Les Misérables [Blu-ray] [2012]

Outstanding from start to finish.I am not a fan of Lloyd Webber and Rice musicals, I would normally far rather listen to 70s punk or watch Terminator 2 however this was simply fantastic!I bought this because my daughter needed to do a review on elements of the play for her philosophy studies and my wife has wanted to see it for some time. We all sat down together, son and I fully expecting to just tolerate it. We could not have been more wrong. The acting is brilliant and the singing outstanding. None of us had ever seen the stage play or film before and we were all completely blown away by it.I simply cannot understand the criticism levelled at Russell Crowe who I though was magnificent. In fact all of the actors were.

I should explain I'd never seen this movie or a stage production or indeed taken any interest in musicals after West Side Story. But I love musicals from Showboat, Oklahoma, 42nd Street and even further back. I'd seen a couple of modern musicals, Starlight Express being one, but they seem to depend on a repetition of just one tune. I like some of the songs from Cats and Phantom but had never seen a stage production. So I sat down to watch the movie. The scenery and the sets were first class. But correct me if I'm wrong in a musical it might have been a good idea if some, or at least one of the characters, had been a professional singer. It was almost embarrassing to watch Russell Crowe trying to sing. The only character who really pinned the role was Ann Hatherway although I Dreamed a Dreamed was a film version which could not have been done on stage. The film was very dark with little to make it positive. Twenty-five minutes into the movie I felt like slitting my wrists.After watching the movie I went to YT to watch some of the stage versions. I was amazed. Why didn't they employ some of these singers in the film? Colm Wilkinson, Alfie Boe or Ruth Henshall. But of course they are not world famous.

This arrived whilst I was out and was waiting for me when I returned home.Having seen the 25th Anniversary, the Cameron version, performance on the TV and taping it on VHS I tuned in on the TV when I saw that 'Les Miserables', with Russel Crowe and Hugh Jackman starring. Having seen the 1998 film with Liam Neeson and Geoffrey Rush, which seemed to be truer to the book, I was pleasantly surprised to find the 2012 version followed the stage play with all of the vocals interspersed with the filmed locations and background.Having seen the 2012 version on TV I immediately ordered the DVD and watched it as soon as I returned home. It was marvellous and a complete justification of the comment on the box of 'The Musical Phenomenon'.I have only one gripe.The start is delayed by trailers for other films and DVDs which, may be of interest to some and indeed make good marketing sense hold no interest for me. However, the film soon made up for the trailers though.Having seen the 25th Anniversary performance, the 1998 and 2012 films I intend the get the Victor Hugo book even though I know the films and stage play will bear no resemblance to the book.

The story itself could hardly fail to grip. Embittered by twenty years' hard labour for stealing bread, parole-breaker Jean Valjean is transformed by a bishop's kindness, resolving from now on to make something of his life. Instead for decades officer Javert pursues, he blinkered by duty and regarding Valjean as unfinished business. The two are on collision course. Meanwhile France is in turmoil, another revolution seemingly on its way....Visually the film is stunning. The plot is so strong, it disappoints (at least for a while) that the singing of the two leads is not more powerful. Anne Hathaway heartrendingly makes impact with "I Dreamed a Dream" - a raw outpouring of anguish from one now without hope. "Master of the House" proves perhaps more muted than usual - accompanying "business", although amusing, rather a distraction. "Do You Hear the People Sing?" appropriately stirs. Much in the film's later stages proves genuinely moving.Viewers' reactions may well be determined by the route so far taken. Mine is via the original London cast album and the two lavish anniversary celebratory concert versions (the 10th one preferred because of its power, involvement and truly awesome, memorable climax). Hopes would understandably thus be high for film performances that at least matched or even surpassed those previously experienced.Despite initial disappointments, the film offers much to applaud. In many ways it does justice to a musical so successful all over the world. The plight of the oppressed is always one that strikes a chord, stirring emotions. On stage and screen "Les Miserables" is more to experience than simply to watch - audiences often reduced to tears, emerging uplifted.Here again many will fall under its spell.

I finally gave in and bought this DVD; I am really a fan of Hugo`s book rather than the musical per se, but this filmed version is visually spectacular and the adaptation – though necessarily leaving many strands of the storyline out – is a fair and respectably good effort; a sung-through musical, it does have a couple of good songs in there; a stellar cast and high production values of course contribute to it`s quality as entertainment.As a film, the singing ability of the characters is of less importance than it would be in a theatrical setting so the criticism levelled at some of the performances by others doesn`t bother me - however, it`s up to the individual to make that judgement.The standard UK DVD has optional English subtitles should they be required; there are no extras.