tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post7103782115605377792..comments2023-12-24T09:37:35.104-06:00Comments on Ensconced in Lit: Curmudgeon's Corner: Notes on Les Miserables: the movie, after reading the bookUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post-59607165938230543712013-06-17T08:36:02.171-05:002013-06-17T08:36:02.171-05:00OH MY GOSH, this movie was amazing, agreed. The us...OH MY GOSH, this movie was amazing, agreed. The use of the symbolism and foreshadowing and the themes and just ADFKGAL EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS MOVIE, OKAY? JUST. AMAZING. I haven't read the book, and considering how huge it is, as you mentioned, I don't think I will anytime soon, considering summer reading and whatnot. Either way, I'm glad that the movie portrayed Valjean and Javert differently, based on what you said. Also, I didn't like Cosette, as she was such a weak character, so if Marius had sucked, too... Oy. Either way, I want to rewatch the movie now, and see the musical! Maybe someday I'll attempt to read the "brick" as you called it q:Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01917846632695993619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post-64749482250450385992013-06-14T22:46:06.367-05:002013-06-14T22:46:06.367-05:00Nice post! I really loved the movie but I also did...Nice post! I really loved the movie but I also didn't like Javert's singing it sounds a little bit off, but all in all it was really captivating. I didn't expect that I would cry during the movie but surprisingly I did. Good thing they made Les Miserables into a movie because I don't think I can read the book, it looks complicated.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00288357517311444537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post-11106902670373528872013-05-24T15:36:19.956-05:002013-05-24T15:36:19.956-05:00I haven't read the book but I kind of want to....I haven't read the book but I kind of want to. I've never read a book that long before so it might take me a while to get through it. I loved the movie! I know some people didn't like it because they thought the singing in the movie wasn't that good, but I still really enjoyed it. I was crying at the end of it, and I usually only cry in books. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12205620820440054634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post-30087234505759943032013-05-15T23:51:13.671-05:002013-05-15T23:51:13.671-05:00Hee -- glad to find another person who wasn't ...Hee -- glad to find another person who wasn't a huge fan of Crowe :)cahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690762083289844806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post-58072099544423830142013-05-15T23:50:28.261-05:002013-05-15T23:50:28.261-05:00I'm glad! I love the book and movie both so mu...I'm glad! I love the book and movie both so much :)cahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690762083289844806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post-69736105619055446522013-05-15T23:49:57.161-05:002013-05-15T23:49:57.161-05:00Oh good -- I hope you like the movie!Oh good -- I hope you like the movie!cahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690762083289844806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post-83348874420795561312013-05-15T23:49:41.216-05:002013-05-15T23:49:41.216-05:00It can be tough, especially the digressions (I hav...It can be tough, especially the digressions (I have a post coming out on that tomorrow!)cahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690762083289844806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post-23887808329776344372013-05-15T23:49:15.862-05:002013-05-15T23:49:15.862-05:00I'm glad you enjoyed the post! Yes, I definite...I'm glad you enjoyed the post! Yes, I definitely think it's a mix of the book and the musical. Hope you liked the movie!cahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690762083289844806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post-7742454841234216432013-04-13T08:48:38.110-05:002013-04-13T08:48:38.110-05:00I have not read the book and wanted to before seei...I have not read the book and wanted to before seeing the movie but just didn't have time. Can't wait to do my own comparison but yours was great. Even though I never read the book I hated Russell Crowe in it as well.Ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15787340571699458253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post-27222598565633818792013-03-03T18:16:10.723-06:002013-03-03T18:16:10.723-06:00I've wanted to see the movie, but this solidif...I've wanted to see the movie, but this solidified this. Thanks for the review!Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01450137746765027716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post-40853999225090100152013-02-23T17:58:09.255-06:002013-02-23T17:58:09.255-06:00I prefer the movie. The book is tough readingI prefer the movie. The book is tough readingAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06621635994845657988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post-60994015188600948702013-02-22T15:29:59.947-06:002013-02-22T15:29:59.947-06:00It sounds like the movie is a mix of the book and ...It sounds like the movie is a mix of the book and the musical. I was planning on seeing the movie and appreciate hearing what you thought. Thanks for sharing!Sarahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post-43066479657981936482013-02-15T14:11:00.548-06:002013-02-15T14:11:00.548-06:00Just got the book haven't read it yet. The mo...Just got the book haven't read it yet. The move looks good and want to see it. <br /> The review is awesome and makes me want to read the book now and make sure I see the movie.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01168810211463980661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post-55161009391854371272013-02-13T13:19:42.800-06:002013-02-13T13:19:42.800-06:00Oh, I should also say, once you read the book, if ...Oh, I should also say, once you read the book, if you are interested, I have several book posts over at charlie_ego.livejournal.com (books:les miserables tag). I'd love to know what you thought!cahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690762083289844806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post-30980494940062286402013-02-13T13:13:59.602-06:002013-02-13T13:13:59.602-06:00Glad you liked it! The book is awesome (though for...Glad you liked it! The book is awesome (though for a first reread I usually suggest an abridged version :) )cahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690762083289844806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post-72898507698926982572013-02-13T13:13:36.430-06:002013-02-13T13:13:36.430-06:00Ahahahaha, yes, so glad to meet another person who...Ahahahaha, yes, so glad to meet another person who is so obsessed with the musical that you know when they switched all the scenes!<br /><br />I liked Jackman's ACTING very much, but -- and I see I forgot to mention it above -- his SINGING was nothing to write home about (though it was still better than Crowe's). Yeah, the soliloquies were a bit painful -- his acting carried it thorugh to some extent, but ouch, listening to "Bring Him Home" on the recording is awful.<br /><br />Oh, Eponine is VERY cool in the book; I think she's much more interesting and has a much more wonderful character arc! (And I think Les Mis is a much more interesting book than Anna Karenina, but I imprinted on it hard as a kid, so I am not at all impartial :) )cahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690762083289844806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post-43498550199161383592013-02-10T19:54:25.528-06:002013-02-10T19:54:25.528-06:00Nice review about the differences. Haven't rea...Nice review about the differences. Haven't read the book yet.bn100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post-20194999842727816212013-02-06T14:25:22.264-06:002013-02-06T14:25:22.264-06:00I haven't read the book yet but the musical is...I haven't read the book yet but the musical is my all-time favorite musical. I know all the words so I, too, recognized when they changed up the lines to match the changed settings. It was weird but didn't bother me too much.<br /><br />Hugh Jackman bugged me though. His acting was great and I loved him as Valjean, but sadly, I found his voice incredibly lacking. It was so strained and reedy. Drove me batty every time he had a long song.<br /><br />I'm sad to hear that Eponine is not likable in the book. She's my favorite character. This book is on my list for this year. I just have to finish Anna Karenina first!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11914696885938500351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post-41230341773608220432013-02-06T14:22:55.431-06:002013-02-06T14:22:55.431-06:00I haven't read the book, but the musical is my...I haven't read the book, but the musical is my absolute favorite musical of all time. I know every word to all the songs, so I noticed the changes they made, too. Some of the lines switched up because they changed the setting of some of the scenes. <br /><br />I'm amazed that so many people liked Jackman's performance. I was soooooo incredibly irritated by his voice. I couldn't stand it when he had long songs, which is sad, because he's such a great actor and he got the emotion so spot on. Just...the singing. Blah!<br /><br />I hate the thought of Eponine not being likable in the book. She's my favorite character! I guess I'll have to read it. It's on my list for this year anyway. Just gotta finish Anna Karenina first.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11914696885938500351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post-81120513236848734822013-02-01T09:25:13.602-06:002013-02-01T09:25:13.602-06:00I know, the movie is 2 1/2 hrs long and afterwards...I know, the movie is 2 1/2 hrs long and afterwards I was all "I want MORE! Mooooore Hugh Jackman!" <br /><br />They moved a lot of songs around relative to the musical, which I think mostly worked -- I can't remember if "Bring Him Home" was one of them. I do think that it's not really suited for Jackman's voice; listening to the recording (uh yes I am OBSESSED) really brings out to me that he was straining to do that song.cahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690762083289844806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post-32942648009346717512013-02-01T09:21:36.635-06:002013-02-01T09:21:36.635-06:00Oh! I loved the beginning! But there are personal ...Oh! I loved the beginning! But there are personal reasons for this (I have a LOT of history with this musical) so I can't really talk rationally about it :)<br /><br />I love the book! It's a very different experience to read it -- it's full of digressions and Victor Hugo having feelings about things (Waterloo! Sewers!), and I might even recommend an abridged version for the first time around.<br /><br />I took several years of French in high school, so I have a fair idea of how to pronounce things, although my accent is atrocious. <br /><br />I'm coming around to Javert. It's a different interpretation, a more human interpretation, and you know how it is when you have an idea in your head... but I'm grumpily coming to acknowledge that my interpretation is not The Only One :)cahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690762083289844806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post-2274336431658668092013-01-31T20:07:06.386-06:002013-01-31T20:07:06.386-06:00I agree with this write-up. I wanted much more tim...I agree with this write-up. I wanted much more time for Cosette and for the priest. I felt Valjean died too soon. And the song Bring Him Home seemed misplaced somehow.darhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02771922616550279276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post-88512386286265083382013-01-31T18:11:12.443-06:002013-01-31T18:11:12.443-06:00Great review! My friend just got the Les Miserable...Great review! My friend just got the Les Miserables book. She is officially obsessed with it, and I am not surprised. Having been newly introduced to the Les Miserables subject, I have to say it's now my favorite musical. I saw the movie in theatre a week or two ago and I loved it! (Except for the very beginning which I can't fathom why...) Les Miserables has so many feels: sad, happy, shock... Basically everything! :D The book must be just as good. Though, I must ask: Were you able to pronounce all of the French words in the book? My friend is having trouble herself.<br /><br />I'm going to have to disagree with the whole not liking Javert part. He is definitely one of my favorite characters in the movie. His singing voice seemed a bit out of context... like it was a tad bit too modern (I guess). It was still decent, though. His personality seemed realistic based on the movie version.<br /><br />Also, I think Cosette was one of the more annoying characters. She wasn't bad by no means, but she just seemed perfect as a teen. As a kid, she seemed more 'legit' in the situation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post-6165444581345844872013-01-31T12:02:52.086-06:002013-01-31T12:02:52.086-06:00I also thought Crowe was an odd casting choice, es...I also thought Crowe was an odd casting choice, especially given the usual musical casting, and given that all the other characters were cast fairly similarly to their musical castings (except for Marius, who was not quite as angsty as the classic Michael Ball recording -- but I very much liked Eddie Redmayne's interpretation).<br /><br />I think the Javert and Marius changes were to make characters a bit more palatable, yeah. I like what you say about finding something to connect with, because that's exactly my thought on why Marius does selfish unlikable things in the book -- because I think Hugo is saying that Marius is a mirror of us. Still, though, I liked sympathetic-movie Marius, and I am not sure they could have brought out that subtext in the movie.<br /><br />Valjean is extremely sympathetic in the book, and I think they brought that out more in the movie than the musical; I really really liked and agreed with all the Valjean changes :)cahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690762083289844806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2733464801217135988.post-20813806265467523952013-01-31T11:58:44.578-06:002013-01-31T11:58:44.578-06:00You are in for a treat if you read the book, which...You are in for a treat if you read the book, which I love and adore like anything, although Hugo is very fond of his digressions :) Though War and Peace is another good one! (I have to say I'm more partial to Les Mis, but I did read it first at a very impressionable age :) )<br /><br />Another CSR fan, YES!cahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690762083289844806noreply@blogger.com