Les Miserables Review

Let me just start by saying I really, really wanted to love this movie. I'm a huge Les Mis fan (I think the 25th Anniversary Concert with Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean should be required viewing for everyone), and when I heard they were making a movie, I was officially stoked. Less so when the less-than-favorable reviews came out. So when I finally saw it (a whole two days after it came out!), it was with some fear and trepidation.

I shouldn't have been worried. From the first few opening bars, I was enthralled. For those of you who don't know, I'll try to give a quick recap: Jean Valjean was imprisoned by 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread. Upon his release, Inspector Javert warns him he will be watched for the rest of his life, and if he steps out of line, he'll be back quicker than you can sing a song about it (I paraphrase). Valjean is taken in by a kindly priest, but Valjean is hardened by prison and time and chooses to steal the priest's silver. When he is caught red-handed by the authorities, the priest covers for him, later telling him "I have saved your soul for God." This makes a huge impression on Valjean, and he leaves behind his name and identity to become a good man. Cut to years later, when he is the mayor of a small town in France. He has made good on his promise to become a better man, but turns a blind eye when a young factory worker named Fantine is fired for resisting the advances of her supervisor. She has a child to support, and must turn to all sorts of awful ways to support herself. When she sees Valjean again, she blames him for her plight, and he offers to care for her daughter. Years later, there's a revolution boiling in France that threatens all of their lives. From then there's all sorts of twists and turns that I won't get into for fear of spoilers.

OK, now the actual review: this movie was nearly everything I wanted it to be. I say "nearly" because there were a few things I was ever-so-slightly disappointed in. However, Hugh Jackman's stellar performance as Valjean is not one of them. He's a powerhouse, knowing exactly how to emote when singing (did I mention the whole movie is singing? I should've. Seriously, 98% is singing.), but also showcasing the voice he's been blessed with. Anne Hathaway blew me away, as well. I'm not a big Anne Hathaway fan, and I fully expected to be disappointed. But no! Her rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" is one of the most powerful things I've ever seen on screen. You could've heard a pin drop in the theatre - there wasn't even a sniffle. 

Much has been made of the fact that all the actors are singing live, and not lip-syncing to a pre-recorded soundtrack. And for the most part, it works very well. I know a lot of people have criticized Russell Crowe's performance as Javert, but I thought he did a good job. The rest of the actors sort of talk-sing through their songs, and he full out sings. While it's jarring at first, I choose to believe it's a character choice. His character is very methodical and by-the-book, and to me it made sense that he would sing that way, as well.

The only disappointment I have is in Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter as the Thenardiers. In the show, they are much-needed comic relief, but that wasn't translated well here. Particularly in their introductory song, "Master of the House," it felt unnecessarily seedy and wasn't nearly as much fun as in the stage show.

Other standout performances are Samantha Barks as Eponine, Eddie Redmayne as Marius, and Aaron Tveit as Enjolras. Amanda Seyfried is fine as Cosette, and sings very well, but didn't stick in my mind as much as she could have.

So there you have it! All in all, I give it an A. And I dare anyone to walk out of the theatre not singing/whistling/humming the songs.

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Titanic 3D Review

If you know me at all, you know how much I love Titanic. As an 11-year-old girl when it first came out, I was the perfect age for the movie: I fell in love with Leo, saw the movie too many times in the theatres, and bought it on VHS the day it came out. Almost 15 years later, not much has changed. I'm not in love with Leo anymore, but I still love the movie and watch it a few times per year. So, suffice it to say: I know this movie.

So, when I had the chance to see a special advance screening, I jumped at the chance. I'm not really into 3D (I usually find the movies too gimmicky and the 3D distracting), but I figured it was a fun way to see my favorite movie in theatres again. Going in, I told my sister, "As long as we don't have to sit in the front row, I'm fine." As we settled into the front row (the last seats available), the lights dimmed and I couldn't even begin to contain my excitement.

The next three hours were absolutely surprising. Like I said, I know this movie by heart. But I found myself holding my breath on more than one occasion, telling myself I knew what would happen, but willing it to happen differently. The 3D is nothing short of truly stunning. After the first 10 minutes or so, I got used to it, and allowed it to pull me deeper into the movie. As a result, I noticed things in this movie I've simply glossed over before. The ship, and the passengers on the ship, became more real to me. Of course, the moments you expect to be fantastic in 3D, such as the "King of the World" scene, the kiss on the bow, etc., are all wonderful, but they actually take a backseat to some unexpectedly great 3D.

For instance, the scene where Rose is about to jump off the stern of the ship. After she climbs over the railing, there's a shot from directly above her, showing the icy water far below as she leans forward. In the 2D version, this is a fine shot, but nothing too striking. In 3D? It was all I could do to not grab the back of my seat as the shot showed the sheer magnitude of what she was about to do, and how ridiculously far from the water the ship actually was.

Most of all, the 3D did exactly what it was designed to do: pull the viewer into the movies. Especially in the second half of the movie, where the ship sinks (let's hope that's not a spoiler), I felt the plight of the doomed passengers more than I ever had. All of a sudden, they were real, not just extras or actors playing a part. Granted, some of this may be due to the fact that I was sitting in the front row, and literally couldn't see anything but the screen. But I believe that what Cameron and his team have done, especially with the smaller, nuanced 3D effects, have turned this blockbuster into a truly touching, emotional movie.

My advice: Go see it, and sit in the front few rows to be as involved as possible.