Parrothead Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 of Les Miserables suitable for 12-13 year olds? TIA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 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-- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted September 19, 2012 Author Share Posted September 19, 2012 What happens in December? 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Les Mis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted September 19, 2012 Author Share Posted September 19, 2012 Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheReader Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Les Mis waaah!!!! it's not being released in Brazil until March 2013!!! Think I can convince my DH that it's worth using frequent flier miles to send me home in December so I can see the movie on time????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheReader Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deacongirl Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deacongirl Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted September 19, 2012 Author Share Posted September 19, 2012 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 But if an off-Broadway version of the musical comes around, take her to that. It is awesome and fun. I took my ds and his friends to it when they were young. They all enjoyed it. The book and a decent film adaptation would require a lot more maturity than the musical did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K in MI Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 We like the 1978 version with Richard Jordan as Valjean and Anthony Perkins as Javert. I would think it would be okay for your children. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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