From Book To Film: Les Miserables - Does The Film Live Up To The Musical?

The Previous Big Film Version

Les Miserables Neeson There have been several movie adaptations, but the most recent one is from the '90's. It pits Liam Neeson against Geoffrey Rush as Valjean and Javert, with Claire Danes as Cosette and Uma Thurman as Fantine. I have to say first that Liam and Geoffrey are my two favorite male actors. Liam has had my heart since Schindler's List and Geoffrey won his title in this film because he is the quintessential Javert. It does not hurt that both men are devastatingly handsome, but that's not the point. Uma and Liam are the only Fantine and Valjean that have ever made me want them to get together. He is a generous but humble man who shows her compassion and accepts her compassion in return. Cosette would have been great if she had been used as more than a background character. They bring up the revolutionaries and Cosette's very fleeting romance with Marius, but there is a significant hindrance to developing the storyline: the scriptwriter ends the movie smack dab in the middle of the freaking story. Well, not exactly in the middle, but credits roll just after Jean Valjean has witnessed Javert's suicide. We never find out if he tells Cosette who he is, we never know if Cosette and Marius got together... So if nothing else, the 2012 movie has this working in its favor: IT GIVES YOU THE ENDING.
Contributor
Contributor

That's Kaki pronounced like the pants, thank you very much, my family nickname and writing name. I am a Red Sox-loving, Doctor Who-quoting, Shaara-reading walking string quartet of a Mormon writer from Boston. I currently work 40 hours at a stressful desk job with a salary that lets me pick up and travel to places like Ireland or Philadelphia. I have no husband or kids, but I have five nephews to keep me entertained. When not writing, working or eating too much Indian food, I'm always looking for something new to learn, whether it's French or family history.