Les Miserables | | Cast : | Liam Neeson, Geoffrey Rush, Uma Thurman | | Director : | Bille August | | Studio : | Columbia/Tristar Studios | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Dolby, Widescreen | | Released Date : | May 01, 1998 | | DVD Released Date : | April 01, 2003 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Dubbed), English (Original Language), French (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | July 08, 2005 | | Summary | Les Miserables | Content
 | I found this movie to be truly spellbinding. I must confess that I've never read the book, but I'm going to rectify that straight away. |
| Rating | | | Date | June 24, 2005 | | Summary | Horrible | Content
| Dont waste your valuable time and money one this crap.
I'm sure Boublil and Schonberg are absoulutly appaled with this remake just as i am.
I'm sure if anyone sees this movie, they wont bother with the stage production and the book which is truly a shame considering how amazing they both are.
The worst remake i've ever seen!
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| Rating | | | Date | June 11, 2005 | | Summary | No, not true to the book, yet still a masterpiece | Content
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If fidelity to the source material is important to you, then perhaps this isn't your film; but for connoisseurs of the art of acting, this film is in a class by itself. Liam Neeson's earnest, highly nuanced portrayal of Jean Valjean is as genuine as it gets; Geoffery Rush's Javert goes beyond all previous readings of the character and gives him a humanity at once despicable yet sympathetic.
I haven't seen her turn in a role this sensitive before or since (and I wonder why), but here Claire Danes effortlessly imbues her character with sweet, innocent beauty, never straying into cloying cutesy-poo. But even among this overwhelming host of Thespian excellence, Uma Thurman, who has never shied from a challenge, defines the character of Fantine for now and all time, with a heartbreaking authenticity that never fails to bring tears to this cynic's eyes.
There are few films ever with so many flawless portrayals, and it would be in my all-time Top 20 for the actors and acting alone - but add locations of incredible beauty, lovingly photographed, impeccable, intuitive, all-but-invisible editing, magnificent costumes, a deeply moving score - and I feel this is a film that could not possibly be improved upon (except that it comes to an end all too soon).
I'm certain that film students 20 or 30 years from now will be heard to marvel at how such a sublime, timeless work of art, a true labor of love for all involved, could have gone unheralded in it's own time. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 04, 2005 | | Summary | Let's make a mockery of a classic, shall we? | Content
| This movie was an awful adaptation of the book. It lacked depth and the merciless slashing of characters was almost humorous. How could they cut out Eponine? Eponine is a truly loved character in the book and the musical, how lacking in vision must you be to cut her out? Painting Marius as the leader of the rebels was completely in defiance of the Victor Hugo character. And Claire Danes was actually more whiny and affected than in any of her previous movies... which is saying a lot.
Don't bother with this silliness. |
| Rating | | | Date | April 29, 2005 | | Summary | Profound. Moving. Brooding. Powerful. | Content
| This is an exquisite movie full of symbolism, allegory, political and social themes, and above all, a soaring spiritual message.
Spiritually, this is a story of redemption. A man full of hate and darkness becomes a new man for God. VanJean's great heart is in full display despite bitter circumstances. Mercy triumphs over judgement again and again. And at the critical moment, a savior emerges unsuspected. Freedom and redemption erupt in glorious outburst. You can almost hear the heavens open and angels celebrate the triumph of the cross.
At ground level, it is a love story. VanJean and an impoverished, desperate woman. Love between a young lady and a fiery revolutionary. Love bewteen surrogate father and daughter. And across the halls of time, even love between mother and daughter. Ultimately, the film is an expression of God's love for us as manifested by the death of Jesus.
Sweet, brooding, dark and exultant- all these elements combine to create a forceful, powerful film worthy of the highest acclaim. |
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