Don't read this if you don't want crucial plot elements spoiled for you. Ok, anybody who thought this movie was a faithful rendition of one of the best books ever written has obviously not read the book. It was AWFUL! I sat there in the movie theater the whole time just cringing and covering my eyes. Jean Valjean is a good man who has had unfortunate things happen to him in his life. He is reformed by realizing God's plan for him through the kindness of the Bishop. But obviously, whoever wrote the script for this movie didn't care. Things that should never have happened. 1. Fantine and Valjean - no romance ever. The picnic was disgusting. The real Fantine was too busy dying of consumption and working to go traipsing around like that. She remained faithful to the memory of Cossete's father. 2 Valjean hitting the Bishop/slapping Cosette. NEVER! (Although Claire Danes deserved to be slapped...) 3. Where is Eponine? She is who Hugo calls "Les Miserables..." you'd think her character would rate some attention. 4. Where is Enjolras? And why is that dolt Marius leading the insurrection? (Its not the French Revolution, by the way) 5. Why are Marius and Cosette making out? 6. Why does Valjean watch Javert jump off the bridge, handcuffed, gracefully into 2 feet of water? How undignified. The director had NO grasp on the character of Javert at all. 7. Gavroche - he just comes off as a stupid kid who wanders into traffic, instead of a hero of the barracades.
I could go on for hours about how much this movie stinks. Read the book if you really want to know about this story, or see the musical. The musical isnt perfect, but at least it conveys the spirit of the novel, and gets most of the characters right.
I could go on for hours about how much this movie stinks. Read the book if you really want to know about this story, or see the musical. The musical isnt perfect, but at least it conveys the spirit of the novel, and gets most of the characters right.