Les Miserables

8.08

Rating: 8.08 | Votes: 13

This Movie @ Amazon.com

No quote / excerpt found

No review / comment found

Great movie by itself, not the book
This is the 245th review on Amazon of this movie. Why bother with another? Who knows. Does the movie follow the book? Can Hugo be reduced to film? No, and this doesn't do it. To put a novel on film would seem a very difficult task. Maybe you can do it with Moliere, Ibsen, O'Neal or Wilde if you adapot their plays, but can you do it with Flaubert, Cervantes, Camus, et al.? I think not.

This is a good movie and as a movie I give it five stars. No apology. As an adaptation of the book it ranks maybe three or two. I think some real benefit could be gained to the world if those who occupy the ultra-moralistic, ultra-fight were encouraged to see this movie--they are never going to read the book. But perhaps it is too much of a shock to their systems. They might become moral, see the value of mercy, adopt the Golden Rule, and what would that do to religion in the world? Can I retract the suggestion? It is best the closed minded stay that way.

I make no apology for my take on this movie, because reviewing a movie is even more subjective than reviewing a book. The subjective view of this reviewer is this, as a movie, warrants 5 stars.

The best advice--spend money on the book rather than the movie. Read it, enjoy it, and improve yourself.

Imprisonment vs the freedom of true humility
This sociologically/psychologically complex movie not only explores the human's choice of miserable imprisonment in the ways, means and dictates of the world (Geoffrey Rush, the policeman) vs the ultimate freedom and joy of true humility (Jean Valjean) - the viewer is also left with adoration for the Christ-like Valjean to the point of wanting to be like him. The viewer is revealed a new perception of God and a new response to all of life through much of the story, but in particular through one key scene: When Valjean is abused (spat upon and cursed) by Fantine, his response is simply, "She was upset. I forgive her." That we, like God, could all be this forgiving of very person, every offense, every time. After seeing Les Miserables, the viewer will want to try.

Not the book or the musical, but a very good movie
Victor Hugo wrote a mammoth tome of a novel. Unabridged, it easily surpasses 1200 pages. It's an extremely daunting undertaking to take such a large work and make it into one movie. Not only that, but that book has been adapted into a very successful and popular musical as well, with its own passionate following. A film coming from the same source material has a lot to live up to.

Les Miserables as a movie is a pragmatic adaptation. Several important characters are cut completely (Enjolras, Eponine) and some only briefly appear (the Thenardiers). Some characters and their behaviors are exaggerated or amalgams of those characters who had been cut. And worst of all, there's not even any singing.

But taken as a stand-alone product, it's wonderful. A dramatic, fast-paced, excellently acted period drama that focuses on the main themes of Hugo's work - love and forgiveness and redemption in a world of judgment and cruelty. Liam Neeson and Geoffrey Rush both excel as Valjean and Javert, and it's impressive to see how a manhunt that lasts the better part of two decades can remain tense.

If you're daunted by a novel the size of a school bus and if musicals aren't your thing, this is the absolute best way to learn the story. Only Les Mis purists will find anything to complain about.

Les Miserables - living the letter of the law without compassion
Victor Hugo nailed one of society's imperfections in trying to make people adhere to the law without any mercy or compassion, which robs justice more than the original infraction. The theft of a loaf of bread to lessen the desparate cravings of his starving family, probably shouldn't go unpunished by some sort of community service or restitution to the seller. However, being incarcerated for 5 years and then being branded for life as a convict goes against any sense of real justice.

I'm often reminded of "Les Miserables" when I hear of grade school leaders issuing their "no tolerance rules" and then a young child is caught in violation, which results in a severe reprimand that scars the child for life. The callousness of handing down such sentencing with no apparent use of the discernment skills school leaders are usually esteemed for is the same miscarriage of justice witnessed by those familiar with this classic tale.

Good adaptation of the book
There are many movies out there that wind up as extremely disappointing adaptations of the books they come from, but this particular movie is a rather faithful version of the book. Of course, it's not 100 percent the same as the book, but no movie ever is,. The acting is great, I especially liked Javert's actor. If you liked the book, then you should enjoy this movie. The acting and props are great, and the script is fairly faithful to the book. Enjoy!

You must be logged in to post a comment. If you are not a member of this site yet, it takes only a couple of minutes to register. Once a member, you'll be able to easily rate quotes, books, stories, movies, etc, and write comments!