History Headscratchers / LesMiserables2012

* As beautiful as the scene (and song) is, Javert's final confrontation with Valjean in the sewers doesn't really make sense, because Javert doing the right thing and letting Valjean go so he can save Marius hinges on Javert taking Valjean's word that "this man has done no wrong". And ''that'' strikes me as odd — especially considering Javert knows Valjean was on the barricades, why doesn't he seem to even consider the wounded man may be one of the revolutionaries that he would gladly have shot himself? I'll grant you that Marius isn't recognizable as such because of the grime and mud, but when a revolutionary goes "This man needs a doctor's care quickly!" a few hours after a revolution and in the same general area, with no other explanation given as to how the man got injured… y'know… [[WhatAnIdiot Javert should have thought a little.]]

*** He'd also seen her staring at that particular doll, and while she certainly would have been elated to have any doll at all, he knew she had wanted that one, and while clothes and shoes could be got anywhere, he got her that specific doll before they left town.

** He might be trying to save money since all he has is what he carried with him when he fled town. They also needed to get out of there quickly to ensure they wouldn't be caught by Javert, who arrived not long after Vajean left.

* So [[WhatHappenedToTheMousw what happens to Valjean's workers/factory]] when he runs away with Cosette? It doesn't seem very heroic to just abandon them.

*** That's what I thought also- Valjean knows Fantine in a very specific way, as the mother who gave so much up for her daughter, the woman he had inadvertently wronged. That's the particular woman whose memory he treasures- he would certainly remember her in that way and not as a regular factory girl, especially as he really didn't notice her very much at the factory (which is part of the point).

** And Eponine would be occupied with looking out for Marius - she doesn't appear to care a whit for the rebellion beyond the fact Marius was there.

*** I was going to mention that about Do You Hear The People Sing- I just watched the movie today after reading the book multiple times and falling in love with the soundtrack, and I was horrified when I didn't hear it immediately after Red and Black. Then came Lamarck's funeral and it was just so unbelievably perfect. (There are enough other issues with cuts, like cutting half of Red and Black, Turning, A Little Fall Of Rain, and Drink With Me (Grantaire's part basically MAKES the whole musical), cutting the ENTIRE Dog Eats Dog [I get it's not Creator/SachaBaronCohen's style but then maybe cast someone whose style it IS], and messing up Beggars At The Feast, that having one or two that actually WORKED was nice.)
*** Apparently, Blagden did sing the entire Grantaire part from Drink With Me, but it ended up getting cut.
*** I do agree. "Dog Eat Dog" is the absolute lowest point of the musical, and it serves a really important purposes, showing the worst and most vile that humanity can be.
*** "Dog Eat Dog" was reduced to one line "Here's a pretty ring," because, apparently, it was the last song Creator/SachaBaronCohen was supposed to film but couldn't because he lost his voice. But I agree, the movie would have been great with that left in.
* So what happens to Valjean's workers/factory when he runs away with Cosette? It doesn't seem very heroic to just abandon them.

** The Doylist interpretation would be that the scene was filmed after Anne Hathaway's haircut.

*** I was going to mention that about Do You Hear The People Sing- I just watched the movie today after reading the book multiple times and falling in love with the soundtrack, and I was horrified when I didn't hear it immediately after Red and Black. Then came Lamarck's funeral and it was just so unbelievably perfect. (There are enough other issues with cuts, like cutting half of Red and Black, Turning, A Little Fall Of Rain, and Drink With Me (Grantaire's part basically MAKES the whole musical), cutting the ENTIRE Dog Eats Dog [I get it's not Sacha's style but then maybe cast someone whose style it IS], and messing up Beggars At The Feast, that having one or two that actually WORKED was nice.)

** Anne Hathaway described Fantine as burning with the same fire that consumed the Christian martyrs. In that light, her shorn head is a sign of her martyrdom, of everything that she was willing to give up for love. Martyrs are depicted with the weapons that killed them as a mark of pride and strength. It would be wrong, then, for her to be given her long hair back in heaven.

*** Dog Eats Dog was reduced to one line "Here's a pretty ring," because, apparently, it was the last song Sacha was supposed to film but couldn't because he lost his voice. But I agree, the movie would have been great with that left in.

** Once Valjean was revealed as a convict, there was literally nothing he could do for his employees. Whether he stays and is arrested or runs and escapes would not matter to them one bit. If the workers are lucky, the factory will be bought out and restarted soon. If not, the workers are out of luck.

* So what happens to Valjean's workers/factory when he runs away with Cosette? It doesn't seem very heroic to just abandon them.

***** Dog Eats Dog was reduced to one line "Here's a pretty ring," because, apparently, it was the last song Sacha was supposed to film but couldn't because he lost his voice. But I agree, the movie would have been great with that left in.