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Les Miserables
Director: Bille August
Actors: Liam Neeson, Geoffrey Rush, Uma Thurman, Claire Danes, and Hans Matheson
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Retail Price (not our price): $14.94
Release Date: 1998-11-03
Theatrical Release Date: 1998-05-01
Studio: Sony Pictures
Run Time: 133 minutes
Format: Array
Format: AC-3, Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Discs: 1


Editorial Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):

1) Amazon.com
Frenchman Jean Valjean (Liam Neeson), imprisoned for stealing bread, is paroled after nearly two decades of hard labor. A gift of silver candlesticks from a kindly priest helps him begin anew. Forging a decent and profitable existence, he finds success as a businessman and as the mayor of a small town. He even takes in a pregnant young woman (Uma Thurman) and raises her daughter as his own. When a former prison guard (Geoffrey Rush) recognizes Valjean, his past catches up to him. Director Bille August culls mesmerizing performances from his cast, but loses us with an ending that panders to teen audiences. The focus shifts dramatically, and uncomfortably, from the haunted Neeson and his hawk-like pursuer, to his daughter (Claire Danes) and her romance with a handsome revolutionary. After this narrative shift, the script leaves behind the Victor Hugo classic's themes of revenge and redemption to focus improbably on teen angst--hardly what Hugo had on his mind. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Customer Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5

1) Must see   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Fantastic, sensitive rendition of this classic story. Truly a must see and worthy of anyone's DVD collection.

2) The best Les Miz   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Liam Neeson is most excellent in this movie version of Les Miz. Geoffrey Rush is the perfect, cold & rigid Jauvert. I love watching it. Buy it.

3) Sad sweet story of grace and redemption   [Rating: 4 out of 5]
This is a sweet adaptation of the book which shows the triumph of good over evil and the possibility of redemption. Liam Neeson is a moving Jean Valjean. Of course the directors had to leave out alot of the story-you need to read the book for the details and the history, but this is an excellent adaptation.

4) A Movie That is Worthy of the Book   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
This 1998 production is a powerful and thrilling dramatic adaptation of the Victor Hugo story widely loved as a broadway musical. As a drama, this production has brilliantly captured the emotional arc and pathos of the book. This is truly an achievement. Consider that moviemakers have yet to get "the Count of Monte Cristo" right, despite many failed attempts. To be able to tell a large book's story faithfully while maintaining emotional pacing and climax is exceptional; when combined with great message, the result is a delight to watch.The initial scenes between the escaped convict Valjean and the priest are worth the price of the movie. In scene after scene, Liam Neeson is paired with a whole range of actors and actresses: a little girl, a teenage girl, & a disgraced woman; the inspector who hunts him so unmercilessly; the priest who shows him mercy; the young revolutionary who pursues Valjean's adopted daughter. Truly a virtuosic performance by Neeson that fully exploits the gut-wrenching triumph of grace over condemnation. Set against Geoffrey Rush's complex and ruthless Inspector, the effect is breath-taking.

5) Enjoyable on Its Own Terms   [Rating: 4 out of 5]
This is another of those films-I-think-I'm-not-going-to-like-that-my-son-forces-me-to-watch at Christmastime. And, as usual (but not always), he is right. The elegant production and cinematography capture the look of 1840-ish Paris. Some of the scenes are quite moving, actually. Liam Neeson (if one doesn't do the story's math) is convincing in the role of Jean Valjean (reminding me of Gerard Depardieu); Geoffrey Rush is outstanding as the relentless Javert; and Uma Thurman is properly consumptive as the dying Fontine (I also thought she was remarkably good in the role). As for Cosette and Marius, they are lovely to look at. The pomp of the funeral procession is splendid, and the violence at the barricades is compelling.If the movie does not capture every moment of the book (which I did read in school), well, neither does Verdi's "Rigoletto" capture every line of "Le Roi S'Amuse!" This production of "Les Miserables" is nevertheless good on its own terms: It captures the essence of Hugo's tale of wretchedness, revolution; recognition and redemption admirably. Moreover, it captured my interest for a couple of hours. Not every movie nowadays does so.