I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

A 'musical' for tone-deaf people. Excruciatingly dire.

The utter emotion the actors displayed while singing is actually moving. I had tears in my eyes multiple times. Seriously incredible. Hugh Jackmam and Anne Hathaway gave the best performances imo.

Les Misérables, meaning "the miserable ones" is a perfect depiction of life in France during the French Revolution. This movie was one of the most moving, and powerful motion pictures I've ever seen. I never read the book or seen the play, but this movie made me feel like I have, like I knew the story before it was shown to me. This movie had an immaculate revolution story, the feelings it gives you are strong and both sympathetic and empathetic. It makes me feel like I'm there with them, experiencing this the way they did. It is one of the best musicals I've ever seen. Hugh Jackman does an incredible job playing the character Jean Valjean, he brought this drunk criminal to life, he brings out the best in the songs with his amazing acting and even his amazing voice. He made Jean Valjean out to be trustworthy especially when he escapes prison to lead on a completely different life as a man who does nothing but help. Tom Hooper's direction and the cinematography, costumes, art design and editing are nothing short of genius. His idea for the actors to sing live during film really gave it much more emotion. There were a few times where the film encountered some pacing issues, but besides that it flowed beautifully altogether. Another amazing act was performed by Ann Hathaway in her role as Fantine. She lost 25 pounds and most of her hair for this role, not only did her amazing acting steal the show but her beautiful voice made it even more tremendous. Specifically, in her performance of the song 'I Dreamed a Dream', it was an Oscar in itself. However, the computer-generated imagery wasn't the best, but they created this amazing world while still being very realistic. This isn't a critic movie, so it makes it hard to critique it, it's more embed in the story and performance than the action and violence. Overall this film is one of my favorite, and has left many crying, laughing, and inspired. It's old feeling and beautiful story reminded me of one of my other favorite musicals Moulin Rouge. Though they take place in different time, I still get those strong emotions and historical view through these actor's eyes. There incredible performances and the films story made the movies how great it is, and I wouldn't change anything about the story. Tom Hooper made the right choices throughout the whole creation of this film. I'm not familiar with the book or play of Les Mis but this movie gave me all the information I needed, to understand the film. The cinematography left me speechless and captured a live theater production for all cinema goers. Those in charge of this film knew precisely what they were working with. A few songs are shortened, several lines altered, and a few scenarios different from their original literary form, but the whole story remains gloriously and satisfyingly intact. This movie left me emotional; sad, happy, nervous, and apologetic, and I appreciated every moment of it. I recommend any and all movies goers to experience this true genius in film history.

Bare with me a moment. When I think Les Misérables, the first thing that comes to mind is not the classic epic 1862 novel by the great French writer Victor Hugo. Unfortunately, for me, I think of the "1% Club" in expensive suits and gowns out for an evening at the theatre watching moderately-paid stage actors with unconvincing accents perform a classic epic novel exclusively FOR the enjoyment of the "1% Club". I mean, really, who in their right 99% mind would go to a stage show that takes place in the early 1800's OTHER than people with more dollars than sense? Let me clarify something, certainly past (and perhaps even present) stage productions of Les Misérables were probably not specifically geared toward the snobs of the world. In fact, the contrary may be true! Perhaps the novel was Mr. Hugo's way of "sticking to the man", 19th century style (he was a 60-year-old former royalist-turned-republican when he wrote "Les Mis" and later became a member of the French Senate)! But I digress.The "1% Club" comes to my mind…or I should say CAME to mind whenever I heard about Les Misérables because, I'm willing to admit now, it was my ignorance of certain things I don't care about (I am a narcissistic idiot savant after all). I never read the book and I had no desire to. The stupid thing is over 1,400 pages! (1,900 in the original French version!) The KJV of the Bible only has 1,200 pages and it took me 40 years to get through that (and I'm still an ignorant blasphemer at times)! I did try to read Les Misérables about 7 years ago but my mental health issues would not allow me to get past chapter 5.Over the years I gathered from various sources what Les Misérables what all about: an ex-con named Jean Valjean (that's fun to say, isn't it?) trying to redeem himself but can't seem to escape his criminal past (which, by today's standards of good and evil isn't so bad – he stole food for his sister's children!). Sure, sounds like a page-turner, I know, but I had better things to do. So, instead, I just deduced that the story was atypical of society today: a depressing struggle to live (am I far off?) and chose to pretend I was well-read and erudite when trying to fit in with the "1% Club". Les Misérables, the novel, is so much more than that (I repeat, am I far off?). If you have the time, and apparently no life, I encourage you to read it. I, however, took the easy way out and watched the movie – and it still took me until five years AFTER its release to see it (thank you Public Library!).This version of Les Misérables comes in at a butt-numbing 158 minutes. Unlike the theatre, or some of those epic films of the 1950's, there is no intermission which could allow time to use the washroom or check your Facebook (but there is a pause button thankfully). For someone with a short attention span like me, I didn't need to do that. There's enough action and violence to keep your butt in the seat, guys, and to be old fashioned in a non- misogynistic kind of way, for the women there's romance and familial bonds and love to keep you reaching for the tissues (even I enjoyed that part, too).I'm not a big fan of books-turned-musicals-turned-into-a-movie (I get the urge to sing everything I say), nevertheless this movie was not only enjoyable but also well made from a technical standpoint. Danny Cohen does a great job behind the lens (as is usually the case when he DP's a project). Cohen sometimes works with Production Designer Eve Stewart, and just like two of their past projects together - The King's Speech (2010), The Danish Girl (2015) - you can see that they do make a great tandem that helps bring this epic story to the screen. Skilled Director Tom Hooper unites the enormous cast and crew and even manages to get Russell Crowe to sing (!), all for a budget of less than $61 mil (USD). Not too bad, even a cynical 99%-er could appreciate the value of that.