Blu-ray Review: Nice, Deep Release For Beloved ‘Les Miserablés’

Submitted by BrianTT on March 30, 2013 - 7:02pm

CHICAGO – I stand by my swooning praise for Tom Hooper’s “Les Miserables” when I reviewed it in theaters. Mostly. I must admit that its flaws are easier to see on the small screen as the grand, epic scope suits itself better to the movie theater (although I think people who claim to hate this movie simply don’t like musicals). It doesn’t hold up quite as well as that first, glorious experience with it in theaters. Even if the Blu-ray is one that will appeal greatly to fans of this beloved, Oscar-winning flick.

Rating: 4.5/5.0

How beloved? “Les Miserables” has made more than $400 million worldwide and is the 3rd-highest grossing musical domestically in movie history after “Chicago” and “Grease” (which took multiple release to get so high). People adore “Les Miserables”. And Universal has treated those fans right, giving them a multi-disc release with a fantastic HD transfer and interesting, lengthy special features. Most importantly, the audio mix is stellar.

As for special features, the list may look kind of slight at first but these are not your standard behind-the-scenes filler pieces. They’re lengthy and in-depth, featuring detailed interviews with the director, cast, and crew. It’s hard to believe you’ll have many questions about the production after spending a day with the Blu-ray and that’s what real fans want with their favorite movies — to know as much about them as possible. “Les Miserables” may not be quite as great a film as I thought it was in theaters (although I still think it’s quite good) but the Blu-ray release is a fantastic one.

Les Miserables was released on Blu-ray and DVD on March 22, 2013
Photo credit: Universal

Synopsis:
Hugh Jackman, Academy Award winner Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway star in this critically-acclaimed adaptation of the epic musical phenomenon. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells the story of ex-prisoner Jean Valjean (Jackman), hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Crowe), after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine’s (Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever. This enthralling story is a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit and “an unforgettable experience” (Richard Roeper, RichardRoeper.com).

Special Features:
o The West End Connection
o Les Miserables On Location
o Battle At The Barricade
o Les Miserables Singing Live
o The Stars Of Les Miserables
o Creating The Perfect Paris
o The Original Masterwork: Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables
o Feature Commentary With Director Tom Hooper

“Les Miserables” stars Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfriend, Eddie Redmayne, Samantha Barks, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Helena Bonham Carter. It was directed by Tom Hooper. It was released on Blu-ray on March 22, 2013.