Catholic Online Forum

Unless I just missed it, I didn't see any threads on "Les Miserables." Would love to read what those who have seen the new movie version thought of it. I thought it was very good; excellent story of mercy, redemption, honor, etc. Had not ever seen a live production before, and just caught the latter part of a previous movie version with Liam Neeson a few weeks ago, so I don't have much to compare this new version against. Nonetheless, I thought the music was very good; in some cases, raw and real, as the director was seeking. Very moving!

David

I haven't seen the movie yet as I'm waiting for it to come out on DVD so I can fast forward through parts of it. It's my favorite non musical comedy, musical and I've seen it twice but I find it's just too long. The music is all good but they could cut a few numbers without detracting from it. But, then again, I have a short attention span. Actually, I've seen it three times but I'm trying to block out the memory of a school production that my friend Father V tricked me into going to because one of his students was in it. If you can imagine the production with all kids up to age 19 from different schools...scary stuff. Thank God Father was over an hour late and we snuck in the back where we could be quietly snarky until after intermission when the mom made us come over to the front row seats she'd saved for us.

I did see the Liam Neeson movie but didn't quite make it to the end. It is so depressing and I can only cry so much. I tried to read the book, after the first five hundred pages were spent on the bishop, I gave up.

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Valerie Garcia
vals1990@yahoo.com

"Listen, O my son, to the precepts of thy master, and incline the ear of thy heart, and cheerfully receive and faithfully execute the admonitions of thy loving Father, that by the toil of obedience thou mayest return to Him ....." St. Benedict

After reading and hearing various critiques of Les Miz, I have no desire to subject myself to it. The main criticisms seem to be about the length (nearly three hours) and the quality of the singing, which was done by the actors rather than professional singers, the usual practice for Hollywood musicals.

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David L (CA)
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” - Groucho Marx

It is on my list to watch...

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Daniel

"Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division." -- Luke 12:51

I got dragged along to the movie, not expecting much, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

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squirt
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Jamais le mal n’aura le dernier mot. La foi et l’amour déplacent les montagnes de la haine.
- Marguerite (Maggy) Barankitse

J'aime votre devis.

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Pax et Bonum


Schultzz

I am on the fence with wanting to see this. One of my favorite stories! This is the best conversion story I have seen put to screen as well. I have never seen a musical version, but recommend the 1935 version with Charles Laughton as the inspector – he was amazing. Fredric March as Jean Valjean and Cedric Hardwicke as the Bishop that lead to his conversion.

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BobB

Fiat voluntas tua

Here's Maggy Barankitse's web site. She's an absolutely amazing woman.

http://www.maisonshalom.org/

(Warning, I think it's entirely in French.)

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squirt
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Jamais le mal n’aura le dernier mot. La foi et l’amour déplacent les montagnes de la haine.
- Marguerite (Maggy) Barankitse

Thanks Squirt. Very impressive. I like this statement too. Ayons toujours l’audace de rêver un monde où chaque être humain aura droit à une dignité! I quite agree.

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Pax et Bonum


Schultzz

I'm surprised nobody has put the 1935 version on You Tube, but I see the 1957 version is there. I think I'll watch it.
Two friends have said they cried through the last half of the new Les Mis, and I don't like the idea of seeing it in the cinema and trying not to cry the whole time.

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Grace

As to the past, let us entrust it to God's mercy, the future to Divine Providence. Our task is to live holy the present moment. - Saint Gianna Molla

Grace,

Yeah, nothing like sobbing hysterically at the Music center at the end of the musical.

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Valerie Garcia
vals1990@yahoo.com

"Listen, O my son, to the precepts of thy master, and incline the ear of thy heart, and cheerfully receive and faithfully execute the admonitions of thy loving Father, that by the toil of obedience thou mayest return to Him ....." St. Benedict