Advantages: Compelling film, beautifully shot, great characters Disadvantages: Not the musical version you may be familiar with
...the amazing experience that is Les Miserables.
I went home, onto Ebay and ordered the DVD of the West End version of the concert. While I was browsing the items for sale there, I discovered there had been a film out in 1998 starring two of my favourite actors – Liam Neeson and Uma Thurman. Somehow, my itchy fingers clicked on that tempting Buy It Now icon and so, another DVD to add to the collection. But how could a non-musical film compare to what ... ...As this is the first Les Miserables film I have seen, I found myself comparing it to the concert DVD I have, that of the 10th Anniversary production starring Michael Ball.
Initially, I did miss the music. It is such an integral part of the whole Les Miserables experience, that it felt somehow naked without the haunting notes and perfectly tuned voices. But I was soon captivated by the story and became just as swept away in it all. THE STORY
This ...
KarenUK 11.04.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Les Miserables (DVD)
Advantages: The most amazing musical EVER !! Disadvantages: Should be twice as long !!!!!
...the chance. Les Miserables is widely recognised as the World's most popular musical. 10 years after it's opening night, the 1996 10th Anniversary concert which took place at The Royal Albert Hall, has become almost as legendary as the show itself. This amazing production is one of the most remarkable performances of Les Miserables ever put together, with the full magnificance of the score accompanied by the outstanding Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. ... ...It shows the making of Les Miserables around the world featuring interviews with Cameron Mackintosh the brains behind the musical and Alain Boubill and Claude-Michel Schonberg the creators of the musical. The programme is really interesting and it's fascinating listening to each of the songs in the many languages it's been produced in. It's also interesting to see how each Country perceives each character.
Along with the DVD comes a special commemorative ...
Lynso1977 06.01.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Les Miserables (DVD)
Advantages: Great Cast, Great Musical, The Extra performance of Do You Hear the People Sing and One Day More. Disadvantages: No the full score.
Les Miserables is a near-perfect show. It has great songs and brilliant characters which are often portrayed by brilliant actors. There is no finer display of this casting than the Anniversary DVD. The original Valjean, Colm Wilkinson has not lost any of his wonderful voice and his counter-part Javert, Philip Quast, is equally as 'on-form'. Ruthie Henshall and Lea Salonga are also fine at their parts and the original Marius, Michael Ball is fantastic ... ...for Enjolras. As Les Miserables is a predominantly stationairy show anyway, the lack of movement in the DVD is not a problem. The characters are in costume and do a fair amount of moving making the DVD really seem like Les Mis. The songs are well sung by all and there no weak links in the show. Equally, for the majority of the show, the songs are well directed.
Also the DVD allows viewers to sing-along using an extra 'Show Lyrics' Feature. The final ...
chiggy321 28.05.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Les Miserables (DVD)
Advantages: Great story line, superb casting, good depth to the plot Disadvantages: I wanted to hear the songs from the musical.
I watched this last night for the first time. I am a big fan of the musical and was unsure whether I would be disappointed by the film. Fortunately this is far from the case. This is a great film to watch whether you have seen the musical or not it is a great night in. The story is clear but with a good depth philosophically. If you have seen the musical it adds to the story line. Whilst I wanted to hear the songs from the musical, they were running ... ...still strong.
All the cast, Liam Neeson, Geoffrey Rush, Uma Thurman, Claire Danes and co. put in strong performances. Neeson and Rush put in superb performances with a real spark between the two protagonists.
The themes of justice, forgiveness, mercy and salvation and very strongly portrayed through the lives of various characters of the film.
Rarely do I enjoy a "classic literature" or the films based on them. This film is one exception, don't ...
saintfan 23.06.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Les Miserables (DVD)
Advantages: Good Story, A Classic Disadvantages: What happened to the end????
Well, I have bought this on dvd and I was thoroughly impressed with it. Liam Neeson plays Jean Valjean with ease. Geoffrey Rush as Javert - was he type-cast ????? A brilliant Javert.
The film follows the story quite well but I was a bit shocked at the following few things:
Eponine - Where was she? She never appeared in the film at all, but does actually play a big part in the story (love triangle between Cosette, Marius and Eponine).
Javert's ... ...so much more story left - Valjean not wanting Cosette to know about his past, Marius finding out that it was Valjean that saved him and the death of Valjean.
Despite all this, the film is very watchable and I would watch it a few times... This story teaches us lots of different things.... ...
theatretony 29.06.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Les Miserables (DVD)
Advantages: This is a moving show about the french revolution. Disadvantages: You will never be able to look at the french without thinking of this.
Last year at around this time I was having the most tiring yet most enjoyable week of my life. I had spent the whole weekend practicing with a band for our school production of "Les Miserables".
This musical is based on the book "Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo and is a story about some of the poor people in France during the french revolution. It is about hteir struggle against those people who are rich. The play starts in a slavery prison where ... ...day. The main character, Jean Valjean, soon gets set free and goes off to start a new life, and is given money by a priest. The police, being ignorant and ill-informed, immediately assume that jean valjean has stolen the money, and they begin to chase him. Most of this story is the struggle that Jean Valjean has to endure to try to forge a proper life for himself whilst being followed closely by the police, led by Inspector Javert. As the story progresse ...
chasmesque 05.12.2005 (23.06.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Les Miserables (DVD)
Music / Performing Arts, Comedy - Director: Trevor Nunn, Geoffrey Posner - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, Parental Guidance - Starring: Duncan Preston, Celia Imrie, Julie Walters, Victoria Wood, Jim Broadbent
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