Les Miserables

Rating:
Summary: Great movie, fair adaption
Review: Les Misérables - 1998 film version - formal review

This newest film version of Les Misérables presents this classic story as the grand sweeping epic that it is, yet diverges from the original story, leaving much to be desired. Fans of Victor Hugo's beloved novel, published in 1862, and of the popular musical, produced in 1985, may be disappointed in this movie's truncated version of the story. However, the film manages to keep intact the main themes of Hugo's story of love, mercy, and redemption.

As a movie in its own right, this film deserves the highest praise. As historical drama it is of the highest quality. The movie portrays Jean Valjean as a true hero, a person whom we can admire because of his courage and self-sacrificing commitment to godly principle. The acting is excellent -- Liam Neeson and Geoffrey Rush star as Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert, and both simply become their characters. Uma Thurman gives an exceptional performance as Fantine. The soundtrack for the film is beautiful as well.

However, this movie cannot be evaluated separately from the novel and musical (which follows the novel quite closely and has gained a wide following of devoted fans). In terms of faithfulness to the original story, the film falls short. The first half of the movie follows the novel quite well; much of the screenplay is taken almost directly from the book, and no important characters or events are removed. Unfortunately, however, the first half of the movie covers less than one third of the story. In the second half, the movie diverges widely from the original. Enthusiasts of the musical and novel will be disappointed to see that two important characters from the Paris setting, Enjolras and Eponine -- both of whom are popular favorites among fans -- are completely eliminated from the film, their roles given to other characters or deleted altogether. The second half of the film is mercilessly truncated and adapted.

The film's portrayal of Cosette as a rather spoiled young woman who is always ready to pout if she doesn't get her way is inconsistent with the sweet and oblivious Cosette of Hugo's novel. The character of Javert, the obsessed policeman who hounds Jean Valjean, is also altered -- perhaps more subtly -- to make him out as the depraved villain of the story, when in the novel and musical he is more complex and less of a villain. The other characters, however, are faithfully portrayed in the film.

Even in the second half, the movie does shine at times. The depiction of Jean Valjean continues to be brilliant (except for one scene in which he slaps Cosette and then reveals his past to her, both actions in complete inconsistency with his character according to Hugo). The last fifteen minutes of the film do portray well the important universal theme of Justice versus Mercy. However, the movie curtails the original story, robbing it of a good deal of its poignancy.

Altogether, though, the film manages to preserve the main themes and characters of the original novel. It serves as a good introduction to the story. It should inspire viewers to read the original book and listen to the musical as well!

Rating:
Summary: Great movie, but.....
Review: Great movie, but the book was better...The movie is about the ex-convict, Jean Valjean, trying to help Fantine, a poor woman trying to make enough money to pay the Thenardiers to take care of her child Cosette, and later raising Cosette as his own, while also being persued by the persistant Inspector Javert.

What happens in the movie basically happens in the book as well, but the book also has much more going on. The book has an intricate connection between many of the characters that the movie doesn't have, and also focuses on much more than Jean Valjean, whom the movie mostly focuses on.

I would suggest reading the book first, and then watching the movie.

Rating:
Summary: How the HECK can you be a mayor if you can't read or write!?
Review: This is one of the few movies that will actually prompt me to shout at the TV.

I was willing to be patient with a Les Mis movie adaptation, because the novel is sooooo lengthy and detailed. But they just completely twist everyone's personalities around.

I put up with the characterization errors (the characterization that made the novel so wonderful) but then I turned it off when I saw that they'd made Valjean the mayor when he couldn't read or write. It specifically says in the novel that he learned how to write/read in prison. Again, I wouldn't care, but I don't quite see how any town could flourish under an illiterate mayor.

Here is what all bothered me:
- I saw people praise this movie because it didn't change Valjean as drastically, i.e. he sometimes becomes violent and hits people. Valjean was NEVER violent. He was freaking put into prison for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister's starving family. Whenever he attempted to escape, it did not involve violence. Valjean would never, ever, hit anyone--prison made him full of bitterness and hatred, but not violent.
- Javert is NOT sadistic. He's certainly not a very likable guy, but his personal experiences gave him a very rigid sense of justice.
- Liam Neeson is just too young to play Valjean, I think. They should have aged him up a bit, especially during his stint as Monsieur Madeleine
- I also don't think Liam Neeson looked powerful enough. Remember, the man lifted a cart and scaled a wall and bent prison bars.
- Fantine and Valjean never had anything between them. She was a little too busy, y'know, dying.
- Marius as a political activist is a strange and horrible thought.
- Les Mis has many stories inside of it, not just Javert vs. Valjean.
- Enjolras is a necessary character
- ABC is pronounced "Ah Bay Say," it's a pun
- Eponine isn't entirely necessary, but the movie would have been more enjoyable with her
- Cosette is not a teenage rebel without a cause who throws a tantrum when she does not get her way
- Valjean would sooner hit himself than hit Cosette

I could go on, but I won't. It isn't just the novel mistakes. It's just a very boring and stuffy movie. As one reviewer I saw put it: "You keep itching for someone to burst into song." The characters aren't endearing at all in the movie; I didn't fall in love with Valjean like I did in the novel. I didn't cry over Fantine having to sell her hair and teeth and locket. When you can't really like any character in a movie, you have a big problem.

Rating:
Summary: A 5 Star Adaption With Liam Neeson As Jean Valjean
Review: I have not seen the other adaptions. However, I find this adaption to be outstanding. Liam Neeson is perfectly cast as Jean Valjean. The movie is somewhat different than the book. It has to be or else the movie would be over 4 hours long. The movie is dramatically pleasing and stands on its own and it does capture the essence of Victor Hugo's writing.

Rating:
Summary: Anthony Perkins shines as Inspector Javert.
Review: Having read Victor Hugo's wonderful book, I was most interested to see how Anthony Perkins would portray the difficult role of Inspector Javert, the relentless pursuer of escaped convict Jean Valjean, ably acted by Richard Jordan. I was not disappointed with Perkins work; this is one of his better performances in a long career, now sadly cut short by his death.

Perkins is true to Victor Hugo's vision of a man who is filled with repressed hate and rage. His own life is filled with misery and he seeks revenge against any hapless victim of the draconian laws in France that will imprison a man such as Jean Valjean for five years for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his starving family.

Perkins is relentless in his pursuit of a person that he knows in his heart is both a good man and a force for good in society. He obeys the letter of the law and ignores his own conscience and best instincts. In doing so he condemns himself to a life bereft of any semblance of humanity. In the end the truth of his existence is too much for him to bear.

If Perkins is so good, then why only three stars for the production? Unfortunately the version that is advertised on Amazon.com has been drastically cut for reasons I do not understand. The result of the many deletions in the film is a story that is missing vital character development. This is nowhere more true than with the story of Cosette, Valjean's adopted daughter. This part of this film has been cut so badly that the climax of the plot loses some of its power and dramatic intensity.

Another reviewer has suggested that the film be seen in VHS format which carries the entire production designed by the director. Now that I have seen the DVD version of the film, this advice seems sound to me. For those viewers who decide to watch the DVD, the film in this format is worth seeing with the noted reservation.

Rating:
Summary: A Moving Film
Review: I guess first things first. I have read the book, and it is beautifully written (by a man who knew all but nothing about writing, too). However, making a film that precisely follows it would be undesirable on many different levels. Victor Hugo goes off on a detailed history of the French Revolution rather abruptly towards the middle of the book, and to make a long story short, much of the book is just that... abrupt. By the time you get back to "actuality" you've forgotten what you read before. Beautiful writing, but it would make a horrid movie.

What they have done here is taken that and removed all the abruptness and detours. They singled out the actual plot of the story itself, and turned it into a film that -as a film in and of itself- is magnificent. Also, those who enjoy good music will be in heaven... I could watch the movie just to listen to it alone. The acting is well-done, with little strain. The story flows. It's moving. The filmography is appealing. And it makes you think.

While it doesn't imitate the book as closely as some fans may wish, I give it five stars for being a terrific MOVIE that still captures the essence of Victor Hugo's writing.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible Movie
Review: I know it is a little different from the book by Victor Hugo, but it is still a wonderful adaptation. Liam Neeson and Geoffrey Rush were great. Where were their Oscar nominations for their work here?

Rating:
Summary: This Movie Is A Wonderful Masterpiece...!!
Review: I Was watcging this movie Once and when I saw the first 15 Minutes I Just had to Continue because of hoe seductive it was.
I recommend this movie to people who like differnet types of films and definitely DRAMA, this is a great (Catch me if you can" type movie but nothing like Catch me if you can. I have watched it tons of times and love it eack time. There are scenes in this movie that are really worth watching for everybody and the whole family.

Rating:
Summary: they didn't...
Review: Les Miserables is an extremely long book and it is very hard to make it accurate to the true story. I've seen a lot of movie versions of the story and this has to be one of my favorite adaptations. It obvousily doesn't hold a candle to the muscical, but what does?
Liam Neeson does a superb job as Valjean. He by far was the best Valjean I've seen on screen. Goeffery Rush was equally good as police inspector Javert And Uma Thurman played a very good Fantine. Claire Danes did a good job as Cossette, but she often annoyed me. I was pretty upset that they completely forgot about Eponnine(who is one of my fav characters) because she puts a little more intrest in Cosette and Mauris's relationship.
one of the biggest reasons i liked this was cause not everything was like the book and it had a couple of changes that i liked. The ending was pretty bad, but what can ya do?
Overall, a pretty good movie, but i would beware if ur a purist.


Rating:
Summary: This movie is one of the best.
Review: I have read over some of the other reviews, and I couldn't differ with them more. For one thing, 99% of all movies which are taken from books, do not ever live up to, or follow the book completely. That is the same for this movie. But, it does include all the main ingredients to make it a hit. The actors do an outstanding job with their characters, and the movie rolls very smoothly as the story is told.

I am a history teacher, and even though the events of the French Revolution portrayed in the moive are slightly off timeline, the content of the inner battle in all of the characters acurately portrays the French Revolution period. This is a movie about how a man can change, and does change, to be a giving and caring person. He is chased by the Inspector, who is brought up to live within the boundaries of the law, no exceptions. In the end we see the inspector dealing with his inner turmoil, about how to handle Jean Valjean, and he does it in the only way he can allow himself to handle it. All this follows exactly with the ideology of the period for which it took place.

I have shown this movie to my classes for the past four years. In most cases of showing movies in class, most of the kids fall asleep during movie time. I have never had any student not like this movie. Several have even gone to rent the movie to watch again, after we have watched it class.

I highly recommend this movie to anyone intersted in taking it at its face value as a great movie about life during that time period. But, it is not for those who want something taken exactly from the book.