The adversarial relationship between Jean Valjean and Javert.
A romance between Cosette and Marius.
A love of country and a desire for change.
A struggle of ideals.
Each of these themes plays strong, whether in the book, the Broadway musical, or the movie.
Let’s talk about the musical first.
I’ve been listening to the soundtrack this month, and while I don’t particularly remember seeing the show (at least 12 years ago!), the music speaks for itself. In fact, I even think that it added something to Amanda’s “boring” opinion on the version she read. I had her listen specifically to “Who Am I?” (which is now a song that Kyle, 4 1/2, asks for over and over again) and “Confrontation” (between Javert and Jean Valjean), and she liked them, and even asked me to add them to her playlist on my ipod!
If you enjoyed the book, I definitely recommend that you listen to the Broadway score. Many libraries probably have it or you can download it on itunes or buy it at amazon. What I love about Broadway is that music awakens something in you. The telling of a story in this format is second to none (I posted my experiences On Broadway at my blog Snapshot today).
As in most Broadway shows, there is some baudy humor. The women of the evening’s song “Lovely Ladies” is a strong PG13, and there are other lines in other songs as well, but the songs that Javert and Jean Valjean sing are so perfect.
I also came to know and love the character of Eponine here. I don’t know if much of her story was cut in my abridged version or if the musical took liberties, but her character is big in the musical (and can I say that it has me almost thinking about tackling the unabridged version to see what I’ve missed!).
Dawn referenced the musical a few times in our Les Miserables podcast, and at the end urged everyone to see it if they can, and if they can’t, to at least listen to it (I think that she had Lisa convinced).
I recently watched the DVD for the third time. Geoffrey Rush is Javert. Liam Neesen is Jean Valjean. Uma Thurman is Fantine, and Claire Danes is Cosette.
The relationship between Jean Valjean and Javert is there. It’s strong. Valjean is painted as a little warmer than my abridged version revealed — with a more tender affection for Fantine, and people in general (he and Cosette are seen serving meals to the poor in a sort of soup kitchen, and he’s joking around with the street urchins). Javert is just as rigid and cold as he should be.
The first time I saw this movie was in 1999, 3 years after I read the movie and saw the musical. It was in preparation for a Bible study retreat that capped off a study of Romans, and the themes in this work of mercy vs. the law was fabulous. I liked the movie a lot. I thought it was a good representation of the story, and it was a great way to bring those who hadn’t read the book up to speed.
A couple of Christmases ago, I put the movie on my wishlist and my husband and I watched the movie again, and he enjoyed it as well (he also loves the musical).
BUT here on this third viewing, immediately on the heels of reading the book again and enjoying the musical score, and reading everyone else’s thoughts on it, and discussing her impressions from years ago with Dawn the book-purist, I was disappointed.
That said, if you didn’t finish the book, or didn’t even read but wanted to — watch the movie. It’s a good movie. There is definitely dramatic license taken, so it’s not true to the book, however it may be more dramatic than the book for that very reason, but I think it does convey the major themes of love, redemption, and mercy versus the law.
Do I still love it? I’m not so sure (and I think that I’m holding Dawn responsible). I love the story, and so I do think that I will return to the movie again to get a fix, in addition to singing along with the Broadway cast — to Kyle and anyone who will listen (the tween forbids public singing), “Who am I? 2-4-6-0-1. . . . !”
Your thoughts and opinions?
Managing Editor Jennifer Donovan also blogs at Snapshot about life with her tween daughter and preschool son.
This is why I feel the musical sticks closest to the book than most versions – they neither cut Eponine nor Enjolras… (Eponine is fairly big in the unabridged, though they did give her more in the musical by having her take the letter instead of Gavroche, but then I think her character loses some by being shot getting back to the barricade instead of directly saving Marius’s life by taking the bullet for him) –
The movie is nice, but with completely cutting Eponine and Enjolras it just doesn’t seem right to me… (Despite my LOVE of Liam Neeson and his being perfect for Valjean)
You’re killing me here! ‘Dawn the book-purist’ may be a good moniker for me here… I guess I don’t mind when an adaptation makes slight changes, but I really bristle when the characters get tweaked at all, which you know is how I really felt about this movie version. Speaking of Javert’s rigidity… 🙂
I don’t remember the specifics now, it’s been so long since I’ve seen it, but I do remember being disappointed in the film version (there is also one pretty bad scene where Fantine is offering herself to pay for her rent). I LOVED the musical, though. I’ve only seen the 10th anniversary rendition, which is sung and in costume but not acted out, and to me Colm Wilkinson is the quintessential ValJean.
I’ve got about 400 pages left of the unabridged version, so I am more than 2/3 of the way through. I can see why it is abridged. 😀 There are some tedious places, but overall I am enjoying getting more of the story. There is much more to Fantine’s story than I have seen or read in any other version.
I haven’t listened to the Podcast yet — hopefully will this weekend — or read any of the other write-ups about the challenge — hope to when I finish. I’ll definitely write a review when I am done.
This is the only film version that I have seen, and I have to admit that I was really disappointed. Liam Neesom is a very good Jean Valjean and Geoffrey Rush is excellent as Javert, but Claire Danes comes across as a very spoiled and somewhat manipulative Cosette…what?!? The reworking of the story is just too much for me. It’s been a while since I saw it, but doesn’t Valjean hit Cosette? No WAY should that happen…COMPLETELY out of character. The ending is not right…sorry…I know I’m being really critical, but there were just too many problems with this movie for me to like.
I do have the Original Broadway Cast Recording on my iPod. The music is unlike any other musical. It reaches out and draws you in and just doesn’t let you go.
not to go far far off topic, but if you like classic lit and like the style of the musical Les Miz, you really need to listen to the musical version of Jane Eyre – its just as amazing and emotional, and whatever indescribable feeling as Les Miz
I haven’t seen the movie or heard the soundtrack. I love the book so much that I always assumed I’d be disappointed. But right now it’s years since I read the book–sounds like now would be a good time to watch it.
I wonder if anyone around here has it?
I read the book and LOVED it! I just rented the movie but I haven’t watched it yet and I haven’t seen the musical but my husband (who hates musicals) says it is a must see.