Full Movie Reviews
Rating of
2/4
Les Misérables
worleyjamers - wrote on 06/29/2013
I really didn't like this film much at all, honestly. The film is much too Broadway and not enough like a movie musical. I hated Tom Hooper's direction, and while I respect the ambition, I would have preferred to see the musical version of this story told in a much different way. There is NO dialogue in film, almost none at all; every conversation and thought was sung, as it would have been on stage...that it the major reason why Les Miserables didn't work for me. This film is like watching the actual Broadway production on tape, songs included. For die-hard fans of the musical, that's great, but for others who just love the story, or even those that love films, this adaptation of Les Miserables disappoints. By including every song from the musical, it included the not-so-great songs as …
Rating of
3.5/4
Now we see a good movie with powerhouse cast.
Rod - wrote on 04/21/2013
After breaking his parole, Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) becomes a father to a factory worker's daughter, Cosette (Amanda Seyfried). He cares for her as he promised to her mother, Fantine (Anne Hathaway), and at the same time hides from Inspector Javert (Russell Crowe).
***
I love musicals, that is why when this movie was released, I immediately went to a movie house to watch. I love Tom Hooper's previous film "The King's Speech" which added excitement to me watching this film. I really do appreciate Hooper's style, I saw brilliancy on his techniques and how he managed to make every scene remarkable, that is why I really don't get why other people seem to hate him.
Moving on, of course, we can not deny the fact that this is one film where a dream cast ACTUALLY performed at their …
Rating of
3/4
Anne Hathaway deserved her Oscar.
mdtinney - wrote on 04/20/2013
Okay.. So I had mixed feelings going into this movie... The version with Liam Neeson and Geoffrey Rush is one of my all-time fave movies.. I watch it every time it comes on.. So I was very leery of watching the musical version.. Because my idea of a good musical is Grease and Rocky Horror Picture Show... And even the recent Rock of Ages was entertaining... But I am a huge Russell Crowe fan and have gotten to like most movies that Hugh Jackman has starred in.... So I bought it and watched it... It really surprised me.. Anne Hathaway's performance was outstanding (albeit very short).. Her singing as well as Amanda Seyfried was by far the best.. Hugh Jackman carried the movie though.. His performance was outstanding and his singing was bearable... Russell Crowe was the disappointment and …
Rating of
3/4
Les Miserables!
MovieAddict - wrote on 02/03/2013
Could you build a new life with mistakes of your past haunting you?
Set in 1815, convict Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) has served nineteen years in prison for stealing bread to feed his sister’s child. He is released on parole by prison guard Javert (Russell Crowe), although Javert feels that Jean is a born criminal and will return to jail eventually. Jean is unable to find work because of his status as an ex-convict and resorts to sleeping on the street. He is taken in by a kindly bishop and spends a night in a church but he steals the church's silver druing the night and is arrested. The forgiving Bishop lies to the authorities, claiming the silver was a gift, thereby facilitating Jean's release.
Touched by the Bishop’s love, grace and generosity Jean breaks parole and begins …
Rating of
3.5/4
Les Misérables review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 01/28/2013
Good mix of drama, action, humor and of course, superb singing. Evidently one man's commitment and sacrifice in exhibiting the performance of a lifetime, that person in the name of Hugh Jackman who carried this film. It was laughable seeing Crowe sing compared to previous gritty roles. The strength of the picture relies on the spotless cast that provided ample support. Convict Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) was released by Javert (Russell Crowe). After several years that pass, Jean encounters one of his former employees Montreuil-sur-Mer. Fantine (Anne Hathaway) that would change his life. Cosette (Isabelle Allen) is cared by Jean. Marius Pontmercy (Eddie Redmayne) falls for a mature Cosette.
Four characters stood-out in this critic's opinion: Éponine (Samantha Barks) who was …
Rating of
4/4
Most Beautiful Movie I have Ever Seen
FSUNoles27TS - wrote on 01/27/2013
My father has tried to get me to go to the live performance of this masterpiece since I was a child. I felt like I made up for it by seeing it at the movies. After seeing this I will be reading the book and seeing it the next time it is on Broadway This movie was amazing. It is single-handedly the most beautiful movie I have ever seen. Everybody did great in their roles One direction I didn't like was the comical nature of the Inn Keeper. Sacha Baren Coen did amazing, but the director chose it to be more of a comical character, when apparently he is supposed to be a horrible man. It did not take away from the movie though as it did just do a great job in a different direction of the original. I cannot believe how much I enjoyed this movie I hope everyone goes to see it.
Rating of
1.5/4
Strong acting got me through this!
Lee - wrote on 01/24/2013
Yet another best movie of the year nominee at the upcoming Oscar Awards this Feb. so this is the first year i am working on watching all the said nominated films before i watch the awards show itself. Now that being said i have to admit that musicals are not my cup of tea. Of all the musicals i have seen in my life the only one i really enjoyed was 1978's Grease starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John, let's just say it's one of my guilty pleasures (lol i even have the soundtrack buried in my memory banks so anytime the movie airs i drive my kids batty) So with that in mind i got through the latest version of the Victor Hugo classic novel.
Although finding this movie really dull in parts i must say that the cast were nothing short of stellar, with the exception for the part …
Rating of
3/4
To Love Another Person is to See the Face of God
Chris Kavan - wrote on 01/20/2013
Love. Honor. Redemption. Duty. Sacrifice. These are a few of the themes running throughout Les Miserables. It also follows nearly two decades of the life of two men: the criminal Jean Valjean, sentenced for stealing bread for his family only upon release to break parole in order to start life anew and the duty-bound Inspector Javert, who cannot look passed the criminal to see the man and spends his life forever trying to hunt him down.
Hugh Jackman as Valjean and Russell Crowe as Javert make good counterpoints to each other. But it's not just the story of these two men, of course, Valjean, partly to make amends for his past, adopts a young girl, Cossette, after her mother Fantine dies. She once worked at his factory but while he was distracted by a visit from Javert, she was tossed …
Rating of
2/4
Review: Les Miserables
MikePA - wrote on 01/15/2013
Tom Hooper's version of the insanely popular Les Miserables is a huge disappointment - ineffective, overlong, and occasionally flat-out boring. It left me wondering whether or not Tom Hooper will fall into mediocrity. Well, he did make The King's Speech, that fantastic crowd-pleaser from 2010. Better luck next film, I guess.
Let me start by stating what makes Les Mis at least watchable. The performances are undeniably outstanding, especially Anne Hathaway as Fantine. The sequence in which Hathaway sings "I Dreamed a Dream," filmed in one long take, is a remarkable piece of film-making. It all relies on the acting and the emotions Hathaway presents in that scene, and she makes it riveting through her mesmerizing performace. It certainly gave me the chills. Everybody else - including …
Rating of
2/4
Les Miserables (2012)
lastonetoleave - wrote on 12/30/2012
Les Miserables (2012) Based on the Broadway hit, this musical takes place in 19th century France where Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), has been running from the law for decades after breaking parole. Valjean agrees to take care of Cosette (Amanda Seyfried), the illegitimate daughter of Fantine (Anne Hathaway), after Fantine can no longer afford to take care of her. But by doing this, Valjean may be discovered by the police inspector, Javert (Russell Crowe), and his life could take a turn for the worse. Anne Hathaway is amazing in this film as the mother of Cosette who loses her job and has to sell herself to make sure her daughter survives. Hathaway’s song, "I Dreamed a Dream", is the highlight of the film, and the use of live recording as they were filming is displayed at its best with …
