MovieChat Forums > Les Misérables (2012) Discussion > Change of heart...

Change of heart...

posted 9 years ago by lanceifer
7 replies | jump to latest

Anyone else who enjoyed this on its initial release in theaters change their mind since? I hate to say it but I just popped in my blu-ray this afternoon and...wow what a different experience. I had initially loved the film but I really struggled to get through it this time. The constant straining vocals, shouted notes and cry singing was almost unbearable.

I am bummed this doesn't have the same rewatchability that other classic musicals have and I think most of it is due to the live vocals. It was a gimmick that worked once but fails to move me the same way twice.

Shame.

[–] Elphie_Tiggular 9 years ago

Totally the opposite! 😃

I was definitely not the biggest fan of Russell Crowe when watched at the cinema but tolerated him much more when watched at home with family and friends. In fact...I found the whole experience even more enjoyable and certainly more emotional on the second and third watch because I shared this film with family and friends who had never experienced Les Mis. 🎶

ELPHABA: Eleka Nahmen Nahmen Ah Tum Ah Tum Eleka Nahmen.

[–] samitchell-30496 9 years ago

The whole thing musically seems pretty weak and lacking to me. There's so much subtlety in the score that's not translated from the theatre book to screen

[–] baj2 9 years ago

I have always loved the stage musical ( seen it 10 times in various cities), but after seeing the film adaptation I just wished the stage actors also focused on their acting skills ( although perhaps their acting chops are really no match with those of film actors). I saw a recent staging ( based on the revised edition with the projected Hugo novel illustrations) and I was surprised to be dry-eyed all throughout. Each one seems to be intent in projecting his vocal prowess instead of also displaying acting nuances called for by the scenes and the songs.

In the final analysis, it is which medium gave the finer interpretation of the novel by Victor Hugo which mattered most. I would vote for the film adaptation ahead of the live singing. The cinematic vision of Tom Hooper passes with flying colors!

[–] search_for_truth 9 years ago

Opposite. I love it more every time I see it.

[–] michaeldinan 8 years ago

Most films when you see them a second or third time is a better experience.

[–] Orestes97 (100) 8 years ago

Every time I watch this film I have a completely different feeling. I'm a big fan of the original musical so I was really excited for it. I loved it the first time, found meh the second time, and hated it the third time. I rewatched it for the first time in a while recently and kinda made my peace with it. I think it is pretty good, but had a lot of wasted potential. Who knows what I'll feel the next time I watch it.

[–] Gd5150 (11965) 7 years ago

Was always a big fan of the musical. From the first few moments Crowes rendition of Javert started I was like, oh no.

To me this is one of the biggest disasters in motion picture history. Horrible cinematography. The music was destroyed. Just a shame.