camera aimed at the performers. Maybe that's what I love most about it (not more than the stage play...still the best) is that, being hearing impaired, it's nice to see the real words by the real actors rather than just 'relying' on knowing the lyrics.
Poor Russell, everyone is having a go at him...he wasn't that bad for someone NOT trained in musical theatre and he was a strong presence as Javert.
All I'll say to anyone going is to not compare it to the book or the play...watch it for what it is.
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Post by rory on Jan 3, 2013 13:26:19 GMT
My mum complained it was more about the love story bit of the book other the French revolution bit, she would have prefered more of the latter. I haven't seen it yet
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Post by User Unavailable on Jan 9, 2013 20:14:57 GMT
Okay, here is a review that George Takei had posted on his FB page. ;D
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Post by cijay on Jan 11, 2013 5:47:16 GMT
Okay, here is a review that George Takei had posted on his FB page. ;D LOL that's rich. That reminds me of someone - during Passion of the Christ had a cartoon of someone asking "why is everyone shouting at Yanni?" But he touched on something that I have feared but never encountered and that is someone singing along. |
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Post by User Unavailable on Jan 12, 2013 0:52:03 GMT
Oh, I have been to musicals at the local community theater and at the high school, where audience members sang the songs.
Even had it happen in a movie or two.
It IS distracting and annoying. Folks are there for the performance. Not some audience members off key caterwauling.
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Post by silverdragon on Jan 12, 2013 8:34:31 GMT
Russell Crow SINGING?....
Just a moment, can we have a moment to reflect that NON-Singing actors have had to play singing parts in this movie?...
So why include them?... perhaps because they can contribute something more than just being 100% "In Tune", and then again, perhaps being in tune is not always important for certain parts....
There is not one spoken word in the whole of the movie?...
Can we reflect THAT as well?....
As in, didnt they do well?....
Certain actors play parts where they were not supposed to have voices of angels.....
No I am not a huge fan of LesMis, but I can appreciate the effort that went into the making of a 100% musical, and Russell Singing.. I have seen the bits they release as trailers, and he doesnt sound as bad as say perhaps ME trying to sing that part.....
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Post by cijay on Jan 31, 2013 6:59:28 GMT
Well, he could have done worse and his presence as Javert was as good as any of today's film stars. (I didn't really buy Hugh Jackman as Valjean either because they didn't age him apropriately). Russell is taking a lot of jokes and punches about it. People asked "why him?" and I ask "why not?"
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Post by mrfatso on Jan 31, 2013 16:37:14 GMT
My mum complained it was more about the love story bit of the book other the French revolution bit, she would have prefered more of the latter. I haven't seen it yet
I think strictly speaking it isn`t set in the 18th century Revolution, but a later 19th century uprising, it`s a small point, but in the same way that in English history there have been several civil wars, Stephen and Matilda, the War of the Roses for example The Civil war for us is the Cavalier armies of King Charles and Parliamentarians of Cromwell.
Having said that I have a Mum, and trying to explain things like that I know can be very hard, best not to get in a row about it.
An argument that I have heard is that everyones teeth are far to good to be the downtrodden poor that they are cast as. I haven`t seen it yet, but I would hope that Hugh Jackman can do a pretty good job, he was great in the Trevor Nunn production of Oklahoma, but I guess I`ll have to wait until I do see it to judge.
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Post by Lokifan on Jan 31, 2013 22:15:53 GMT
Well, he could have done worse and his presence as Javert was as good as any of today's film stars. (I didn't really buy Hugh Jackman as Valjean either because they didn't age him apropriately). Russell is taking a lot of jokes and punches about it. People asked "why him?" and I ask "why not?" Okay, I'll say Crowe was miscast, but he definitely gave it his all. The real problem is that he suffers by comparison--Jackman and the others were very, very good. Anne Hathaway turned in a pretty amazing performance, especially when you consider the way the director shot the film. Basically, for the "big" solos, the camera was usually locked down and focused on the performer in a full-on facial closeup (occasionally an extreme closeup) and pretty much shot as a single, unedited take. This is both incredibly daring and challenging for the performer, as any flaw will be obvious and blown up literally 20 feet tall. As I understand it, this was a deliberate choice by the director as his history was in the live theater performances, and he wanted to "get in the face" of the audience with the raw emotion rather than edit together multiple takes. I've seen various versions of the play on stage and have the complete libretto on CD, as well as a few of the PBS specials. I liked this version; I think you have to acknowledge that it's a different media (film) and can't help but be different from the original (stage). It was also nice to see Colm Wilkinson show up in a cameo. |
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Post by cijay on Feb 1, 2013 4:20:14 GMT
That's about the best way to put it. He was miscast but he gave it his all. I really thought he has the presence and his voice wasn't THAT bad.
Yes, it was nice to see Colm and how symbolic that he would pass the 'torch' to Jackman. I think it would've been cool for him to do that to Alfie Bow too, maybe he did.
A lot of people are complaining about the close ups, I didn't notice them really 'til I went back to see it a second time because I was just ensconsed in the film itself. (I'd make a lousy critic!)
I lowered my expecations before seeing it on film and so I was very pleased. No, you can't compare it to the stage...I don't know why people bother.
I have the 10th anniv. CD, was going to get the 25th but figured I'll wait for the movie. Who needs the Jonas dude as Marius. (Tho' he's another one people are having a go at but I figured that Marius is a young college student with high ideals...why not use someone who is young?)
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Post by Lokifan on Feb 1, 2013 7:01:55 GMT
To be honest, I was a curmudgeon going into the theater, and at first didn't like the closeups, as it appeared to be a bit gimmicky-film-school stuff. But after the first one, I got into it, and then when Hathaway did "I Dreamed a Dream" it converted me.
YMMV, of course.
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