Gavroche always introduced himself during the reprise of "Look Down". The original London cast recording had a longer version of "Little People" that followed "Look Down", but it was cut early on in the London run, I think even before it transferred to the Palace. The full song never made it to the Broadway production, what was left of it moved to Act 2 when he busts Javert, and again when he dies. More recently, it ends after "that only goes to show what little people can do" during the Javert scene, and in the Broadway revival in 2006, his death scene was changed to a song called "Ten Little Bullets", although I believe it's been changed back to "Little People".
I actually liked his new "Look Down" lyrics in the movie, I wish it was included on the soundtrack...when they called it a 'highlights' album, they weren't kidding. Hope the full version is out soon.
Just got back from the movie...I loved it! Even Russell Crowe. No, he's not a theater-singer like we've seen on stage, but he's such a good actor that I can look past it. And that moment after the barricade falls and he sees Gavroche? Forget it...it was already sad enough.
I've seen the show 9 times, and sometimes it's a little hard to break away from what you know from the stage version, but the movie is really, really good. The live singing is amazing...that had to be the most brutal version of "I Dreamed a Dream" I ever heard. And Hugh singing the Soliloquy at the beginning was amazing.
I also loved that they incorporated so much of the book into it, especially the stuff with Eponine, and the convent. Even Marius' grandfather was there!
I need to see it again, but I was thrilled with it.
We just saw it last night too! Both our kids are "choir kids" and they saw so many of their classmates there!
Overall, we loved it! YES, it is different from the stage production, but it is supposed to be. As we have seen before, just fliming a stage show does NOT work as a movie (ie "The Producers").
I think I can understand Imzadi's comments about Hugh Jackman. While I LOVE Hugh, his voice sounded much more "nasally" than before. I thought it was just my imagination at first, but I just went back and viewed some of his previous musicals on You Tube ("People Will Say We're In Love" from Oklahoma, "Soliloquy" from Carousel), and he did not sound that way then.
Because I've gotten so used to the quality of the sound from singers like Alfie Boe and John Owen-Jones, I thought Hugh's voice was distracting, and as a result, "Bring Him Home", which I was really looking forward to, did not have as much of an impact for me as I thought it would.
Russell Crowe, on the other hand, surprised me, because I didn't think he was that bad! Yes, he is not operatic, his is not a classically "trained" voice, and he doesn't have vibratto. But he delivered them adequately, albeit with not as much emotion as I have seen from other stage performances. His "Stars", especially, could have used much more passion, I thought. He completely redeemed any shortcomings, however, in my eyes with his gesture after he sees Gavroche's body, which I've heard was completely Russell's idea.
Anne Hathaway was amazing. Her portrayal of Fantine was truly heartbreaking. I probably would have cried a lot more at her "I Dreamed a Dream" if I hadn't seen it so many times already in the trailers.
Amanda Seyfried was fine as Cossette, but I never thought that role called for too much - just a pretty girl with a pretty voice. Eddie Redmayne was excellent as Marius! I had not heard him sing before, and I was quite surprised at the power and emotion of his voice. My only criticism is that his jaw and head bobbing was a bit pronounced.
Samantha Barks was fantastic! I cried the hardest, I think, at "On My Own". It is nice to have a relative "unknown" in the cast, and I know that many people who are not familiar with the London musical theater scene may not have heard of her. Here's hoping this gives her more deserved exposure and fame! (And I'm eternally grateful, again, that Taylor Swift did not play Eponine. Or Lea Michelle, or Emmy Rossum, for that matter).
Aaron Tveit was also great as Enjolras, good acting, good singing. His death scene, sprawled out upside down, wrapped in the red flag was a definite nod to the stage version, especially when the old turntable barricade was used.
I actually enjoyed Helena Bonham Carter and Sasha Baron Cohen as the Thenardiers. I LOVED all the little ad libs SBC threw in there! DD and I thought they were funnier that the stage version; DH thought they were darker and more despicable. Their singing was fine for the roles. By the way, does anyone know why "Dog Eat Dog" was cut completely? Some of the other songs were shortened/altered, but I think this was the only one that was eliminated? We were wondering if they thought that SBC did not have the vocal chops to do that song justice.
I liked having "Do You Hear The People Sing" just before "One Day More". I think it makes more sense thematically than at the very end of the show. Moving "I Dreamed a Dream" to after "Lovely Ladies" made more sense too.
I also liked having more of the elements from the book - Lamarque's Funeral, the caretaker at the convent as the man Valjean saves, Marius' grandfather who takes him in and makes amends.
Loved seeing Colm as the Bishop. I broke down when he gave the candlesticks to Hugh - it was literally a passing of the baton. And seeing him welcome Valjean into heaven at the end was such a powerful scene - I actually liked it better than when the actors just walk to the darkened rear of the stage.
I really don't remember the new song "Suddenly" that much. A stupid girl in front of us kept checking her cell phone, and I was too annoyed/distracted by it at that time.
I'm going to have to watch the movie again to form an opinion on that song.
Jen, I listened to the soundtrack highlights AFTER I saw the movie, and I was also missing some of my favorites. I was also surprised they cut so many songs, but I guess they had to fit it all on one CD.
I was also surprised at some of the changes to the lyrics. Some of them are subtle - the Bishop, for example, sings "I have SAVED your soul for God", and before, the words were "I have BOUGHT your soul for God". I did like the change in "Castle on a Cloud" - "Will you be just like a Papa to me?"
I'm sure I will see it again - maybe not in the theater (we don't like the crowds!), but definitely will be getting the DVD and wearing it out, I'm sure!
My poor bladder.
). I'm ready to see it again.
He asked me if I thought he could sing "Bring Him Home." That's my boy!
