Les Miserables - WARNING - SPOILER ALERT

It would come as no surprise to anyone that knows me that I was eagerly aniticipating this film, having been a fan of the musical for 20 years. As I sat down in the cinema with my two sisters I could feel the anticpation swell between us as it suddenly dawned on me a) Perhaps I shouldn't be watching my favourite musical in a room full of strangers and b) none of us bought a single tissue between us....BIG MISTAKE.

It was a slightly shakey start for me, the tempo for "Look Down" was a little slow for my liking but what took my breath away was how ragged Hugh Jackman looked, his skin looked to be literally hanging off his eye bones......he had the look of Jean Valjean, weary, weather beaten and bitter.

Most people would ask "Why would there be a spoiler alert for Les Mis...." Well there is, if I had been told this before I went in I wouldn't have experienced the overwhelming feeling of happiness when Colm Wilkinson entered the screen as the Bishop who saves Valjean's life. It brought back all those memories of playing his recording of Les Mis and I fell just a little bit more in love with the film.

Moving on - I have two words for you - Anne Hathway.....she was always quite "meh" for me, I never disliked anything she did but neither was I passionate about them either but she....was....breathtaking. "I Dreamed a Dream" has been murdered by amateur (and some professional) actors in it's history so I was a little uncomfortable in anticipation of this song. She did not let me down. There were a few shakey moments at the beginning when I thought the incredible director Tom Hooper was about to fall foul with a re-make of a Sinead O'Connors' "Nothing Compares to You" music video but it was shortlived. What followed was one of the bravest performances I have ever witnessed. Singing the song in a single shot, Hathaway laid bare her soul as her voice soared and cracked with emotion. There were audible gasps in the audience and I even clasped my hand over my mouth to stop the sobs.......one of the top moments of the film. You couldn't have heard a pin drop in the cinema with more than a few people wanted to applaude.

Amanda Seyfried and Eddie Redmayne were adorable as the Marius and Cosette with a stunning "Heart Full of Love" duet, and then a trio with Samantha Barks as Eponine. The tri harmony was beautiful. "On my Own" again is a continusly murdered song on the audition circuit but Samantha gave a lovely version of it, though I did wish for a little more pain in her voice, it was a little too polished for my liking.

Now, onto Russel Crowe, a massive bone of contention between friends, collegues and complete strangers......some love him....and some hate him, like Vegemite. Personally I loved his performance, I saw his inner struggle, I saw the cold hard bastard that Javert is, yes, he spoke sung through quite alot of his songs but I wish he wasn't practically cut in half when he throws himself into the water. Again, audible gasps, though not for the right reason.

The students were excellent, all had good strong choral voices and wonderful well built characters, though if I had to give an award for a bit part it would be the man who sings "Give up your guns or die." He fu&*ing nailed it. One line, pure perfection.

I saved the best for last, Hugh Jackman. Having been his biggest fan since watching him play Peter Allan in The Boy From Oz I had no doubt I would enjoy his performance. I knew he had a good voice, not massively strong in the lower register but lovely and rich in the middle and upper register, but it was his depth of performance that kept me wanting more.

"Who Am I" is one of the most well know songs of Les Mis, interestingly, not sung very often in the audition circuit, possibly as it's a very complex song that requires an extensive vocal range and an emotional journey most wouldn't touch with a barge pole. Hugh's performance was brilliant, simply brilliant, I went with him on his journey of "Who Am I" and it was stunning. He aged believably in the role of Valjean (a big issue with stage productions with the men looking too old for young Valjean or too young for old Valjean) and the scene on his deathbed was quiet and humble and quite simply perfect, (made even sweeter with the re-appearance of Colm Wilkinson)

There has also been a divided audience about the technical aspects of the film, from the swaying camera to the constant focus pulling, the awkward camera angles to the single shots of song. I actually thought it added to the film rather than took away from it. There was only one shot that almost looked upside down.....parts of me wished some of the other solos were done in one shot but that may have taken away the extraordinary feat Anne Hathaway managed.

I left the cinema with black cheeks and still crying.

Go see this film..............8/10.

The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey

From the opening credits I instantly felt transported back to Tolkiens' land of Middle Earth. It was wonderful to see Bilbo and Frodo talking on the morning of the infamous 111th birthday of Bilbos (which is the start of Fellowship of the Ring)and Bilbo writing in his infamous book. During his reminiscing and some excellent exposition from Jackson we are given enough background (for those who have not read the book) on how the Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor was lost to the dragon Smaug and lands you right at the spot where Bilbo meets Gandalf for the first time, to start the preparations for the quest at hand, saving Erebor.
I'll admit, I was wary of this film. Being a huge fan of the LOTR trilogy I was hesitant and a little doubtful that Jackson would be able to capture my imagination in a new quest. Well, I had nothing to be fearful of.
While it clearly has Jacksons hand, the film had a very different feel to it than I was expecting. It was expertly paced with a strong script and some really excellent peformances. Hats off to Martin Freeman whose non-verbal performance was exceptional and a testament to what can be expressed in a eyebrow or an arm movement. He was able to expertly encapsulate the essence of Bilbo, as played by Ian Holm in LOTR, but it was a strong independent performance. I especially loved the scenes with Gollum and Bilbo riddling to the death, one of my favorite parts of the book.
The usual suspects were also there, Gandalf, Saruman, Lord Elrond and Galadriel, all giving their usual strong s'elves' (see what I did there?). Though the scene on Rivendell felt a bit like a visit to the principals office, it was saved, gracefully, by Cate Blanchetts effortless existence.
For me, the biggest surprise was the dwarfs.......is it wrong to have the hots for a dwarf? Well I don't care, Richard Armitage was, well, exquisite as Thorin Oakenshield. His soft base voice in "Song of the Dwarves" was mesmerising and he took me wherever he went in his character, wonderful to behold. The rest of the motley crew, including one of my favorite Scottish actors, James Nesbitt, were themselves unmistakeably silly but defiantly endearing.  
Touchy subject I know but I liked the high frame rate and 3D. Some have expressed a concern for the "too life likeness" with the HFR and 3D but I have to say it added, not detracted, from the film.
As a lover of theatre I embraced the 3D, as, accompanied by Howard Shores' rousing score, I felt as though I was watching live theatre and I was immersed in it. Every shot was full of life and was exciting to experience.
I will definitely see this again, though will watch the "normal" version just for comparison but all in all it was as unexpectedly funny as it was moving, catching you off guard when a moment of true courage occurred.