It Is The Music Of A People!

[dodger_sister]

Firstly, let me share the saga of my attempts to see Les Miserables. My sister and I made plans with my sis-in-law to go on Christmas Day with her and my brother. But my brother refused because he was boycotting places that make people work on Christmas. He refused even after I said that I was excited to see it with him since we originally saw it on Broadway together and fell in love with it together and anyways, we never do anything as a family like this anymore. It seems his liberalism has gone nuclear.

So my sister and I went anyways and the theater was packed. We kept asking people to move down for us, because I can’t climb over people to get to a seat in the middle. No one would move for us. They kept saying the seats were saved or telling us to climb over, despite that I am obviously physically handicapped. We got a worker and she tried to get people to move down for us, but eventually we had to leave without seeing the movie. The employee was so apologetic, gave us our money back and two free passes for the movie. She also said if we came for the next showing, she would just let us in for free and we could save our passes. We couldn’t go back because we had to pick The Nephew up, but she was very nice about it all. Not so nice were the viewers in the theater who turned us away on Christmas Day.

So then we intended to go see it on Friday, before my sister left for her trip to NY. On Thursday, my sister started vomiting and was sick all day. Like, really sick. Like she couldn’t even hold down a sip of water. There was no way we were making it to the movie, despite that my sister spent all day on Friday saying she felt good enough to go and then shortly changing her mind. She came home from NY on Wednesday completely over the flu, but had lost her voice. We went to the movie anyways and during the previews, she started coughing and couldn’t stop. I thought she was going to have to get up and leave, after all of that trouble. Luckily she managed to calm it down about ten minutes into the movie.

So now, at last, I have seen the movie!

I can’t explain to you what this musical means to me. It is my favorite of all time. Les Miserables hits me in a way nothing else ever has. And the movie was amazing. I thought I might be thrown by the fact that they sing the songs differently, in subtle ways, because they are acting it on a more close-up level. Like instead of belting out a note I usually love, Jackman let his voice break on it in a quiet way, as his emotion was breaking itself. Despite it not being note for note the musical I know, I liked how they did that. It added so much emotion to it and I think it would have been weird otherwise, when you could see the emotion right up on their faces. I don’t know if I’m explaining it well, but it really added something.

And like Marius has never been my favorite - I don’t take well to the whole love sick thing - but in the movie I really felt for him. The scene where he is singing about the empty tables of his dead friends had me in tears. The emotion on his face and in his voice was so raw. Eponine was wonderful as well and her ‘On My Own’ rendition is the perfect example of how this movie worked. I even liked Russell Crowe in his part which I was very nervous about because most of the time when I see him acting, all I can see is ’Russell Crowe’, and also because Javert is one of my favorites. But his death scene broke my heart perfectly and I even got goosebumps during his first solo number. But when I really lost my shit was during Enjorlas’ last stand, when he raises the flag up. He is my favorite and I cried for his final rebellion. Also the whole ‘Do You Hear The People Sing’ number had me wanting to stand up and cheer. My favorite number in the whole musical and they delivered it with such a punch - I know I’ll be rewatching that scene on DVD over and over again.

The little girl they got to play young Cosette looked so much like those iconic images from the old posters too that it really struck me. And the kid playing Gavroche was so awesome and strong and wee at the same time - though I admit to thinking how we should dress The Nephew up as Gavroche next Halloween. I mean, he knows all the words to all Gavroche’s songs anyways. And I’d be remiss in not mentioning Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway’s performances, as they were wrought with emotions and beautifully sung - my sister says she cried every time Fantine had a song. Mostly I was grinning like a loon, sometimes even while crying, and I did have to fist pump the air a little after the last number because they hit it home so hard.

I fucking love this musical like it is my whole heart and I left the theater with a grin on my face, so take that as my short review right there.

Comments

[jojothecr.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen the musical, and I barely remember the old movie, and basically the only song I remember is On My Own, and even that only thanks to Dawson's Creek, but the way you write about it, I think I wanna see it.

Most of all, though, I wanna say, 'WTF is wrong with people?!' I mean, are they really that ignorant and not knowing or just simply stupid and selfish they can't allow you to see a movie? What a sad, sad world.

I'm sorry you had to go through such troubles to see this movie, but at least it was worth it. Imagine you didn't like it after all these obstacles.

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

and I barely remember the old movie,

It seems to me there was one that came out in maybe the 70s but then there was one in the 90s with Liam Neeson that was a little more true to the book itself.

and basically the only song I remember is On My Own, and even that only thanks to Dawson's Creek,

I remember that! Joey sang it in some talent show (I didn't even know she could sing until right then!) and that is when Dawson realized how she felt but then for some reason she walks away from him at the end of it. (omg, I should not have just admitted how much of that I remember! lol).

but the way you write about it, I think I wanna see it.

Yes, do! The story is amazing and inspiring. The music is a little more opera like than what you would expect from a typical musical, but the vocals are stunning and it is easy to follow what is happening. I just love it a lot! If nothing else, check out this new movie/musical when it is released on DVD.

Most of all, though, I wanna say, 'WTF is wrong with people?!'

IKR? Ugh. They were saving seats for people who hadn't even bought their tickets yet, which good luck to them because the movie had to have been sold out by that point. One lady did offer to move down for us but the guy at the end of the row refused to move because he was saving a seat. It really was not in keeping with the spirit of the holiday, you know.

Imagine you didn't like it after all these obstacles.

Oh man, I didn't even think of that! I would have been super pissed!

[jojothecr.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I guess I saw the Liam Neeson version, but it was years ago (in 1998), and I was kinda young so it didn't hit me in any way.

Yeah! And Pacey was doing something crazy there, I don't know what it was now. I loved that show, until about the 4th season when Joey and Pacey came back from their holiday. The plot went to hell then, I think. I honestly hated their 'sex troubles'.

Oh man, I didn't even think of that! I would have been super pissed!
That's the 'positive' thinking of mine, you know. I see something bad behind everything good it seems.

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

I feel a little shame that I am continuing on with this discussion of Dawson's Creek (I have no icon for DC, so here is my One Tree Hill icon, which seems fitting).

I was really into Joey/Pacey (never actualy cared for Dawson that much) but yeah, it got a little stupid after they came back from their boat trip. I had planned on watching until they graduated high school but then they had the episode where Andi graduated early and they all had that send off party for her and there was this photo taken at the very end of all of them together and they played this lovely song and I thought to myself, "This feels like an ending," and I never watched another episode.

Edited to say - except for Jensen's episodes of Dawson's Creek, which my sister made us all watch one night in a drunken stupor of fangirl silliness!

[shirebound]

You worked hard to see that movie! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

*get-well hugs for your sister*

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

You worked hard to see that movie!

I have never worked so hard to see a movie in my life and that includes waiting in line for tickets to see The Phantom Menace!

*get-well hugs for your sister*

I passed on your good wishes but not the actual hugs, because I am not touching her while she is all sick and gross! In fact, I have a 6 foot rule going on right now - she has to stay outside my area! :)

[ceitfianna]

Yes, all of this. I adored the movie so much. It all made me happy and feel little again and going oh yay. To see some of my favorite actors being these characters and so well. I need to get the soundtrack.

Also if there weren't many other movies that I want to see, I'd see it again. I'm glad that you were able to see it too, it sounds as if the woman at theater tried but people can be so awful.

I saw it on a matinee on the first of the year and the theater was almost full, I was able to grab a single seat high up and people applauded. I love seeing a movie like this with a packed house.

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

It all made me happy and feel little again and going oh yay. To see some of my favorite actors being these characters and so well.

Yes, that exactly! I am so in love with so many of these characters and to see them brought to life in this unique way was amazing. I too have to get the soundtrack and I'm thinking of maybe also picking up the London stage recording as well. I used to own it on cassette tape and then I have the broadway version on cd, but the London recording was the one my brother and I learned all the words with, so I think I want to pick that up as well. But I def need the movie soundtrack too.

There aren't a ton of other movies I want to see right now. I would like to see The Hobbit again and I am looking forward to Warm Bodies but I can't think of anything else that is pressing. I didn't get to see The Guardians, but those were the only December movies I was looking forward too. I don't know if I could sit for the whole run of Les Mis again, even though I want to - I was really stiff by the time it finished. What movies are you trying to get to see besides Wreck It Ralph, which you had mentioned before?

it sounds as if the woman at theater tried but people can be so awful.

Yeah, the theater employee was so nice about it all and we did end up seeing the movie for free with the passes she gave us, so that was nice in the end, but yeah, people wtf. I mean, I was there in my wheelchair and they wanted me to climb over - how do they think that will work?

I think that it is so cool that you got to see Les Mis with a full house and that the crowd all responded to it so well - I love when that happens, it is one of the reasons I really wanted to see it on Christmas Day. There were only about 12 people in the theater when I saw it but every single one of them clapped at the end, which is unusual because normally with such a small crowd people won't get 'vocal' like that.

[ceitfianna]

I never did get to see Wreck-it Ralph, but it sounded great. I was curious about Lincoln and I'm blanking on what other movies I was interested in.

I've just been so tired that this break has been sleeping, shopping and holidays and that's about it. I just realized that my holiday cards just aren't going to happen and that's okay.

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

I had little interest in Lincoln until a few days ago when I saw an extended trailer and I was blown away and now I want to see it too. But I can wait for DVD for that one, I think.

I just realized that my holiday cards just aren't going to happen and that's okay.

The holidays get overwhelming and now that you work at a school and it is your one break time from work, you should enjoy it! It's one of the reasons I don't even bother with Christmas cards - there's too much going on already, you know.

[vikingprincess]

I'm so glad it lived up to expectations! Still need to go and see it, myself....

(We did go and see The Hobbit last night. I'll probably write something about it later.)

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

Yes, go see Les Mis! It is amazingly well done. I wasn't sure how it would work on the big screen but it worked very well and was a very unique way of bringing these characters to life. Just don't drink anything before you go because it is like a 3 hour long movie and there is no intermission!

The Hobbit! Took The Nephew over Christmas break and he will not stop talking about how Bilbo saved Thorin, it was his favorite part! (he actually went on for quite awhile about what would have happened if he himself had been there and how the dwarves would have been so surprised when he jumped down out of the tree and pulled out his sword and then chopped off the Azog's head and then they all would have clapped for him - my boy self-inserted with The Hobbit!)

Yes, post about it - I want to know what you thought! Or just go to my post and tell me what you thought! I demand your thoughts!

BTW, I saw you sent me gingrbread man, - Thasnk you, babe! he had juicy tender toes!

[vikingprincess]

I was a believer in Les Mis as a movie once I got to hear/see Jackman sing, and the On Demand making-of snippets were also very, very cool and convincing. I had doubts about Hathaway and Crowe, as you know; I still have doubts about Crowe, tbh, but that's hardly going to stop me from going to see it!

Aw, so cute! Is he going to start writing Hobbit fanfiction now, about the epic racism-overcoming bromance of Thorin and Bilbo? :P

You're welcome for the gingerbread man! I'm working on my Hobbit review right now, but honestly, my brain is resisting anything that resembles thought. I'm sure it resents the idea of returning to work on Monday; I know I do.

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

You know, I would not be the least bit surprised if the next piece of fic he wrote was Hobbit-based! He's always had a thing about Smaug too, from like age three because he has a toy dragon that we named Smaug. We shall see. He just finished a piece about Pyro & Iceman teaming up to steal diamonds from an evil lizard in Detroit.

[vikingprincess]

Oh, fun! What did they do with the diamonds once they had them?

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

Oh, fun! What did they do with the diamonds once they had them?

They gave the diamonds to Wolverine, who needed them for an experiment he was doing. Then they went and celebrated their victory!

[vikingprincess]

Hee hee, too cute! (Wolverine does experiments? Did he get recombined with Beast like Jeff Goldblum and his fly? :P )

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

Wolverine does experiments? Did he get recombined with Beast like Jeff Goldblum and his fly? :P )

Sadly, no. The Nephew just really likes Wolverine and he will not be swayed from including Wolverine in pretty much everything he writes. ;)

[vikingprincess]

Completely understandable.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

What a struggle you had to see it! How can people be so mean?I'm glad you enjoyed it and hope your sister is soon better.

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

What a struggle you had to see it! How can people be so mean?

I don't know! Here it was Christmas Day and people were not being very in the spirit. In the end we used our free passes, so we at least got to see the movie for free, which was nice.

My sister actually stayed home from work today to rest, which I think was wise. Thank you. :)

[rhymephile.livejournal.com]

Doesn't everyone die? And also, don't they sing all the dialogue in the film? I know they do in the musical, which means, um, I don't think I could sit through it. I would see it just for Hugh Jackman, except, y'know, singing. Gah.

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

Doesn't everyone die?

Well, not everyone but most of the people, yes.

And also, don't they sing all the dialogue in the film?

Yes, they did and I was worried it wouldn't work, that it would be weird to see them singing when the camera is so up-close on them, but it really did work and you forget that people don't usually sing at each other after the first fifteen minutes.

I would see it just for Hugh Jackman, except, y'know, singing. Gah.

What do you have against singing?! This is the greatest musical ever made! And it makes more sense than the type of musicals where they all talk and then randomly burst into song - at least this musical is consistent and everybody sings all the time! (not that I don't love the other kind of musical as well, mind you!) I know you don't hate singing, so what gives with your hate-on for musicals? Besides, it's Hugh Jackman singing, woman!

How about have you read the book or seen any of the non-musical movies then? The story seems right up your alley.

[rhymephile.livejournal.com]

I've seen none of the adaptations nor have I read the book. I have seen other musicals in the past (saw Avenue Q on Broadway, and Annie when I was 8) on TV, and those were fine. I love The King and I, and The Sound of Music, and a bunch of other ones. It's just the singing of all the dialogue that I couldn't deal with. That would drive me crazy.

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

I've seen none of the adaptations nor have I read the book.

I've never read the book either but I feel like I have, because my little brother kept following me around reading it out loud to me. When he was 14, I basically had to tie him down to get him to read anything and yet somehow he decided to take it upon himself to read this monster of a book. He was really into Les Mis, I tell you!

saw Avenue Q on Broadway, and Annie when I was 8) on TV, and those were fine. I love The King and I,

I would LOVE to see Avenue Q sometime, that looks like fun! The cousin's little girl (age 8) was just in a local production of The King and I - she was freaking adorable in her little outfit.

It's just the singing of all the dialogue that I couldn't deal with. That would drive me crazy.

You know I didn't know anything about it when my older brother took me to see Les Mis for the first time and when it started up I was like, "Wait...Are they going to sing through the entire thing?" and I was really put off by it. But by the time they got to scene with the hookers (about 20 minutes in or so) I was hooked.

Have you ever seen Jackman's Oklahoma then? It's the only time I've ever actually liked the character of Curly, I am much more a Will-girl myself. But Jackman just kind of makes you fall in love with him no matter what he is doing. /sigh/

[rhymephile.livejournal.com]

Last night my GF was trying to find tickets to the Chicago-area production of The Book of Mormon, but the price for tickets is just exorbitant.Like, close to $300 for both of us. That's crazy. It's no wonder why I lived only 20 minutes away from Manhattan and never went to see any shows. It's too freaking expensive! They always complain no one cares about Broadway anymore. No shit! When you have to take out a loan to see a show of course no one wants to go!

Avenue Q was fun, but it's one of those shows that you can give or take, and certainly not worth the price of Broadway tickets. It's not an incredible spectacle or anything.

I did watch all of Hugh's Oklahoma when it aired on PBS -- Great Performances I think it was (I'm a huge PBS geek). We even watched Oklahoma on Christmas when there was nothing else on via OnDemand, LOL. My favorite song is "Poor Jud is Dead" which my GF called horrible, LOL.

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

The Book of Mormom sounds awesome but ticket prices are insane for that one in particular. It's hugely popular. My sis was in NY and she tried to get tickets by doing that thing where you go down to Times Square on the day of and get half-priced tickets (that's how we got to see Les Mis) and there were no tickets for it. It plays sold out apparently.

Ticket prices are a little better here in Michigan, even if you have to drive to Detroit for a show at the Fox Theater or something. I think it's still a little better than NY or Chicago prices, but even so, when we looked into seeing Wicked last year, it would have been $200 for three tickets and that's insane to me. Plus the fact that we then would have had to drive an hour and a half to get there.

"Poor Jud Is Dead" always makes me laugh too, but damn, I just remember having seen this production three or four times and then I saw it when I was about 18 or so and I suddenly went, "JFC, Jud is like some suspect you would see on SVU or something! Shit," because that had just occurred to me. (Okay, I probably didn't think that about SVU, because that wasn't on the air yet but you get my point.)