Jump to content

Menu

Can anyone recommend a good film adaptation


Recommended Posts

Not until December...;)

 

I let my dd watch the musical anniversary show on PBS. I filled in some of the plot holes by just talking over it and pausing once in a while so she got the gist.

Would that work for you?

 

The problem with some of the movies is that they have to cut so much out--I just finished reading the book, and there's a bunch that never makes it to the movies. Kinda like Wuthering Heights, where the "second" romance is rarely part of the visual adaptations--

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IMDB shows various versions; can you ask the Girls' Club what version she recommends? Or which one they'll be watching? Or do as was mentioned earlier, watch the 25th anniversary concert of the musical and fill in plot as needed? That's what I would do, I think, as the movie versions I've seen really weren't very good.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We (dd11 and I) just watched the one with Liam Neeson. I don't think that you can understand the plot without knowing about sex and prostitution...but I don't recall anything that remotely made me uncomfortable watching it with dd. There was one scene where Fantine was in her bed and her landlord came asking for money and she took the sheet off of herself (she may have been naked? I can't remember but if whe was she was still somehow covered in all the right places. He rejected the offer crudely) I mean--it was disturbing not because it referenced sex--but because of the injustice and cruelty of the whole situation, which I think is the whole point of the book. I thought it was appropriate. Of course Javert's suicide is also disturbing. He handcuffs himself and then falls backwards into the water.

 

I have been telling dd she can't see the movie in December until she reads the book--but since as much as I love it I can't seem to finish it either (read it in high school though) I might give her a pass. Dh already knows he better get home from work early that night!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not until December...;)

 

I let my dd watch the musical anniversary show on PBS. I filled in some of the plot holes by just talking over it and pausing once in a while so she got the gist.

Would that work for you?

 

The problem with some of the movies is that they have to cut so much out--I just finished reading the book, and there's a bunch that never makes it to the movies. Kinda like Wuthering Heights, where the "second" romance is rarely part of the visual adaptations--

 

Yes, we felt the same way about the Liam Neeson version. Wish BBC would do a mini-series like P & P of Les Mis.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We (dd11 and I) just watched the one with Liam Neeson. I don't think that you can understand the plot without knowing about sex and prostitution...but I don't recall anything that remotely made me uncomfortable watching it with dd. There was one scene where Fantine was in her bed and her landlord came asking for money and she took the sheet off of herself (she may have been naked? I can't remember but if whe was she was still somehow covered in all the right places. He rejected the offer crudely) I mean--it was disturbing not because it referenced sex--but because of the injustice and cruelty of the whole situation, which I think is the whole point of the book. I thought it was appropriate. Of course Javert's suicide is also disturbing. He handcuffs himself and then falls backwards into the water.

 

I have been telling dd she can't see the movie in December until she reads the book--but since as much as I love it I can't seem to finish it either (read it in high school though) I might give her a pass. Dh already knows he better get home from work early that night!

Thanks.

 

I have the book on my list for high school. Along with Anne Frank and To Kill a Mockingbird. I just don't think dd is ready for those types of themes yet. She is one of those sensitive kids.

 

I'm thinking maybe the 50s B&W version might be best if she has to watch it now. ;):D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd rather dd read the book in a couple years, but her girls' club leader wants them to watch a movie version. From what I can tell the newer versions don't leave much to the imagination.

 

Has the leader actually read the book? It's been my experience that people recommending books for the wrong age group frequently have never read them. Personally, I think 12 is a little young for Les Mis. I would go for Tale of Two Cities at that age instead. Maybe you should talk to the leader.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...