Current status of the USS Hadhafang.
Doing all right, for the most part, other than a bit of a scuffle in the Star Trek fandom, including someone else going "Respect the old Trek and move forward", which would be touching, really, if he didn't accuse the new Doctor Who fans of being scammed, express the desire to kill Christopher Nolan, etc. People like him, really, are the type that make me want to devise a button that says, "In case of Holier Than Thou Budding Misogynist (because he made some honestly awful remarks about women on occasion as well), break glass." *Sighs*
On a brighter note (sort of), saw Les Miserables (the more recent one). How was it? Quite good, really.
I admit that Les Miserables (at least the soundtrack; I sadly have never had the chance to see it in theaters, also known as a sign I am probably a very lousy fan) has always been near and dear to my heart -- it's not exactly a happy story, but really, it's a very moving story and it's influenced me a lot. And the movie version definitely did it justice.
First off, the cast was perfect. Yes, even Russell Crowe -- true, there were times when he was a little shaky (for example, in the beginning), but overall, I think he was very solid. His singing of "Stars", for example. Hugh Jackman did perfectly as Jean Valjean (a.k.a. one of those characters I absolutely aspire to be like. I can't say I'm always good at it, but I'd definitely like to be like him. Kind, giving, forgiving, rising from adversity, etc.) -- I know his performance on "Bring Him Home" nearly got me breaking down. (Let's say that my "nearly breaking down" thing is...well, it's pretty embarrassing) As well as "Suddenly" -- I also love how they added that song to the movie. And I liked how they actually sort of rearranged the order of the songs -- a bit weird, maybe, but very well done nonetheless. And even sort of cutting some bits out. I mean, stuff like "Marius, you're late" might have worked in a sort of theater setting, but in a movie...well, not so much. In a movie, it's more visual. Theater kind of has that element too, but a movie moreso. I also liked Samantha Barks' Eponine -- not surprising considering how she played Eponine at one point -- as well as who they cast for Enjolras and Marius. And Amanda Seyfried as Cosette -- let's say from the moment I first heard about it, I was like, "Oh wow, that is perfect casting." And she really delivered. And while I do admit that "A Heart Full of Love" is probably my least favorite song from the musical -- I don't know; it's a little sort of...well, I guess it's the Love At First Sight thing. I guess I've grown a little more skeptical of it than I used to -- the actors really delivered, especially Samantha Barks. Eponine's part always broke my heart here, and Samantha Barks really delivered. Same, for that matter, with "On My Own". Because she just seemed so close to breaking down.
In fact, it's instances like these that actually make me sort of believe a little more -- Valjean breaking down during his soliloquy (I think it's all the more powerful because it's not the sort of pretty crying, but the sort of crying where...well, you can barely speak), for example. Hugh Jackman in general did absolutely beautifully, but this I think is one of his shining moments, because after all this time, after all this building up to sort of hardening his heart (sort of people treating him like a thief, so he kind of thieves, and it's really only the Bishop's kindness that saves him in the end), he breaks down, and it's just heartbreaking to watch. Same with Fantine -- her story's always broken my heart to be perfectly honest (I just hate what the factory women and the foreman did to her), and Anne Hathaway did beautifully in that role. Anne Hathaway in general has always been one of my favorite actresses, but she really shone there. There's also Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baren Cohen as the Thernardiers -- they were despicable, but they were also really, honestly fun to watch (in a weird way). I think really, once you get the perfect cast...well, everything comes together. I know that while most of Les Miserables was a downer (to put it mildly), some of their scenes were hilarious -- for example, forgetting Cosette's name constantly, the entire "Master of the House" sequence...stuff like that. And the actress who played little Cosette...poor girl. Little Cosette just breaks my heart in general, but it really stood out there. (On a sidenote, I loved little Eponine as well. It's just sort of like...even as a kid, little Eponine is pretty damn awesome. At least the movie version of little Eponine -- I can't say for the theater version of little Eponine)
And boy, when the film decided to wrench your gut, damn did it wrench your gut. Gavroche's death, for example -- I knew that it was coming, but let's say that when they shot him like that, I was just sort of like, "Okay, that's it, you've crossed the Moral Event Horizon." On another note, I kind of liked the leader of the soldiers attacking the barricades being almost sad when trying to tell the revolutionaries that they have no chance against the soldiers, and Enjolras' reaction. Made worse considering...well, apparently the leader of the soldiers used to be friends with Enjolras (at least according to the backstory of the film). As well as...well, the entire final battle scene. And Javert pinning his medal on Gavroche. Considering everything, it was a rather lovely moment for Javert. I also really liked the "Empty Chairs At Empty Tables" scene (just...God. It breaks my heart in the original, and it breaks my heart now) as well as Valjean's death (goddamn, Cosette's reaction. ;.;), and the Bishop who first showed him kindness (played by Colm Wilkinson, no less! I liked how he was the Bishop in this movie; it was sort of like a passing of the torch as it were, if that makes any sense at all) as well as Fantine escorting him to heaven. And the ending sequence -- honestly, after pretty much everything in the movie, it was a really honestly lovely, hopeful ending. And, much earlier, doing justice to the "One Day More" scene as well (another favorite of mine, and they did it beautifully). Honestly, it was an amazing movie. Sad, but amazing.
So overall? Loved it. Definitely recommended, although, warning: you may cry.
On a brighter note (sort of), saw Les Miserables (the more recent one). How was it? Quite good, really.
I admit that Les Miserables (at least the soundtrack; I sadly have never had the chance to see it in theaters, also known as a sign I am probably a very lousy fan) has always been near and dear to my heart -- it's not exactly a happy story, but really, it's a very moving story and it's influenced me a lot. And the movie version definitely did it justice.
First off, the cast was perfect. Yes, even Russell Crowe -- true, there were times when he was a little shaky (for example, in the beginning), but overall, I think he was very solid. His singing of "Stars", for example. Hugh Jackman did perfectly as Jean Valjean (a.k.a. one of those characters I absolutely aspire to be like. I can't say I'm always good at it, but I'd definitely like to be like him. Kind, giving, forgiving, rising from adversity, etc.) -- I know his performance on "Bring Him Home" nearly got me breaking down. (Let's say that my "nearly breaking down" thing is...well, it's pretty embarrassing) As well as "Suddenly" -- I also love how they added that song to the movie. And I liked how they actually sort of rearranged the order of the songs -- a bit weird, maybe, but very well done nonetheless. And even sort of cutting some bits out. I mean, stuff like "Marius, you're late" might have worked in a sort of theater setting, but in a movie...well, not so much. In a movie, it's more visual. Theater kind of has that element too, but a movie moreso. I also liked Samantha Barks' Eponine -- not surprising considering how she played Eponine at one point -- as well as who they cast for Enjolras and Marius. And Amanda Seyfried as Cosette -- let's say from the moment I first heard about it, I was like, "Oh wow, that is perfect casting." And she really delivered. And while I do admit that "A Heart Full of Love" is probably my least favorite song from the musical -- I don't know; it's a little sort of...well, I guess it's the Love At First Sight thing. I guess I've grown a little more skeptical of it than I used to -- the actors really delivered, especially Samantha Barks. Eponine's part always broke my heart here, and Samantha Barks really delivered. Same, for that matter, with "On My Own". Because she just seemed so close to breaking down.
In fact, it's instances like these that actually make me sort of believe a little more -- Valjean breaking down during his soliloquy (I think it's all the more powerful because it's not the sort of pretty crying, but the sort of crying where...well, you can barely speak), for example. Hugh Jackman in general did absolutely beautifully, but this I think is one of his shining moments, because after all this time, after all this building up to sort of hardening his heart (sort of people treating him like a thief, so he kind of thieves, and it's really only the Bishop's kindness that saves him in the end), he breaks down, and it's just heartbreaking to watch. Same with Fantine -- her story's always broken my heart to be perfectly honest (I just hate what the factory women and the foreman did to her), and Anne Hathaway did beautifully in that role. Anne Hathaway in general has always been one of my favorite actresses, but she really shone there. There's also Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baren Cohen as the Thernardiers -- they were despicable, but they were also really, honestly fun to watch (in a weird way). I think really, once you get the perfect cast...well, everything comes together. I know that while most of Les Miserables was a downer (to put it mildly), some of their scenes were hilarious -- for example, forgetting Cosette's name constantly, the entire "Master of the House" sequence...stuff like that. And the actress who played little Cosette...poor girl. Little Cosette just breaks my heart in general, but it really stood out there. (On a sidenote, I loved little Eponine as well. It's just sort of like...even as a kid, little Eponine is pretty damn awesome. At least the movie version of little Eponine -- I can't say for the theater version of little Eponine)
And boy, when the film decided to wrench your gut, damn did it wrench your gut. Gavroche's death, for example -- I knew that it was coming, but let's say that when they shot him like that, I was just sort of like, "Okay, that's it, you've crossed the Moral Event Horizon." On another note, I kind of liked the leader of the soldiers attacking the barricades being almost sad when trying to tell the revolutionaries that they have no chance against the soldiers, and Enjolras' reaction. Made worse considering...well, apparently the leader of the soldiers used to be friends with Enjolras (at least according to the backstory of the film). As well as...well, the entire final battle scene. And Javert pinning his medal on Gavroche. Considering everything, it was a rather lovely moment for Javert. I also really liked the "Empty Chairs At Empty Tables" scene (just...God. It breaks my heart in the original, and it breaks my heart now) as well as Valjean's death (goddamn, Cosette's reaction. ;.;), and the Bishop who first showed him kindness (played by Colm Wilkinson, no less! I liked how he was the Bishop in this movie; it was sort of like a passing of the torch as it were, if that makes any sense at all) as well as Fantine escorting him to heaven. And the ending sequence -- honestly, after pretty much everything in the movie, it was a really honestly lovely, hopeful ending. And, much earlier, doing justice to the "One Day More" scene as well (another favorite of mine, and they did it beautifully). Honestly, it was an amazing movie. Sad, but amazing.
So overall? Loved it. Definitely recommended, although, warning: you may cry.