Les Miserables (2012)

Director: Tom Hooper

It's been a long time since I last wrote an article, but I guess was worth waiting if the film I'm going to talk about is as "big" as Les Miz. First of all, from the moment I found out that there is going to be a film partly based on the novel by Victor Hugo and on the 1980s musical, I knew that there is no chance I'm going to see it anywhere else but on the big screen. Even though I had to wait additional 1,5 months until Les Miserables arrived to my country, it did pay off. Splendid clothing, beautiful music, amazing dramatics and emotions - who doesn't love that, but everything by turns.

I've never been keen on musicals because I preferred talking to singing. However, I've always loved Grease (1978) and, though singing was an integral part here as well, I somehow could handle that because the main characters spoke quite a lot at the same time. This time it was different. If I remember correctly, the cases of speaking can be counted on the fingers of one hand, yet I didn't need more. Everything was clear and even more emotional than it could be if the characters spoke more than sung. Even later I couldn't stop listening to some of the songs. They definitely live their own lives now, without any motion behind. So it's 1:0 for Tom because Hugo's novel filmed as any typical historical film wouldn't be such a success. That would be too boring and would last for more than 3 hours. It is good as it is.

Les Misérables (1862)

Author: Victor Hugo

I am usually hopeless at writing the book reviews. Each time when I have finished reading the book and I am ready to give my opinion I am completely lost. I don't know what to write and what not. I don't want it be a spoiler but at the same time I have to give at least a small insight into the theme of the book because otherwise it is useless and what am I really doing here?

Les Miserables is the "biggest" (I hope you know what I mean) and the most deep-felt book I have ever read. It seems to me that nothing is going to be the same. Ever. The more I read, the bigger my claims on the books are. And from now on they are as high as never before.

But let's return to the book itself. The main character Jean Valjean deserved the forgiveness. Even though he was a convict, Jean tried to grow better and forget the past but, unfortunately, it always came back and never left him alone like a shadow in the middle of a sunny day. No matter what Jean did and how good he was, the criminal's ma, stamped by the society, followed him non-stop.

People do change. And so did Jean Valjean. Even the ruthless policeman Javert could not swallow that everything (the rooted opinions, the whole world) he had always believed in was suddenly falling apart. And that all because a former convict proved to be a kindhearted man. It was something the society of the 19th century would never imagine to happen.

I truly suggest reading "Les Miserables". It is one of those books that should be read before you die...because it is the world classic and it is too amazing to be left behind.(Alright I'll try to be as objective as possible.)...because its subtext, idea and language are nothing like the ones you can find in the books like "Twilight". Believe me.