Les Misérables

[greece]

I just grabbed a couple of tickets for les miserables at Odeon Swiss Cottage yay

[valda]

I've just realised its a 7pm start! So anyway see you all there. Newbies, if you see a large group of people who all know each other, come and say hello

[funthing29]

I've just realised its a 7pm start!

And it has a 2 hour 37 minute running time, just to forewarn people.

[valda]

I'll have to hang around here and do a bit of work before I go :0(

[elski]

I have some vouchers to use up soon (Sweet Sundays, so only 2 Sundays left) and there's so little around at present that I was wondering about seeing this. However, I'm not sure I really "get" the idea of filmed musicals. Every film-with-songs which I've seen (e.g. lately The Sapphires, Pitch Perfect) has left me unsatisfied because you never get the whole song, but then I think, if that's the point, why not either attend a live performance by a group or of a musical, or listen to a CD?

In fact, thinking about this, one of the aspects of Bollywood films which appeals to me is that they not only have soundtracks but that you definitely get the full Monty!

I'm absolutely not knocking others here for liking this genre and it's clear that lots of members are eagerly awaiting this particular film; I'm just wondering if anyone can explain to me quite what the allure is?

I wouldn't describe Pitch Perfect and The Sapphires as musicals, they're just normal rom-com type films that have music as part of the story.
Les Mis is more like Moulin Rouge, Chicago etc where people break into song at any time and not just on stage.

[Ms Thrifty]

I have some vouchers to use up soon (Sweet Sundays, so only 2 Sundays left) and there's so little around at present that I was wondering about seeing this. However, I'm not sure I really "get" the idea of filmed musicals. Every film-with-songs which I've seen (e.g. lately The Sapphires, Pitch Perfect) has left me unsatisfied because you never get the whole song, but then I think, if that's the point, why not either attend a live performance by a group or of a musical, or listen to a CD?

In fact, thinking about this, one of the aspects of Bollywood films which appeals to me is that they not only have soundtracks but that you definitely get the full Monty!

I'm absolutely not knocking others here for liking this genre and it's clear that lots of members are eagerly awaiting this particular film; I'm just wondering if anyone can explain to me quite what the allure is?

I wouldn't describe Pitch Perfect and The Sapphires as musicals, they're just normal rom-com type films that have music as part of the story.
Les Mis is more like Moulin Rouge, Chicago etc where people break into song at any time and not just on stage.

Yes, that's why I referred to "films-with-songs" for want of a better description. But oh dear, I didn't like Moulin Rouge or the stage version of Chicago (slick but heartless), so what with that and the length of Les Mis, maybe I should give it a miss!

[valda]

Have you never seen the stage show? I guess the main thing is if you like this sort of music - Did you like Susan Boyle, I Dreamed a Dream? Maybe you should go on Youtube and listen to a few tracks. The film, from what I've seen looks mighty epic.

[Ms Thrifty]

Oh yes, I saw the stage show years ago and loved it; it's the concept of films of musicals I don't grasp, but I feel the same about seeing live plays relayed to cinemas, i.e. I know they are very popular and great for people who have no alternative, but I'd rather experience plays live in a theatre. I've heard of Susan Boyle but never heard anything by her, so maybe I should check out Youtube as you suggest.

[funthing29]

At one point, Marius sings "on and on and on" which is how I felt about this. It just doesn't seem to end. It is even longer than the stage show! I actually enjoyed this and found it more watchable than the stage show, since you engage more with the characters and the story is easier to follow, but it is just so so long. At least the theatre version has an intermission but no such break from this 157 cinematic show.

The cast are outstanding, with a magnetic performance from Jackman, a stunning and flawless performance by Hathaway for I Dreamed A Dream that is the most memorable part of the film, and a surprisingly menacing yet human turn from Crowe.

The problem here, and the same issue I had with the stage version, is that the story covers such a wide time period with so many characters, and as a result is slow paced, and the revolution sequence doesn't even provide a satisfying action packed finale because there are several endings to follow which grind the pacing to a halt. The film lacks momentum and ponders aimlessly along, especially in the middle act.

It converts from stage to screen better than I expected but it is not a 157 minute experience I would be eager to repeat.

7/10

There was also a Q&A from director Tom Hooper and star Eddie Redmayne, which was quite good.

[prettyxcool]

The cast are outstanding, with a magnetic performance from Jackman, a stunning and flawless performance by Hathaway for I Dreamed A Dream that is the most memorable part of the film, and a surprisingly menacing yet human turn from Crowe.

I wholeheartedly agree here except I would add Eddie Redmayne, I could not keep my eyes off him! And his soliloquy "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables". tucked at my heartstrings, and to my delight, he came in for the surprise Q&A with Tim Hooper, and I caught them afterwards for a few words, and a photo!

I have forgotten how bleak, how emotional, how sad this story is. It was awesome to see it on such a large screen as the IMAX, and I really enjoyed every bit of it, the music, the songs, but nothing beats live theatre, although in the Q&A, they explained how it was filmed live. 9/10

This was a BAFTA screening, so all the SFF ticketholders had to queue in a separate queue and were told to sit anywhere except the centre seats. However, I mistook the instructions (oops!) and thought only the ones marked reserved, and went and sat in the back row of the centre seats that had no reserved signs, and ejwrank and daughter also sat in the centre seats two rows in front of us. I tried to save seats for valda, but she along with jeanelle were caught by the usher sending all SFF ticketholders to sit in the side seats. Sorry to miss you, funthing, I did look out for you!