Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5497 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-09-20
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 172 minutes

Synopsis
Set against the background of the French Revolution and based on Victor Hugo's classic novel this is the story of Jean Valjean who is sent to prison for stealing a loaf of bread and is released after nineteen years. He meets and cares for a beautiful but poverty-stricken young girl named Fantine who has daughter Cosette. After Fantine's death Valjean brings Cosette up but he is haunted by Javert - a policeman whose search for Valjean has become an obsession.

Customer Reviews

Wonderful film, but Oh for some subtitles!
Probably the best modern (i.e. colour) non-musical version of the film. However, as I have a slight hearing loss, the lack of subtitles on a film with foreign accents was sometimes a problem (the odd rewind necessary), so it loses a star. Nevertheless several months after buying, with kids out of the way on a rainy Sunday afternoon,I've just had a truly enjoyable three hours watching it. And it's worth it. I won't go into detail, but for me it really conveyed the inner turmoil and dilemmas faced by the main characters.

If only it had been in French!
As soon as I saw this was an American production I realised it would be in English which given the largely French cast was an initial disapointment. The disapointment is short lived however as the acting from all the main characters is excellent in a prodcution that almost equals the Fredric Marsh version of the 1930s in terms of pace and delivery.

The cast realise they are involved in a classic tale and all rise to the occasion especially John Malkovitch and Gerard Deperdieu. After the first 15 minutes you tend to forget that most of the cast are not speaking in their native tongue and although a French language version may have added to the overall pleasure the cast did not appear to be too constrained by an English delivery. Overall a classic tale and almost classic delivery.

The best film version of the classic novel.
I adore this DVD. The casting is perfect. Buy it and you won't regret it. Gerard Depardieu and John Malkovich are brilliant in their roles of Valjean and Javert. The soundtrack is beautiful and haunting, and everything LOOKS fantastic.

I only wish it had French as a language option.