Rules of a Woman: Les Miserables Review

WOW. I don't say this very often, but I will pay $11 dollars to go see this movie again and again. When I was in high school, a teacher played the 1998 version of the movie for our class and I loved it ever since. However, this version is undeniably better than the original version itself.

The characters were so well played. I seriously cried tears of sorrow at the beginning, laughed through the pain in the middle, and cried again at the end of the movie. Each and every actors and actresses played their play so well.

If you do not know, Les Miserables was a novel written by Victor Hugo. I never got the chance to read the novel. However, it was greatly influenced by the French Revolution. What I love about the plot of Les Miserables are the sub-stories. Each and every characters are built upon each other, and they are all bounded in some ways. The 1998 version and swayed away from the original plot of the book, and the 2012 version stuck more closely with the book's plot. Another reason why I loved the 2012 version.

Les Miserables basically means the poor ones. The story follows the life of Jean Valjean, an ex-convict. He was imprisoned for 19 years because he stole a loaf of bread for his sister's son. When he was released, he was still not free. The court branded him as a dangerous person, and every where he goes no one shows mercy or compassion for him. They chase he away like he was a curse. However, a bishop took him in. Valjean was overcome by greed when he saw the bishop's silverwares. In the middle of the night, Valjean took all that he can and left. However, he did not get far until the guards caught him and brought him back to the bishop's home. Instead of throwing Valjean back in jail, the bishop told the guards that he have given Valjean those silverwares. This is the turning point in Valjean's life.

Valjean's story is only the beginning. His story led to Fantine's story, which then led to Marius and Cosette's story.

No wonder the novel is called Les Miserables. Valjean and Fantine faced judgements from their peers and was outcast because of their misfortunes. It amazes me that people could be that cruel to another human being when they claim to be sons and daughters of god.

Fantine and Valjean touched me the most with their stories. Marius and Cosette's story is like the light at the end of the tunnel, you could say. Through Fantine and Valjean's sufferings, Cosette grew up beautifully to fall in love with the heroic Marius.

But let's not forget Eponine.. Oh how deeply she loved Marius. When Marius fell for Cosette, Eponine willingly led him to her. She lied for him, and protected Cosette for him. I admire her selflessness. She knew Marius heart belongs to Cosette, and yet she continues loving him until she died.

The litte man that stole my heart was Gavroche, real name is Daniel Huttlestone. Such a young talent, he was absolutely WONDERFUL to watch. AHHHH He's so cute!