Some of the changes seemed completely apt, going for the raw instead of the pretty or the powerhouse belting, but sometimes it seemed like they went for the raw because they didn't have the option of hitting the powerhouse notes, or tried and failed and stuck to their guns.

ITA. Anne Hathaway actually managed the "close-up-appropriate raw emotion" thing they were going for because even when she was quiet, she was still singing in tune. Basically every other movie star cast member went off key as soon as they started Acting Very Quietly.

I've been thinking a lot about "Dream" over the past few days because it's been in my head, and the more I think about it the more I love Anne Hathaway's performance. When Patti Lupone sings "And still I dream he'll come to me / And we will live the years together" she's singing about how awesome she is to keep hope alive in the face of utter despair. When Anne Hathaway sings it, it's 100% "Fantine, you fucking idiot. No wonder you're going to die a syphillitic prostitute."

One thing that bugged, plot/character-wise, and I don't recall if this was also a conflict in the live show, was Javert's break after Val Jean freeing him. If you go from JVJ freeing him and Javert committing suicide, it works. But the intermediary of Javert trying one last time to bring in JVJ, not following through, and then him going on about how its impossible to live with that kind of paradox in Javert's life . . . it doesn't work for me. Where's the crux that wasn't there before? He was ripe for suicide already. Why the one last attempt to bring in JVJ? Why the *then* inability to do so? It seemed like an unnecessary step.

I am also in awe of the many actors who sang while crying, and am put once again in awe of actors who do this shit live, with the fighting and blocking. And I kind of appreciated that a lot of the shots were close-ups, to just get right into the heart of the emotions the actors had to display, which is something that you can't get out of a live performance, even if you're in the front row (not that I've ever been).

The Green Dragon Inn is open for business as a pub: [link]

Slake? Who says slake?

Oh. Us.

Carry on!

Glad to see it's probably scaled for humans. Or humans playing halflings. Whichever.

When Anne Hathaway sings it, it's 100% "Fantine, you fucking idiot. No wonder you're going to die a syphillitic prostitute."

Oh yes. Generally speaking I enjoyed the emotional framing of the film more than the original cast recording. (Even including Mme Thenardier.)

I saw Les Mis yesterday, as part of our NYE plans. (The other part was going to an Indian restaurant, which Biyi enjoyed for once. It's a Christmas miracle!) I thought is was fantastic overall, through I agree that Russell Crowe's singing really wasn't up to the part, not even particularly close. (Nor was Amanda Seyfried, but she was only playing Cosette, so I didn't really care.) Anne Hathaway was the biggest surprise.

Singing-wise, though, I thought the highlight was the various revolutionaries. (I'm including Eponine in that list, and discovering that imdb claims Samantha Barks won the part over Taylor Swift, which was unexpected.)

However I did have a problem with cracking up at inappropriate moments. Like the way it's presented, it seems to me that Fantine loses her job one morning, and it takes her one day to have started selling body parts and be dying of syphilis. Didn't even go back home first. I haven't experienced such rapid reversal of fortune since the South Park movie crew's decision to start cannibalising people after three hours without a meal.

Or when Valjean decides to skip town rather than possibly disgrace his daughter, and as far as I can tell was entirely healthy that morning until he dropped his trunk while climbing into the carriage; and he's packed up in a convent and breathing his last before the next sunrise. Apparently that trunk contained his extensive supplies of Ebola virus.

I'm aware that more time is probably supposed to have passed, but I like my version better. I told Biyi, incidentally, of my interpretation of Fantine's Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day and her response was:

"Don't you have something in films called, méngtàiqí?"
"méngtài-- You're invoking the Montage?!"

Oh, Biyi loved it too. She's a big fan of the musical, and expects the film to pick up the Oscar for Best Picture.

I'm glad I read your reviews, Juliebird and bt.

I just watched the 25th Anniversary Concert on YouTube and was all pissed again about the movie singing. I guess it is just a different animal.

They went for a startling amount of realism and it gave depth in some places and in others it was just disturbing or discornant.

I'm mostly pissed that One More Day got such short shrift. And Jackman was too nasal to be borne.

I agree Hathaway and Barks OWN those songs now.

Even including Mme Thenardier

I hold out hope that one day HBC will be cast in a musical directed by someone who has heard of the word "enunciate." She was hopelessly miscast in Sweeney Todd, but this part she could have absolutely nailed if only she would open her damn mouth wide enough to sing actual words.

I just watched the 25th Anniversary Concert on YouTube and was all pissed again about the movie singing. I guess it is just a different animal.

I love the 25th Anniversary Concert except for Nick Jonas as Marius. That is possibly the worst version of "Empty Chairs" I've ever seen.

except for Nick Jonas as Marius

Hopelessly miscast and outclassed. What were they thinking? Did he win a mail-in coupon contest or something?