Les Misérables: 10th Anniversary Concert at the Royal Albert Hall (1995)

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Colm Wilkinson IS Jean Valjean.Phillip Quast's Javert is definitely one of the best. The first time I watched this, at the beginning of the song "Confrontation", the grinning on his face instantly makes me love this actor.Michael Ball is not my favourite Marius, but much much much better than Nick Jonas.I like Lea Salonga's Eponine better than Eponine. I think she is great. I like her voice better when she was younger (there is a recording of her first show on Broadway as Eponine I suppose).I like Ruthie's voice so much that I love Miss Saigon Complete Symphonic Recording (Ruthie as Ellen) better than Miss Saigon OLC (Lea as Kim).As for Cosette, I have to say I prefer Katie Hall (from 25AC) because Judy Kuhn's voice seems too mature for a young, innocent girl as Cosette.And ABC boys. 10AC looks much older than 25AC but their voice are much better (except for Ramin, he is as good as Michael)Anyway, this is the best version of Les Miserables musical. Don't miss it.

I met Ruthie Henshall in December 2005 after i saw her in Woman In White. Ruthie is the actress who played Fantine in the 10th Anniversary Concert of Les Miserables. I met her, got her autograph, got my picture taken with her and got a shot of me and her together on my video camera....and she is SO nice!!!! Ruthie is an amazing woman who has SO much talent. She is the best actress/singer/dancer in the world, next to Catherine Zeta-Jones!!!! And she's SO pretty.....did anyone see her on Loose Woman in September and when she played Nancy in the celebration of Oliver on Boxing Day???? How good was she!!!! "Now life has KILLED the dream, I dreamed!" - Fantine, Les Miserables.

This is the closest it seems we shall get to a film version of the legendary stage musical (to my knowledge), and it is definitely a worthy effort. It goes without saying that the quality of music is incredible and the performances are excellent throughout, although a few are slightly unconvincing. To elaborate:The Cast (Not in order of appearance as it is stated):Colm Wilkinson (Jean Valjean): The original and arguably the best Valjean, his voice may not be to everyone's taste, (and seemed slightly weak to me early during the concert, e.g. Philip Quast seemed to out sing him in The Confrontation, before picking up at One Day More) but with a wonderful, practically unmatched emotional range and dynamic use of eyebrows he more than acquited himself in the role. His Bring Him Home is, in my opinion, unsurpassed.Philip Quast (JAVERT): Wow. What a performer (3 well deserved Olivier Awards attest to this), able to emanate the harshness of Javert as well as securing great sympathy for an apparently unlikable character. Mr Quast steals the show in my opinion and acts as a great magnet each time he appears. His majestic voice, like Mr Wilkinson's, is capable of expressing a great range of emotions, and, again like CW, provides definitive renditions of Stars and Javert's Suicide. He has since become one of my very favourite actors and he is wonderful in Evita, currently lighting up the West End. If you can find it, his Live at the Donmar album is a must. Ruthie Henshall (Fantine): Another deservedly well respected performer, whose voice at times breaks a little but is otherwise faultless. I feel she offers a clearer, more angelic Fantine than Patti Lupone on the Original London Recording, and I personally prefer this interpretation. Alun Armstrong and Jenny Galloway (The Thenardiers): Two more perfectly cast actors. Armstrong is hilariously twitchy and shifty, but adds a sinister edge at The Dog Eats the Dog. Galloway is gifted with supreme comic timing and an intimidating physique, making her ideal. Lea Salonga (Eponine): One of the minor flaws in the concert is that I cannot understand why anyone would choose Judy Kuhn over the short yet spunky, powerfully voiced and infinitely more attractive Miss Saigon. As performances go, her's is excellent. I think there is some merit in the arguments those who say that Frances Rufelle (Original London and Broadway) is probably closer to the original text, but it cannot be denied that Ms Salonga is exquisite. Her performance is especially moving during A Little Fall of Rain, and her On My Own is quite frankly show stopping. Michael Ball (Marius): A Great British institution whose thunderous voice puts those of other students to shame. He makes a wonderful foil for Lea Salonga during A Little Fall of Rain, is both passionate and sensitive during Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, but before both of these is magnificently uneasy and tender during A Heart Full of Love.Michael Maguire (Enjolras): A criticism that could be made of all the students in the Concert is that they are all far to old. This is most clearly shown by Mr Maguire. A fantastic voice to be sure, but he just seemed out of place to me, and at times he sounded more like a Marine than a student.Judy Kuhn (Cosette): Another terrific voice, but as with Michael MAguire, she seems out of place. As i stated above, I couldn't understand why Marius would set his cap at someone who, dare I say it, resembles a horse. I am almost certainly being to superficial, but still, I wasn't convinced.Anthony Crivello (Grantaire): Did good.Adam Searles and Hannah Chick (Gavroche and Young Cosette): As Above.One more criticism I have of the production is that the sections of The Robbery, Javert's Intervention and Eponine's Errand, amongst others, were left out, as I would die to hear them but don't want to buy the Complete Symphonic Recording (With only three performers worthy of note in my opinion). Otherwise, The Les Miserables Tenth Anniversary Concert is a great spectacle that is a must for any fans of the show and/or book. When watched for the first time, or the hundredth, it remains an inspiring work.

I love Les Mis. I love seeing it staged, I love the book, I love listening to it for hours upon end.But the thing is, a concert just doesn't work. The actors are obviously very confused. Some overact, some underact, some are very inconsistent because they are in front of a mic and just don't know how to respond to it. I don't blame them. They try their best, but it's hard to do a play when you're not allowed to... y'know... act.Also, I don't like Lea Salonga that much as Eponine. I am a HUGE Lea fan, but her voice is just too pretty and she's too mature for the role.