I read several reviews from "professional critics" online. It is so important to me to express to you that this movie is FAR SUPERIOR to the stage show FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON.
The people that put this movie down are opera connoisseurs. If you are an opera snob, YES theyre right. This is not as good.
If you are a regular person who normally doesnt see operas or musicals then this is far superior to the stage show. I have seen this on stage twice and the movie is far superior for these reasons:
1) The voices
The singers were more modern sounding, less opera, more natural. Hughs performance made me break down in the theater. You can FEEL his pain. In the stage show theres little acting and more of the standing firm facing the audience and songs with perfect voices. NOT A FAN. The movie caused a deep emotional response. The stage show never moved me once.
2) The story
WAY easier to follow the movie story line than the stage. In the stage performance you basically have to know the story prior to visiting the show. In the movie, you can know ZERO about the story and it is easy to follow.
3) The actors
I have always been neutral regarding Ann Hathaway and I have always thought of Hugh Jackman as an action hero. WOW! Was I wrong! These two BLEW me away in this performance of Les Mis. Completely unexpected! I am a big fan now and I want to see them in more musicals. The stage show focuses more on perfect vocals, less acting. (See the 25th anniversary les mis with one of the jonas brothers as Marius) The movie is more about good acting and if the voices cracked due to tears, it was not "cleaned up". These voices that were NOT polished made it far more believable and caused more of an emotional reaction. FANTASTIC!
PLEASE DO NOT LISTEN TO OPERA SNOBS! If youre a regular joe like me, you will love this show. I would read up on the story to make sure you understand what is happening first, OR watch the les mis movie (no singing) with Liam Neison as Jean ValJean. You will get a good understanding of the story.
Out of 5 stars I give it a 10!
The people that put this movie down are opera connoisseurs. If you are an opera snob, YES theyre right. This is not as good.
If you are a regular person who normally doesnt see operas or musicals then this is far superior to the stage show. I have seen this on stage twice and the movie is far superior for these reasons:
1) The voices
The singers were more modern sounding, less opera, more natural. Hughs performance made me break down in the theater. You can FEEL his pain. In the stage show theres little acting and more of the standing firm facing the audience and songs with perfect voices. NOT A FAN. The movie caused a deep emotional response. The stage show never moved me once.
2) The story
WAY easier to follow the movie story line than the stage. In the stage performance you basically have to know the story prior to visiting the show. In the movie, you can know ZERO about the story and it is easy to follow.
3) The actors
I have always been neutral regarding Ann Hathaway and I have always thought of Hugh Jackman as an action hero. WOW! Was I wrong! These two BLEW me away in this performance of Les Mis. Completely unexpected! I am a big fan now and I want to see them in more musicals. The stage show focuses more on perfect vocals, less acting. (See the 25th anniversary les mis with one of the jonas brothers as Marius) The movie is more about good acting and if the voices cracked due to tears, it was not "cleaned up". These voices that were NOT polished made it far more believable and caused more of an emotional reaction. FANTASTIC!
PLEASE DO NOT LISTEN TO OPERA SNOBS! If youre a regular joe like me, you will love this show. I would read up on the story to make sure you understand what is happening first, OR watch the les mis movie (no singing) with Liam Neison as Jean ValJean. You will get a good understanding of the story.
Out of 5 stars I give it a 10!
Top Box Office
- 1.$70.2M
- 2.$35.8M
- 3.$23.9M
- 4.$3.2M
- 5.$3.0M
- 6.$2.8M
- 7.$2.3M
- 8.$2.2M
- 9.$2.2M
- 10.$1.2M