Les Miserables DVD Review (Of Sorts.)

On Monday Les Miserables finally came out on DVD in the UK and I have proceeded to watch it every day... I have a problem, but at least I'm aware of it. Acceptance is the first step right?

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The only problem with this is you begin to notice more and more mistakes each time. Of course the bits you love just keep getting better and as much as I adore the movie, it just doesn't live up to the theatre version.

It's also given me the chance to think about why people seeing Les Miserables for the first time aren't as affected by it as say, myself and my crazy friend who basically started crying at I Dreamed a Dream and didn't stop until we'd had a couple of drinks afterwards!

Now there are a bunch of articles you can read on the cinematography and they all make the same point. Every shot in this movie is created to make the audience uncomfortable. The eye contact you'd get in a theatre does not work on film, the dutch angles (tilting of the camera to create suspense and unease.) I mean there is a dutch angle when they're in heaven at the end... literally nothing bad is going to happen next! Unless you count the end of the movie. I won't go into this and bore you but basically it creates an unconscious affect on the audience making them uneasy, and in a film like Les Miserables when you're asking the audience to accept a lot in a very short time this is the last thing you want to be doing!

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Next we have the insane amount of close ups. I mean seriously, I was trying to show my dad where the end barricade and Lamarque's funeral were filmed as we have been there and it was all close ups! In huge crowd scenes, close up after close up after close up. The camera is always in the actors face and while in some scenes it's perfect. I Dreamed a Dream... flawless! In most scenes it doesn't work, instead it feels choppy and takes you away from the emotions in a crazy way. 

The most used example for this is A Heart Full of Love, we have a love triangle and yet not once do we see all three people on screen at the same time. 

Finally the cuts made to the musical. I really missed Dog Eats Dog and feel we missed a lot of the Thenardiers potential when that was cut. Instead of showing how completely evil they are they became pure comic relief. 

The biggest thing I hated was all the cuts to the Barricade Boys parts. Mainly Grantaire's verse in Drink With Me... well in fact all the cuts to it! Re- watching this part I realise you do not get attached to these characters, you don't have a chance to with each cut being so quick and moving away from each boy so swiftly. Drink With Me shows the fear they have along with the comradary. They remember the past, accepting that this could be their last night and then Grantaire speaks what they are all fearing, what if your death means nothing. Cutting that just made them another death in a movie full of it.

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Every person I know who has seen the movie as their first taste of Les Miserables has been left unaffected by it. They didn't cry, sure they were sad but it didn't rip out their hearts like it does to me. Being so involved I can't put into words why someone wouldn't openly sob at Empty Chairs when all his friends have died, especially little Gavroche who died in vain as the students didn't even receive the bullets he died to retrive. Or Javert's suicide, nearly reaching out to the screen to pull him into a hug and pray he doesn't jump. 

I love the movie, mainly because I can watch Les Miserables whenever I like now. But I wish it could be done again, in a way that focuses completely on the emotions. Not trying to be ground breaking with live singing and in so doing having shaky cameras that pull you out of the emotions, just focusing on making something that pulls the audience in and smashes their heart to pieces! 

A great movie musical I think of is Moulin Rouge, that manages to be spectacular with it cameras and scenery and costumes etc etc and yet at the same time it pulls you right into the heart of the story. Having said this my dream director would be Joe Wright, he did Atonement, Pride and Prejudice and Anna Karenina. Especially after Anna Karenina, seeing how he incorporated the staging I think he would be perfect! He knows how to get to the emotional core of something and still make a beautiful film.

Okay, rant over. I could speak about Les Miserables for years. There's just so much to go into, so much I would love to see done with it and so many people I would want involved I would bore everyone to death!

Wish me luck, the same to you.

Annabelle.

xoxo

Top 5: Shows I've Seen

We've reached number one! Although I'm pretty sure this will come as no surprise to anyone...

Les Miserables

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This was the first musical I ever saw, it started this whole thing off! I was 13 years old, on a school trip where everyone fell asleep during the show except for my musical friend and I. We sobbed when Gavroche died, I desperately wanted to be Eponine. (I couldn't hit Cosette's notes so she seemed more realistic) and I fell head over heels in love with Enjolras and Marius, the latter being played by none other than Mr. Hadley Fraser himself! How strange that ten years later I would see him again as Javert and then in the movie! 

If I'm honest that's all I remember, along with an overwhelming happiness and the ultimate desire that I wanted to be on that stage. Now that will never happen as it's moved from the Palace to the Queen's but I could still be in the show!

I have been very lucky when it comes to this musical, I was at the 25th Anniversary at which I sobbed... a lot! When the original cast came out and I saw Michael Ball my legs actually gave way! It wasn't pretty! My view count is just into double figures now and I'm still not bored. Every single time I see One Day More I get goosebumps and cry, and by the time the Epilogue rolls around I am a sobbing mess. There is just something about this musical that has hooked me, and is yet to let go a decade later.

The good bits:

Really? Okay... everything! The simplicity of the stage, the story. Alright, pause. The story... Victor Hugo wrote and incredible novel with such compelling characters, the moment you add music to their journeys you know it's going to be a hit. And go, the music. Pause. God have you ever heard such rousing songs? Do You Hear the People Sing was actually being considered as the French National anthem at one point and who can blame them? It makes me want to run and build a barricade every time! Go. The actors that have enhabited these characters are some of the best in the world, Lea Salonga, Aaron Tveit, Anne Hathaway, Ramin Karimloo, David Thaxton, Alfie Boe, Wolverine! I mean come on!!

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Favourite song:

One Day More. So 1. I love a song that grows and ends with an incredible note that everyone belts out. 2. I adore it even more when lots of people sing different things at the same time. 3. I LOVE THIS SONG. Okay so I maybe should have put a warning at the beginning of this blog, and you've probably already clocked onto this but today will basically be me 'fangirling' about Les Miserables. Apologies.

With all the characters singing about their stories, marching in time and singing such a rousing song I am always left with goosebumps and teary eyes. Not only is it my favourite song in the musical this is my favourite song of all time.

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Favourite character:

Enjolras. (You were expecting Eponine weren't you!?) He is just fascinating, and dies so tragically. I have always fallen in love with whoever has played him and since reading the book I am falling more and more in love with the character. I think even Victor Hugo himself had a crush on Enjolras! He's so inspiring and strong and brilliant!

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Dream Cast:

Jean Valjean: Ramin Karimloo

Javert: Norm Lewis

Fantine: Ruthie Henshall

Marius: Craig Mather

Cosette: Judy Kuhn

Eponine: Lea Salonga

Enjolras: Aaron Tveit (Surprise, surprise!)

Thenardier: Alun Armstrong

Mme. Thenardier: Katy Seacombe

Someone please make that happen!

Wish me luck, the same to you.

Annabelle

xoxo

Top 5: Shows I've Seen

Wicked

How does Wicked come above Phantom? Two simple things divided them when I was putting them in order and the first was I've seen Wicked more, the second is Wicked has two of my dream roles. Otherwise this spot would have gone to Phantom!

Up until three years ago I was pretty much oblivious to this musical. I had heard about it's acclaim on Broadway, how Idina Mendzel won a Tony for her role, but other than that I knew nothing. For my 20th birthday I received tickets for myself and a friend to see it and oh boy was I blown away. I cried, I laughed, I got goosebumps all over and then goosebumps on top of them! There was just something so simple about the story that really hits home and yet it's so complex at the same time. It's this reason that it's become my go to show for when family and friends visit. I figure everyone will enjoy it and so far I've been right!

The good bits:

The characters. It would be very easy for them to fall into a stereotype but they don't. They're complex and relatable and so well developed. You really feel for them and are drawn into their hopes and dreams without a second thought.

The songs. Of course! I mean sure, they're almost impossible to sing, but my god are they incredible. They are what I would describe as true Broadway songs. Big and belty in the best possible way! They build at the right places and hold back when it's needed pulling you into these characters even more.

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Favourite song:

As someone who wants to be Elphaba I'm torn here between my favourite song to sing, and favourite song to listen to. So I shall put both... even if one does top the other a little.

I adore singing No Good Deed. You just get everything out in that song and it's so much fun! However my favourite song is Defying Gravity, no surprises there right. Those last notes, the whole message of the song, just everything about it is perfect. It leaves me breathless and covered in goosebumps and I'm pretty sure has made every single theatre girl want to paint herself green.

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Favourite character:

Well this is probably a bit obvious! Elphaba. Anyone who's ever been bullied for something, or dreamt of something can relate to her. She's not only relatable though, she's an inspiration. Yes, I just said the Wicked Witch of the West is an inspiration! She fights for what she believes in, she doesn't compromise and she has a strength that most of us can only dream of having. Combine all of those things with her humour and those songs and you can really see why so many people cite her as a dream role.

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Dream cast:

Elphaba: Eden Espinosa.

Glinda: Megan Hilty

Fiyero: Aaron Tveit Adam Garcia

(Okay I will stop putting Mr. Tveit as every male role, you can't deny he'd be amazing at everything though. I wish I could have seen Adam as Fiyero, unfortunately I was too late!)

Wish me luck, the same to you.

Annabelle

xoxo

Top 5: Shows I've Seen

The Phantom of the Opera

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Fun fact: I saw Love Never Dies on stage before I saw Phantom. Of course I knew the story. I grew up listening to Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman belt out these beautiful songs thanks to my parents obsession with the musical. I watched the movie (didn't particularly like it,) and even sang songs from it in performances. It wasn't until my 21st birthday when I received a theatre token and money to fund my poor student lifestyle that I finally got around to seeing it on stage. One part of me couldn't believe it had taken me this long to see it, the other knew that it would probably be a once in a lifetime thing thanks to the ticket prices. Usually I would complain about this, but in some weird way I like that fact. It makes the whole thing so much more special. Call me weird but the whole experience of seeing the show was magical and something I will never forget.

The good bits:
Where do I even start? Everything! Andrew Lloyd Webber is a genius composer so the score is perfection, the actors were just incredible. I saw John Owen Jones and after seeing Ramin I was worried this Phantom wouldn't live up... oh boy did he! My goodness what an actor. The set, the costumes, the everything. It may only be at number three but I would say this is as close to a perfect musical as you can come.

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Favourite song:
On every musical I question myself for adding this because it's so hard to pick! Especially in a musical where every song is as beautiful as the last. The Phantom of the Opera blows you away with that last note, The Point of no Return is just tension in a song and I love it but in the end I think Wishing you were somehow here again wins. Not only does it have one of my all time favourite transitions ever, with the single violin at the beginning swelling into a full orchestra. I get goosebumps every time. It also has so much emotion in it and if you get the right Christine it can literally stop the show.

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Favourite character:
Phantom. I love Christine as much as the next 'phan' but I love a misunderstood genius. He's so flawed, and so interesting. There are so many different ways to play him too which just adds to the character because every time you see it there could be something new you discover about him. Oh and it helps that he has the most beautiful voice.

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Dream Cast:
25th Anniversary. Done. They were perfection for me. God I'm so boring! I will repeat last week and just throw out people I want to see in the show.

Phantom: Aaron Tveit.
(When he's older, can you imagine? He'd be perfect.)
Christine: Laura Osnes.
(She has the innocence and the beauty.)
Raoul: Jonathan Groff.
(I feel like I don't need to explain much here, he's wonderful at everything!)

Wish me luck, the same to you.
Annabelle
xoxo

Top 5: Shows I've Seen

Ghost

Originally Ghost was not on my list of things to see, in fact I had no interest in it. For my dissertation I was looking at how technology affected the actors and seeing as Ghost was the most technological show on the west end it made sense that I firstly see the show and secondly interview the actors. So in April 2012 I took myself along and wasn't all too impressed, I mean the sets were amazing but I didn't even cry! I had been very focused on the technology though and after listening to the soundtrack realised what I'd been missing, so I dragged my friend along for a second viewing and sobbed. I let myself get caught up with the story and boy did it take me for a ride!

The good bits:

The technology- Come on you must have known that was coming! It was stunning, they made a man completely disappear in front of your eyes! I mean that's incredible. 

The score- I am obsessed with the music from this show, it seems to fit the story perfectly feeling modern enough for the setting of today's New York City, but with enough classic musical theatre thrown in for good measure.

The actors- They were wonderful, I saw Mark Evans and Siobhan's understudy on both visits and she was amazing. It must be an extremely taxing musical to do both emotionally and physically and they looked as though they were giving it their all.

Favourite song:

Suspend my disbelief/ I had a Life- There's something about the coming together of melodies that I adore, plus Sam's part of I had a life gives me goosebumps, some of the notes he hits are just insane and it manages to wrap up so much in one song. Okay so it's a nine minute song, but there's a lot in it!

Favourite character:

Molly- In all honestly it was going to be between Sam and Molly here and Molly won out because I can relate more to someone who's lost a loved one more than I can to a ghost. Her character is just so complex and goes through so much and still manages to stay positive. She really is a wonderful character and has some equally wonderful songs, With You really is her stand out song. It's stunningly beautiful.

Dream cast:

Last week was boring, and seeing as only two people have played each role I'm going to cast other people I think would be amazing.

Sam: Aaron Tveit. 

(Can you imagine those high notes, plus his acting in this role would be show stopping.)

Molly: Megan Hilty. 

(Again, the high notes, the acting! Perfect.)

Carl: Hadley Faser. 

(Would be interesting to see his take on this slime ball.)

Oda May Brown: Raven Symone. 

(You know she would kill it, even if she is a little young right now.)

Wish me luck, the same to you.

Annabelle

xoxo

Top 5: Shows I've Seen

This is going to be a two part series of top fives that I may carry on with if I think of other categories! For now it will be the top five musicals that I have seen, starting today, and after that the top five musicals that I want to see.

 So without further ado, counting down to my favourite at number five is:

 Love Never Dies

It got a lot of bad reviews while it was running but I disagree! After seeing Ramin Karimloo in the 25th Anniversary of Les Miserables I was blown away and wanted to know what else he was in. When I found out he was The Phantom in a sequel to Phantom I wondered how it had taken me so long to see it.

So in December 2010 I hopped on over to the Adelphi Theatre, got cheap day tickets and sat right up at the back of the balcony where I proceeded to sob hysterically. I was a state! The friend that I had dragged along was actually worried I was in such a mess, so of course I proceeded to see it another three times.

The good bits:

The score, Lloyd- Webber does not disappoint, it's so romantic and gave me goosebumps every time I listened to it. I remember hearing Ramin sing ''Til I Hear You Sing' the first time and being so involved I was holding my breath in awe. The same happened when Sierra sang 'Love Never Dies', it was stunning, she was stunning. Even the annoying song 'Bathing Beauty' wins you over when it becomes sinister at the end, a part of the score I am completely obsessed with!

 As for the plot, I love it. It's romantic, tragic and sweeping. Everything a story revolving around Phantom should be. I know people have picked it apart but who cares!? I certainly don't, and the way all the characters had developed kept me more than interested throughout. In fact that was one of my favourite things, the way the characters had grown and changed, it was so interesting.

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Favourite song:

This is a hard category, why did I include it? 'Beneath a Moonless Sky' leaves me speechless, as does 'Love Never Dies' but I think I'm going to have to go with ''Til I Hear You Sing' because it's perfect, it gives me goosebumps every single time and the way Ramin sings it is just incredible.

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Favourite character:

Meg. I love Christine, I love the Phantom but I love what where they took Meg in this show. She goes from just a chorus girl, that is slightly annoying, to a complicated woman with so much depth and I really feel for her, more than I did for Christine at some points. She just wants to be noticed, to be loved and works so hard to achieve it. I think everyone can relate to that in some way.

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Dream Cast:

Christine: Sierra Boggess

Phantom: Ramin Karimloo

Raoul: Joseph Millson

Meg: Summer Strallen

I literally wouldn't change a thing. They were perfect, how boring! The only person I might switch up is Raoul because I adored Hadley Fraser in the 25th Anniversary.

Wish me luck, the same to you.

Annabelle

xoxo

A Chorus Line Review (Of sorts)

 On March 12th I went along to the Palladium in London to see one of the most famous Broadway musicals ever, A Chorus Line, for a birthday treat. I didn't know at the time how much it had impacted this world that I want to be a part of so badly, or how badly it would affect me.

 You see I don't like to research a show before seeing it, I like to go in completely oblivious so I can experience it all fresh.

 That morning was my audition which ended with "That's all we need." So it's safe to say knowing what everyone does, that A Chorus Line is about an audition, I was a little hesitant to go.

 I'm so glad I did!

 I will say straight off that I think it's quite a high brow show and one aimed more at performers. Let me explain. I had your stereotypical general public and non frequent show seer sat next to me, and she was bored out of her mind. (She was also incredibly rude and had no consideration for the people around her, whispering, rustling crisp packets very, very loudly in the middle of emotional scenes... I got angry!) She thought it dragged, and though I do not excuse her actions at all, I can see where she was coming from.

 A Chorus Line follows an open audition for chorus line dancers. (The title kind of hints that right!?) The stage is empty other than the mirrors at the back and a white line. There are no costume changes, no set pieces, just an empty stage. For someone who wants, let's say the spectacle of Wicked, this is not going to be their thing. It focuses completely on the stories of performers. What we go through on a daily basis to do the thing we love.

 That's why I think it's a performers show. We can one hundred percent relate to everything said, it makes you laugh at the experiences you've had and cry when it hits a nerve.

 That doesn't mean non performers won't enjoy it, you just have to be open to it. I mean peoples stories are interesting, their heartbreaking, funny, relatable even if you don't perform. The songs are weaved in with dialogue creating this wonderful flow to the story that never seems to stop, you just dance (pun intended, as well as they literally dance) from one section to the next hanging on their every word. The dances are flawless and by the time the finale comes around you are elated to see the dance finally come together.

 I got goosebumps, I cried, I laughed. A lot more than I expected to actually. The show is incredibly funny! 

 Most of the shows I've seen have left me wanting to go back again, and this was definitely the same. I am still thinking about those characters and their stories a week later. Still singing the songs and still wanting to learn the dances. It may have been because the story was so incredibly linked to my life that day that makes it stick in my mind so much, but I get the feeling that it would have done anyway. Especially the incredible song 'What I did for Love' that I think everyone can relate to.

 I also want to quickly mention the character of Paul. I won't spoil his story but it is so real, and heartbreaking and it hit me hard! I was crying like a baby, it's safe to say the actor really impressed me although to be honest they all did.

 So to sum up; don't go to A Chorus line with a closed mind looking for a big showy Broadway musical. Do go expecting incredible heart wrenching stories, uplifting songs and spectacular dances!

 Wish me luck, the same to you!

Annabelle

xoxo