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benem
Yo, that's fifty dollars for a T-shirt.
PeaNut 526,154
October 2011
Posts: 5,524
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Loc: Illinois
 |  Posted: 12/25/2012 2:27:09 AM
It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again!
Can you tell I just got home from a 10pm showing of Les Mis?!!!
Oh I loved it.
And I love Russell Crowe. I have whole pinterest board I started for him. I loooove him so much I've seen obscure Australian crap he was in decades ago, and it was crap.
But oh Russell. What did you do, agreeing to do this role? I know you have a rock band and you can carry a tune but ohhhhh I cringed. Was it too high for you? The wrong key for you? Both at the same time maybe. Jesus wept.
Other than that... I cried and cried like I was supposed to. I see an Oscar nod to Anne Hathaway solely for her performance of I Dreamed a Dream. It was nothing at all like I have ever heard it before. She sure didnt do it like Susan Boyle did it Amazing.
When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums.. |
"We are NSBR. We talk about E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.
Diva Cups Merkins Tub Girl Crock Pots Kitten Heels The Hoff HOF Obama Bush Kardashians Shopping Carts Shopping Trolleys Dead Aunt Cookies Trolls Not Trolls Garden Snakes Snails Stripper Poles with or with out Birds In-Laws Scoff-Laws Blogs Borg Paint Colors Dinner Books and Each Other"
--SueSume, 3/21/13
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LBrock44
Equality for ALL
PeaNut 40,268
June 2002
Posts: 11,849
Layouts: 57
Loc: Southern California
 | Posted: 12/25/2012 2:54:01 AM
I'm going to take my dad to see it Christmas Day, which is today, good grief! Glad you loved it! |
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We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools. - Martin Luther King, Jr. | |
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benem
Yo, that's fifty dollars for a T-shirt.
PeaNut 526,154
October 2011
Posts: 5,524
Layouts: 0
Loc: Illinois
| Posted: 12/25/2012 3:20:13 AM
Me too! I was so disappointed by RENT as a movie so I was worried! |
"We are NSBR. We talk about E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.
Diva Cups Merkins Tub Girl Crock Pots Kitten Heels The Hoff HOF Obama Bush Kardashians Shopping Carts Shopping Trolleys Dead Aunt Cookies Trolls Not Trolls Garden Snakes Snails Stripper Poles with or with out Birds In-Laws Scoff-Laws Blogs Borg Paint Colors Dinner Books and Each Other"
--SueSume, 3/21/13
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PghScrapper
Waiting for Godot
PeaNut 210,270
June 2005
Posts: 11,013
Layouts: 47
Loc: Back in the 'Burgh
 | Posted: 12/25/2012 5:44:26 AM
We're going to go see it this morning after the paper ripping ceremony. Read reviews that it is really well done, but Crowe's performance is a little weak. No matter - great show, story, music.
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Deena714
Half of NSBR's favorite power couple
PeaNut 64,257
January 2003
Posts: 18,891
Layouts: 88
Loc: Your Mom's house
| Posted: 12/25/2012 5:51:54 AM
Were going tonight, 7 pm. Can't wait!!! |
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JenAllyson
The Project Pea
PeaNut 139,756
April 2004
Posts: 8,414
Layouts: 30
Loc: Sacramento
 | Posted: 12/25/2012 5:52:12 AM
Lol I've been singing this for days now. I cannot wait to see it, but with a newborn I'm not sure how soon we'll get there. I'd love to see it on the big screen so I'm going to make it happen!! |
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Oliquig
PeaFixture
PeaNut 210,654
June 2005
Posts: 3,655
Layouts: 198
Loc: Connecticut
| Posted: 12/25/2012 6:54:10 AM
Three and a half hours to go! Can't wait. |
-Rachel
I just don't see why people think I'm too patronizing (that means I treat them as if they were stupid.)
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MergeLeft
Typical Liberal
PeaNut 221,236
August 2005
Posts: 19,096
Layouts: 67
Loc: Houston
| Posted: 12/25/2012 7:22:44 AM
I think we're going to see it tonight. Can't wait! |
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peamac
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 340,335
October 2007
Posts: 5,558
Layouts: 1
Loc: Colorado
 | Posted: 12/25/2012 8:48:47 AM
We're going to go see it this morning after the paper ripping ceremony.
We also have our cinnamon roll-eating and omelet-making ceremonies to get through before we go see it. |
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GrammarGirl
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 261,174
May 2006
Posts: 2,139
Layouts: 0
Loc: Maryland
| Posted: 12/25/2012 8:50:04 AM
I want to go today SO badly...but we have to go to the in-laws instead! Maybe I can convince DH for a late showing tonight, but definitely tomorrow. |
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Woobster
The Banana Under the Couch Pea
PeaNut 295,941
February 2007
Posts: 6,608
Layouts: 0
Loc: Somewhere over the rainbow...
 | Posted: 12/25/2012 8:53:28 AM
A friend and I are going on Thursday evening... Can't wait!
Jesus wept.
This made me LOL | |
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lindywholoveskids
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 168,696
September 2004
Posts: 7,194
Layouts: 0
Loc: Northern California
 |  Posted: 12/25/2012 9:20:12 AM
Thanks for the early review!
We may get to see it soon, hopefully.
I love HUGH! so that should be great.
"One day more" ..or something like that! | |
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Epeanymous
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 15,108
May 2001
Posts: 2,164
Layouts: 1
 | Posted: 12/25/2012 10:21:56 AM
I want to go!
I've read the reviews and, while my kids love the music, I think the movie is too much for my six-year-old. If you have seen it, is it something that is not too much for a ten-year-old? I've seen the stage show a zillion times and would take her to that, but do not know if the movie is too graphic. She saw and was fine with the Hunger Games, FWIW. | |
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sugarcoated
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 140,176
April 2004
Posts: 2,095
Layouts: 0
Loc: At Work
| Posted: 12/25/2012 10:34:10 AM
Do you hear the people sing? Singing the songs of angry men!
No. They couldn't be bothered to put it on the "highlights" CD.
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Jen in NCal
PeaFixture
PeaNut 175,686
November 2004
Posts: 3,253
Layouts: 0
Loc: Counting the days until I return to Kim's Perfect BB World.
| Posted: 12/25/2012 10:41:37 AM
No. They couldn't be bothered to put it on the "highlights" CD.
What's up with that? The Bishop made the cut, but that didn't? That's just wrong. |
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crimsoncat05
PeaFixture
PeaNut 273,602
August 2006
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Peal
Hello, is this thing on?
PeaNut 60,761
January 2003
Posts: 8,486
Layouts: 28
Loc: Who's asking?
| Posted: 12/25/2012 12:17:52 PM
But oh Russell. What did you do, agreeing to do this role? I know you have a rock band and you can carry a tune but ohhhhh I cringed. Was it too high for you? The wrong key for you? Both at the same time maybe.
The actors had to do the songs in one take as the music was sung "live" as they rolled filmed and not pre-recorded and dubbed in later. I read a review that mentioned because of that (probably), Russell Crowe was less than stellar.
Doesn't matter, I still want to see it. |
Christina
You can't argue with popularity. Well, you could, but you'd be wrong.
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twinsmom-fla99
PeaFixture
PeaNut 203,642
May 2005
Posts: 3,352
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 12/25/2012 12:21:32 PM
I stopped by the theater yesterday and purchased 5 tickets for
4:00 today. I couldn't believe I got the "supersaver" rate of $5.50 each.
Cannot wait! | |
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benem
Yo, that's fifty dollars for a T-shirt.
PeaNut 526,154
October 2011
Posts: 5,524
Layouts: 0
Loc: Illinois
| Posted: 12/25/2012 12:23:53 PM
I honestly don't know about a 10 yr old seeing it. There is prostitution, and a 10 yr old boy is graphically shot and killed. The streets run with blood. It's very sad. But every parent is different. |
"We are NSBR. We talk about E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.
Diva Cups Merkins Tub Girl Crock Pots Kitten Heels The Hoff HOF Obama Bush Kardashians Shopping Carts Shopping Trolleys Dead Aunt Cookies Trolls Not Trolls Garden Snakes Snails Stripper Poles with or with out Birds In-Laws Scoff-Laws Blogs Borg Paint Colors Dinner Books and Each Other"
--SueSume, 3/21/13
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Ginger21
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 235,294
December 2005
Posts: 11,537
Layouts: 2
Loc: PA
| Posted: 12/25/2012 1:19:32 PM
We want to see it today but we would feel bad leaving my MIL home with our youngest on Christmas Day. We will get to see it this week sometime! Glad to hear you loved it!! | |
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Peabay
Happy now?
PeaNut 156,993
July 2004
Posts: 44,667
Layouts: 13
Loc: Connecticut
| Posted: 12/25/2012 1:25:00 PM
We're going at 4:20. Can't wait! |
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Gem Girl
PeaAddict
PeaNut 460,363
March 2010
Posts: 1,388
Layouts: 7
Loc: Lost in thought
 | Posted: 12/25/2012 2:04:01 PM
Benem, so glad you got to go see it, knowing it was on your wish list. And I love hearing that Anne did such a great job; I think she's been a bit under-rated. Looking forward to seeing it! |
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PghScrapper
Waiting for Godot
PeaNut 210,270
June 2005
Posts: 11,013
Layouts: 47
Loc: Back in the 'Burgh
| Posted: 12/25/2012 4:28:34 PM
We just got back from seeing the movie. I loved it. DISCLAIMER: this is one of my top 5 favorite musicals, so I am very partial to the story line and the music but, without "spoilers":
The performances of Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne and Hugh Jackson blew me away. Each one is deserving of an Oscar nomination, but especially Anne Hathaway - she made me bawl like a baby. That the actors sang the songs live, without dubbing, brings a "realistic" quality, warts and all, that you don't typically see in a movie musical.
The production quality and attention to detail is terrific.
DH and I disagreed on Russel Crowe's performance. I thought it was weak and lacking in passion. DH thought it was fine. All in your tastes I guess.
The movie isn't as "musical" as a live stage performance, but I think it does a much better job of bringing the story home to the soul.
And I wouldn't take a young child, or even one under 12-13 to the movie. There are some fairly graphic scenes (not to mention the repeated PG-13 and higher film previews shown before the movie itself!)
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CADoodlebug
Happy Happy Joy Joy Happy Happy Joy
PeaNut 178,445
November 2004
Posts: 17,079
Layouts: 0
Loc: Northern California
| Posted: 12/25/2012 5:01:27 PM
We went to the 11:00 AM show this morning and we
all loved it! Even DS which proves the younger
generation can appreciate a musical AND a show
without special effects!
Semi-spolier:
We also agreed that Crowe was the weakest character.
Although the singing was done *live*, I don't know
if they were only given once chance to sing it. It
wasn't his singing that bothered us as much as how
bland his character was. Wasn't he supposed to be
meaner?
ETA: I started another thread because, well, I did
a search and Les Mis came up empty. |
Joy
"I just wish my mouth had a backspace key!"
  
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lindywholoveskids
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 168,696
September 2004
Posts: 7,194
Layouts: 0
Loc: Northern California
| Posted: 12/25/2012 5:03:56 PM
yes, the story is not appropriate for children under 12 I think. Even then, it's not an 'upper'..
Check out Flickster or wiki, and see a synopsis.
people die, children die (as was mentioned) ...I am not even sure about the rating.
Anyone know??
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lindywholoveskids
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 168,696
September 2004
Posts: 7,194
Layouts: 0
Loc: Northern California
| Posted: 12/25/2012 5:06:21 PM
why not find a film that's appropriate for a 10 year old? Sorry, I am upset about that question. | |
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sharonmnc
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 39,386
May 2002
Posts: 6,862
Layouts: 28
Loc: Charlotte, NC
| Posted: 12/25/2012 5:09:29 PM
Can't wait to see it. It's my #1 favorite. I have 4 versions on my IPod. Glad everybody liked it. It is SO not Rent. |
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Pauline J
PeaNut
PeaNut 203,331
May 2005
Posts: 453
Layouts: 0
Loc: The Wild Blue Yonder!
| Posted: 12/25/2012 5:32:27 PM
I thought Russell did great! I know he's not a singer but so much better than Gerard Butler in 'Phantom' and Pierce Brosnan in 'Mamma Mia'.
I agree though, that he could have been meaner. I always envision Javert snarling when he sings some lyrics- no snarling here. |
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cycworker
On dry runs Santa drives the Isuzu
PeaNut 159,331
July 2004
Posts: 9,384
Layouts: 0
Loc: Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
| Posted: 12/25/2012 5:39:13 PM
Pierce Brosnan in 'Mamma Mia'.
No one could be as bad as Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia. I watch this show with my cousin and we always yell 'Song Killer!' when he starts to sing. |
-Tania... but people who like me call me `Tang`
The secret of a good life is to have the right loyalties and hold them in the right scale of values.
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US socialist politician (1884 - 1968)
Human and civil rights should NEVER be subject to the tyranny of the majority. Minorities gain legal equality only when those in power come to understand that their unearned privilege is wrong, and enforce change upon society. - ProfessorZed | |
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Deep
PeaFixture
PeaNut 51,943
October 2002
Posts: 3,133
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| Posted: 12/25/2012 5:54:28 PM
DD (age 13) and I went and really enjoyed it. It made the story much clearer than what I had seen previously (The PBS performance and a youth theater performance)
I got teary and with the number of big snorting sounds in the theater, I know I wasn't alone.
The ticket stub was the first thing DD put in the Smashbook she got for Christmas! |
| "Why can't I get a little ahead instead of a bigger behind?" | |
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BrinaG
PeaFixture
PeaNut 205,553
May 2005
Posts: 3,491
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 12/25/2012 6:04:35 PM
Sitting here in the theatre waiting for it to start.
Don't worry I will turn off my phone as soon as the lights go down | |
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bear_mom
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 142,661
April 2004
Posts: 2,986
Layouts: 3
| Posted: 12/25/2012 7:04:56 PM
What's up with that? The Bishop made the cut, but that didn't? That's just wrong.
Could be because the bishop is the orginal Jean Valjean from the stage production.
Emily | |
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Peabay
Happy now?
PeaNut 156,993
July 2004
Posts: 44,667
Layouts: 13
Loc: Connecticut
| Posted: 12/25/2012 7:09:05 PM
I loved it. I thought Russell Crowe did a really nice job - it worked for me. I loved that it was sung live - none of them were perfect and it allowed them to act more.
I really, really enjoyed it (and had a good cry, which always means something was effective for me.) |
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CADoodlebug
Happy Happy Joy Joy Happy Happy Joy
PeaNut 178,445
November 2004
Posts: 17,079
Layouts: 0
Loc: Northern California
| Posted: 12/25/2012 7:49:37 PM
(and had a good cry, which always means something was effective for me.)
^^^^^ This. I don't cry. Hardly ever. But this
made me ~ not a boo hoo, snot flinging cry, but
weepy. |
Joy
"I just wish my mouth had a backspace key!"
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benem
Yo, that's fifty dollars for a T-shirt.
PeaNut 526,154
October 2011
Posts: 5,524
Layouts: 0
Loc: Illinois
| Posted: 12/25/2012 8:09:17 PM
I cried when Hugh Jackman started his tortured singing and then Anne Hathaway made me sob and it just went on and on. |
"We are NSBR. We talk about E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.
Diva Cups Merkins Tub Girl Crock Pots Kitten Heels The Hoff HOF Obama Bush Kardashians Shopping Carts Shopping Trolleys Dead Aunt Cookies Trolls Not Trolls Garden Snakes Snails Stripper Poles with or with out Birds In-Laws Scoff-Laws Blogs Borg Paint Colors Dinner Books and Each Other"
--SueSume, 3/21/13
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ackerlew
PeaNut
PeaNut 42,954
July 2002
Posts: 202
Layouts: 4
| Posted: 12/25/2012 8:19:12 PM
I saw it and loved it. I didn't think I could love Hugh Jackman any more, but surprise!
I took my 10 year old son with me and he loved it so much he asked me to go AGAIN. But he is definitely NOT your average 10 year old. He saw Phantom of the Opera on Broadway at 4 and new every word to every song and completely comprehended the story. He truly appreciates quality theater and loves musicals.
Interesting - he thought Russel Crowe did well. I thought his performance was a little weak... |
dRebel XTi
Tamron 18-200mm
5omm 1.8 | |
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Really Red
Pea-ceful and Hap-pea
PeaNut 24,951
November 2001
Posts: 8,170
Layouts: 1
 | Posted: 12/25/2012 8:31:31 PM
I haven't seen it. I do not like RC, but I have quite admired his performances in other movies. A Beautiful Mind was perfect.
So who would have been better in that role? I'm going to see it soon, but not sure when I can find the time. I saw it on Broadway many years ago and did NOT love it. I didn't hate it, but it was not great. I think I was too young! (ah the days!)
Can't wait to see it. |
Andrea
When one door of happiness closes, another opens; But often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.
Helen Keller | |
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amesv
can't we all just get along?
PeaNut 205,184
May 2005
Posts: 6,406
Layouts: 118
Loc: Bowling Green, KY
| Posted: 12/25/2012 8:33:10 PM
I am going with girlfriends tomorrow and cannot wait! I will be sure to stick tissues in my purse...I am a crybaby. 
My 11 year old son is a theatre kid and appreciates that type if show as well. He has seen the musical (done by high school and college age kids.) He even asked if he could audition for Gavroche, but there was a minimum age (13) because of the subject matter. I think I would let him see it on DVD so that I could forward through the more graphic scenes. |
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Zella
PeaFixture
PeaNut 434,965
August 2009
Posts: 3,322
Layouts: 5
Loc: Puget Sound
| Posted: 12/25/2012 9:08:36 PM
Regarding a 10 year old? I completely disagree with the posts I saw saying it's not okay.
First of all, this particular 10 year old saw Hunger Games. Um, kids dying? Yeah, been there, done that, right?
Anyway, this is a story for the ages. And the music is some of the best ever written for musical theater. Absolutely, take her.
My kids have loved this music and show ever since we first found it. My youngest was 6 or 7 then, and I would have taken her to see a movie version of the musical without a second thought. |
Trying to live each day for itself
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BrinaG
PeaFixture
PeaNut 205,553
May 2005
Posts: 3,491
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 12/25/2012 9:56:30 PM
wow, loved it. Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway should be major Oscar contenders. I can't imagine what it would take to beat them.
Russel Crowe I thought was okay. I have seen the play three times (I lived in NY, for a period of time every guest who came to visit wanted to see it.) The first two times the actor playing Javert was at least as good as the actor playing Valjean. The third time the actor playing Javert had a good voice, but not a particularly strong voice. That is how I felt about Russel Crowe. | |
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MergeLeft
Typical Liberal
PeaNut 221,236
August 2005
Posts: 19,096
Layouts: 67
Loc: Houston
| Posted: 12/25/2012 10:11:21 PM
We just got back from seeing it. Pretty much agree with everyone else's assessments. I thought Russell Crowe sounded like the best baritone in a mediocre church choir. Very hooty and forced in the upper range.
Am I the only person who noticed all the changed lyrics and omitted verses? I listened obsessively to the cast recording in high school so probably not everyone knows the songs as well as I do.
Also, there was a guy behind us who wouldn't stop singing along. Someone had to get the manager to come and remove him.
ETA: My 11 year old was perfectly fine with it. The part I was least comfortable with her seeing was Fantine with her "customer" right before her solo, but it was brief and hardly graphic. The violence? Well, yeah, she's seen and read Hunger Games. It's disturbing but I find at her age that stuff like that, in the context of a movie or show with larger themes, can be the basis for a great, age-appropriate conversation about some pretty heavy topics. |
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BethAnneM
Hermetically sealed for your protection
PeaNut 95,504
July 2003
Posts: 7,401
Layouts: 0
Loc: Cali Baby
| Posted: 12/25/2012 11:00:32 PM
We just got back about an hour ago. I LOVED it. The theater was sold out and you could hear a pin drop except for the occasional sniffle.
Anne Hathaway made me bawl and my DH won't stop singing "master of the house, keeper of the zoo". |
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Ouiser
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 196,226
March 2005
Posts: 8,865
Layouts: 0
Loc: in the South
| Posted: 12/25/2012 11:12:56 PM
My oldest and myself, went to the 4:20 show today and we LOVED it! It is without a doubt, my favorite Broadway show, so I was a little nervous how it would be turned in to a film. I was not disappointed. I wasn't as impressed with Jackman and Crow as I was the younger members of the cast. I cried numerous times and I can't say I've done that at the live theater. |
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Aggiemom92
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 90,200
June 2003
Posts: 2,691
Layouts: 2
| Posted: 12/25/2012 11:31:17 PM
Just got back. I thought it was fantastic. I read this thread before I went, and when people said they cried I just shrugged it off--I know the story well so couldn't see why I'd cry. Wrong. I cried several times. I think it's because unlike on stage, you can really see their tortured faces.
Re: Russell Crowe--maybe I had low expectations because I'd read so much criticism, but I thought he did well! Definitely not the star, but he held his own. Really, I think it may have just been that people were so totally blown away by some of the other actors that his 'good' performance just paled in comparison. |
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CADoodlebug
Happy Happy Joy Joy Happy Happy Joy
PeaNut 178,445
November 2004
Posts: 17,079
Layouts: 0
Loc: Northern California
| Posted: 12/25/2012 11:36:32 PM
The scene with Russell Crowe that made me start crying:
SPOILER
When he put his medal on that little boy. |
Joy
"I just wish my mouth had a backspace key!"
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Ouiser
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 196,226
March 2005
Posts: 8,865
Layouts: 0
Loc: in the South
| Posted: 12/25/2012 11:44:40 PM
I did also Joy! |
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CarolT
Slow Poke Pea
PeaNut 857
June 1999
Posts: 5,108
Layouts: 37
Loc: Central Florida
 | Posted: 12/26/2012 1:16:37 AM
Dd and I saw the 10:00 show tonight - loved it, Hugh Jackman blew me away, as did Anne Hathaway and Amanda Seigfreid. |
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AmeliaBloomer
BucketHead
PeaNut 509,476
May 2011
Posts: 521
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 12/26/2012 2:06:39 AM
I rarely enjoy screen adaptations of recent musical theatre (with "Chicago" a notable exception). I was looking forward to this movie, but, admittedly, didn't have high expectations.
- Not surprisingly, I enjoyed the best singers - especially the student characters and Eponine. Of the non-singers, I thought Ann Hathaway more than made up for her vocal limitations with her acting, Amanda Seyfried's singing was somewhat improved by her acting, and poor Russell Crowe was just miscast. The Javert-Valjean relationship lacked the ferocity it needs to carry the story. (All five of us strongly agreed on this.)
- I was really put off by the almost-unceasing close ups. I understand that a film has to be different than a stage production. This director was clearly using cinematic devices to convey raw emotion...pathos...the shared human struggle ...sacrifice ...redemption...yada, yada, but I can still feel connected to someone's pain without looking up their nostrils.
- Much of the added stuff really helped clarify various plot devices (like Valjean initially demonstrating his physical strength in prison), but the added song (Valjean as a new papa) was both unnecessary and unremarkable. We all thought the peculiar gesture by Javert towards the end (with the little boy) went against his character's state of mind and was very Spielberg-ian.
I know I sound pretty negative. Last month, I grumbled about spending $100 for a bad seat to see the most recent touring production of the play, but I feel like I got more for that money than the twelve bucks I spent this afternoon. That said, I'm still glad I went.
[Plus, this thread needed one naysayer, huh?]
One of these days, I'm going to read the darned book. Have any of you plowed through the whole thing?
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MichyM
Macro PhotograPea
PeaNut 15,409
May 2001
Posts: 7,716
Layouts: 17
Loc: Queen Anne Hill
| Posted: 12/26/2012 2:22:22 AM
Saw it today. I had never seen the show or read the book (hanging head in shame), so I had absolutely no expectations.
LOVED IT, though I thought Russell Crow was a poor singer, and certainly thought the last scene/song of his could have been SO much more moving. Amanda Seyfried did a nice job acting, her singing is a whole other story though. I am grateful she is more of a supporting character.
Hugh Jackman was amazing, I think I'm slightly in love with him. As was Anne Hathaway. I was also very enamored with Eddie Redmayne. I am still trying to figure out why he looks so familiar to me.....
My son is a working singer/actor/dancer working out of New York, and is typically a very tough critic with a very specific set of criteria for actors to live up to. Even he had a lot of positive thoughts about the movie. |
Lauren
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pelirroja
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 21,146
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| Posted: 12/26/2012 8:04:38 AM
The book was required reading in HS for me (way back in 1978). I slogged my way thru it, not really understanding a lot of it. I just didn't get the significance of the politics, poverty, and moral dilemmas. What would you do to feed a dying child, even if it is your sister's and not your own? What would you do, as a single parent, to get medicine for your child you had to leave behind with caretakers? What would you do if your daughter fell in love and you could potentially change your daughter's life and social status by your action or inaction? Could a monsignor's faith in a petty criminal really change that man's ways for the rest of his days? Is there really redemption? I had skipped the play (so I can't compare the soundtrack or song editing) but I LOVED the movie.
The perspective at age 50 is very different than the perspective my teenaged self had at the time I was required to read the book. My world experiences have helped me understand the complexity of the ethical dilemmas so much better than the black and white world I lived in as a teen.
Russell Crowe's Javert was not nearly as sneaky, underhanded, mean-spirited and ruthless as I remember in the book. Crowe came across as rather bland (in the book Javert was completely consumed with finding Valjean). And they handled Eponine's bravery (and subsequent death) very well. Borat as the innkeeper was unexpectedly funny and repulsive and Helena Bonham Carter's overracting was perfect for this film.
I adored Hugh Jackman: he played Valjean so well that I really believed Valjean would do anything to make things right. His physical strength out of such a seemingly scrawny guy made me believe nothing was impossible. His tenacity to make things right, no matter what the circumstances, was remarkable and believable.
And yes, take tissues. I knew what to expect, and still ending up crying my eyes out. In a good way.
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Pelly
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