Megan, what was the runtime? Trying to plan dinner after the screening.

I think about 2h30. I'm pretty sure the lights went up at 9h40, but they started a bit late.

The "I Dreamed a Dream" in the commercials sounds so wrong to my ears, and having Fantine be a brunette is also strange for me(I think she has been blonde in every stage production of Les Mis I have seen).

That scene is pretty raw. Probably not the best for the trailer, but it works in context. Anne Hathaway was pretty convincing. The only true weak link singing-wise was Amanda Seyfried, but older Cosette never really impressed me in the shows either.

Young Cosette kicks serious ass. And Gavroche!

However, I'm still excited to see it, and even more excited that Colm Wilkinson is actually in it.

When his name came up I was like, where was he? And then I realized, he's the Bishop.

Also, the makeup team deserves serious props.

Young Cosette kicks serious ass.

This is important! Please tell me Eponine is good as well.

Yes. Eponine was at our Q&A last night. She'd already played Eponine in the West End for some time (She's currently Nancy in Oliver! which I could totally see.) The Thenardiers were more humorous than menacing, but, given who was playing them, I was sort of expecting that.

The only true weak link singing-wise was Amanda Seyfried

I have to disagree with this - I actually thought she was terrific, and that the major HUGE vocal misstep was Russell Crowe as Javert. He literally could not hit any of Javert's low notes and resorted to speaking most of those lines. So disappointing.

But other than that, I pretty much loved it.

Both of them worked physically for me, but each had singing issues. Seyfried's bothered me more for some reason. I think because somehow as the "pretty girl" she seemed more replaceable, whereas Crowe is sort of dogged-pursuit personified.

I now realize why Crowe's rock-talk version didn't bother me.

Here's the original Javert, which is the first version I knew: [link]

(Javert's singing role was much smaller and there was no equivalent to "Stars")

Aha, that makes sense. Whereas I wanted this:

[link]

I just kept wanting to run up to Russell Crowe and pat him on the diaphragm and tell him "No no, sing from HERE!"

Out of the whole cast, I felt only Anne Hathaway was willing to look ridiculous in order to produce a good belt. (Towards the end of "I Dream A Dream" when she's really giving it everything, you realize how silly a singer's tongue looks in closeup. Except you don't because you are too busy SOBBING.)

Does he hit the low notes (like you wear a different chaaaa-aiiin)?