Granted I’m a cryer, but I cried at least 4 times just watching this reaction video. Especially the story of Fontine. I cry for the amazing performance of Anne Hathaway for sure, but I also find myself crying for all the woman throughout history that has found herself selling herself to provide for herself or her children and not knowing how to deal with that trauma.
Oh believe me I can deny it because this is film bastardises the perfection and beauty of the stage show on so many levels. Maybe if they didn't make the actors belt for 10 hours a day AND NOT DEPRIVE THEM OF WATER then maybe this could have been good. But from dry and flat vocals, (some of which are even wrong- looking at you end of 'stars') Attempting to do everything live and jt ends up with the music and actors out of sync (such as when valjean tears the papers) and poor cinematography with (except for Marius, cosette and eponine)weak singers to perform it results in a shitshow that shouldn't have to be endured for one day more
@oki1135 I'm watching it to see others reactions to this film to see how they differ to my own views, I think I'm allowed to do that. Also I watched this film in 2012 when it came out
Anne Hathaway won the oscar as Fantine. She has so little screentime, but what she does in this short time is just amazing. Her singing "I dreamed a dream" always makes me cry. Hell the whole movie made me cry.
Musical theater actress/singer here: This is such a phenomenal musical, the movie did a fantastic job at portraying the story. As much as I love this movie, I HATE that the director was borderline, if not completely, abusive to the actors and their voices. 12 hours a day live singing the scenes over and over, instead of using a pre-recorded soundtrack. It makes me angry to my soul. Yeah, they got the shots, but the damage done to their voices from extreme use is inexcusable. The priest at the beginning was the Original Jean Valjean on stage, for theater nerds it was a beautiful addition to the cast.
I have to say I really prefer the live singing, because nothing takes me out of a movie musical more than when it is so obviously a pre-recorded and over produced track they are playing over the actors. It is why I gave up on Glee, and part of why I didn't like In the Heights. And it is why I am worried for Wicked. I think The Last Five Years also did live singing too. I don't think the pre-recording is horrible though if they don't touch up the voices and can synch it with the performance on screen so that it seems like they are actually singing. I'm hoping West Side Story handles it well, they have so much actual broadway talent, it would be a shame if they played with the audio too much
@@reader2012 Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against live singing being used over a lip-synced performance at all! I generally prefer live performances over studio Master's, with a few special exceptions lol. My issue with the movie has nothing to do with the movie as a film experience. It rightfully won a bunch of awards because it is masterful. My issue is in the behind the scenes production, specifically with the behavior of the director. Theres a bunch of interviews with the cast talking about how badly their voices were effected by 12 hour days of basically non-stop gut wrenching performances and the pain and damage it caused them physically. So much emphasis and care is taken for the actors bodily safety while on set, ie stunt doubles for dangerous physical scenes, and everything is so carefully monitored so that the risk of harm is as low as possible. Unfortunately, in this particular instance, the same care was not taken with the actors voices. They could have had permanent damage to their vocal cords, which not only could potentially ruin any future singing roles, but could have also altered their speaking voice. The ability for self-care for the actors voices was so neglected, and it breaks my heart.
I've seen the original production live, have most of the songs memorized, my choir did a 7 song ensemble in JUNIOR HIGH and seen the movie quite a few times, and I somehow didn't notice the priest was the original Jean Valjean!😆
Here are my notes If you'll notice, Valjean still had the silver with him at the convent. He never sold it. The silver itself didn't change his life, it was the priest's actions. The silver was his daily reminder. Javier wasn't a bad guy. Yes he was the antagonist and maybe enjoyed the authority a little too much, but all he really cared about was upholding the law. That's why he killed himself. He let his emotions make the decision to let Valjean go and he couldn't live with the guilt. Eponine's 'On My Own' for my money is the best performance.
I read this in a comparison between Les Miserables and the Discworld novel Night Watch "Both Javert and Vimes are obsessed with justice; Javert interpreting that to mean the punishment of the guilty, which eventually leads to his suicide when he can no longer reconcile his beliefs with the reality of capturing a good man. Vimes, on the other hand defines justice as the protection of the innocent. "
Actually, I'd characterize Javert somewhat differently. When the Bishop gives the silver to Valjean, Valjean feels everything he believed about the world to be upended. Everything he believed he'd have to live by was taken from him. All the premises he had based his live on were gone. He could not go on living as he did - so he decided to literally become a different man, change his life, take on a new identity and live the life of not just an honorable citizen but someone who took care of others. Conversely, when Javert saw everything he believed in turn into smoke, every premises that he based his life on being turned into question, he did not manage to make the turn into a new life - he was too set in his way. So instead, he just ended the life that has lost all of its foundation. And Javert didn't simply "care about upholding the law". For him, anyone who ever committed a crime, no matter how small, was irredeemably corrupt and evil. The notion that someone could turn his life around was inconceivable to him. He expected someone who had offended once to continue being a criminal, and even more, he considered any petty thief to be just as corrupt and evil as any violent criminal out there.
yeah having a kid die under the attack he was a part off, it was disobeying the law that drove him to kill himself not the injustice in the system so yeah lol
@@sirnoobs8098 hmm you have to remember that their faith is the core part of him and val Jean. one believes in grace because of the bishop the other doesn't from stars we see he believes that once you fall you've fallen. they both have that spiral moment (whirlpool of my sin) but 24601 rallies out of it while Javier falls.
@@ohauss you also have to look at what he says in The Confrontation “I was born inside a jail. I was born with scum like you. I am from the gutter to.” I think he has so much self hate and need to prove himself by separating himself from the evil, corrupt, and poor people and by Vajean sparing his life he proved that just because I did bad things and grew up poor doesn’t mean I am a bad person. Putting all that hate and disgust in Javier’s face making him question who the real villain is. We see the change start when he sees Gavroche’s body where it’s not just his views being challenged but the very establishment he gave his life to killing a child who hasn’t had a chance to be “better”. First his view of Valjean is attacked, then the very thing he has spent his life defending is tarnished, then lastly his inability to continue hunting a man he spent his life trying to find all leave him feeling hopeless.
Wow I was not expecting a reaction to something like this nor your reaction after watching the masterpiece that is this film! As always, love your reactions, Primate!
The best book I've ever read...BY FAR! Victor Hugo is a literary monster. The story is so vast and well written! Just an example: The monsenhor just appears in 3 or 4 scenes of the musical, while in the book, the first 100 pages are about him. Really reconmend the book.
I read the book after seeing this movie in 2012 and I totally agree. I 10/10 would recommend. It is so powerful as a depiction of France at the time and I commentary on the criminal justice system in general. Absolutely beautifully written
Hugh Jackman was nominated for best actor at the 2013 Oscars for thus and Anne Hathaway won Best supporting Actress that year. Those two are amazing!! Russell Crowe's singing gets a lot of hate in this and yeah its not great but its not as awful as some people say
The funny thing is Russel Crowes singing is just very average. It only looks bad compared to the professional Broadway singers that played all the other roles.
I've only seen this movie in full from beginning to end in one sitting twice. It was the last movie my mom and I watched together before she died of pancreatic cancer. At the time we watched it, we had done everything the medical community could do for her and we were mentally and emotionally coming to terms that she only had a few weeks or maybe a couple months left. As we watched it, the fact that every character was miserable in some way, from loving someone who didn't lover her in return, or the inability to completely escape one's past, to not being able to find a husband to care for her and her kid, to not having your plans work out for you, etc. all resonated with me (and I think for my mom) because I saw so much of our lives reflected in some way in those characters and I know the film echoed thoughts and feelings I had heard her express throughout her life. It is painful to watch and I can only watch it in small parts here and there because these actors put so much feeling and expression into their performances. This movie holds a special place in my heart and I can't watch it without crying.
I might be the only one...but I don't care: I loved Russell Crowe as Javert. And Javert has always been my favorite character. The Confrontation (when Javert and Valjean meet at 11:40 ) is my favorite song.
I agree. I don't really understand why people hate on singers in movie musicals so much. I mean, if someone is singing out of tune or clearly had to be auto-tune pitch corrected, that definitely takes me out of the experience, but as long as they can accurately sing the part and are a good actor, I really don't care if they're an insane Broadway-level talent or just a good casual singer.
My favorite of ja vert were twofold, my favorite song of his was by far stars, I used to practice and memorize it. My favorite scene of him was putting his medal on gavroche, honoring the boy
This is one of those movies that you can watch over and over again and it hits just the same as the first time you watched it because the emotion and performances are SO strong. Such a powerful movie. One that sticks with you. Fantine's "I dreamed a dream" and Enjorla's death always get me.
This musical makes me cry SO much. I cry when the bishop gives Vanjean his silver. I cry when Vanjean saves Fontine at the docks. I cry when he adopts Cosette. I cry when the boys get massacred at the barricade. I cry when Vanjean dies and Fontine and Bishop take him to heaven. I just none stop cry!! 😭
I grew up with Les Miserables. I have seen it on the stage countless times and have loved it just as much every single time I've seen it. But this movie was the last version that I ever saw and it is the most powerful. There's no other movie that will make me feel this way even after watching it for the 20th time. And I never watch reaction videos but this movie and this story means so much to me that I just want to see everybody else and their reaction to it
3:15 - A full circle moment. The old Bishop who has invited Jean Valjean in is the original stage Jean Valjean from London's Barbican Theater and West End productions as well as the Broadway production, Colm Wilkinson. He passes the torch to Hugh Jackman as Valjean. 7:38 - Anne Hathaway...Here's your Oscar!!! Everybody else this year was biting your dust! The man who wrote the novel 'Les Miserables' was Victor Hugo...who, even today, is considered a national hero of France. One of his other novels also is really famous...'Notre Dame de Paris' which in English is more often called 'The Hunchback of Notre-Dame' (which is a LOT different than the Disney version...A LOT!!!!). This is not a favorite film adaptation of a stage musical for me. I like it...but there are so many that have done it better, more that have done it worse. Many people really love it, I am not one. However...watching you enjoy this was amazing.
You know I watched this movie for Eddie Redmayne (Marius) because I loved him so much in Fantasic Beasts. And after watching Les Mis I became a musical theatre nerd 😂
What an absolute joy it is for me to see that you loved this show! I remember when Les Miserables first came out in the mid '80s. I have seen the stage show at least four to five times. Jean Valjean is probably my favorite literary character of all time and the fact that you connected with him just makes me so damn happy, Primate. Here are some things I think you might like to know: Colm Wilkinson, The man who played the bishop who gave Valjean the silver, was the original Jean Valjean in the play. All the singing in this movie was recorded live on set. None of it was re-recorded in post-production. If you can believe it, the stage play is even better than the movie. The movie cuts some things that really hurt my heart. If you ever get a chance to see this show live on stage, I beg you to take it. It's even more mind-blowing live. There is a non-musical version of this movie starring Liam Neeson as Jean Valjean and Geoffrey Rush as Inspector Javert. It is absolutely brilliant and I know you would love it! My only criticism of your reaction is that you left out the one song, Bring Him Home, that I wanted to see you react to the most lol! I understand, it's a very long movie and you had to cut out some parts, but I really wanted to see look on your face when he sings that amazing song.
Not as much a fan of the Liam Neeson version because Eponine is absent...she is one of the most tragic but heroic figures in a musical...to be in love with a man but to step aside because he loves someone else and then chose to sacrifice yourself for him even without knowing that he will survive is heartbreaking but very rare
ever seen sweeney todd primate? its has an imersive and messed up story (which you should not spoil to yourself) great perfomances by johnny depp and helenna bonham carter, and a great direction by tim burton
Great to see you watching a musical! I definitely didn't expect that. Anne Hathaway's performance of "I Dreamed a Dream" is the reason I cannot watch this movie more than once every couple years or so. It is so powerful. Worth seeing the movie just for that. I hope you'll check out some other musicals in the future - maybe Evita or Moulin Rougue or my favorite, Chicago.
There are a few film adaptations of the book Les Miserables, but this is the only movie adaptation of the musical play (there are a few recordings of the actual musical play on stage, but those weren't released as full-length theatrical release movies, as this version was). The book is amazing, if you get a chance to read it. I recommend a hardback copy, because the paperback is so thick it starts to fall apart while you're reading it! The Bishop (the priest at the beginning who gives Valjean the silver and the chance) is a minor character, his actions take all of maybe 5 pages to describe, right? But Victor Hugo takes 25-30 pages (depending on translation and hardback v. paperback) to describe the Bishop, the people in his household, and to tell his backstory - which is totally irrelevant to the main story, but it's interesting in and of itself. Hugo's an amazing writer, and his descriptions of people and their thought processes are so gorgeous and rich. If you felt the emotion watching this version, reading the book will have you in tears for days.
It's been so beautiful to accompany you who was watching this musical/movie for the very first time. I loved how you got caught by the songs and how you reacted to the story, that you did'nt knew anything about the storyline before. Les Mis is a rocksteady part of my life since it first took stage in the late 80's, it's my absolute favourite musical. And I love this adaptation. So unbelievable wonderful ❤
And what's funny about it is Cosette and Marius after cosette's father died heard the voices of his friends so they both knew they were still around and Cosette saw her mother take her father this movie was an absolute tearjerker at least for me it was... And the on-stage performance is also a tearjerker not the same characters as in the movie but still as good
Victor Hugo wrote this. He also wrote the Hunchback of Notre Dame. If you cut out the middle part with Napoleon, the book is amazing as well. My favorite play of all time. I mean not even close. I saw it 4 times on Broadway.
You will relish Chicago. Both has great songs and flow in the story but also just a fun ride instead of emotional one. No tragedy, just pure entertainment.
I was lucky enough to see this in theatres when it first released and watching this on a big screen with the theatre sound system was amazing , the opening song blew me away let alone the rest of this incredible movie
Nominated for 8 Oscars including Best Picture. Won 3 Golden Globes including Best Picture, Musical or comedy. It made $441 million dollars against a $62 million dollar budget. It won 3 Oscars: Best Sound Mixing Best Makeup and Best Supporting Actress, Anne Hathaway.
Only 2 movies made me cry in the theater...E.T. In 1982, and this 30 years later...curse you Hugh Jackman for reducing me to an emotional puddle😅. This was the musical that got me into musicals back in 1989. Once this door opens, it never closes (loved HAMILTON, too, and I'm many years removed from the hip hop era, lol)
Les Mis will always have a special place in my heart, I have a love hate relationship with the movie, but in the cinema everyone was crying at the end! Your reactions are amazing and I have to admit, the shot where you see cosette realise valjean is dead really broke me in a way it had never before. It's a tiny moment, but it's so tragic, the person who saved her and gave her a new life. As well as the OG valjean colm Wilkinson as the bishop, there are several famous les mis actors in cameos, incl the original eponine Frances ruffelle who won the Tony award for best supporting actress. Thanks for reading 😀
love this movie!! 🙌🏽Anne Hathaway’s performance always gets me! she literally lost her mind playing this role, w her intense weight-loss and chopping her real hair off in the movie! it def paid off i’m pretty sure she won an oscar🤩🤩
Went to see this on stage tonight. Was the first time been back at theatre in almost 2 years. Was incredible, seeing it live is just somthing completely different. I've missed theatre so much.
Now that you've seen the film where the focus is on the acting, treat yourself to the 10th Anniversary Concert (available on YT) where the focus is on the music. The cast of the original London production returns for a stunning performance, and every one of the voices is glorious. You won't weep, but you will be thrilled. (You can also try the 25th Anniversary Concert, which is also amazing if you make allowances for Nick Jonas being sadly miscast.)
The songs have been written in the eightiee by 2 French, for the Musical, played for more than 25 years in London and elsewhere. Based on the novel of Victor Hugo
I usually don‘t like musicals that much, but this one is really good, especially since it is a very creative adaptation and very original compared to all the other adaptations of the book
@@jp3813 na, I stopped to watch most „newer“ Disney movies around the time of Toy Story 2 and The Emperor‘s new groove! But I‘m still a big fan of all the classics till the early 2000‘s
@@michelmorio8026 The Disney Renaissance lasted from 1989 to 1999, featuring mostly animated musicals: The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Mulan, & Tarzan. Imitators of the trend from other productions include The Nightmare Before Christmas, Anastasia, & The Prince of Egypt.
@@michelmorio8026 Many of them actually have stage versions due to being musicals. Disney non-musical animated films during the same era aside from The Rescuers Down Under were mostly by Pixar: Toy Story, A Bug's Life, & Toy Story 2.
Finally!! some respect for the best live action movie musical 😤😤😤 les mis truly is a masterpiece, like there’s a reason it’s been around so long and has SEVERAL live anniversary specials.
This movie really made me cried. All the actors were so damn good and I heard that they sing live too. Loving this musical movie reactions. Hope you do more like my favorite ones The Greatest Showman.
The story of Javert vs Valjean is such an apt allegory of the difference between law and grace in Christian theology. The law says that a crime has to be punished, that redemption and renewal is irrelevant, while grace brings new life that allows one to rise above the old man and no longer partake of the sins of the past. Valjean was shown grace and he therefore became grace to the weak, lost, and innocent.
I have never done Christmas day movies before, but my husband's family got us tickets when Les Miserable came out. We were all in tears! Such a wonderful movie. It's not perfect, but I love that its made a musical I love more accessible. I own the concert versions as well.
"To love another person is to see the face of God." This show could not be better. You've seen the story. If you get a chance, there is a 10 or 20 year anniversary concert with the original Jean Valjean (who plays the priest in the movie). The best orchestra you may ever see and about half the population of England singing in a massive choir. The best stage. performers reprising their roles. there are songs in this play that open my tear ducts better than fresh chopped onion.
I'm glad you liked it because I love it. There's a reason the movie went to the Oscars, a reason the musical was played in west end and Broadway for decades, a reason the book is an all time classic translated in all languages: it is a masterpiece!
Musicals: Victor/Victoria, All That Jazz, Hair, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Cabaret, Fiddler on The Roof, Sweet Charity, West Side Story (1961) Singin' in The Rain,
@@spunkymaniac9312 The novel is beautiful but just fair warning - books back then weren't as concerned with tight pacing, and there are many, MANY digressions in the book that are basically the author going off on his favorite pet topic, haha. (This is similar to some of the great Russian novels that also take a bit of stamina to get through but I do believe are really rewarding in the end).
Recommend you watch the west-ends 25th jubilee. "Les Miserablés 25th anniversary" . The singing is truly 10 times better! And be sure to watch the Valjean quartet at the end. You might recognize the priest from this version as the original Jean Valjean.
I remember watching this movie on the theater and it was a amazing experience. Really love the reaction and of course it made me cry. If you enjoyed this musical you should react to de 2004 the phantom of the opera, it's a great musical too.
It can be said that Victor Hugo was not particularly kind to his characters, and it can be said that Tom Hooper has made a magnificent film adaptation of Claude-Michel Schonberg's theatrical musical (despite what the French press said at the time, which was that it was a very good film but destroyed the essence of the novel), which itself is an adaptation that is both free (removing many of the digressive chapters written by the author) and yet so faithful to the original 1862 work.
Wow what a great surprise - this is my favorite musical for sure and the movie (though it's hard to recreate something like this in film) really did it justice as far as a film adaptation can do for me. I would 100% recommend seeing a live version or one of the anniversary concerts recorded on YT too if you end up having the time someday
One of the reasons I watch your videos is because you react to (and appreciate) a whole range of movies. Its awesome 👍 Btw the 25th anniversary stage show of Les Mis is very good too
I love this musical so much and the movie did an awesome job portraying it! I would recomend watching the 10th anniversary of this musical, either a reaction or just in your free time. It's phenomenal! This is the one where the priest in this movie plays Jean Veljean. You can find it on youtube: ua-cam.com/video/0c2sx47p31M/v-deo.html
Seeing this on stage was phenomenal. This and Phantom at the haunted Princess Theatre in Melbourne blew me away. I had amazing seats and sat stunned throughout. The film got mixed reviews and I cringe every time Russell sings but what a show!
The book is one of the greatest ever. Read it! It's such a great story with so many characters, so many events and you learn so much history, too. The musical does a good job at going to the essential, but it's a super-short version nevertheless. The songs are great and have very good lyrics, too. It me some time to like it, though, I had read the book several times and was so used to the story... There is a good mini-series with John Malkovitch playing Javert, and an international ensemble cast that's good at telling the story if you don't like reading.
I was in the musical as Javert and had to sing a lot. Was initially nerd about having sing so high but was musically trained by a woman who had a PhD in opera. Hugh Jackman was nominated for Best Actor from this movie but lost to Daniel Day-Lewis
If you ever find the time to watch the 10th anniversary it’s on UA-cam in 4k. It is arguably the greatest performance of this story and is considered to be a “dream cast” of actors and actresses.
One of my favourite movies! Thanks for reacting to this one, I think no one else did a reaction for it before. Another musical with half the Harry Potter cast is 'Sweeney Todd', you should check it out. And I also recommend you 'The Da Vinci Code' for a good mystery and plot-twist movie.
The French flag colors : first was all white (symbol of royalty), Red and blue were added at the 1789 révolution. Red and blue are the colors of Paris.
People never believes until they're watching, the title is "The Miserables" for a reason, every character lives in a literal misery Victor Hugo also wrote the Notre Dame series, and it also wasn't pretty
God, this movie is so beautiful. People love to hate on it, but you cant deny how beautifully acted and put together this film is. So powerful.
Granted I’m a cryer, but I cried at least 4 times just watching this reaction video. Especially the story of Fontine. I cry for the amazing performance of Anne Hathaway for sure, but I also find myself crying for all the woman throughout history that has found herself selling herself to provide for herself or her children and not knowing how to deal with that trauma.
Oh believe me I can deny it because this is film bastardises the perfection and beauty of the stage show on so many levels. Maybe if they didn't make the actors belt for 10 hours a day AND NOT DEPRIVE THEM OF WATER then maybe this could have been good. But from dry and flat vocals, (some of which are even wrong- looking at you end of 'stars') Attempting to do everything live and jt ends up with the music and actors out of sync (such as when valjean tears the papers) and poor cinematography with (except for Marius, cosette and eponine)weak singers to perform it results in a shitshow that shouldn't have to be endured for one day more
@@Middleman0000and I’m sure that’s why you’re watching a reaction video to after watching the original
@oki1135 I'm watching it to see others reactions to this film to see how they differ to my own views, I think I'm allowed to do that. Also I watched this film in 2012 when it came out
I watch the musical live and didn’t cry once. I LISTEN to Anne’s I Dreamed a Dream and I sob. This cast really did a phenomenal job.
16:35 “Why you out here singing?!” - What all the side characters in every musical must be like 😂
Anne Hathaway won the oscar as Fantine. She has so little screentime, but what she does in this short time is just amazing. Her singing "I dreamed a dream" always makes me cry. Hell the whole movie made me cry.
Musical theater actress/singer here: This is such a phenomenal musical, the movie did a fantastic job at portraying the story. As much as I love this movie, I HATE that the director was borderline, if not completely, abusive to the actors and their voices. 12 hours a day live singing the scenes over and over, instead of using a pre-recorded soundtrack. It makes me angry to my soul. Yeah, they got the shots, but the damage done to their voices from extreme use is inexcusable.
The priest at the beginning was the Original Jean Valjean on stage, for theater nerds it was a beautiful addition to the cast.
Must have watched the movie a dozen times, and I saw the original cast show, but only in this reaction did i recognise the original Valjean! :D
I have to say I really prefer the live singing, because nothing takes me out of a movie musical more than when it is so obviously a pre-recorded and over produced track they are playing over the actors. It is why I gave up on Glee, and part of why I didn't like In the Heights. And it is why I am worried for Wicked. I think The Last Five Years also did live singing too. I don't think the pre-recording is horrible though if they don't touch up the voices and can synch it with the performance on screen so that it seems like they are actually singing. I'm hoping West Side Story handles it well, they have so much actual broadway talent, it would be a shame if they played with the audio too much
@@reader2012 Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against live singing being used over a lip-synced performance at all! I generally prefer live performances over studio Master's, with a few special exceptions lol. My issue with the movie has nothing to do with the movie as a film experience. It rightfully won a bunch of awards because it is masterful. My issue is in the behind the scenes production, specifically with the behavior of the director. Theres a bunch of interviews with the cast talking about how badly their voices were effected by 12 hour days of basically non-stop gut wrenching performances and the pain and damage it caused them physically.
So much emphasis and care is taken for the actors bodily safety while on set, ie stunt doubles for dangerous physical scenes, and everything is so carefully monitored so that the risk of harm is as low as possible. Unfortunately, in this particular instance, the same care was not taken with the actors voices. They could have had permanent damage to their vocal cords, which not only could potentially ruin any future singing roles, but could have also altered their speaking voice. The ability for self-care for the actors voices was so neglected, and it breaks my heart.
I've seen the original production live, have most of the songs memorized, my choir did a 7 song ensemble in JUNIOR HIGH and seen the movie quite a few times, and I somehow didn't notice the priest was the original Jean Valjean!😆
Colm Wilkinson is the og Jean Valjean....he is amazing in the role but loved him as the Bishop
The two saddest songs, in my opinion, are “A Little Fall of Rain” and “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables”.
Here are my notes
If you'll notice, Valjean still had the silver with him at the convent. He never sold it. The silver itself didn't change his life, it was the priest's actions. The silver was his daily reminder.
Javier wasn't a bad guy. Yes he was the antagonist and maybe enjoyed the authority a little too much, but all he really cared about was upholding the law. That's why he killed himself. He let his emotions make the decision to let Valjean go and he couldn't live with the guilt.
Eponine's 'On My Own' for my money is the best performance.
I read this in a comparison between Les Miserables and the Discworld novel Night Watch "Both Javert and Vimes are obsessed with justice; Javert interpreting that to mean the punishment of the guilty, which eventually leads to his suicide when he can no longer reconcile his beliefs with the reality of capturing a good man. Vimes, on the other hand defines justice as the protection of the innocent. "
Actually, I'd characterize Javert somewhat differently. When the Bishop gives the silver to Valjean, Valjean feels everything he believed about the world to be upended. Everything he believed he'd have to live by was taken from him. All the premises he had based his live on were gone. He could not go on living as he did - so he decided to literally become a different man, change his life, take on a new identity and live the life of not just an honorable citizen but someone who took care of others.
Conversely, when Javert saw everything he believed in turn into smoke, every premises that he based his life on being turned into question, he did not manage to make the turn into a new life - he was too set in his way. So instead, he just ended the life that has lost all of its foundation.
And Javert didn't simply "care about upholding the law". For him, anyone who ever committed a crime, no matter how small, was irredeemably corrupt and evil. The notion that someone could turn his life around was inconceivable to him. He expected someone who had offended once to continue being a criminal, and even more, he considered any petty thief to be just as corrupt and evil as any violent criminal out there.
yeah having a kid die under the attack he was a part off, it was disobeying the law that drove him to kill himself not the injustice in the system so yeah lol
@@sirnoobs8098 hmm you have to remember that their faith is the core part of him and val Jean. one believes in grace because of the bishop the other doesn't from stars we see he believes that once you fall you've fallen. they both have that spiral moment (whirlpool of my sin) but 24601 rallies out of it while Javier falls.
@@ohauss you also have to look at what he says in The Confrontation “I was born inside a jail. I was born with scum like you. I am from the gutter to.” I think he has so much self hate and need to prove himself by separating himself from the evil, corrupt, and poor people and by Vajean sparing his life he proved that just because I did bad things and grew up poor doesn’t mean I am a bad person. Putting all that hate and disgust in Javier’s face making him question who the real villain is. We see the change start when he sees Gavroche’s body where it’s not just his views being challenged but the very establishment he gave his life to killing a child who hasn’t had a chance to be “better”. First his view of Valjean is attacked, then the very thing he has spent his life defending is tarnished, then lastly his inability to continue hunting a man he spent his life trying to find all leave him feeling hopeless.
Wow I was not expecting a reaction to something like this nor your reaction after watching the masterpiece that is this film! As always, love your reactions, Primate!
I agree with you about the 3 songs but I also love Eponine's On My Own. Samantha Barks killed it. She's so underrated.
I think Samantha Barks was the highlight of the movie. She released a cd of mostly showtunes and it is amazing
The best book I've ever read...BY FAR!
Victor Hugo is a literary monster.
The story is so vast and well written! Just an example: The monsenhor just appears in 3 or 4 scenes of the musical, while in the book, the first 100 pages are about him.
Really reconmend the book.
I read the book after seeing this movie in 2012 and I totally agree. I 10/10 would recommend. It is so powerful as a depiction of France at the time and I commentary on the criminal justice system in general. Absolutely beautifully written
I should read the book in English. I have only read it in French.
@@MarkWick It makes me wish I knew French. I bet it would add such a dimension to the story to read it in its original language.
@@Me-wk3ix lol no it wouldn’t, you sound really pretentious. The content of the book doesn’t change depending on the damn language you read it in.
@@Polo-wk7zl bro who pissed in your cereal?
Hugh Jackman was nominated for best actor at the 2013 Oscars for thus and Anne Hathaway won Best supporting Actress that year. Those two are amazing!! Russell Crowe's singing gets a lot of hate in this and yeah its not great but its not as awful as some people say
The thing is simply that Crowe is more of a rock singer, which means his voice isn't suited to this type of singing.
The funny thing is Russel Crowes singing is just very average. It only looks bad compared to the professional Broadway singers that played all the other roles.
I've only seen this movie in full from beginning to end in one sitting twice. It was the last movie my mom and I watched together before she died of pancreatic cancer. At the time we watched it, we had done everything the medical community could do for her and we were mentally and emotionally coming to terms that she only had a few weeks or maybe a couple months left. As we watched it, the fact that every character was miserable in some way, from loving someone who didn't lover her in return, or the inability to completely escape one's past, to not being able to find a husband to care for her and her kid, to not having your plans work out for you, etc. all resonated with me (and I think for my mom) because I saw so much of our lives reflected in some way in those characters and I know the film echoed thoughts and feelings I had heard her express throughout her life. It is painful to watch and I can only watch it in small parts here and there because these actors put so much feeling and expression into their performances. This movie holds a special place in my heart and I can't watch it without crying.
I might be the only one...but I don't care: I loved Russell Crowe as Javert. And Javert has always been my favorite character. The Confrontation (when Javert and Valjean meet at 11:40 ) is my favorite song.
I agree. I don't really understand why people hate on singers in movie musicals so much. I mean, if someone is singing out of tune or clearly had to be auto-tune pitch corrected, that definitely takes me out of the experience, but as long as they can accurately sing the part and are a good actor, I really don't care if they're an insane Broadway-level talent or just a good casual singer.
SAME
SPECIALLY WHEN JAVERT SAYS: YOU KNOW NOTHING OF JAVERT
My favorite of ja vert were twofold, my favorite song of his was by far stars, I used to practice and memorize it. My favorite scene of him was putting his medal on gavroche, honoring the boy
I agree, despite his rough voice, his role wasn't really about the singing and more about the emotion throughout the movie.
You aren’t alone. I thought he was great. He plays a person of authority really well. He was awesome.
This is one of those movies that you can watch over and over again and it hits just the same as the first time you watched it because the emotion and performances are SO strong. Such a powerful movie. One that sticks with you. Fantine's "I dreamed a dream" and Enjorla's death always get me.
This musical makes me cry SO much. I cry when the bishop gives Vanjean his silver. I cry when Vanjean saves Fontine at the docks. I cry when he adopts Cosette. I cry when the boys get massacred at the barricade. I cry when Vanjean dies and Fontine and Bishop take him to heaven.
I just none stop cry!! 😭
I’ve seen this musical and this movie a billion times and I have made it through without crying zero times, ever.
I grew up with Les Miserables. I have seen it on the stage countless times and have loved it just as much every single time I've seen it. But this movie was the last version that I ever saw and it is the most powerful. There's no other movie that will make me feel this way even after watching it for the 20th time. And I never watch reaction videos but this movie and this story means so much to me that I just want to see everybody else and their reaction to it
Fun fact the Bishop was played by the original musical actor for the lead jean valjan ((colm Wilkinson))
3:15 - A full circle moment. The old Bishop who has invited Jean Valjean in is the original stage Jean Valjean from London's Barbican Theater and West End productions as well as the Broadway production, Colm Wilkinson. He passes the torch to Hugh Jackman as Valjean.
7:38 - Anne Hathaway...Here's your Oscar!!! Everybody else this year was biting your dust!
The man who wrote the novel 'Les Miserables' was Victor Hugo...who, even today, is considered a national hero of France. One of his other novels also is really famous...'Notre Dame de Paris' which in English is more often called 'The Hunchback of Notre-Dame' (which is a LOT different than the Disney version...A LOT!!!!).
This is not a favorite film adaptation of a stage musical for me. I like it...but there are so many that have done it better, more that have done it worse. Many people really love it, I am not one. However...watching you enjoy this was amazing.
Once saw someone who had starred in every musical out there say this was the only one he never got tired of singing the music for. That says it all
You know I watched this movie for Eddie Redmayne (Marius) because I loved him so much in Fantasic Beasts. And after watching Les Mis I became a musical theatre nerd 😂
Miss Saigon is a great musical.
@@craigmarriott6759 definitely on my list. Need to finish Hadestown first 😂
I really love this film's representation of the 1832 June Rebellion, and I love the costume design for the film.
Gavroche, little brother of Eponine and Azelma, dyed on the barricades. Gavroche became a common name in France.
If you ever have the change, please go see it in the theater. The stage version is absolutely incredible.
What an absolute joy it is for me to see that you loved this show! I remember when Les Miserables first came out in the mid '80s. I have seen the stage show at least four to five times. Jean Valjean is probably my favorite literary character of all time and the fact that you connected with him just makes me so damn happy, Primate. Here are some things I think you might like to know:
Colm Wilkinson, The man who played the bishop who gave Valjean the silver, was the original Jean Valjean in the play.
All the singing in this movie was recorded live on set. None of it was re-recorded in post-production.
If you can believe it, the stage play is even better than the movie. The movie cuts some things that really hurt my heart. If you ever get a chance to see this show live on stage, I beg you to take it. It's even more mind-blowing live.
There is a non-musical version of this movie starring Liam Neeson as Jean Valjean and Geoffrey Rush as Inspector Javert. It is absolutely brilliant and I know you would love it!
My only criticism of your reaction is that you left out the one song, Bring Him Home, that I wanted to see you react to the most lol! I understand, it's a very long movie and you had to cut out some parts, but I really wanted to see look on your face when he sings that amazing song.
Sorry about that man!
@@ItsAPrimatee No worries, brother! Like I said, it's a big movie and you had a lot to react to.
Not as much a fan of the Liam Neeson version because Eponine is absent...she is one of the most tragic but heroic figures in a musical...to be in love with a man but to step aside because he loves someone else and then chose to sacrifice yourself for him even without knowing that he will survive is heartbreaking but very rare
That's what Patreon is for!
Les Misérables is a masterpiece on stage and off. Never fails to make me sob
ever seen sweeney todd primate? its has an imersive and messed up story (which you should not spoil to yourself) great perfomances by johnny depp and helenna bonham carter, and a great direction by tim burton
I have not!
@@ItsAPrimatee check it out, I watched it again recently and it held up pretty well
Great to see you watching a musical! I definitely didn't expect that. Anne Hathaway's performance of "I Dreamed a Dream" is the reason I cannot watch this movie more than once every couple years or so. It is so powerful. Worth seeing the movie just for that. I hope you'll check out some other musicals in the future - maybe Evita or Moulin Rougue or my favorite, Chicago.
The only reason H. Jackman lost the Oscar that year was he had against him Daniel Day Lewis with "Lincoln".
I read the book two years ago.
My copy is 1460 pages long and it took me 4 months to finish.
Unbelivable.
The grandest story I've ever read.
The Inn keeper, Thénardier, was a catering man during Napoleonic wars. He saved the life of Marius 's father on the battle ground.
Am I the only one who cuts onions during this musical or?
I cried so hard at the end when I found out that javert got sent to hell.
He was my favorite character
God man i feel you. I know that it was for the way he ended but i genuinely think that it was a man with good intentions.
There are a few film adaptations of the book Les Miserables, but this is the only movie adaptation of the musical play (there are a few recordings of the actual musical play on stage, but those weren't released as full-length theatrical release movies, as this version was). The book is amazing, if you get a chance to read it. I recommend a hardback copy, because the paperback is so thick it starts to fall apart while you're reading it! The Bishop (the priest at the beginning who gives Valjean the silver and the chance) is a minor character, his actions take all of maybe 5 pages to describe, right? But Victor Hugo takes 25-30 pages (depending on translation and hardback v. paperback) to describe the Bishop, the people in his household, and to tell his backstory - which is totally irrelevant to the main story, but it's interesting in and of itself. Hugo's an amazing writer, and his descriptions of people and their thought processes are so gorgeous and rich. If you felt the emotion watching this version, reading the book will have you in tears for days.
I agree, peope should read the book! It is wayyyy better!
It's been so beautiful to accompany you who was watching this musical/movie for the very first time. I loved how you got caught by the songs and how you reacted to the story, that you did'nt knew anything about the storyline before. Les Mis is a rocksteady part of my life since it first took stage in the late 80's, it's my absolute favourite musical. And I love this adaptation. So unbelievable wonderful ❤
I tear up at that last scene every time, even when it’s just a little clip in a reaction like here
bro i'm crying and only a quarter of the movie was shown here this is one of my favourite stories
And what's funny about it is Cosette and Marius after cosette's father died heard the voices of his friends so they both knew they were still around and Cosette saw her mother take her father this movie was an absolute tearjerker at least for me it was... And the on-stage performance is also a tearjerker not the same characters as in the movie but still as good
How much do I love Les Miserables? I named my daughter Cosette. That much.
Victor Hugo wrote this. He also wrote the Hunchback of Notre Dame. If you cut out the middle part with Napoleon, the book is amazing as well. My favorite play of all time. I mean not even close. I saw it 4 times on Broadway.
It’s great to see people that have never seen the musical being impacted by the story that this film/musical tells.
You will relish Chicago. Both has great songs and flow in the story but also just a fun ride instead of emotional one. No tragedy, just pure entertainment.
I was lucky enough to see this in theatres when it first released and watching this on a big screen with the theatre sound system was amazing , the opening song blew me away let alone the rest of this incredible movie
Nominated for 8 Oscars including Best Picture. Won 3 Golden Globes including Best Picture, Musical or comedy. It made $441 million dollars against a $62 million dollar budget. It won 3 Oscars:
Best Sound Mixing
Best Makeup and
Best Supporting Actress, Anne Hathaway.
Only 2 movies made me cry in the theater...E.T. In 1982, and this 30 years later...curse you Hugh Jackman for reducing me to an emotional puddle😅. This was the musical that got me into musicals back in 1989. Once this door opens, it never closes (loved HAMILTON, too, and I'm many years removed from the hip hop era, lol)
7:58 and the Oscar goes to... Nice to see you agreed with the Academy.
The man who plays the holy man who give Juan Val Juan a second chance. He played Juan Val Juan in the original(I think) Broadway play.
Anne Hathaway brought me to tears in this movie. And the fact that they sang live the whole movie is mind blowing to me.
Les Mis will always have a special place in my heart, I have a love hate relationship with the movie, but in the cinema everyone was crying at the end! Your reactions are amazing and I have to admit, the shot where you see cosette realise valjean is dead really broke me in a way it had never before. It's a tiny moment, but it's so tragic, the person who saved her and gave her a new life. As well as the OG valjean colm Wilkinson as the bishop, there are several famous les mis actors in cameos, incl the original eponine Frances ruffelle who won the Tony award for best supporting actress. Thanks for reading 😀
Slightly obscure musical recommendation: Hedwig and the Angry Inch
One of Eddie Redmayne's characters friends is played by Fra Fee who is in Hawkeye as Kazi.
love this movie!! 🙌🏽Anne Hathaway’s performance always gets me! she literally lost her mind playing this role, w her intense weight-loss and chopping her real hair off in the movie! it def paid off i’m pretty sure she won an oscar🤩🤩
Went to see this on stage tonight. Was the first time been back at theatre in almost 2 years. Was incredible, seeing it live is just somthing completely different. I've missed theatre so much.
The actors sang live, not at the studio. Live at the set, with only piano. The music were added later.
the bishop is the original Jean Valjean (Jackman role) in the first musical his name is Colm Wilkinson
Now that you've seen the film where the focus is on the acting, treat yourself to the 10th Anniversary Concert (available on YT) where the focus is on the music. The cast of the original London production returns for a stunning performance, and every one of the voices is glorious. You won't weep, but you will be thrilled. (You can also try the 25th Anniversary Concert, which is also amazing if you make allowances for Nick Jonas being sadly miscast.)
I am crying like a baby everytime Jean dies..by far my favourite character in this movie
This is a little late, but fun fact: the priest at the beginning of the movie was the original Jean Valjean from the Broadway cast
Anne Hathaway broke me with her performance. Among the very best I've ever seen.
It's a story about redemption. It's my favourite musical and book. I watched on Broadway, west end, all the movie versions hahaha...I'm a fan hahahaha
The songs have been written in the eightiee by 2 French, for the Musical, played for more than 25 years in London and elsewhere.
Based on the novel of Victor Hugo
I usually don‘t like musicals that much, but this one is really good, especially since it is a very creative adaptation and very original compared to all the other adaptations of the book
Not a fan of the Disney Renaissance?
@@jp3813 na, I stopped to watch most „newer“ Disney movies around the time of Toy Story 2 and The Emperor‘s new groove!
But I‘m still a big fan of all the classics till the early 2000‘s
@@michelmorio8026 The Disney Renaissance lasted from 1989 to 1999, featuring mostly animated musicals: The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Mulan, & Tarzan. Imitators of the trend from other productions include The Nightmare Before Christmas, Anastasia, & The Prince of Egypt.
@@jp3813 that’s no musicals to me... that’s simply Disney classics!
With musicals I mean a real movies... like High School Musical, Camp Rock etc.
@@michelmorio8026 Many of them actually have stage versions due to being musicals. Disney non-musical animated films during the same era aside from The Rescuers Down Under were mostly by Pixar: Toy Story, A Bug's Life, & Toy Story 2.
Love this movie so much.
Sad that my two faves songs didn't make it into the reaction 💔
"Do you hear the people sing" and "On my own"
Finally!! some respect for the best live action movie musical 😤😤😤 les mis truly is a masterpiece, like there’s a reason it’s been around so long and has SEVERAL live anniversary specials.
Man even with the songs left out I still loved this reaction. The musical still gets me so emotional
Some of this was filmed where I live, in Winchester and Portsmouth. Some of the alley scenes in Winchester and the docks at the start in Portsmouth
This movie is absolutely heartbreaking. But so beautiful at the same time. I feel so bad for everybody. The music is incredible.
This movie really made me cried. All the actors were so damn good and I heard that they sing live too. Loving this musical movie reactions. Hope you do more like my favorite ones The Greatest Showman.
The story of Javert vs Valjean is such an apt allegory of the difference between law and grace in Christian theology. The law says that a crime has to be punished, that redemption and renewal is irrelevant, while grace brings new life that allows one to rise above the old man and no longer partake of the sins of the past. Valjean was shown grace and he therefore became grace to the weak, lost, and innocent.
I have never done Christmas day movies before, but my husband's family got us tickets when Les Miserable came out. We were all in tears! Such a wonderful movie. It's not perfect, but I love that its made a musical I love more accessible. I own the concert versions as well.
"To love another person is to see the face of God." This show could not be better. You've seen the story. If you get a chance, there is a 10 or 20 year anniversary concert with the original Jean Valjean (who plays the priest in the movie). The best orchestra you may ever see and about half the population of England singing in a massive choir. The best stage. performers reprising their roles.
there are songs in this play that open my tear ducts better than fresh chopped onion.
I'm glad you liked it because I love it.
There's a reason the movie went to the Oscars, a reason the musical was played in west end and Broadway for decades, a reason the book is an all time classic translated in all languages: it is a masterpiece!
This is a great reaction!! Cool you did something so different than your usual stuff!
Thanks!
Musicals: Victor/Victoria, All That Jazz, Hair, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Cabaret, Fiddler on The Roof, Sweet Charity, West Side Story (1961) Singin' in The Rain,
The actor who played the Bishop was the original actor who played Valjean
21:15 was the best part of your reaction! You said what we were all thinking
"i hope this isn't one of those musicals where they sing the entire time"...sir i do have news for you
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) with Johnny Depp
I never watched this movie, but I do remember watching the anime and enjoying it a lot.
Man I watched this movie several times and watched the anime and I'm about to read the f*ckin novel because damn I love this story
@@spunkymaniac9312 The novel is beautiful but just fair warning - books back then weren't as concerned with tight pacing, and there are many, MANY digressions in the book that are basically the author going off on his favorite pet topic, haha. (This is similar to some of the great Russian novels that also take a bit of stamina to get through but I do believe are really rewarding in the end).
Favorite Les Mis trivia:
The color code 24601 is an emerald green, the same as Valjean's green coat
Recommend you watch the west-ends 25th jubilee. "Les Miserablés 25th anniversary" . The singing is truly 10 times better! And be sure to watch the Valjean quartet at the end. You might recognize the priest from this version as the original Jean Valjean.
I remember watching this movie on the theater and it was a amazing experience. Really love the reaction and of course it made me cry. If you enjoyed this musical you should react to de 2004 the phantom of the opera, it's a great musical too.
It can be said that Victor Hugo was not particularly kind to his characters, and it can be said that Tom Hooper has made a magnificent film adaptation of Claude-Michel Schonberg's theatrical musical (despite what the French press said at the time, which was that it was a very good film but destroyed the essence of the novel), which itself is an adaptation that is both free (removing many of the digressive chapters written by the author) and yet so faithful to the original 1862 work.
Wow what a great surprise - this is my favorite musical for sure and the movie (though it's hard to recreate something like this in film) really did it justice as far as a film adaptation can do for me. I would 100% recommend seeing a live version or one of the anniversary concerts recorded on YT too if you end up having the time someday
It makes me so happy that you enjoyed this so much. This is my favorite show by far. And the movie did a really good job with it.
One of the reasons I watch your videos is because you react to (and appreciate) a whole range of movies. Its awesome 👍
Btw the 25th anniversary stage show of Les Mis is very good too
I love this musical so much and the movie did an awesome job portraying it! I would recomend watching the 10th anniversary of this musical, either a reaction or just in your free time. It's phenomenal! This is the one where the priest in this movie plays Jean Veljean. You can find it on youtube: ua-cam.com/video/0c2sx47p31M/v-deo.html
favorite quote from this musical: To love another person is to see the face of God
Seeing this on stage was phenomenal. This and Phantom at the haunted Princess Theatre in Melbourne blew me away. I had amazing seats and sat stunned throughout. The film got mixed reviews and I cringe every time Russell sings but what a show!
I liked Russell in this movie!
The book is one of the greatest ever. Read it! It's such a great story with so many characters, so many events and you learn so much history, too. The musical does a good job at going to the essential, but it's a super-short version nevertheless. The songs are great and have very good lyrics, too. It me some time to like it, though, I had read the book several times and was so used to the story... There is a good mini-series with John Malkovitch playing Javert, and an international ensemble cast that's good at telling the story if you don't like reading.
I was in the musical as Javert and had to sing a lot. Was initially nerd about having sing so high but was musically trained by a woman who had a PhD in opera. Hugh Jackman was nominated for Best Actor from this movie but lost to Daniel Day-Lewis
If you ever find the time to watch the 10th anniversary it’s on UA-cam in 4k. It is arguably the greatest performance of this story and is considered to be a “dream cast” of actors and actresses.
Beautiful reaction bro. Loved the musical since it came out on the stage (London) and loved the movie. Nice to see this story still being appreciated.
One of my favourite movies! Thanks for reacting to this one, I think no one else did a reaction for it before. Another musical with half the Harry Potter cast is 'Sweeney Todd', you should check it out.
And I also recommend you 'The Da Vinci Code' for a good mystery and plot-twist movie.
Crowes singing chops aside, I really really like this movie, and Javert is still my favourite character cause Ive heard worse singing
You should react to the 10th anniversary Broadway show for the best music performances but this is a beautiful movie
I just love ann hathaway and russel crowe in this fantastic movie . I can't get enough of them.
The French flag colors : first was all white (symbol of royalty), Red and blue were added at the 1789 révolution. Red and blue are the colors of Paris.
People never believes until they're watching, the title is "The Miserables" for a reason, every character lives in a literal misery
Victor Hugo also wrote the Notre Dame series, and it also wasn't pretty
This is one of my favorite musicals, but it has not choreographies, I suggest you to watch The Greatest Showman, also with Hugh Jackman
Next musical better be greatest showman with hugh jackman.
that's a terrible movie
@@chumkrimson8161 what are you being serious,very great meaning of everyone is important no matter how ugly you are.
MR Best the “meaning” of a movie doesn’t matter it the movie itself stinks.
@@chumkrimson8161 such a great storyline (with not singing every second,but rather we’re it was necessary.