My better half bought me the soundtrack to the movie yesterday.

Russell Crowe is worse than I remember from the cinema. Monotone, drab, and he just doesn't have a bigger level to go to when the song needs it. Sometimes he fakes it be whispering, and then switching to his regular singing tone, but it doesn't work for me. 

and yet they picked him for this movie instead of someone from Broadway or the London stage who could have done this much much better.   Hollywood continues the mistake of going for the big name instead of going for the person who can do the role right.   *sigh*

You know what, Philip Quast, the BEST Javert ever is only 5 years older than Crowe. With a personal trainer maybe, he could have done the movie role. He's really handsome (well, my wife says he looks like me, so I assume that's what she meant).

Takeshi Kaga is still young enough to play the part, if they don't mind a Japanese Javert who's also the Chairmen at kitchen stadium.

Something else I didn't care for. The orchestration during ...

SPOILERS FOR 200 YEAR OLD NOVEL

... Javert's suicide in the movie didn't draw the connection between the powerful link between Javert and Valjean. It's the same song Valjean sings in the beginning, because these men are both hard men who've never dealt with kindness before. The film's orchestration for the two songs is wildly different though. 

Tobar said:

*throws a brick with "1998" scrawled across it through the window*

I feel like you are trying to compare apples to iPhones here, simple because they share a common name.

The 1998 film is good. But this isn't a remake of that or anything even comparable. You are trying to compare a film adaption of a novel, to a film adaption of a musical, which itself was a stage adaption of a novel.

Same story, but two entirely different mediums.

I hate when people do that!

When the film 300 came out, I heard so many people comparing it to the Richard Egan film from 1962. I even heard some people calling it a remake. Ugh, it wasn't a remake and had no connection to the old film other than being based on the same events. I swear my dad still thinks it is a remake and scratches his head in extreme confusion as to why they would put such weird stuff in it, no matter how many times I try to explain to him that it is based on a graphic novel.

Thought I'd put this here for anyone interested.  Tom Hooper is considering doing an extended cut of the film but he isn't sure if there are the fans to support it.  I feel the movie needs more in certain areas, and signed this petition.  Anyone interested should take a couple seconds to sign this.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/les-miserables-2012-extended-edition/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=system&utm_campaign=Send%2Bto%2BFriend

emanswfan said:

Thought I'd put this here for anyone interested.  Tom Hooper is considering doing an extended cut of the film but he isn't sure if there are the fans to support it.  I feel the movie needs more in certain areas, and signed this petition.  Anyone interested should take a couple seconds to sign this.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/les-miserables-2012-extended-edition/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=system&utm_campaign=Send%2Bto%2BFriend

I support this only if he's true to the book and inserts three half hour documentaries into the middle of the story,one on Waterloo, one on the Paris sewers, and one on street slang.

considering seeing the film today, even though I said I decided not to.  

btw, Does this thing have an intermission?   I think it's a long enough movie to justify one.

Warbler said:

considering seeing the film today, even though I said I decided not to.  

btw, Does this thing have an intermission?   I think it's a long enough movie to justify one.

No. Warning. I took a potty break right after "Master of the House" figuring I wouldn't miss anything too great... turns out that's right when the new song is. grrr

TheBoost said:

Warbler said:

considering seeing the film today, even though I said I decided not to.  

btw, Does this thing have an intermission?   I think it's a long enough movie to justify one.

No. Warning. I took a potty break right after "Master of the House" figuring I wouldn't miss anything too great... turns out that's right when the new song is. grrr

I mean, you didn't miss anything to great.

Warbler said:

btw, Does this thing have an intermission?   I think it's a long enough movie to justify one.

Would make sense for the original 4 hour runtime of the film, until Hooper murdered the film down.

saw it last night.  could have been better, ALOT better.   Russel Crowe was the wrong choice for Javert.  He does not have the vocal range.  I think most of the cast didn't have the vocal range of Les Mis.  I could tell where there had been cuts made.  It was clear they cut the beginnings of a few of the songs.   And not only didn't 'Do you the people sing" not immediately after "Red and Black"  but they put it after "One More Day" wrong, wrong, wwwwwwwrroooonnnnnnnnnggggg!

*sigh*  what could have been. *shakes head* what could have been.   yet another in the long line of Hollywood f___ups of Broadway classics.    *sigh* 

Bingowings said:

See you in 2036.

off topic?

greenpenguino said:

AND THEY CUT OUT TOM BOMBADIL!!! OMG RUINED FOREVARR!!1!1!!!!1ONE!!!1!1!1! LOLZ!

 

*Proceeds to skate over Warbler's lawn*

TV's Frink said:

Warbler said:

saw it last night.  could have been better, ALOT better.

*sigh*

Warbler said:

off topic?

Yes, that's the name of the board.