Les Mis set to be highest grossing movie musical of all time.

[My Oh My]

CHOOKA2, it's cool if you don't care for Les Mis, but what do you mean that the film is like a big tsunami and leaves you with nothing? Just curious because it seems to be a pretty common thing that people who didn't like it feel they have to point out. Yet, they almost always fail to explain what this BIG wave of something is? Some critics have said of both the stage version and film that it's just too sentimental. I don't agree that the musical is sentimental, I do think the story is sad and moving and ultimately uplifting. Big difference, but that's just me.

[My Oh My]

Winston, I'm confused by what you mean when you say most movie musicals of years past fail because they are good adaptations of the musical but they don't make good films?

A good film adaptation of a musical would also make a good film. Unless you meant that the musical material itself is polished and showcased beautifully on film but without regard to the change of medium, making many moments that worked onstage sometimes clash on film? I could see how too much focus placed on glorifying the musical stage material and leaving adaptation in the dust ruining the outcome. Some say that was the problem with The Producers, and was just wondering if that's what you meant.

[Rainbowhigh23]

I can't recommend Imax enough. The picture is humungous and the sound is loud and crystal clear - it was perfect for the live singing and robust orchestrations. I got goosebumps when Look Down started, and nearly cried at the beginning of At the End of the Day, it sounded so beautiful. Watch out for the battle at the barricade, though, the gunshots are earsplitting.

[StageManager2]

Watch out for the battle at the barricade, though, the gunshots are earsplitting.

Like the stage show? I always hated those gunshots. The first time I nearly jumped out of my seat. I felt bad for the elderly in the audience.

[My Oh My]

Those gunshots in the stage show never failed to make me jump out of my skin. I loved them! LOL.

[CHOOKA2]

Thank you for responding to my comment My Oh My.How easy it is for us to critisise,and praise,but this is what this message board is for.Being Australian,I read with keen interest everything about Anthony Warlow in Annie and Hugh in Les Mis and feel I overdosed with Les Mis information-so much so that I stopped reading the crits.When I finally saw Les Mis-the previews,or shorts as we call them,were stronger than the whole.It would be good to hear the reasons for such strange casting,strange camera work etc.etc.Of course there were good bits,but because I found too many negatives--I felt--why did they bother?-but I'm still pleased they did.

[RippedMan]

I'm surprised it hasn't been getting good critical reviews.

[winston89]

My Oh My,

What you said is what I meant. Sorry for not being more clear, I was rather tired when I wrote that post and therefor didn't write it as clearly as I intended to.

What I meant to say was that a lot of movie musicals in recent years didn't translate well into film. That directors did things that would work fine onstage but would fall flat if done on screen. The producers is a good example. Another one that comes to mind (and I am sure that there others but this is the first that comes to mind) is Hairspray. I felt that having large ensemble dancing numbers is something that works great onstage but is something that doesn't work the same way when it's being filmed. It's like a soda, onstage there is fiz and it sizzles. On film, it's rather flat.

[Ghostfan2]

The part with Santa made me chuckle

[SporkGoddess]

I live in the epitome of Middle America, and it isn't sold out here. However, most people here would not go see a movie on Christmas day.

I'm likely seeing it tomorrow with my fiance, so I will be sure to post my thoughts afterwards.

[EricMontreal22]

Yeah the movie going on Christmas day thing seems common, at least to some big US cities, but is something my family's never done, nor any families I know of. Boxing Day (ie the day after Xmas for you Americans), on the other hand is a big movie day.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

I live in a college town in north central Florida, Gainesville, (so it's really empty throughout the holidays) and almost all the showtimes are sold out here today. I'll be watching it tomorrow, cannot wait.

[ljay889]

I always thought it was mostly Jewish families who see movies on Christmas day.

[sabrelady]

ONLY after we eat the Chinese food!

[Jordan Catalano]

Ray, you're a Gator?! I can tell you having spent the majority of my life in Gville, that Christmas movie going is as big there as anywhere and it's very smart to buy your tickets far in advance.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Latin people (at least in FL, including myself) also tend to go to the movies on Christmas Day, not necessarily as a family though. We celebrate Christmas Eve, Christmas Day for us--like I said, in the FL context)--is usually more about hangovers and moviegoing.
Jordan, I am indeed a Gator. I moved here to do my undergrad and have lived here for 7 years already. I was shocked by all the movies selling out, tried watching LINCOLN the day after Thanksgiving and there were like three showings in a row sold out, had to go watch LIFE OF PIE instead, which I think eventually sold out too. I'll definitely buy my tickets in advance this time

[metropolis10111]

Just got back from the 11:30 showing here in about as Midwest as it goes and the theater was about 1/2 full given the empty seats between people. At about the point where the new song comes in it was almost like a mini exodus and in about a 10 min period there I'd say about 15 people walked out. My husband is HUGE fan of the show and while he did like the movie even he found issue with some of the star casting and even we were inclined to leave at about the mid point. The film def pics up the pace after Red and Black but we both felt that A Little Rain Must Fall just fell flat and was very contrived. We both left liking the movie but not loving it.


Oh and while there was a line for the next showing of Les Miz the line forming for The Hobbit was INSANE long.

[Iris Chacon]

Your husband is a idiot and you are a freaking whore. What else do you want me to say? Oh.. Merry Christmas.

[metropolis10111]

Well I was a whore... then I got married

[Iris Chacon]

So now you are a married whore.

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

here in Palm Springs, the very first show of the day was COMPELTELY sold out!...and while many took bathroom breaks all came back to watch the stirring last 1/3 of the musical...it got rapturous applause at the ending and sobbing was heard all throughout the theatre...including me when BRING HIM HOME was sung...

[best12bars]

I live in the Midwest and the first show of the day was 3/4 full, which surprised me (in a good way).

I do think the movie will open big. $40 to $60 million in the first week.

After seeing it, I don't think it will sustain for very long. It's a slow, long movie, even if it is emotional at times. Doesn't feel like a "blockbuster" to me. I think the word of mouth will be okay at best. Some will rave about it, others will say it's long and boring.

[metropolis10111]

I guess we'll have to see what the happy medium is between sold out and half full is when the box office results come out

[StageManager2]

I do think the movie will open big. $40 to 560 million in the first week.

$560 million in one week?!

[MCfan2]

Deadline Hollywood is saying today's grosses look like $15-20 million.

http://www.deadline.com/2012/12/first-box-office-1-%e2%80%98les-miserables%e2%80%99-2-django-opening-huge-on-christmas-day/

[best12bars]

SM2 --- LOL!

My caps key didn't take. That should be a dollar sign, not a five. I will fix it.

EDIT: Actually, it's pretty safe to say the movie will take in somewhere between forty dollars and five hundred and sixty million dollars. I should have just left it.