Les Misérables (2012) - March 22 - Review

[AdrianL]

I'll buy it the first day, I enjoyed it quite a bit. Was going to see it again in theaters but I think I could wait.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by JenM

but the studio wanted the cuts. Not the first (or last) movie to do it.

There's not mention of the studio wanting any cuts. Hooper himself says he was "committed" to getting it to 2 and a half... for what reason, he doesn't say. Its unfortunate that he helped ruin the film in the process of his "commitment."

Hooper: The director’s cut was about three hours. So I got about an hour out between the assembly and the director’s cut. I got it to about 2:45 and then hit a bit of a wall because there comes a point at which you’ve made a decision about what songs you’re going to keep. What’s fundamentally different about doing this and a normal movie is you can’t take time out anywhere you want like it or not. If you’re editing, say this dialogue that we’re having, you could snip a second out every time I paused, every time you paused take a second out. You could take a sentence of mine out and leave another sentence. You’ve got tremendous control on the pacing of our dialogue that we’re having. If we were singing you can’t just stick your knife in, you can’t take a second out here a second out there a sentence out there because the musical construction falls all over the place. And I realized in the end that the only way I could get it down any more, and I was very committed to getting it down to 2:30, was to try to become more expert at the detail of musical construction so that I could really understand in terms of bars what was possible and what was not possible.

[JenM]

Originally Posted by retablo

A Little Fall of rain was reduced to 2 verses, and the best lines from that song are gone. Since her character was shortened anyway, her "I'll sleep in your embrace at last" line to Maruis was the most important thing her character said... and it was cut.

I've seen the old stage version and the new one... plus I've read the shooting script (it's easily available online), which has almost ALL the lyrics and verses intact. So they were shot, and Hooper confirmed this. Why he felt the need to go and cut them later is beyond me.

The cuts ruined the pacing. Songs would just run into each other with no intro music. It all felt very disjointed... not to mention the live singing killed the musicality of many of the songs. Which is funny, that's some people's biggest complaint if they hadn't seen the stage show, that the songs weren't memorable or had much of a tune. Well, the originally did, anyway.

Whether or not that line "was the most important thing her character said" is a matter of opinion. I was surprised that verse went as well, but I didn't feel that the scene was ruined without it. If anything, moving "On My Own" to a new place and adding the stuff from the original novel with her hiding the note from Cosette, going to the barricade knowing that she would die there, and then taking the bullet for Marius made her character that much more tragic.

I have the shooting script too - and that's exactly what it is, a shooting script. You had to know not all of that was going to make it into the movie. That's just how it happens.

Again, it's your opinion and you're certainly entitled to it, but as a fan of the musical who's seen the stage version trimmed down and changed over the years, I just anticipated more changes. Again, I was thrilled that they were able to bring in more of the novel. I loved the live singing, I didn't need to hear them sing into the rafters like they did on stage. This is a musical I've known so well for such a long time, but some of these songs felt almost new the way they appeared in the film.

[JenM]

Originally Posted by retablo

There's not mention of the studio wanting any cuts. Hooper himself says he was "committed" to getting it to 2 and a half... for what reason, he doesn't say. Its unfortunate that he helped ruin the film in the process of his "commitment."

Hooper: The director’s cut was about three hours. So I got about an hour out between the assembly and the director’s cut. I got it to about 2:45 and then hit a bit of a wall because there comes a point at which you’ve made a decision about what songs you’re going to keep. What’s fundamentally different about doing this and a normal movie is you can’t take time out anywhere you want like it or not. If you’re editing, say this dialogue that we’re having, you could snip a second out every time I paused, every time you paused take a second out. You could take a sentence of mine out and leave another sentence. You’ve got tremendous control on the pacing of our dialogue that we’re having. If we were singing you can’t just stick your knife in, you can’t take a second out here a second out there a sentence out there because the musical construction falls all over the place. And I realized in the end that the only way I could get it down any more, and I was very committed to getting it down to 2:30, was to try to become more expert at the detail of musical construction so that I could really understand in terms of bars what was possible and what was not possible.

I actually heard about the studio wanting cuts from someone with a friend involved with the screenings a few months ago.

[JenM]

Originally Posted by Donat96

This is the first movie I've ever cried in, LOL.

[Show spoiler]The musical number at the end with Jean, Cosette, Fantine, etc. was just too much.

I understand and even agree to an extent about the complaints, but the downsides didn't diminish my enjoyment of the film. It was spectacular, IMO.

My mom and I were knee-deep in the ugly cry during that scene.

Have you seen the guy who videotaped his parents after they saw the movie? I cannot stop laughing at this...

My Parents' Reaction to the Les Misérables Movie (The Original) - YouTube

[Lsalas76]

Originally Posted by Donat96

I loved this movie. Day 1.

Same here and Im not really big on live action musicals but this was such an intense and emotionally, powerful movie. Granted, I knew about the story and music of 'Les Mis' but I never saw any version of the plays or movies until this one.

My brother took my nieces ages 3, 9 and 14 to see this movie and they all loved it as well. My nieces couldn't stop singing the songs days after they saw this. Day one for me and for my brother!

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by retablo

There's not mention of the studio wanting any cuts. Hooper himself says he was "committed" to getting it to 2 and a half... for what reason, he doesn't say. Its unfortunate that he helped ruin the film in the process of his "commitment."

Hooper: The director’s cut was about three hours. So I got about an hour out between the assembly and the director’s cut. I got it to about 2:45 and then hit a bit of a wall because there comes a point at which you’ve made a decision about what songs you’re going to keep. What’s fundamentally different about doing this and a normal movie is you can’t take time out anywhere you want like it or not. If you’re editing, say this dialogue that we’re having, you could snip a second out every time I paused, every time you paused take a second out. You could take a sentence of mine out and leave another sentence. You’ve got tremendous control on the pacing of our dialogue that we’re having. If we were singing you can’t just stick your knife in, you can’t take a second out here a second out there a sentence out there because the musical construction falls all over the place. And I realized in the end that the only way I could get it down any more, and I was very committed to getting it down to 2:30, was to try to become more expert at the detail of musical construction so that I could really understand in terms of bars what was possible and what was not possible.

well there's been some mention that Hooper is on the fence about either including the 25-30 clipped minutes in either supplement form on the home video release, or reinstating back into the storyframe of the movie for another later on down the line second home video version.

JenM - since you have the shooting script - what was clipped for the theatrical cut of the film?

[lolwut]

I thought it was great, as did everyone I went with. You can't please everyone, especially not die-hard fans of the musical.

[mzupeman]

The cuts should come as a surprise to no one. Musicals, more often than not, get chopped for their theatrical counterparts. Unfortunate, yes, but expected nonetheless.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by mzupeman

The cuts should come as a surprise to no one. Musicals, more often than not, get chopped for their theatrical counterparts. Unfortunate, yes, but expected nonetheless.

even though the 'Dog Eat Dog' song is the glaring omission, both 'Turning' and the Wedding song seemed abbreviated.

mzumpeman: are you talking about the differences between the film version and stage version or the final editing process of a film from rough cut to it's theatrical release?

[Mel823]

Day 1 for me. Hopfully with their GG wins tonight, Universal will give us an extended version.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by Mel823

Day 1 for me. Hopfully with their GG wins tonight, Universal will give us an extended version.

one would hope, but I'm not all sure that the extended cut is just waiting on some shelf for quick transfer/release.

[Mel823]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

one would hope, but I'm not all sure that the extended cut is just waiting on some shelf for quick transfer/release.

Well they better start working on it.

[Falaskan]

That seems really soon, but that's cool!

[MPeriolat]

Originally Posted by Leonidas_King

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment plans to bring the Musical hit as a Combo Pack this March with an expected March 19th.

That was quick. Was not expecting Les Mis until June or so. Better believe I'm getting it!

[Leonidas King]

Up for Preorder

[JenM]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

well there's been some mention that Hooper is on the fence about either including the 25-30 clipped minutes in either supplement form on the home video release, or reinstating back into the storyframe of the movie for another later on down the line second home video version.

JenM - since you have the shooting script - what was clipped for the theatrical cut of the film?

The songs from the show that are in the shooting script I saw where:

[Show spoiler]-the end of the Confrontation song, after Valjean jumps into the water. He comes out of the water with Javert on the hunt, and as he sees Fantine's body being dumped on a cart and driven away, he sings the "This I swear to you tonight..." part, while Javert sings his part.

-"Master of the House" has the opening with the guests singing about Thernardier ("Our host Thernardier, he was there so they say, at the fields of Waterloo, Got there it's true, When the fight was all through, but he knew just what to do, Crawling through the mud, so I've heard it said, picking through the pockets of the English dead..."). I don't even think that opening in the show anymore.

-The missing choruses from "Master of the House" are there too, and during one Cosette looks back on the celebration sadly as she walks off with her bucket.

-"Stars" is where it was in the show, after Thernardier's gang tries to rob Valjean in the street. So is Gavorche's song after Javert leaves "(That Inspector thinks he's something, but it's me who runs this town...").

-Eponine does meet Cosette, she's the one who gives Eponine the note to give to Marius. She leaves singing the opening to "Own My Own" that's not in the movie ("And now I'm all alone again, nowhere to turn, no one to go to..."). She also tells Marius that Cosette has left for England, in addition to hiding the note. The opening that Thernardier's gang sings when they try to rob Valjean's house is there too ("This is his lair, I've seen the old fox around...").

-On the barricade, Marius does spot Eponine dressed as a boy, and the whole "Hey little boy, what's this I see..." conversation is back, except that Marius just told her to get out, since he believes Cosette is gone.

-Eponine's death is still missing the same verse from the final film, but it did have the part where Marius tells the others her name. The film also had a shot of Gavroche in tears, that was expanded on, with him explaining to one of the students, "That was my sister." In the original novel, Gavroche and Eponine were siblings.

-Gavroche's death originally had the sung dialogue when the students were arguing over who would go out and collect the ammunition off the dead bodies, with Gavorche shouting that he volunteered before going over the barricade, with the students singing for him to come back.

-"Dog Eat Dog" was there in its entirety, with Valjean playing dead to avoid being seen by him, but he jumps at him like he does in the movie. "Beggars at the Feast" was also there in its entirety, instead of just the last few verses.

-Eponine was part of the finale, when Valjean died. Also, the final scene took place in 1848, when the king was finally toppled, and the people celebrating their victory had the ghosts of those who died on the 1832 barricade along with them.

I'd be happy if they just released a complete soundtrack. The one that's out now is missing most of the songs.

[Mel823]

Originally Posted by JenM

The songs from the show that are in the shooting script I saw where:

[Show spoiler]-the end of the Confrontation song, after Valjean jumps into the water. He comes out of the water with Javert on the hunt, and as he sees Fantine's body being dumped on a cart and driven away, he sings the "This I swear to you tonight..." part, while Javert sings his part.

-"Master of the House" has the opening with the guests singing about Thernardier ("Our host Thernardier, he was there so they say, at the fields of Waterloo, Got there it's true, When the fight was all through, but he knew just what to do, Crawling through the mud, so I've heard it said, picking through the pockets of the English dead..."). I don't even think that opening in the show anymore.

-The missing choruses from "Master of the House" are there too, and during one Cosette looks back on the celebration sadly as she walks off with her bucket.

-"Stars" is where it was in the show, after Thernardier's gang tries to rob Valjean in the street. So is Gavorche's song after Javert leaves "(That Inspector thinks he's something, but it's me who runs this town...").

-Eponine does meet Cosette, she's the one who gives Eponine the note to give to Marius. She leaves singing the opening to "Own My Own" that's not in the movie ("And now I'm all alone again, nowhere to turn, no one to go to..."). She also tells Marius that Cosette has left for England, in addition to hiding the note. The opening that Thernardier's gang sings when they try to rob Valjean's house is there too ("This is his lair, I've seen the old fox around...").

-On the barricade, Marius does spot Eponine dressed as a boy, and the whole "Hey little boy, what's this I see..." conversation is back, except that Marius just told her to get out, since he believes Cosette is gone.

-Eponine's death is still missing the same verse from the final film, but it did have the part where Marius tells the others her name. The film also had a shot of Gavroche in tears, that was expanded on, with him explaining to one of the students, "That was my sister." In the original novel, Gavroche and Eponine were siblings.

-Gavroche's death originally had the sung dialogue when the students were arguing over who would go out and collect the ammunition off the dead bodies, with Gavorche shouting that he volunteered before going over the barricade, with the students singing for him to come back.

-"Dog Eat Dog" was there in its entirety, with Valjean playing dead to avoid being seen by him, but he jumps at him like he does in the movie. "Beggars at the Feast" was also there in its entirety, instead of just the last few verses.

-Eponine was part of the finale, when Valjean died. Also, the final scene took place in 1848, when the king was finally toppled, and the people celebrating their victory had the ghosts of those who died on the 1832 barricade along with them.

I'd be happy if they just released a complete soundtrack. The one that's out now is missing most of the songs.

My mouth's watering reading all this. I want that extended edition!!

[Jowiko96]

DAY 1! One of my favorite films of the year!

Anne Hathaway is going to win that Oscar. I'm betting money. She was incredible in this!

[Adam_WM]

Don't hold your breath for this being an extended cut.

http://collider.com/tom-hooper-les-m...erview/220330/