I feel like I’m about to explode! I just had what I can only
describe as the best movie experience of my life. I don’t even know where to
begin…
So I’ll start at the beginning.
I came across a book.. a really thick book in an old book store
and bought it. I never read the book for a long time… because it would require
a lot of patience to get through it. It was written in a time and about a time
that was way beyond my understanding. But I had to read it. Not reading it
would be a sin. It was an incredible book! Yes. There was a lot that I didn’t
understand.. like the war, the revolution, among other things. But the writing…
oh the writing. Victor Hugo wrote his characters and their stories so beautifully.
I fell in love with all of them. Eponine, the poor miserable Eponine. Gavroche,
that sweet little rat whose death was so brave and so tragic. Jean Valjean,
that wretched soul who tried so hard to be good. Cosette and Maruis, lovers in
a hard world. Enjolras and the Friends of the ABC who were invincible. Javert,
who had no room for gray in his world. I loved them all. It’s only great
writing that can embrace you into a story even when you don’t understand much
that is going on.
Then came the musical. It wasn’t what I would expect in a musical.
But I had an open mind, cos I love musicals. For me it was one of those
musicals that can actually change your life. I was lucky that I got to watch
the one with the dream cast. Watching Philip Quast as Javert was an experience that I will never
forget. The lyrics of the songs were larger than life. The singing was so
incredible I thought my heart would burst! The actor who played Maruis annoyed
me because of his sweaty upper lip. But everything else… the Thenardier husband
and wife singing ‘Master of the House’; the prisoners singing ‘Look Down’;
Fantine singing ‘I Dreamed a Dream; the ABC singing ‘Red and Black as well as ‘Do
You hear the People Sing’… I could go on and on. Those were wonderfully written
songs. You didn’t need anything else to understand what was happening. I never
imagined a musical would be able to accomplish a task that could clearly only
be done with a movie.
And
finally.. The movie itself that caused me to stay awake till 4 in the morning
with this feeling like my heart is going to burst. I can still hear the echoes
of the songs. Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean was a treat. I can’t believe that
was Wolverine!! Anne Hathway had a short role as Fantine but she ruled my
heart. The child actors playing Cosette and Gavroche were unbelievable. It was
quite tragic to actually watch Gavroche die on screen (Manly tears were shed by
my movie date). Enjolras is the most badass and the most beautiful man I’ve
ever set eyes on. Russell Crowe was no match to Philip Quast as Javert. Watching
the action along with the marvelous songs and music, and the amazing acting
from the entire cast… all of it was just very overwhelming. I’m still
recovering.
To love this film is to see the face of God!
