Review of Les Misérables (2012) by Ladyashley888 . — 24 Sep 2013

WOW. Just amazing. I wasn't familiar with the story prior to watching the film, but oh my gosh what a beautiful movie. Anne Hathaway's face as she sang 'I Dreamed A Dream' haunted me all the following day, after she cut her hair off for real in a heartbreaking scene previously.

I also learned that the vocals were ALL LIVE. Unbelievable. And they brought in actors that were in the broadway productions, including the original Jean Valjean who played the bishop. And Sacha Baron Cohen was in it! Another part of the story that I loved was the role of the Catholic Church.

So many movies paint a very dark picture of it, but this one portrayed the Catholic Church I've come to know and love: merciful and a source of hope. You don't see that very often. I was genuinely impressed with the voices of Jackman and Hathaway, and Seyfried's songbird lilt is just lovely.

One thing that took some getting used to is they sing almost every line. Not as a song, but as dialogue. All-in-all, incredible movie. Heart-wrenching and bittersweet throughout. I just wish I knew the French history a little better.