Les Mis Movie Preview in Empire Magazine- Page 2

[My Oh My]

Posted: 7/30/12 at 6:51am

I have no problem with the changed order of those two songs and actually think it will strengthen Fantine's story.

Anyone who expects this film to be a direct copy of the musical stage versions and not expecting a lot of things shifted about and tweaks here and there, will be massively disappointed. Even I'm not expecting the original orchs to be used exactly as they were in the original Broadway production. I expect some songs to have totally different orchestrations. But since I'm spooked by change after the travesties this poor show has suffered, I'd rather go for the surest thing and so I root for use of the original orchestrations, even if they chuck the keyboards. And I also think the original orchs would serve the film very well. A tiny part of me is hopeful that any new orchs added will be at least as good as the originals or at least good enough considering the director's intent. Being open minded is hard but if I could do it, anyone can, lol.

I'm unforgiving when things are mindlessly altered, as in the current tour. But, so far, Hooper has proven remarkably focused on serving the material and the original novel and thoughtfully adapting it to the screen.

Updated On: 7/30/12 at 06:51 AM

[My Oh My]

Posted: 7/30/12 at 7:19am

Haha! Just read that article posted above and I adore the humor and laid-back nature of the cast and crew. I'm sooo glad they haven't adopted the obnoxious demeanor that most people these days slip into when discussing this musical: like it's this otherworldly gift descended upon us from the heavens upon delicate angels' wings. At least that's how people act.

It's a beautiful musical, yes, but it's also still the bastard child of opera and pop, wrapped in a theatrical shell. For some reason, people are very resistant to that fact.

If people aren't completely mesmerized into a dumbfounded glare, they insist on classically trained tenors and sopranos and demand its orchestration stiffened to an uber-serious sheen. When "On My Own" is referred to as an "aria," well, that just makes me sick.

Loving it for what it is seems natural to me, while making it out to be a grand opera or some coma-inducing thing of utter beauty feels wildly unnatural and totally pretentious.

Updated On: 7/30/12 at 07:19 AM

[Phan#24601]

Posted: 7/30/12 at 1:43pm

I'm not expecting them to keep the music the same as it is in the current production, and I do agree that changing the order of those two songs will show how the character of Fantine has been broken. I've seen enough movie musicals to know that there will most likely be lyric changes or songs which have verses cut from them for time's sake in the final cut.

[theminutepast]

Posted: 7/30/12 at 2:27pm

My Oh My, I've enjoyed reading your thoughts about Les Mis. I hope you continue to share. I was a big fan of the musical once, so I appreciate your analysis of it.

[Phan#24601]

Posted: 8/2/12 at 11:26am

I also do enjoy hearing your opinions on Les Misérables, My Oh My. 1 question though, which is your favorite production and why?

[NotAnotherSN]

Posted: 8/2/12 at 1:42pm

My Oh My: I can almost assure you that the orchestrations for this movie will be HUGE. The fact is it's a movie, they have as much time as they need to perfect their recordings. I imagine we'll have one of the fullest sounding versions of Les Mis ever with this film. If you look at other recent musical-to-movie adaptations, such as The Producers (I only mention this because I was in the pit for this one), the movie's score is much fuller than the original.

[My Oh My]

Posted: 8/2/12 at 3:54pm

I'm not concerned with orchestra size. I'm concerned with which version they will end up using. John Cameron's original (which will obviously not include the keyboards everyone seems so spooked by, but I love, and even more obviously will be expanded for many more musicians), or will they use the passionless reworked concoction by those three additional orchestrators used for the 25th ann. concert and sucks the life from the show and fills it to the brim with cliches?

I'll give them credit for abandoning the truly horrific version that plagued the so-called Broadway 'revival' and at least getting closer to what John did. But the work as heard on the recent recordings and concert rub me the wrong way. Must there be a whiney, weepy violin every time someone asserts some "sad" sentiment? And the reeds. Way too many of them. They brighten the show's musical language to its detriment, even making it sound cutesy at times. "Master of the House" sounds like a Saturday morning cartoon. "Stars" sounds like a bunch of the chorus members are whistling during the song. Valjean's soliloquy has been totally ruined and turned into this film score-like, ineffective song of BIG suspense. Suspense of what!? "Ooooh, what will he do?" Will he go back and kill that foolish Bishop, go steal another loaf of bread, jump into the Seine?" That was unforgivable. It's this potentially violent man's defining moment. A moment where he is touched and moved into starting his life anew and instead of feeling that transformation along with him, we get a cheesy 'dark' rehash of what we already know.

The mind boggles and I'll never know what people find in it that they actually think is an improvement over what had served so well for years. "Updating" is commonly cited as a reason (excuse) for the new concoction but that doesn't wash with me since an update took place in 1995, which removed all traces of those synths people recoil in horror over. An update wouldn't require axing half the musicians and doesn't make it sound like it has no balls. The aim is obviously not artistic, much less a need to give us fans the gift of "update." It's exploitation of success after that woman warbled a song from the show. Suddenly, they felt festive.

The above is dedicated to my biggest fan, ClapYoHands.

And I was having such a good day, GRRRRRR.

Updated On: 8/2/12 at 03:54 PM

[BroadwayStar4]

Posted: 8/3/12 at 4:38am

The mind boggles and I'll never know what people find in it that they actually think is an improvement over what had served so well for years.

Did you grow up listening to John Cameron's original? I know how some people wouldn't want any changes made to one of their favorite musicals, and every time there are new updates to the orchestrations or whatever, they would hate it and would always pick the original because they're so use to it, and it's nostalgic to them.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/3/12 at 9:31am

FWIW, I also grew up listening primarily to the OLC, OBC, CSR and French Concept. I just finally saw the new US tour and found the orchestrations to be just fine once I got used to them. I've seen Les Miz twice as many times as years I've been alive (inc. the Broadway revival).

See... we're not all purists.

Updated On: 8/3/12 at 09:31 AM

[The Scorpion]

Posted: 8/13/12 at 12:12pm

I know I'm late to the party on this, but I just read this thread and want to say that I complete agree with you re the orchestrations, My Oh My. Very well said.