Friends, it's obvious that the new 2012 version aint worth a duck's fart compared to the 1998 version. I know, I know, the singing part makes the new one look infantile in comparison to super serious screen acting, but someones needs to say it.
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The music for the 2012 version is absolutely fantastic, but the visuals are merely decent. The '98 version is vastly superior not only because it's a more powerful and better-made film, but because it offers something that hasn't already been done better a number of times, it's not necessarily the best film version of Les Miserables but it's a distinct one. While film adaptions of the novel are generally unique from each other, adaptions of the musical are by their nature exceedingly more homogeneous. They may look different and there are nuances in which songs are used to what capacity, but when 90% of the soundtrack & dialogue is essentially identical there's not much you can do.
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"Pride is not the opposite of shame, but its source. True humility is the antidote to shame."
As far as film goes, the 1998 version does a much better job of telling the story, and Liam Neeson as Jean ValJean is amazing. It disappoints me that Eponine isn't in the film.
I have to say though, whilst watching, I am constantly waiting for them to break out into song...
Boy of boy...do I have to agree w/ all of you! I watched the 1998 version about 14,15 times already!
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I agree too. I hadn't seen this film since it came out in 1998, but I searched it out when the new musical version came out. I had forgotten how good it was. Like the rest of you, I prefer the 1998 version as a more effective re-telling of the story.
The biggest advantage in my estimation is the casting of the leads. Hugh Jackman is a very good singer, and a talented actor, but Liam Neeson embodied Jean Valjean for me. Neeson is closer in age and appearance to my image of Valjean, and it is a good performance. Having said that, I believe that Gerard Depardieu was born to play Valjean but I have never seen the French miniseries that he was in.
As for Javert, Geoffrey Rush is far superior to Russell Crowe. Rush fully fleshed out the narrow-minded determination, authority and pathos of the character. Russell Crowe's Javert is sadly underdeveloped, his singing is an embarrassing distraction and his suicide seems almost played for laughs.
As for Javert, Geoffrey Rush is far superior to Russell Crowe. Rush fully fleshed out the narrow-minded determination, authority and pathos of the character. Russell Crowe's Javert is sadly underdeveloped, his singing is an embarrassing distraction and his suicide seems almost played for laughs.
Still this one. It didn't suffer from poor character development.
I know the recent adaptation is a musical but it didn't have to be entirely sung!
I wanted to love you like my mother's mother's mother did
Civilian
Civilian...
-Wye Oak
i agree with the OP and with Yorick ...I hated that every line was sung. I know its a musical but it just didn't grip the same way that the 1998 version did.
shareI saw the story first as a musical, onstage, and then the 2012 film. I then read the book and saw the 1998 version, I honestly couldn't make it through it. I feel like it totally butchered the story. The 2012 version is far superior in my eyes.
shareI agree. I actually think the 2012 version tells a much better story IMO. You guys who don't like it just don't like musicals and immediately dismiss it as a crap movie.
And to respond to the person who said Crowe's Javert is underdeveloped, I think his portrayal of Javert was pretty damn good. Nothing against Geoffrey Rush (he was good too), but Crowe perfectly portrayed the inner conflict of Javert by being very reserved. He's not supposed to be a Marvel villain for crying out loud.
In such miraculous harmony, we should love each other outside of time... detached.
You guys who don't like it just don't like musicals and immediately dismiss it as a crap movie.
I am a fan of musicals, but i kept watching the 2012 version thinking the story is engaging but shouldn't be told as a musical.
share
I think Marius is better in the 2012 version and the newer version has Eponime.
Helena Boham Carter is great in the 2012 movie.
I liked both Ann Hathaway and Uma Thurman in their roles.
The 2012 version has some great and really moving songs, but the music of most of the movie is terrible and monotonous.
Besides from that, I think the 1998 version is far superior to the 2012 one.
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