Review of Les Misérables (2012) by Ian J — 31 Dec 2013

I had never seen the stage show which did not really appeal to me, nor did the release of this movie. I can't remember why I agreed to watch it even, it just did not and never had grabbed my interest.

I cannot tell you how glad I am that I did agree to watch the movie. As I had no previous knowledge of the story, the stage show or the song tracks, I had no expectations what so ever. Yet from the minute it started to the minute it ended I was captivated by the story of this convict turned good, the suffering he endured to the pleasure he received, the music drew me into the story I wanted more from the first song to the last.

I went through many emotions, who could deny they had shed the slightest tear as Anne Hathaway played her death scene with intense emotion. Russell Crowe surprised me he could sing and act at the same time and not look stupid everyone in the movie made it real, this was a musical movie not an operatic stage show but it made me want to see the operatic stage show that for 27 years of its existence I had been less than interested in seeing.

I hungered for more and the day I saw the movie I went to itunes and downloaded the 25 year anniversary show at the O2 plus the movie. I watched the stage show with the same intense captivating as I watched the movie, I realised I had not to compare both told the tale in the same music but both did it differently and intentionally different.

Tom hooper did not want to produce a big screen replica of the operatic stage show and he achieved exactly what he wanted to achieve and thanks to him I now want to see it live on stage. So had I not seen the movie I would not be the slightest bit interested still in les mis.

But not only am I waiting for the day I see it on stage I am also reading the book written by victor Hugo. Strange what an effect a movie can have on individuals.