Wednesday, November 7, 2012

*insert appropriate Les Mis quote here*

Just in case anyone's counting, only forty-eight days remain until the Les Mis movie is released to the public.  (Those of you who pay attention to such whims and inconsistencies may notice that in the past I've abbreviated the title as Les Miz, but on further consideration I decided it's more logical to say Les Mis, so that is how I shall write it henceforth and forevermore unless I forget.)  I'm not planning on seeing it in theaters, but I'm still incredibly excited about its release.

As the thrilling date approaches (December 25th, if you don't want to bother to do the math), Working Title Films has been releasing more and more photos and videos related to the movie, and all the mounting excitement is making me want to run around the house singing Red and Black at the top of my lungs.  Which I have not actually done.  My family, I think, is grateful.

Anyways.  In light of the severe lack of Real Blogging I've been doing lately (it's Half NaNo's fault), it seems a bit silly to write a post comprised mostly of movie posters and a wee video stuck at the end (no, no, don't scroll down to see it now--be patient and wait, it will not go away).  But half a loaf is better than no bread, and certainly better than stolen bread (please politely giggle at my apropos reference), so I give you the Les Mis posters and pictures I've been sighing over recently.


This one may well be my favorite.  I just love how they took the original logo (see below) and used it as a prototype for the photo.  I mean, that image is iconic, and the fact that they're honoring it in this poster just makes me happy.


The only thing that bugs me a bit with the poster is that they quite obviously Photoshopped her eyes.  And the blue looks... odd.  Now, I realize Amanda Seyfried (Older Cosette) has blue eyes and maybe they just wanted to make it look consistent, but if so, why isn't Little Cosette wearing blue contacts in the actual film? In the picture below her eyes look pretty brown to me... and even if they are blue (it could just be the lighting that gives an impression of brown) they're certainly not as Windex-blue as in the poster.  Just a minor quibble.


One of my biggest fears about Hugh Jackman playing Valjean was that he might not look old enough for the later scenes.  This poster, however, is reassuring, because he definitely looks older than in those first-scenes-as-a-convict pictures.  Again, though, the eyes are weird.  Too translucent, somehow.


This one pleases me so, so, SO much.  Not just because I think Russell Crowe has the perfect looks for Javert, but because of the pose.  Er, the expression on his face.  Whatever.  A Javert poster could easily and logically have depicted him snarling or angry or vengeful looking, "watch out Valjean I'm gonna get you," but instead he looks sad and almost lost.  Which is exactly what Javert is.  Hooray for the most complex kinda-villain of all time!  Oh, and I like his coat.  Not Philip-Quast-worthy, but still interesting.


I'm not overly thrilled with the Fantine poster.  On the one hand, she still has her hair, which is nice because most of the trailer shows her without it, and Anne Hathaway has gorgeous hair.  So that's all good.  But I would have liked to see a slightly more interesting facial expression.  Something tragic, you know?  Heartbroken, or even dreamy.  Instead, she's just kind of... there.  Not smiling, not sad, just looking at you, and not even looking at you with the haunted eyes I imagine for Fantine.  And the eyes are just weird.  Again.  I know I'm making a big deal about the eyes, but really, with the weird color, this could almost pass for a Twilight poster.  *does the oy-vey-and-spit thing from Fiddler on the Roof)


Enough with the negative. This poster of Older Cosette has taken away the last shred of doubt that I had about Amanda Seyfried.  She just LOOKS like Cosette ought to.  Hair down and all.  Now, I know young ladies were supposed to wear their hair up by that age in 1832, but you have to remember that Valjean tended to baby Cosette and didn't want her to grow up.  So it's quite logical that her hair should still be down in a little-girl style, even though she's sixteen.  (Or is it eighteen?  Why can't I remember? Somebody help!)

Her dress, also, is pleasing to my critical eye--I'm not a huge fan of the traditional Cosette dress with the wide lace bib.  I realize Valjean babies her a bit, but come on.  This one (what we can see of it) looks much prettier.  So in that respect I'm okay with a deviation from the traditional stage costumes, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to weep for the tragic loss of Enjolras' Red Vest of Power and Awesomeness.


Here we get a slightly better view of the dress, and a pretty awful view of Marius, but it's an adorable picture so I won't fuss.  And yes, I've been sighing over every appearance with the two of them together in every single video.  They're just so CUTE.  I am completely reconciled to Eddie Redmayne. Completely.  I still would rather have picked a guy who was slightly more aesthetically blessed, as a friend of mine puts it, but I really think he's going to make an amazing Marius.  As long as he shaves a little bit.  What's up with the chin stubble?  

...All right, all right, I WILL stop being cynical.  In all honesty, I think this poster is sweet.  The whole talking-through-the-railing thing looks so romantic in the sneak peek, and I liked that they used that scene for the poster.  


In a sense I'm pleased with this next one because it gives us our first look at the Thenardiers, but at the same time I'm annoyed that they chose to use M. and Mme. Slimebucket for promotional pictures instead of Enjolras or Eponine.  How about a Little Fall of Rain poster, folks?  Now THAT would be ducky.  At any rate, I'm not disappointed with Mme. Thenardier in this picture (not that I really care about her, heh) but Thenardier himself... ewwwwww.  My initial impression was that he looked like a seriously disturbed version of Gussie Fink-Nottle from Jeeves and Wooster.  Not a pleasant thought.  Plus, he's too young.  So is she, I suppose, but I always imagined Thenardier with gray hair.

However, I really do like the fact that they're both dressed up in their Christmas "finery."  I think this was done for a reason-- not because the film is being released Christmas Day, but because in the novel (pardon me, "the brick") Valjean rescues Cosette on Christmas Eve.  This isn't mentioned in the stage musical, but it looks like the film producers are trying to stick as close to the book as possible in little details such as that, and Amy is pleased.  Muchly so.  Now, if only they had ignored the passage about Enjolras being blonde...


I haven't seen any more posters from the series above, but if you find any more, do send them my way.  I've come across a few others, though, which are also highly satisfactory.  Like this one.  Love, fight, hope, dream seems to be the tagline for the movie, which isn't quite as evocative as I might have hoped (hey, Do you hear the people sing? gets the message across beautifully) but I like how they've combined the tagline with the characters for this one.  If this is, indeed, an official poster and not just a piece of fan art.... ha.  I realized just now that there is no release date at the bottom, nor is there any title or the name of the film company.  So this may very well just be a fanmade picture.  As Aristotle said, "You cannot believe everything you read on the Internet."


I don't care if it's in a foreign language, I absolutely love this poster.  Probably my favorite of them all.  Doesn't it just give you shivers to look at it?  Red and black and clouds and light streaming everywhere... so many of the posters have dark backgrounds but this one is full of light and I like that, because Les Mis IS full of light.  Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise--ooh, now, if I were in charge of taglines, I think I'd use THAT one.


And just one more little tidbit of delight-- the latest Les Mis TV spot!  Please tell me I am not the only one who gasped and squealed over Marius-on-the-horse-with-the-flag and got goosebumps when Javert whipped out his sword and melted into a little puddle when Valjean said "Don't worry, I'll keep you safe."

Are you excited or what?
Don't say what.

18 comments:

Alexandra said...

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ!!!!!!!

I am so insanely excited about this, it just ain't funny. The movie is going to be EPIC.

Ok, so I have a photoshop program that does the eye thingie. It's just to add DRAMA, darlin'. (And I'm sure that young Cosette has blue...I think that's just the lighting. We shall see!) But anyway. Very unrealistic, of course. But they DO grab your attention, no? Which is kinda the point.

MY only quibble with the posters is your one positive point...WHY IS COSETTE'S HAIR BROWN in the one poster?! It may just be the lighting...but I thought that was kinda weird.

I found another Madame T. pic on Pinterest, and her makeup isn't as pronounced (read: barely there) as it was on the poster...so maybe Mr. T was just glammed up for the photo...I hope. He looks so seriously creepy.

And you knowwwww...they would be younger when he rescues Cosette and then they'd be older for the rest of the story. JAT. But totally agree...wee need a Little Fall of Rain.

AND THE SHORT is AMAAAAAZING. GAHHHH. Can't wait!!!!!

Alexandra said...

Oh, yes. And the foreign poster. EPICCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC. The BEST. (And I TOTALLY agree about the whole "even the darkest night will end" for the tagline).

Anyhooz.

Treskie said...

LOL your comment about Gussie Finknottle cracked me up. HE DOES, doesn't he!?

I'm so excited to finally see a movie with Russel Crowe and Hugh Jackman together. I love them both as actors and I know for a fact that the latter has quite the voice.

:) I can't wait to Hear the People Sing!

Elizabeth said...

Oh. My. Word. SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
I am sooo excited! I watched the video 3 times before I felt I had see everything in it! The posters were all very goo, but I loved the last poster best!

Hayden said...

yay!!! love all the posters..although, yeah, some of the eyes DO look a little Twlight-ish now that you mention it...

Arielle Melody Bailey said...

WOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!!!! Only 48 days! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Right. :)

Love these posters! But no Enjolras poster! *pouts* I love Javert's coat! To me, the Fantine poster does have a hopeless look to it. Helena Bonham-Carter is one of my favorite actresses and I think with her rather quirky style she is going to totally NAIL the part of Mme. T. And she LOOKS her here!! Fantastic!! I'm not so sure about Sacha Baron Cohen as Thenardier though....

I agree the foreign one is EPIC!! Yep, definitely that tagline!
'
I hadnt seen that TV spot yet. MARIUS ON THE HORSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JAVERT!!!!! December cannot come fast enough!!

Anonymous said...

YAYYAYYAYYAYYAYYAYYAYYAYYAYYAYYAYYAYYAYYAYYAYYAYYAYYAYYAYYAYYAYYAYYAYYAYYAYYAY!!!!!! WAHOOOOOOO!! The beating of my heart echoes the beating of the drum! REALLY excited about Les Miz! (Which is how *I* will still shortcut-spell it.)

I am absolutely LOVING all of those posters! Saw a few of them somewhere else, but I didn't see the Cosette/Marius one or the one with the Thenardiers. ESPECIALLY THE ONE OF COSETTE!!! (And I agree with Ally - their eyes look weird because they're fixed for more drama. Kind of like Elijah Wood's eyes in LOTR... except I still think he has shockingly-blue contacts he wears....)

Favorite poster is probably the one in the different language. That is awesome. : )

Love. That. Video. To. Death. My expectations have been met just by that thirty second TV spot!!! And I also heard that it's 3 hours long - YES!!! *fispump*

Not-so-patiently-waiting....
Eowyn

Anonymous said...

Ahem. I'm going to be all official and start at the top.

I personally love the eyes in the Little Cosette poster. The blue eyes are both piercing and haunting. Gorgeous.

I thought the Valjean poster was pretty epic, but then I scrolled down and saw the Javert poster and fell out of my chair. Whew. Russell is PERFECT for Javert. AndIwanttohearhimsing. Badly.

I love Fantine's expression in the poster, but you're right, it looks like it could be from Twilight. Her eyes and lips are a bit too striking and oddly colored.

The Cosette and Cosette/Marius posters are MARVELOUS and DAHLING. I love, love, love them. And I'm with you. I hereby take back everything cynical I ever said about Eddie Redmayne. He is Marius. The end.

The Thenardiers... Madame looks AWESOME. Well, awesome for Madame. Thenardier is... interesting. Not a fan of the makeup.

And that TV spot is the best trailer yet. In my 'umble opinion.

Jessica said...

What.
Sorry, I couldn't help myself. Ha Please forgive me. ;-)

Marie said...

Yay! I am looking forward to seeing this after I finish the book. I just finished with Fantine last night *sobs* and she does look very good for the role. And I know what you mean about the Twilight posters. My two siblings with Kindles have been getting advertisments for--what is it--"Approaching Dawn"? The "epic" conclusion. Anyway, we can't seem to shake Edward and Jacob from the poor little screens.

Scullery Maid said...

Love them all!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And here's a couple I found on pinterest that you might like c:
http://pinterest.com/pin/512003051356348569/

http://pinterest.com/pin/512003051356348564/

Scullery Maid said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YmvHzCLP6ug

Rachel Heffington said...

DID YOU SEE THIS ONE?!!!!!! I about died hearing Russell Crowe singing at last! And the scene where Jean Valjean sweeps his hat off with a "madamoiselle?" *heartmelts* :) I simply cannot wait. GAH!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YmvHzCLP6ug

Miss Dashwood said...

Ally,
You're probably right about Young Cosette... haha, I tend to be picky about eyes. "Hey! Is that the same color as she had in the last scene? LET'S BACK IT UP AND MAKE SURE." :P
All right, all right, it's to add drama, but it still looks odd to me. And hey, I had wayyyyyy more than one positive point.
Cosette's hair isn't brown. It's just the lighting. ;) Seriously, though, that picture's so dark that even really blonde hair like hers is going to show up dark.
LOVE LOVE LOVE that foreign poster. Sigh.

Treskie,
Oooh, you know who Gussie is? *cyber-hug* I've heard Hugh Jackman sing too and though I still wish he had a little more oomph to his voice, I think he's going to be pretty great.

Molly,
Me too!

Hayden,
Heehee. Unfortunately I think that's just become a trend with movie posters. Sigh.

Miss Melody Muffin,
There IS an Enjolras poster now!!!!! I'm putting it up this afternoon, hopefully. And yep, Marius on the horse is just... EEEEEEEEEEEP. SO. EXCITING.

Miss Dashwood said...

Eowyn,
There is a life about to start when tomoooooooorrooooooooow COOOOOOOOOOOOOOMES! :D
Isn't the Cosette/Marius one SO ADORABLE? And you say it's three hours long? SWEET! Haha, I almost NEVER say that as an exclamation... just goes to show how insanely excited I am about this. :D

Puddle,
Oh, I know, I love the way her eyes are so haunting. I just wish they weren't quite so... oddly colored. But I see I am alone in that. Heehee.
Yeah, Fantine's lips are kind of odd too.
Yep, Eddie Redmayne has been officially cleared of anything we ever had against him. I won't put my little piece of heresy that I told you about earlier on here, but... yeah. He's gonna be Marius. ;)
The best trailer YET... haha, when you left that comment, of course, the international one wasn't out yet.

Jessica,
"OH! Don't be MEAN!"
(Diana in Anne of Avonlea)
Heehee, I forgive you. This time. ;)

Marie,
Yayayayayayayay! We're going to have to do some MAJOR squealing over the book and all when you come over. And EWWWWW about the Twilight ads. We keep getting Breaking Dawn commercials on Pandora too. Thankfully you can mute them. UGH.

Scullery Maid,
Thanks! I'd seen them already but it was lovely to have an excuse to look at them again. ;)

Scullery Maid and Rachel,
Thanks for the trailer link! I've been working on a post about that, hopefully it'll be up this afternoon! I kinda wanted to post about it on Thursday night when I first saw it but I had other things going on and they were more important. :D
YAYAYAYAYAYAY!

Margaret Hale said...

After glancing over the other comments I'm beginning to feel rather left out :) I'm thinking I ought to get back to reading Les Miserables (I was only about twenty or so pages into it) so I can get excited about the movie too and so when we see Certain People again I can join in the major squealing that I hear is going to take place :)

Banríon An Gheimhridh said...

I love "Yet Another Period Drama Blog" and love reading your posts. :) I was wondering, how did you put the picture of Emma and Mr. Knightley from Emma (2009) at the top? It looks really cool! I'm asking because I want to put a picture at the top of my blog but don't know how. I feel like this might be obvious, but I'm not very good at figuring out how to do these kind of things.

Banríon An Gheimhridh said...

Never mind, I figured it out. :) I can't wait to see this movie! Les Miserables is one of my favorite musicals. I like most of the posters, but I agree with you about the one with Anne Hathaway. It reminds me of a Twilight poster too much... *shivers*