It was only recently that I found out a movie has been made of Les Miserables, the musical, and is coming out at Christmas. (I’m sure that’s old news to most of you, but we don’t have TV—I don’t know what’s going on.) Honestly? I was a bit distraught (okay, I was a LOT distraught) because I LOVE this musical like NO OTHER. And I’ve loved it for over 25 years. So my eyes rolled back into my head at the thought of it being butchered into a movie, at them ruining what is IN FACT the PERFECT musical.
Seriously. The first time I saw it on stage I swear I did not BREATHE during the entire show and realized (too late) that I should have brought an entire box of kleenex with me. Javert’s suicide gave me chills. That one note he sings as he’s falling—do you know that note? it doesn’t fit with the music at first, and then the music swells up to meet the note and it’s so amazing it just rips your heart out and makes you sob (right there in the theatre in the midst of all those other theatre-goers when you don’t have enough kleenex to catch all the tears)—listening to that song brings back that moment to me EVERY time.
Okay, you have to see it to know what I’m talking about. Skip forward to 4:30 and watch for about 20 seconds. It won’t make you cry, but it will give you a glimpse at the genius behind and power within the music.
See? (But it’s even more amazing in person. Trust me.) And then there’s “Empty Chairs At Empty Tables” where the ghosts of the dead line up behind Marius as he’s mourning their deaths. It’s POWERFUL. I mean the music and lyrics are amazing all on their own, but then when you SEE it. Oh. My. I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s the perfect musical.
So I’m sure you can understand my concern about the movie.
And then I saw this. (Watch it.) (The whole thing.) (Seriously.)
O.O <——That’s me after watching it two hundred times (that might be a SLIGHT exaggeration…but not much). I’m in love again, you guys! I cannot wait for this movie to come out. (Or, more accurately, I can’t wait for it to come out on DVD because THAT’s when I’ll see it. I am SO buying this movie—and any time I need a good cry I’m going to watch it.)
On a totally unrelated note, except for the crying part, if you haven’t seen this video about the editors of Harry Potter making a 15 year old writer’s dream come true, grab the kleenex and click the link. Really and truly this is the most heart-warming, incredible, bittersweet-happy story. It’s so worth the watch (but have tissues at the ready).
Hope you are having a fantastic day!
Les Miserable is my absolute favorite musical as well. I was lucky enough to get the chance to see it performed live when I was in high school and my choir director set up a trip to Pittsburgh to see it with anyone in the choir classes that wanted to go. It was AWESOME! And yes, I tend to tear up quite often through it, even during A Little Fall Of Rain. :)
When I first heard that they were making a movie musical of it, I was thrilled. I never gave it much thought to how it could be messed up when making it into a movie though. I enjoyed the movie musical version of Phantom of the Opera. That was one that I’ve not seen live yet, so the movie was a great alternative.
I did watch the behind-the-scenes video for Les Mis recently. Saw it posted on Facebook. I love the fact that the actors sing live, not lip sync. I can not wait to see this. I will be at the theater opening night for it. :D
I also cried when I watched the video of the 15 year old girl who wrote a book.
Oh, I know. That story about the 15 year old getting her book published is simultaneously up-lifting and heartbreaking. So, so glad she got that experience.
And isn’t that one of the amazing things about Les Mis? That once you’ve seen it, listening to the music again brings back all the added intensity and emotions of seeing the show live. I tear up through so many of the songs. And I have no doubt, after seeing the movie preview, that the movie will be the same. Or even more so. The singing live thing is genius. It just looks amazing. Can’t wait!