Les Miserables 2012: Part One

"It's the story of one who turned from hating... a man who only learned to love when you were in his keeping."

~Jean Valjean, Epilogue

It feels cliche to say I don't know where to begin, but it's the truth.  I waited so long for this movie-- eleven months just for it to be released in theaters, then three more before I actually saw it for myself.  And I'll tell you right now that yes, it was everything I dreamed it would be, and there's no need to go find a new dream (unless the new dream involved seeing the show live on Broadway someday, in which case, yes please).

I suppose the best place to begin would be at the beginning.  After that I shall go on until the end.  Then stop.

{And a warning to all-- this is going to be EXTRAORDINARILY long and RIDICULOUSLY convoluted and CHOCK-FULL of spoilers and UNBELIEVABLY detailed and opinionated because really, blow-by-blow is the only way I can handle Les Mis and you can consider yourself duly warned now. Let all who wish to, go from here.}

The beginning for many people happened when the French flag flashed onto the screen, swirling through green water as the big bum-BUM music began.  And if I had seen Les Mis in the theater, so it would have been for me.  But I saw Les Mis for the first time at home, in my bedroom, and for me the experience began with one voice singing softly and one man's face on the screen as the DVD menu began to play "Do You Hear the People Sing?" in its entirety, accompanied by a montage of scene snippets that gave me goosebumps.

I'm immature.  I screamed.
But quietly, because my younger siblings were getting ready for bed.

Um, anyways.  Once I'd finished fangirling over Enjolras (and everyone else in the menu montage) my sister hit the Play button and that's when the iconic prologue music began and the flag swam upward.

Sure, it was CGI, but I don't care.  The opening scene was breathtaking.  Actually seeing the convicts dragging the ship into the docks was more thrilling than I'd expected it to be-- throughout the whole movie I just couldn't get over how much BIGGER everything was--so much bigger than what I've been accustomed to with the concerts and the stage play.  (Bigger does not equate better.  We'll discuss that more later. But it was still fabulous.)  And the music?  Fabulous.  After hearing about the whole singing-live-with-just-a-piano thing, I was a bit worried that the orchestrations might not be up to snuff, but I was quite wrong and am happy about it-- I would much rather be merry than right.

I intend to go character-by-character through this thing, and since I also intend to go song-by-song, it makes the most sense to begin with Valjean and Javert in "Look Down."

Hugh Jackman is still not my favorite Valjean, but I will say that I've completely gotten over my early prejudice against him.  (My first reactions on seeing a picture of the man they'd cast for Valjean were a)  disappointment that he wasn't Colm Wilkinson and b) annoyance at his appearance. "Too skinny and too movie-star-ish to be a convict.  Definite fail here.")  However.  Hugh Jackman's acting skills are superb, he completely inhabited the role and convinced me that he WAS Jean Valjean (to the point where I've started picturing his face instead of Colm's when I read certain portions of the brick... *hides*) and his interaction with Little Cosette was the cutest thing in the history of cute things.  More on that later.  The only quibble I have is with his voice-- though he was NOT the worst singer in the movie, I was left feeling dissatisfied with the way he handled several of the songs.  To be quite honest, I don't think he was the right vocal match for the part.  It is a truth universally acknowledged that the part of Jean Valjean is one of the most challenging male roles in musical theatre, and though Jackman is a trained singer and has been in quite a few shows, I just don't think his voice is right for Valjean.  "Look Down," wasn't bad, however-- though his voice lacks the raw power that Colm, Gary Morris or even John Owen-Jones bring to the part, he still got all the emotion across despite the lyric changes.  

Oooh, yeah, let's talk about lyric changes, shall we?  Especially where this guy is concerned.  Now, I loved the "retrieve the flag" bit.  It makes so much more sense for the audience to actually SEE Valjean's incredible strength at the beginning of the story, instead of being abruptly informed during "The Runaway Cart," that oh, yeah, this guy tossed ships around back in the day.  Forgot to mention that.  So that was great.  What I did NOT like was the way they cut so abruptly from mast-lifting to song-shouting.  It seemed awkward somehow.  You know how Rex Harrison speak-sings his way through My Fair Lady?  Yeah, well, Russell Crowe shout-sings his way through the dialogue bits.  Yes, I cringed.  Sometimes I giggled.  But in the end... his voice really wasn't that bad.

*scurries into corner*

No, I still don't think his singing was quite up to par.  But it wasn't the atrocity I had been led to believe it would be. And though it's great fun to imitate his part in One Day More, his voice doesn't send horrified chills down my spine the way Nick Jonas' does in the 25th Anniversary Concert.  Stars and Javert's Suicide weren't half bad (from a technical standpoint... we'll discuss the WAY he sang them in a minute), and Confrontation was the bomb (did I actually just say "the bomb" in public??) but the dialogue bits, as previously stated... errrrrmmmmm.  "NOW prisonertwofourSIXohone... your time is UP and your paROLE's begun..."  And what was up with changing the lyrics so they didn't rhyme anymore? "Follow to the letter your itinerry..."

Um, excuse me, what is an itenerry?  Could you possibly have meant itineRARY?

No one bites out "You will stahve again unless you learn the meaning of the lawr," like Philip Quast, but I have to say, Crowe's "and I'm Javert," is classic.  I approve.

Showing Valjean's journey through the mountains of France into the little village of Digne was done beautifully, I thought-- the stage simply can't portray that kind of scenery, and I appreciated the addition of those little scenes showing Valjean's rejection by the people he encountered.  Having the parole officer sending a guy to follow him was excellent, too-- in my first encounter with the story I was super confused as to why Javert was chasing Valjean in the first place and what he had against him.  (I mean, he'd served his time for the bread...)

I was prepared to be Emotionally Involved for the entire movie, of course, and was prepared to cry at the sad parts, but I was not at all prepared to pull an Elsie Dinsmore and burst into an agony of tears and sobs as soon as the Bishop's face showed up on the screen.  

And they included Mme. Magloire and Mlle. Baptistine! Even though they
didn't do anything to advance the story! Yay brick details!

I was so, so impressed with MY Valjean's singing.  I mean, duh, obviously.  Colm Wilkinson has a gorgeous voice.  But he IS a lyric baritone with an amazingly high range and the Bishop has some pretty low notes, so the way he sang that last "for God" was pretty amazing.  The first time I watched this I bewailed the severe lack of Expressive Eyebrows (it's a Colm-Valjean trademark, after all) but on my fourth go-round I paid closer attention and saw them there near the end of the pardoning of Valjean.       Excellent, excellent.   And of course we had the figurative-and-literal passing of the candlesticks... one generation's Valjean to the next.  Sniffle.

I was feeling quite unimpressed with "What Have I Done?" (and those statue-dead-body-thingies lying on the tables in the church were creeeeeeepy) until about halfway through.  I'm used to hearing this song screamed (even Alfie Boe put a tremendous amount of anger into it) and Jackman's use of bewilderment and grief instead of fury at the beginning took a little getting used to.

However, the more I see it, the better I like it.  (Where Les Mis is concerned, actors tend to grow on me.  My sisters can attest to this. :P)  And then he got to the "I feel my shame inside me like a knife" bit and actually started crying, and I was like, yup, this man needs an Oscar, HOW DID HE NOT GET AN OSCAR.  And after that I was Team Hugh Jackman for the rest of the movie.

"At the End of the Day" was chilling-- this film didn't gloss over the grittiness of life in France in the 1820's and 30's,  and the desperation on the beggars' faces and in their voices was evident.  I loved how Javert and the other inspectors were shown during the line about how the righteous hurry past and don't hear the little ones crying-- I'd always thought that line was referring to the wealthy, but it fits Javert so perfectly.  (And sheesh, Russell Crowe can certainly ride a horse.  He should be giving Eddie Redmayne some lessons.  Um, more on that later.)  I do have to wonder if Joly was responsible for the lyric changes though... "and the plague [not winter] is coming on fast, ready to kill!"

It seemed to me in the highly anticipatory weeks and months leading up to my first viewing of the film, that everyone was talking about Anne Hathaway as Fantine.  Anne Hathaway this, Anne Hathaway that, Anne Hathaway has an Oscar, Anne Hathaway cut off all her hair and lost 25 pounds for the part and she threw herself into this role and isn't she perfect and we all bow down to Anne Hathaway.  I was getting sick of it, let me tell you.  

And then I saw the movie and I understood.  Because she deserves every single accolade, every single repetitive review, every single ounce of fake gold on that Oscar statue (and the Golden Globe statue, too, though nobody seems to remember that one).  She completely BECAME Fantine in a way that surpassed Ruthie Henshall and even Lea Salonga and definitely Genevieve Leclerc (wasn't impressed with her portrayal... sorry).  All of a sudden I felt the tragedy of "At the End of the Day" in a way I've never felt before.

   

I mean, here's this woman who definitely made a mistake when she was younger and is paying the consequences now... but the utter callousness and even selfishness of her coworkers is terrifying.  Terrifying because I have to wonder if I would be just like them.  Yes, Fantine's daughter that she has to hide is a result of sin in her earlier life, but does that mean that the "righteous" women in the factory ought to conspire together to get her fired?  These are respectable women working respectable jobs, the kind who would consider themselves good and upright citizens... and yet they are the villains in this little tableau, the ones who drove her into the beginning of her tragic downward spiral.  Really makes you think... would I be like them if I ran into someone like Fantine in my life?  "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her..."

I really enjoyed the explanatory bits with Javert showing up at the factory and explaining his presence there to Monsieur Madeleine, aka Valjean... in the musical it IS a bit fuzzy as to how Javert randomly materialized in the runaway cart scene.  (Is he supposed to be the only cop in France?)  However, I did not enjoy the loud noises emanating from Russell Crowe's mouth.  "Please KNOW me as... JAVERT! I am HERE at your comMAND..." I'm reminded of a quote I saw on Hayden's blog once-- 

"You don't have to sing EVERYTHING!"

"But it's a muuuuuuuusicaaaaaaal!"

I really think someone should have said that to Russell Crowe.  Everyone else got along just fine with speak-sining the dialogue bits, but for some reason he felt he had to belt every single line.  One can only imagine how the poor man got along during lunch breaks. "Please PASS the salt and PEPPER!"

As for "The Runaway Cart"... to be honest, it felt too rushed.  I'm sure they were going for a more realistic approach, in which everything WOULD seem to be happening at once--the toppling cart, the terrified townsfolk, the mayor stepping in and taking charge--but it left this movie viewer feeling a little dizzy.  And what was up with chopping off half the lyrics at the end?  Was it a "shuffle verses and deal to the person on your left" kind of thing?  I mean, Valjean had no reason to say "say what you must, don't leave it there," when Javert hadn't even really voiced his suspicions yet.  Sigh.

"I look like a moose."
"But a very cute moose.  Make all the boy moose go HWOOOOOONK."
*blog readers make angry noises*
*Amy apologizes profusely and attempts to cultivate a socially acceptable sense of humor*

We managed to skip through "Lovely Ladies" quite nicely (though it did mean sacrificing the hair-and-teeth bit, but hey, I knew what happened) and in case any of my readers are wondering, I'll tell you how to do it without missing "I Dreamed a Dream" (they're on the same track on the DVD, sadly).  Once you see Fantine walking through the red-light district with a shawl around her shoulders, hit "skip."  You'll go to the next track, which is "Fantine's Arrest," and then you just need to rewind (or do the DVD equivalent... what's that called...?) until you get to Fantine lying (ALONE) in a rowboat, and voila, there's IDAD.

Which, by the way, was mind-boggling.  SO. GOOD.  No, Anne Hathaway doesn't have the powerhouse voice that Lea Salonga or Betsy Morgan or Ruthie Henshall have, but she sang IDAD (to quote Eddie Redmayne) "with this incredible fragility" that was unbelievably beautiful.  And sad.  (Well... duh.) 

Throughout that scene,  it kept hitting me just how ugly Fantine had become... I mean, here's Anne Hathaway, arguably the most beautiful human being on earth, and in this role she's become this woman who truly has been dropped at the bottom of the heap.  And that's never more clearly shown than in "Fantine's Arrest."

The song itself isn't that great until Javert shows up and then it becomes awesome.  I realize that they cut lines for length and all, and quite frankly I'd rather not hear all of what Bamatabois has to say, but seriously, it was like they exchanged two words and all of a sudden he's doing the snow attack.  And Fantine didn't really fight back as much as I thought she should have.  You could argue that Anne Hathaway's Fantine is more weak and beaten than some of the others, which is right, but I do think Fantine should have a little of the wildcat left in her at that point.  Anyways, Russell Crowe did bee-yew-tee-fully with that scene.  Stopping the other guys from going after her, and the way he said, "Save your breath and save your tears"-- does Javert possibly have a tiny bit of a soft spot, a spot that feels bad for Fantine despite his tenacity in clinging to The Law?  I'm not really sure what to make of this... I kinda liked the "other side" that Russell Crowe brings to the character, but is it canon?  I think not.  And the by-the-book-and-only-by-the-book part of me (which is not unlike Javert... cough...) says it's not right.  It's not really right.  (More on this later.  In Part Three.  Did I mention this thing is going to have three parts.  Because it is.)

All that aside, Valjean's rescue of Fantine is sweet and adorable and tearjerking and people who don't feel at least a little bit moved are made of stone.  End of story.

I really appreciated the fact that they included the scene where Javert tenders his resignation, because I felt it added a lot more depth to the story and made far more sense than the original musical did.  Now don't start smacking me with your stolen baguettes just yet-- I am NOT criticising the musical.  I mean, come on.  This is me and Les Mis we're talking about.  However, I do think the movie did a great job of clearing up some confusion and delay about who Javert was suspecting and why Valjean felt he had to go confirm his identity and blah-de-blah.  And am I the only one who giggled when Russell Crowe boomed out that he disgraced the uuuuuuuniform that he wore?  Because, you know, he doesn't sing as well as the other Javerts....?  Eh, never mind, it wasn't that funny.

Who Am I? left me feeling kinda... unimpressed.  It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good, either.  Not really memorable at all.  I do like that song, but nobody sings it the way Colm sings it.  One little bone I had to pick with that scene, however... what was up with those letters??? At one point, as Valjean is packing to go to the trial, he picks up a packet of letters tied up with a ribbon and smells them.  Presumably they smell good, which makes me think that they probably weren't business letters... which makes me think they might have been supposed to be from a lady.  Um.  What.  Valjean doesn't do romance, peeps.  I realize some people ship him with Fantine.  But then, some people ship Javert with Azelma, so... yeah.  (I don't have any proof of a Jazelma ship, but I don't doubt that it or something equally as kooky does exist somewhere.)

If I ever get a chance to meet Tom Hooper, I will definitely ask him about the letters.  But only after I've thanked him profusely for casting the barricade boys so perfectly, demanded why they didn't have more screen time, congratulated him on his impeccable staging (er... blocking?) of "Do You Hear the People Sing?" and given several broad hints about how Les Miserables: The Six-Hour Director's Cut Along with Five Additional Hours of Fra Fee Talking About Random Things in an Irish Accent would be an awesome release for Christmas this year.

 I felt a severe lack of ooomph in the courtroom scene.  I definitely prefer the way it's played out onstage, with pandemonium breaking loose as Valjean shows his brand and then goes running out in the confusion with Javert on his heels.  Or should I say, "exit, pursued by Javert?"

Fantine's Death was heartbreaking.  I loved the vision she had of Little Cosette (it's all so brick-accurate, I'm internally squealing) and the way Anne Hathaway sang everything so softly and brokenly was perfect.  Ruthie Henshall kinda belts out "Come to Me", which I don't like.  (Not that I don't like Ruthie Henshall... but I just don't like the way she sings that song.  "And TELL Cosette I LOOOOOOOVE her and I'll SEE her when I WAAAAAAAAAKE!!!!!!!" *RAH mushrooms shake from sheer noise level*)  

As for Confrontation... 'twas EPIC.  This was definitely Russell Crowe's best song, and Hugh Jackman did a pretty great job, too.  Loved how he wrenched the shelf thingy off the wall to beat back Javert's sword (though I was amused by the way Javert was using his sword one-handed to fend off Valjean's two-handed stick... who again is the "stronger man by far?")  It was fun to see the nuns scurrying away in terror, too-- okay, that sounds awful, but I just mean that it put the episode in perspective.  On stage you don't see what the rest of the hospital is thinking as these two guys have a fistfight.  Heehee.

I was not pleased at the number of lines that were cut out, but time constraints and blat-blat-blat.  Please release the ending bit with "I swear to you I will be there" in that director's cut, Mr. Hooper.

Isabelle Allen was, hands-down, the best Little Cosette I've ever seen.  She had an adorable singing voice, the perfect look for Wee Cosette (not quite a miniature Amanda Seyfried, but pretty close) and just the right blend of terrified and put-upon and abused and unbelievably sweet.  I'll confess that I generally skip "Castle on a Cloud" when I'm listening to Les Mis, because it kind of bores me, but her version is precious.

I generally skip Master of the House, too, but for a different reason than boredom.  Ahem.  On the DVD it's quite simple just to skip the entire track, and once you see Cosette wandering the woods, you're good.  This part is hilarious, by the by.  Because stalking young children is totally okay if you have a really cool coat with a cape thing and if you offer to do their chores for them.  Anne-girl and I have our own version of Valjean's greeting to Cosette.

"Do not be afraid of me... don't hide.  Show me where you live... tell me your wi-fi password... give me your Social Security number..."

Moving on.  The sweeping-off-of-the-hat and the "Mademoiselle," were squealy-adorable, though.  And did anyone else notice that when they came back through the village to the inn and she was swinging on his arm, he made the exact same grunting noise as in the opening scene?  One would presume an undernourished eight-year-old is a bit less heavy than a flag mast.  But anyways.  I suppose it was symbolic or something.

Helena Bonham-Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen were gross and disgusting as the Thenardiers (obviously) but they were also really, really funny. "Waltz of Treachery" was the best I'd ever seen, and definitely the high comedic point of the film.  Thenardier keeps getting Cosette's name messed up, a gag that (I believe) originated with the 25th Concert and is now a solid part of the show.  

"Farewell, Courgette."

"It's CoSEEEEEETTE."

Fun fact: a courgette is a zucchini in Britain.  There's your random act of culture, courtesy of me, for the day.  I imagine all the British actors snorting into their sleeves during that scene and the Americans being all, "lol what?"

Moving on.

(Did I say that before?  Never mind.  Hush up, can't you.)

"Suddenly" has gotten a lot of flak from the critics, I know.  But I (speaking as a diehard fan of the brick and the original musical and the French concept album and basically anything remotely connected to all of those) absolutely loved it.  And really, who cares about the critics?  Les Mis isn't about the critics.  It's about the people.  Historically, this story hasn't done well in the eyes of the Uppity and Scholarly Folk who review it in newspapers and such, yet the madding crowd who have bought the book and seen the musical and watched the film are touched by it in a special way.  And isn't that what the story is all about?  Ordinary people, the "lower classes," the uneducated and poor?  I'm not saying that the majority of Les Mis' fan base are peasants, but I am saying that I don't give two beans for the snooty reviewers who say "Suddenly" was too slow-moving and saccharine and nobody liked it.  It's a heartwarming little piece about a man who's become a father overnight, for Pete's sake... it's not supposed to be an eleven o'clock showstopper.  (Oh, and Hugh Jackman's an adoptive father in real life... which I thought added a special tenderness to his performance.  And this song was actually within his vocal range.  So he sounded great.)

And it made me cry.  Which is not a shocker, I know.  But I didn't expect to cry during that song, and yet I lost it at this line-- "Trusting me the way you do, I'm so afraid of failing you..."  Hasn't everyone, whether they're a parent or not, struggled with wanting to live up to the expectations of someone they love?  Not necessarily to Succeed in Life or Be Famous or anything big like that, but to be the caring, loving kind of person that a small child sees in you.  

Yeah, when Amy reviews Les Miserables, Amy goes deep.  :D

I was SO PLEASED with how the part from the brick was included about fleeing from Javert (with Spiderman-like escape routes!) and taking refuge in the convent.  With the addition of Father Fauchelevent, too!  How nice!  Poor guy gets totally neglected onstage... squished by a vegetable cart and then never heard from again. Tragic.  

And was I the only one who burs tinto tears again when they got to the convent and the nuns were singing the mass to the Bishop's music (which, technically, is "Empty Chairs"?  Gahhhhh.  Loved that. The welcoming arms helping Valjean start over once again... yup, yup, symbolism again. I should be an English teacher.

And now... we come to "Stars."  Javert's big showstopping eleven o'clock number.  I was on the edge of my seat at this point (totally approve the rearrangement choices, by the way!  It was well-placed here!) because if Russell Crowe messed it up, I was going to be one angry Mizzer.

Did he mess it up? Did he?  .
... He did not.

I know, I know.  I never thought I'd say that.  But I found myself actually liking his version of the song.  No, it wasn't spine-chilling like Philip Quast's.  No, it didn't shake the back seats of the theater like Andrew Varela's.  No, it didn't resound into the sky like Norm Lewis'.   It was different... but it was still good. As he started singing, I was couldn't help thinking... I am enjoying this.  I like his voice.  THIS IS A PLEASANT VOICE TO LISTEN TO.  THIS IS A GOOD SONG.  Now the end notes were still pretty weak and I didn't like the pop-ish influence that crept in here and there, but it was so much better than I thought it would be.  But I would like to take this opportunity to say that people like me who are deathly afraid of heights ought to be warned before seeing the movie, because YEEEESH.  Must we really have approximately ten minutes of screen time with Javert walking along edges of ten-story buildings????

But overall... I was pleased.  Not thrilled, but more than tolerant.  Just pleased.  Petie and other Russell Crowe fans, you may feel free to be proud of me and pat me on the head.

And... we are going to stop there for tonight.  It's getting late and you should be in bed.  Part Two will come ASAP... I definitely won't delay in writing that bit.  Because, you know, Introduction of My Favorite Characters and all that jazz.  (Sneak preview of Part Two:  Enjolras is amazing.)

Miss Daae Has Returned

"I trust her midnight oil is well and truly burned..."
"Where precisely is she now?"
"I thought it best that she went home--"
"--SHE NEEDED REST--"

Sorry.

I'm just popping in (I've been doing that a lot recently...) to say that I'm back (thank you for pointing that out, my dear) and to give a note of appreciation to Melody for keeping things in order around here while I was gone.  (You didn't give her any trouble, now did you?)  My J&W review went up on Tuesday, as you are doubtless aware, and is the first of what I hope will be quite a few period drama reviews here on YAPDB before June is out.  I signed up to participate in Miss Laurie's period drama challenge back in... January, was it?... and if you count J&W I've had a grand total of two PD reviews on here since then.  Pathetic.  I intend to make up for that in the coming weeks--whether I actually achieve my goal of ten period dramas before July 1st is doubtful, but I shall at least do my best. Prepare thee for an onslaught of movie reviews, okay?   Here's a really, really broad hint as to what the next one will be about...

Jeeves and Wooster (The Complete Series) Review

What ho, followers all!  It's time today to tackle my very first review of a television show, and I shall attempt to do my best, but I must say that I simply can't concentrate until Anne-girl takes off that ridiculous hat.  Ladies do not wear straw hats in the metropolis, madam.  Where on earth did she get it?  I can only assume that it got into her wardrobe by mistake... or else had been placed there by her enemies.

Ah, yes, thank you for complying, Anne-girl.  Spiffing.  Very well, we can now proceed.

Now I must warn you that I am quite fond of this television series, quite fond indeed (in fact it is my favorite) and though I would like to do justice to it through writing a simply brilliant review, I'm afraid that the sheer brilliancy of the series itself tends to make me feel as though I had all the intelligence of a backwards clam and ought to just give up and join the Drones club.  At least there I'd be appreciated--might even be considered a dangerous intellect.

But anyway.  Here goes nothing.

"What? Certainly, Jeeves. What, a bit vivid do you think?"
"Not necessarily, sir. I am told that Mr. Freddy He’s-a-Riot Flowerdew often
appears on the music-hall stage in comparable attire, but…"
"No, no, no. No, no, no.  No buts, Jeeves.  I happen to think very highly of them."

Jeeves and Wooster is possibly the most hilarious television program ever to grace my portable DVD player.  The fact that I watch about four television programs with any kind of regularity does not lessen the distinction because J&W (as it shall hereinafter be abbreviated) is just plain hilarious.   Everybody says that Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie are comedic genius.   The reason for this widely held opinion is that it is the truth.

Hugh Laurie (first known to me as the ever-hilarious, the one and only Mr. Palmer in S&S95) absolutely IS Bertie Wooster.  The first Jeeves book I ever read was... mmm... Thank You, Jeeves, and having seen a few photos of Bertie from the show beforehand, I was able to easily picture him in my mind.  Exceedingly helpful when one is reading a book before seeing a movie or show, you know.  It's horrid when you get one idea of a character firmly fixated in your head while reading the book and then have to get jolted into something completely different when you see the movie.  (The people in my head are generally better.)  

I knew I liked Bertie from the moment his hilarious narrative commentary began on the first page of Thank You, Jeeves.  I mean, what's not to like? The man has an impeccable sense of the ridiculous (even if he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer at all times), a delightful lack of taste when it comes to clothes, the ability to see the bright side in most situations, an unswerving loyalty to his friends, an old-fashioned code of honor (er, code of the Woosters) refreshing to see in the dissipated 1920's (and in the even-worse 2010's, I might add) and a profoundly humorous way of expressing himself.  (See above.)  And Hugh Laurie captures every bit of Bertie's personality to a T.The only thing I can't understand is why anyone so uniformly charming could acquire so many enemies as Bertie seems to have done.

Take Aunt Agatha Gregson, for instance.  She's basically the dragon of the show.  First she's played by Mary Wimbush and then she's played by Elizabeth Spriggs, and I hope that doesn't confuse you because she's not the only character in the show to get replaced.

Though I love Elizabeth Spriggs' portrayal in the last season, Mary Wimbush is my favorite Aunt Agatha.  She has the full-blown ship's-foghorn voice that I always imagined Aunt Agatha had, she has the third-best facial expressions on the show (after Jeeves and Bertie, of course-- oh, no, wait, I forgot Madeline Bassett in her third incarnation so never mind) and she has some pretty amazing quotes.  "Don't talk drivel, Bertie."  Aunt Agatha is completely convinced that her idle, rich nephew can't do anything right, and the fact that she's ninety-five percent correct somehow doesn't stop everyone from hating her.  In a good way, of course.  Because she's funny.

Elizabeth Spriggs does a fabulous job of portraying Aunt Agatha, too, and I can't help remembering Sense and Sensibility when I see her scenes with Hugh Laurie.  "Oh, Mr. Palmer is so droll!"  Only of course on J&W she doesn't think he's droll at all.  "Drooling" would be a better adjective.

Like I said, several characters get replaced over the duration of the show, and if I had one complaint about J&W it would be about that.  It's rather annoying to find that a recurring character (albeit minor) suddenly has a new face, new voice, practically a new personality (Pauline Stoker, I'm looking at you) or that one of your favorite characters has changed just enough to spark debate between you and your sister as to whether it's a new actor or not (it was. Gussie Fink-Nottle, what is up with that???).  And as for Madeline Bassett... girl, you were portrayed by no less than THREE different actresses in a four-year period, and the first actress to play you went on to be a character who is your POLAR OPPOSITE  (hi, Lady Florence!) in the latter seasons.  What.  Is.  Going.  On.  Here.

Let's take this one step at a time.  We'll begin with Gussie Fink-Nottle.  I have a bit of a soft spot for Gussie-- he's a lovable eccentric, but not at all like King Louis XVI.  (Um, sorry.  Inside joke for Horrible Histories fans.)  He likes newts, first and foremost, and... well...

I'm not saying I'm agreeing.  I'm just saying he has a point.  Poor Gussie is constantly getting himself into some sort of fix--whether it be romantical, involving his off-and-on fiancee Madeline Bassett, or relating to inebriation, involving spiked orange juice and some duplicitous behaviour on the part of his dear friend Bertie.  (Melody's scowling and harrumphing at me right now, I can just see her.)  And it's usually up to Bertie to get him OUT of the fix.  Er, that is, for Bertie to attempt to get him out, to fail miserably and make the matter worse, and for Jeeves to step in and smoothly save the day.  Yay Jeeves!

Now if only Bertie could have stepped in and befuddled the day (and then summoned Jeeves to save the day) when Richard Garnett got replaced on the show and Richard Braine took his place.  I mean, Richard Braine is fine and all.  But he tries too hard to be just like Richard Garnett, and he's just... not.  The hair isn't right, the glasses aren't right, the face isn't right, and above all the adorable LISP just isn't right.  Nope.  I want First-and-Second-Season-Gussie or none at all, thankyouverymuch.

Florence Craye is another favorite character--although she's supposed to be just as horrid as Aunt Agatha, she's one of those people that you enjoy having around, if you know what I mean.  You don't necessarily LIKE her, but you're happy when she makes an appearance, because you know hilarity is bound to ensue.  Francesca Folan plays the best Lady Florence, but she did not make a very good Madeline Bassett.  I know I said earlier that the two characters are polar opposites, but they're more than that--they're PENGUIN opposites.   Lady Florence is a forward-thinking, get-it-done-and-get-it-done-now, I-tolerate-no-nonsense-from-people-named-Wooster, politically minded spirit of regurgitated womanhood.*  Just look at the look on poor Bertie's face in the picture above.  That's basically his one and only facial expression whenever Florence is around.  Any woman who can reduce Hugh Laurie to a single facial expression has to be pretty awful.  "The root of the trouble," as Bertie says in Joy in the Morning, "was that she was one of those intellectual girls, steeped to the gills in serious purpose, who are unable to see a male soul without wanting to get behind it and shove."

Oh, and don't make any disparaging remarks about poor Bertie's white jacket in that picture, 'kay?  He has enough to handle from Jeeves.

"Beautiful women used to catch my eye."
"Presumably they thought you were a waiter, sir."

Back to Florence and Madeline.  Like I said, Francesca Folan does a great job acting the part of Lady Caligula.  Madeline Bassett, on the other hand, is the kind of girl who believes that every time a fairy blows its wee nose a baby is born, or something to that effect.

Bertie himself describes Madeline as a "pretty enough girl in a droopy, blonde, saucer-eyed way, but not the sort of breath-taker that takes the breath."  (Have I mentioned how much I enjoy Bertie's narrative.  Well, I do.)  Elizabeth Morton brings this across fabulously.  As mentioned before, she is a third-regeneration Madeline, and she's the best of the lot. When she maintains that the stars are God's daisy-chain (whaaaaat?), that Winnie-the-Pooh is the be-all, end-all of great literature (I'll give her that one) or that nothing in life can compare to the glory of being Countess of Sidcup (have fun, honey) she's actually believable.  I mean, some of the time you just kinda want to smack her upside the head with a Reality Check, but for the most part you're laughing too hard to be able to do that.

And don't get me started on her voice.  Just watch this clip and you'll see.  (Excellent Florence moment, too.  And an excellent Bertie moment-- as you can see, he's managed to get himself engaged to two ladies at once.  Brilliant planning there, old sport.)

Did I mention that Madeline spends the entire series laboring under the delusion that Bertie is madly in love with her?  Well, she does.  And it's hilarious.  Because he's not.

There are so many other characters that I'd love to talk about in great detail (Barmy Funky-Phipps for one-- he's the chap who thinks all the buildings in New York are tall because the plans got flipped sideways) but I really haven't time or space today, and I doubt you have the patience.  (This is not meant to reflect upon your levels of patience.)  Just go watch the show, okay?  Start at the beginning and go on until you get to the end.  Then stop.

By now you're probably frowning at me and tapping your fingers passive-aggressively, wondering when I'm going to get wise to the fact that I've left out an extremely important character.  Jeeves by name, valet by nature, to be precise.

Don't be silly, I didn't forget him. I just saved the best for last.  Reginald Jeeves is Bertie Wooster's trusty valet  and my absolute favorite character on the show, bar none.  Yes, he's better than Bertie.  Yes, I would be happy to hear your long list of reasons why Bertie is actually the best character--my comment box is at the bottom.  Yes, I will happily agree with each and every one of your reasons, but I will still maintain that Jeeves is the best.

Because Jeeves is more than just a gentleman's gentleman.  He is a calming presence.  He is balm on troubled water. He is the great brain that thrives on tinned fish and saves hopeless situations. His first name, as previously mentioned in brief, is Reginald, but we try to gloss over that bit.

(He is not a butler, in spite of inaccurate popular belief, but he has served in that position in a pinch and Bertie notes that he can "buttle with the best of them" when necessary.)

Jeeves has impeccable taste where clothes are concerned and does not hesitate to inform his employer when his employer's attire is less than satisfactory. White dinner jackets are a no-no, for example. A silken tie studded with little horseshoes once reduced the inimitable Jeeves to a shaking mess. And mustaches are an abomination and degradation. (So are goatees, but thankfully Bertie never goes quite THAT far.) 

Practically everybody likes Jeeves-- how could one help it? The only notable exception is a certain gentleman's gentleman with teeth like old harpsichord keys who goes by the name of Brinkley... but then, Brinkley's probably the most easily-disliked character on the whole show so I leave you to draw your own conclusions.  Small children have been known to be uncooperative when Jeeves requests their assistance, but bribery (which, according to Rosalind Penderwick, is immoral) can work wonders.

So can Jeeves, you know. What else can I say? Watch the show with all possible speed, try not to strain a rib while laughing and then let me know what you thought of it. And please do tell me I'm not the only one who actually really liked Honoria Glossop. "What ho, Glossops all!"

...Oops. Sorry. Shouldn't have said that. "Mother doesn't like me to say 'what ho.'"

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehn, goodbye and all that...

(random pretty picture that has nothing to do with the post)

I'm not leaving permanently, of course (don't start celebrating just yet)-- I'm only going to my grandmother's for a few days, but I shan't be here during that time (do tell!) and so I'm just popping in really quickly to apologize for my absence of late.  (I'm a high school graduate now, by the way.  Which I think is supposed to mean I'm supposed to act grown-up.  Have to do a little research on that.)  At any rate, there will hopefully be a nice period drama review popping up in the next few days (scheduled to appear while I'm gone so nobody dies of heartache) and that should tide you over until my return.

In the meantime, the lovely Melody will be chatelaine of YAPDB, in charge of comments and what have you.  Be good and do what she says, and I shall see y'all on Friday!

Barricade Boys Week... and a guest post!

Eva-Joy is hosting a Barricade Boys week over at Ramblings of a Janeite in celebration of the week in 1832 when all our favorite literary characters got killed.  ...Well, is that inaccurate?  IS IT?  

Teasing aside, I'm incredibly excited about this blog event, and I think the rest of you will enjoy all the delightful Les-Mis-themed posts popping up on her blog this week.  I wanted to do something on my own blog to commemorate the 181st anniversary of the 1832 Paris Rebellion, but time got away from me this spring and I wasn't able to plan anything.  Which is why I'm so very excited that I DID have the opportunity to write a guest post for Eva-Joy's event!  Please head right over here to read my ramblings about my favorite little revolutionary... and I specify little, because I have a couple of other favorites too.  :D

It's Not Just 'Liza Doolittle Day Today...

{{aka Amy Couldn't Think of a Better Post Title}}

First of all, Happy 'Liza Doolittle day to one and all!  If you don't know what that's supposed to mean and haven't seen My Fair Lady... perhaps you should go watch it. If you have seen the movie but are still confused... well, just go re-watch this part. I would celebrate by watching My Fair Lady again today, except for the fact that I want to save it to watch during The Event which is to happen in 50 days; that is the other occasion today marks, and it far surpasses even the day when England sings the praises of Eliza Doolittle. It is exactly 50 days until... well, before you know that, a story is required to be told.

This, my friends, is The Story of Amy and Melody. Told by... well, Amy and Melody, naturally.

It all began on a bright autumn day in 2011 when a girl by the name of Amy started blogging under the pseudonym of Miss Dashwood.  Things didn't start to happen merely because this brilliant young lady had decided to start a blog of wit and humor and thought-provoking writing.  Nope, that was only part of it--the real reason that Things Began to Happen was that another young lady by the name of Melody came to visit and commentate upon the blog (a kind favor in return for Amy's having recently followed HER blog, and for the charming comments she'd left there) and became the first commentator and follower on Amy's newly-created blog.  And that, gentle readers, is when it began.

Because this was no ordinary acquaintanceship maintained over blog comments and courteous once-in-a-while interaction.  Indeed, it snowballed quite rapidly into an exchange of email addresses, which led to manifold emails, which led to the tentative exchange of phone numbers, which led to a (slightly) nerve-wracking phone conversation (well, only nerve-wracking during the first thirty seconds or so) which led to MORE and MORE and MORE emails and phone calls and before you could say "two are better than one," these kindred spirits had formed a fast, firm, long-lasting, super-duper, extra-special, indubitably swellissimus friendship.

And in case that doesn't give you a detailed enough idea of the manner of our friendship--as Mr. Bennet would say, "read on!"

When a person wishes to indicate they don't have a romantic interest in somebody, they say that they are "just friends." Just friends, eh?  In our (very humble) opinions, they rather underestimate friendship. Perhaps they momentarily forgot--or have never been able to find out--just how meaningful friendship can be.  Probably the latter... not many have the chance to discover a friendship that goes beyond ones usually met with (which are nice in themselves). One that is a series of continuous delights, that adds new definition to one's life in general, that never grows old, and where the bond only strengthens; where you feel as if your friend is another part of you, and without them you would feel like something was missing. They probably never got to know somebody and found their thoughts, feelings and understanding to be so in tune with each other that it was like they were always meant to go together.

But though these two young ladies knew their friendship was something incredibly special, one seemingly insurmountable, nearly overwhelming obstacle still lay between them: many, many miles.  The United States is a pretty big place (oops, we just told you we both live in the United States--our privacy is RUINED!) and, as life would have it, these kindred spirits live practically as far apart from each other as the country allows.  Yet there was only one thing to do--pray, hope and plan for a face-to-face visit . (Oh, wait, that's actually three things.) Someday. Somehow.  Somewhere.

And so the cautious suggesting of the idea to their parents began. (Initial reactions? "Well, I don't know about you going to see HER... but if she wants to come visit us, she's more than welcome!") As did the saving of money.  The discussions over the phone, Skype, email and good old-fashioned letters (did we mention they did those too?).  It seemed so unrealistic at times, almost a pipe dream, and at other times it seemed something that simply MUST and would happen, come what may. If the force of sheer willpower could do it, circumstances would have no choice but to obey.

Let's cut to the chase.  After many months of speculating, praying, dreaming, wishing and calculating, it happened.  Airline tickets were purchased.  Days were marked on a calendar.  And we stand (well, sit--when we're not busy jumping up and down, of course) here today delighted, thrilled, over-the-top SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEE-ing to announce that Amy is going  to visit Melody in just fifty days.  FIFTY DAYS, PEOPLES. (In case you don't want to have to do the counting, we'll just tell you that it's happening on July 9th, 2013.)

 How excited do you think we are? Okay, take that and multiply it by fifty, make it all-in-caps and throw in any number of exclamation points, and you might be coming close.

*waits a few moments for the news to fully sink in*

And that is why we are not watching My Fair Lady on this Eliza Doolittle Day. Because, you see, we will be watching it in less than two months. Together. IN REAL LIFE. (We consider it to be our musical, you know. For reasons unbeknownst to all of you and that would take too long to explain. Did we mention all the private jokes and such we have? Well, yeah, that was probably kind of a given... and don't even get us started on all the nicknames and acronyms. Your head would swim.)

As for the rest of our plans... well, let's just say we have QUITE a list. (There are a lot more period dramas to be viewed too, by the way.) Will we be able to complete everything on it? Heh, extremely doubtful. But we're as sure as certainty going to try our best. :D It's going to be the craziest,  eight days (EIGHT WHOOOOOOLE DAYYYYYYYYYS!!!!!!!!!) of our lives; we intend to make the most of every single second with each other.

Just a small sneak-peek at some of the things we have planned...

~Have an elegant party where Amy can meet all Melody’s friends
~Go picnicking at a park
~Talk by candlelight at night
~Jump on Melody’s trampoline
~Visit a bookstore and read titles aloud to each other in dramatic voices and poke fun at the silly Jane Austen sequels
~Poke inside fun books such as the old Sears catalogs and look at old clothes
~Each get our own journal beforehand to write in the whole time, and then at the end we switch them and each have the one the other wrote (awkwardly phrased, but you get the idea)
~Play such delightful games as Beyond Balderdash, Imaginiff, Identify That Soundtrack and Clue
~Act out favorite scenes from period dramas and books
~Go English Country Dancing (SQUEEEEEEE!)
~Go to the mall to try on clothes and window-shop and sit on a bench and crrrrrriticise people
~Camp out in the backyard
~Play The Seaside as a duet on the piano (Amy needs to start practicing that...)

And, of course, we intend to post during the visit and keep y'all updated.  Writing blog things together? Well, indubitably! That's how we met, isn't it?  Can we just say again how thrilled and excited we are????

"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up."

~Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

All of the above was written by Us Together-- now it's just Amy (your usual host) putting in my two cents.  I'm not going to take up this entire space squealing and being immature (though I'm happy to do so if anyone wants to see it) but I AM going to go on (and on and on) for a wee bit about how thrilled to tears I am.  

When I first started blogging I never dreamed I'd make as many friends as I have (and I'm thankful every day for each one of you!) and certainly never imagined that one girl in particular would become such a part of me, such a kindred spirit, such a truly one-of-the-race-that-knows-Joseph as to make me wonder how I ever survived without her in my life.  I honestly pity those of you who don't yet know Melody-- and all I can do is give you a link to her blog and tell you to go meet her.  

The bond between Melody and myself is more than just a shared love of Jane Austen, classic literature, period dramas, strawberries, Carol Ryrie Brink books, Edwardian fashion, My Fair Lady and silly pictures of cats.  It's a sisterhood in the truest sense of the word (as we're both daughters of one Heavenly Father), an understanding of what makes each other tick, a sense of sharing thoughts without even having to speak them, a feeling of being absolutely free to be oneself and not worry that the other will be annoyed.  

It's a link that spans hundreds of miles (literally), a knowledge that what makes one of us laugh will undoubtedly give the other a giggle as well, a comfortableness with each other--though we've never yet actually met face-to-face--that enables us to be silent on Skype or the phone at times and not feel the teensiest bit of awkwardness.  

Melody and I have laughed together, confided in each other, shared sorrows and joys and every kind of imaginable craziness in the nineteen months we've known each other.  And yet I know full well that we still haven't plumbed the depths of our friendship, that we still have so much more to learn about each other, so many more adventures to take and things to do.  The prospect of the eight days together in July is making me so happy, so elated, so awed and thrilled and chilled, so very full of squeeeeeeee, that I honestly don't know how I'm going to get through the fifty days that remain until then.

Is it too soon to start packing?

“There is one friend in the life of each of us who seems not a separate person, however dear and beloved, but an expansion, an interpretation, of one’s self, the very meaning of one’s soul.” 

–Edith Wharton

Lazy Blogging at its Finest

I know, I know.  I'm doing two tags in a row.  Lazy blogging at its finest.  But I promise you that there will be a lengthy movie (well, okay, TV show) review up on here by the end of this week and that you may tie to.   This is the famous Elevensies tag coming 'round again, and though I've done it before, my darling Eowyn was the one to tag me this time and her questions looked fun so I couldn't resist.

You've all seen this done before, I expect, but I'll list the rules anyway-- I have to give you eleven random facts pertaining to moi, answer Eowyn's eleven questions, tag eleven people and come up with eleven questions for THOSE people to answer.  Here goes.


I'm horrid at coming up with random facts about myself, and to be honest, what I know about myself isn't half as interesting as what I imagine about myself so we're going to do something different today.  You'll get eleven random facts, yes, but here's the catch-- some of them are truth and some of them are whoppers.  Your job is to discern the "Things That Actually Happened" from the "Things That Prove Miss Dashwood Probably Needs Professional Help."

Eleven True (And False) Random Facts About Me

1. I have visited the Grand Canyon.
2. I am lactose intolerant.
3. I received my first marriage proposal when I was five.  (This proposal was declined.)

4. I once met a famous Olympic gymnast.
5. My parents gave me a Labradoodle puppy for my eleventh birthday.
6. I have scars on my right arm from when a tree branch fell on me last summer.
7. I wear both glasses and contacts (but not at the same time).
8. My favorite Enjolras is Aaron Tveit from the 2012 Les Mis movie.

9. I have "flown" in a hot air balloon (okay, it was tethered; your point?)
10. I got caught once in a train door (the sliding kind--it closed on me as I was going in.  Painful, but no lasting damage).
11. I really, really want to take part in a flash mob someday, but haven't yet gotten the chance to do so.


Eowyn's Questions

1. What was the most recent movie you've seen and what did you think of it?

Cars 2 was the last one I watched, but it wasn't for the first time so I don't know if it counts... anyways, I really enjoyed it.  I mean, Pixar, people.  What's not to love.  I'm really not a racecar kind of girl (I get more amusement out of the fact that the word's a palindrome than from actually watching the sport) but I like the movie anyway.  It's much more character-driven than machine-driven (heh, heh, heh, pun intended) and I'm just happy every time Mater, Luigi or Guido show up on screen.  "Hey!  You done good, you got all the leaves!"  Oh, and Jedediah McQueen's hilarious too.

(I know, I know, this quote's from the first movie.  :))

2. Would you rather live on the beach or in the mountains?

Beach all the way.  I would be quite happy to get a little house in Cape May (or another equally cute and less tourist-y seaside town) and live there forever.  Ocean breezes, sand and seagulls, biking on the boardwalk... yep, I could get used to it.  Guys, I want a lighthouse.

3. What's your favorite Disney Princess and why?

Belle, hands down.  She's the bookish one.  :D  That library in the Beast's castle is to drool for.

4. What's your favorite book?  (Or, if you can't decide, what are your three top favorite books?)

Eowyn, I always knew you were a kindred spirit.  Top three-- THANK YOU.  Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Les Miserables by Victor Hugo.

5. Would you rather live in Narnia, Middle-Earth, or 1860's England?

Being hardly at all acquainted with the first two choices and quite fascinated with the third, I'll go with 1860's England.  :D

6. Who is your favorite movie or book character?

Eowyn, all that stuff about being a kindred spirit-- I take it back.  HOW can you DO this to me.  ARGH.  Um.  We'll go with the book I'm reading right now and say Jane from Jane Eyre, with the understanding that this answer is subject to change as soon as I start something new.  Heehee.

7. Have you ever heard of Focus on the Family's Father Gilbert Mysteries?  If so, what do you think of them?

I've heard OF them, but haven't actually heard--that is, listened to--them.

8. If you could pick anywhere in the world, where would you want to live when you get married?

Well, I talked about the beach in another answer, so I'll say something else now... hmmm... well, if it weren't so far from my family and friends, I'd go to Ireland!  To be honest I love the idea of globetrotting-- I don't necessarily mean traveling and "seeing all the sights" but packing up at a moment's notice and moving to a brand-new place, be it small-town Mitford or the Scottish highlands or New York City.  Of course I also like the idea of settling down and living in the same place for years and years and years and creating lots of memories.  I suppose to answer this properly I'll just be sappy and romantical and say that I want to live wherever my true love is.  There.  Laugh if you must.

9. What's your favorite musical?

Ummmm.... thinking REALLY HARD here...

10. Cake or ice cream?

'Eavenly cake!

11. How many times have you been to Disney World?

I've actually been there three times.  Once when I was two and so young I didn't appreciate it--literally cried when I met the terrifying creature they call Mickey Mouse--once when I was almost twelve and definitely old enough to appreciate it and once when I was sixteen, ditto.  My aunt used to work there, and it's always been a pipe dream of mine to get a job being Mary Poppins at those character meet-and-greets (my phobia of costumed people has worn off, by the way).

Center of photo in the blue flowered rompers-- yep, that's yours truly in 1997.

My Eleven Questions

1.  Have you ever eaten caviar?  If so, what was it like?  If not, would you be willing to try it someday?
2.  When did you first learn to ride a bike?
3.  Elizabeth Gaskell or Charles Dickens? (I leave Jane Austen out of it, we all KNOW she's the best...)
4.  What's your favorite long/interesting/complex word?
5.  Put your music playing device on shuffle and tell us the names of the first three songs that come up, no skipping.
6.  What's the funniest dream you ever had?
7.  How many plays have you seen performed live? (School plays and amateur productions totally count.)
8.  Mexican food, Chinese food or neither?  Why?
9.  Is there a name that you consistently mispronounced for years and then finally heard someone say it out loud and felt completely mortified for saying it wrong all that time?
10.  Which Les Mis character are you?
11.  What's your favorite board game?  (it doesn't have to be an actual BOARD game... technically Bananagrams isn't a board game, but you know the genre I'm talking about)

And I Tag...

Twinnie
Molly
Marie (private blog)
Lily (private blog)
Belle (and Addy and Emma)
The Young Sage
Hayden
Eowyn (she said we could tag back)
Petie
Miss Melody Muffin
Ally (though I know she's done this tag loads of times already)

To anyone else who wants to do it... my comment box is open and waiting!  And to close off this higgledy-piggledy post, I leave you with a chuckle...