In Which I consider Hunting Down an Enjorlas Icon
... I'm sure they exist somewhere. Or find the right screencap/promotional picture if possible and make some. As a last resort, scan one out of the program.
So, Les Mis hasn't moved out of my brain at all in the past few days ((It's gotten worse)) and I'm still looping the soundtrack. I got my hands on the original london cast finally ((I have the live recording off the 25th anniversary)) and honestly I find the instrumentals in the London to be so very apparently 80s. Which isn't always a bad thing, and they certainly have amazing voices. Now to hunt down the Broadway soundtrack because omg Terrance Mann's voice is worth just about any price.
Then I watched the 1998 movie version of it with Liam Neeson as Jean and Geoffrey Rush as Javert. Based off the actual book, the first half of it was amazing. It expanded upon the relationship between Jean and Fantine in such a way as to clearly show him falling in love with her before taking her daughter and raising her. Also, I loved the Abbe in this one. The play he shows up and it's just shown him giving Jean the candlesticks which honestly is all you need to know. But in the book there was like a 70 page introduction to just him and his character and his life. ((I personally like that bit, though a lot of people find it needless or not as interesting. I think it's a good set up.)) But him giving Jean the silver and the Candlesticks is so much more meaningful when you understand his entire life. He's very, very poor and has to support himself and two women ((One's his sister for sure, I think the other one is too? Or an aunt or something.)) Their one pride is eating off silver. So, what I really loved in this film version is it shows him gardening the next day when they bring Jean back to him, and it's clear his sister is freaking out, and he just goes, "Then we will eat with *wooden* spoons" like it's just that simple. His sister is not so happy.
I also really liked their little girl Cosette. She was freaking adorable. They cast older Cosette very well too. ((And god, Javert in this one. Spot on. Well done Geoffrey Rush, well done)). ((Actually I pretty much adore most of this cast.)). So, the first half was great. Actually, it was doing really well until it introduced Marius.
... I'm still just a little bit peeved at that one. The actor was sure damn pretty, but Marius was never supposed to be the revolutionary. You kinda just fucked up his entire ending there guys, where he goes back to his grandfather and settles back down into the life of a fairly wealthy guy. If he's the passionate leader of the revolutionaries, this means he's never going to be content with that life, Cosette or no Cosette. I mean, it also changes his character pretty much entirely. Book/Musical Marius would not even recongize this movie Marius. ((But damn was the actor pretty.))
They screwed with the end a little too, but honestly that worked fairly well. I'm just resentful of them cutting out Enjorlar except for a couple side lines. Grantaire showed up briefly though. I love how I can spot this character instantly. >.>
Then watched the 25th Anniversary Concert recording. I'm still having a few issues with their Enjorlas ((Can you tell who's one of my favorite characters yet? I'm still trying to figure out why but seriously. I'm drifting toward my copy of the novel to reread every single scene with him in it, more on that in a minute)). A) a small part of me is sitting here all but wanting to scream, he's supposed to be Blond! It was such a point of his character in the book, being the "Apollo." Black actors play him a lot, and I really don't want to say this is a bad thing at all but... blond! *Small voice* blond! and b) honestly the actor lacks charisma. Like, it's probably the fault of the actor we saw becuase he really blew this out of the water. The very well he held himself was full of charisma and you could imagine following him around. He also played the Rum Tum Tugger, go figure. Both of roles that need a whole ton of charisma to pull off, and so many actors I've seen in videos or movies lack that.
But, I'm just about ready to forgive him a lot for deciding subtext is unneeded, we might as well just go all out.
So, for those that don't have this cast and song memorized ((Cough, me, cough)) Enjorlas is the guy with black hair wearing the white shirt and red and gold vest leaning against his gun. Grantaire is the guy in the green shirt, pinkish vest and scarf and the one who holds up a bottle before his verse long solo. These two tend to have a pretty interesting relationship ((For instance, in the recording I have, on Grantaire's second line Enjorlas yells at him, "Grantaire that's ENOUGH" and he keeps singing on anyway)). In this particular version, after singing Grantaire glances over, notices Enjorlas is ticked, gives him a very long and meaningful look and turns to go. Enjorlas grabs his arm, they talk for a few moments before Grantaire cups Enjorlas under the *ear* which is a pretty intimate place guys. Then? They walk off into the night together. Subtly? What is that? ((http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fXe2HII-iA a different angle on that scene.))
Furthermore, well played Nick Jonas as Marius, well played indeed.
So, pretty much, I want to go back and reread every Enjorlas scene in the book... and write an essay on him and Grantaire. In the book it's stated that Grantaire is in love with Enjorlas, but it's implied it's much more of the Greek Ideal sort of love, which means research into: Greek forms of love, French ideas on homosexuality in both 1832 and the time at which Hugo was actually writing. As well as every scene with one or the other ((I don't recall any scenes with Grantaire that didn't have Enjorlas too.))
Oh, and a set of muses I thought I wasn't ever going to hear from again randomly showed up and reminded me they want their novel. >.> Lovely.
So, Les Mis hasn't moved out of my brain at all in the past few days ((It's gotten worse)) and I'm still looping the soundtrack. I got my hands on the original london cast finally ((I have the live recording off the 25th anniversary)) and honestly I find the instrumentals in the London to be so very apparently 80s. Which isn't always a bad thing, and they certainly have amazing voices. Now to hunt down the Broadway soundtrack because omg Terrance Mann's voice is worth just about any price.
Then I watched the 1998 movie version of it with Liam Neeson as Jean and Geoffrey Rush as Javert. Based off the actual book, the first half of it was amazing. It expanded upon the relationship between Jean and Fantine in such a way as to clearly show him falling in love with her before taking her daughter and raising her. Also, I loved the Abbe in this one. The play he shows up and it's just shown him giving Jean the candlesticks which honestly is all you need to know. But in the book there was like a 70 page introduction to just him and his character and his life. ((I personally like that bit, though a lot of people find it needless or not as interesting. I think it's a good set up.)) But him giving Jean the silver and the Candlesticks is so much more meaningful when you understand his entire life. He's very, very poor and has to support himself and two women ((One's his sister for sure, I think the other one is too? Or an aunt or something.)) Their one pride is eating off silver. So, what I really loved in this film version is it shows him gardening the next day when they bring Jean back to him, and it's clear his sister is freaking out, and he just goes, "Then we will eat with *wooden* spoons" like it's just that simple. His sister is not so happy.
I also really liked their little girl Cosette. She was freaking adorable. They cast older Cosette very well too. ((And god, Javert in this one. Spot on. Well done Geoffrey Rush, well done)). ((Actually I pretty much adore most of this cast.)). So, the first half was great. Actually, it was doing really well until it introduced Marius.
... I'm still just a little bit peeved at that one. The actor was sure damn pretty, but Marius was never supposed to be the revolutionary. You kinda just fucked up his entire ending there guys, where he goes back to his grandfather and settles back down into the life of a fairly wealthy guy. If he's the passionate leader of the revolutionaries, this means he's never going to be content with that life, Cosette or no Cosette. I mean, it also changes his character pretty much entirely. Book/Musical Marius would not even recongize this movie Marius. ((But damn was the actor pretty.))
They screwed with the end a little too, but honestly that worked fairly well. I'm just resentful of them cutting out Enjorlar except for a couple side lines. Grantaire showed up briefly though. I love how I can spot this character instantly. >.>
Then watched the 25th Anniversary Concert recording. I'm still having a few issues with their Enjorlas ((Can you tell who's one of my favorite characters yet? I'm still trying to figure out why but seriously. I'm drifting toward my copy of the novel to reread every single scene with him in it, more on that in a minute)). A) a small part of me is sitting here all but wanting to scream, he's supposed to be Blond! It was such a point of his character in the book, being the "Apollo." Black actors play him a lot, and I really don't want to say this is a bad thing at all but... blond! *Small voice* blond! and b) honestly the actor lacks charisma. Like, it's probably the fault of the actor we saw becuase he really blew this out of the water. The very well he held himself was full of charisma and you could imagine following him around. He also played the Rum Tum Tugger, go figure. Both of roles that need a whole ton of charisma to pull off, and so many actors I've seen in videos or movies lack that.
But, I'm just about ready to forgive him a lot for deciding subtext is unneeded, we might as well just go all out.
Click to viewSo, for those that don't have this cast and song memorized ((Cough, me, cough)) Enjorlas is the guy with black hair wearing the white shirt and red and gold vest leaning against his gun. Grantaire is the guy in the green shirt, pinkish vest and scarf and the one who holds up a bottle before his verse long solo. These two tend to have a pretty interesting relationship ((For instance, in the recording I have, on Grantaire's second line Enjorlas yells at him, "Grantaire that's ENOUGH" and he keeps singing on anyway)). In this particular version, after singing Grantaire glances over, notices Enjorlas is ticked, gives him a very long and meaningful look and turns to go. Enjorlas grabs his arm, they talk for a few moments before Grantaire cups Enjorlas under the *ear* which is a pretty intimate place guys. Then? They walk off into the night together. Subtly? What is that? ((http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fXe2HII-iA a different angle on that scene.))
Furthermore, well played Nick Jonas as Marius, well played indeed.
So, pretty much, I want to go back and reread every Enjorlas scene in the book... and write an essay on him and Grantaire. In the book it's stated that Grantaire is in love with Enjorlas, but it's implied it's much more of the Greek Ideal sort of love, which means research into: Greek forms of love, French ideas on homosexuality in both 1832 and the time at which Hugo was actually writing. As well as every scene with one or the other ((I don't recall any scenes with Grantaire that didn't have Enjorlas too.))
Oh, and a set of muses I thought I wasn't ever going to hear from again randomly showed up and reminded me they want their novel. >.> Lovely.