Carrots for Michaelmas

Cultivating a Catholic family through literature, liturgical living, and urban homesteading

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Les Misérables Review and DVD Giveaway!

By 169 Comments

Going to the movies is something that happens once in a blue moon for us. Due to the outrageous prices and having to find childcare for the little ones, we’ve gone to the movies once in the past 18 months and we went to see the new Les Misérables. I simply couldn’t miss it because I’ve been a huge fan of the musical since I was a little girl. To be honest, I was anxious that the new film wouldn’t live up to my expectations, but there was no need to be worried! It is a masterpiece.

And guess what?! I am thrilled to announce that I have the chance to giveaway five copies of the newly released DVD/Blu-Ray to my readers thanks to the generosity of Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Allied Faith and Family. How wonderful that I get to give my readers the best film I’ve seen in the past two years!

Starring Hugh Jackman (Oscar nominee), Anne Hathaway and Russell Crowe (Oscar winners), Les Misérables, a musical based on Victor Hugo’s celebrated novel, is set in 19th-century France. The plot follows ex-convict Jean Valjean (Jackman) in his struggle to redeem his life after he is offered mercy by a holy bishop (Colm Wilkinson). It’s an epic tale with intricate subplots including the tragic attempts of a young, desperate prostitute (Hathaway) to care for her daughter, an unyielding police inspector (Crowe) who understands justice but not compassion, and young student revolutionaries fighting for a better world. At its heart, the story shows how the love of Christ can transform souls when we offer grace to those around us. It is a revolution of grace.

The sets are stunning, the cast is incredible, and the music is breathtaking. One of the really brilliant choices Academy Award-winning director Tom Hooper (of The King’s Speech) made with the film was to implement an unprecedented method for recording the actors’ voices. Instead of recording the orchestra first and then filming the actors singing along to a recording (as is usually done for musicals), he filmed the actors singing to piano accompaniment off-set then recorded the orchestra to their voices. This allowed the actors more flexibility to convey emotion through their musical numbers and the result is spectacular. I honestly wasn’t expecting to like Anne Hathaway as Fantine, but her rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” had me in tears and I was pleasantly surprised that her portrayal was the highlight of the film for me!

I can’t tell you how highly I recommend this film. It even inspired me to add Victor Hugo’s 1300 page novel to my 2013 reading list! Now that it’s been released on DVD/Blu-Ray, you have no excuse not to watch it!

To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment saying you’d like to win a copy of the newly released DVD/Blu-Ray of Les Misérables. For an additional entry, subscribe to Carrots via email (see email subscription widget in the left-hand sidebar) or share the giveaway on FB or Twitter and leave an additional comment to let me know you did. The giveaway will be open until midnight next Wednesday night (April 3rd) EST. (I can only ship the DVD to the US or Canada, sorry international readers!) Winners will be chosen by random number generator. Good luck!

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this review. I did receive a complimentary review copy and five giveaway copies for my readers.

Comments

  4. I absolutely loved this movie. Im the girl that took 15 minutes to find the best spot in the theater and then proceeded to sob my way though the movie haha

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  10. I was just wondering if there was money in the budget to buy this DVD! Maybe now I won’t have to worry about it… Do I need to mention that I would like to be entered? =]

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  13. Thank you for the review. Would love to see this film, just didn’t make it out to the movies – the DVD would be great! (Just had baby #5 in Jan.) : )

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  14. Oh, how I love this giveaway! And this movie! It makes my heart happy how The Church keeps popping up as a safe harbor and means of salvation throughout the story. Fantastic film (and book, if you have the time/stomach for it).

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  15. It is a phenomenal movie… I’ve added the book to my reading “wish list” for this summer as well!!! I would love to win a copy!!! 😀

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  19. Our ‘classics book club’ read the novel and waited and waited for the new movie/musical to debut. Such a great story and the music continues to stir my heart.
    (I found you, thanks to my very dear long-time friend Kim, who posted previously.)

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  21. I would love to win a copy. I haven’t been to the movies since my third trimester (my son is 2!) I would love to see this movie!

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  25. This was the first movie my husband and I went to see after our son was born. It was our first DATE since for that matter. Love this movie and would love it in our home.

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  31. I would love a copy. Also, as a Harry potter fan, did you happen to notice that some of the set (the area where they put up the barricade) was from the Harry movies? A friend of mine who loves les mis and Harry potter equally pointed it out when we saw it.

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  32. I’d like to win a copy of the newly released DVD/Blu-Ray of Les Misérables. I saw the musical on Broadway when I was in high school and I’d love to see the movie.

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  34. I would LOVE a copy! I’ve always been nervous of musicals because I haven’t enjoyed some in the past, but my husband was in this musical in high school and read the book to me while we would drive back and forth to church last year. And when we saw the movie, I was just stunned at its beauty!

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  35. I would love a copy because I adore the music and can’t wait to see what Tom Hooper did with it 🙂

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  40. I would love to win a copy of the best movie I’ve seen in years. In fact I’ve been to the movie theater only four times in the last year, and TWO of those times were to see Les Mis, because once just wasn’t enough!

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  41. I haven’t seen the movie yet (it’s hard to get to the movies when your husband works full-time, goes to school full-time, and you have a toddler!). I’ve been waiting for it to come out on DVD so I could rent it – but winning it would be even better! 🙂

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  51. How did you know I wanted it so badly?? 😉 I hereby request to be part of this giveaway. I’m so glad you liked it as much as I did– Les Mis entered my life shockingly late, but I’m so glad I discovered its wonderfulness. Thank you for doing this giveaway!!!

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  53. I went and saw this movie on Christmas because I was stuck in Wisco while my fam was livin it up in Florida. SO good. even if we did get stuck in the VERY front row, so me and the ladies could sit by each other! definitely want to see this again. owning it would be even better! (:

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  55. We would love to win a copy of Les Mis! We have heard such wonderful reviews on Catholic Radio for the movie! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  65. I would love this! I have been obsessed with les Mis since seventh grade when the show was in town. I never got to see it, but I read the book, listened to the tapes nonstop, and learned how to play all the songs on piano! Sadly, I’ve still yet to see it.

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  70. I would LOVE to win a copy! I’ve always loved the older versions of Les Mis, and haven’t gotten a chance to see this version yet. We have 4 kids under 6 and are lucky to get out once a month.

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  73. I would like a copy! I really want to see this in the theaters, but it’s so long! I’ve been fearful that my pregnant body would not be able to sit through such a long movie without a bathroom break… haha! Makes me wish that they still included intermissions at the movie theater the way they used to!

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  74. I would love to win a copy! Like you, we haven’t been able to see a movie in theaters for a long time since it’s hard to get away with an 19 month old and 8 week old at home. I’ve been dying to see this movie though, so I really hope I’ll get to watch it soon!

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  75. I follow you via google reader and now bloglovin’, but I just subscribed by email as well. I would love to win this movie!!!

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  76. I’d adore a copy! My Catholic mama book club has a lot of Le Mis fans, and I’m sure we’d make a great girls night of it. 🙂 Meanwhile, keep your fantastic blog coming!

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  83. Oh, I want to win a copy! We were going to go see this in the theater, but our life was crazy, and leaving our daughter with a new babysitter just didn’t seem wise at the time. I want to see it!!

    I also shared the giveaway on Facebook, so please enter me twice. 🙂

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  85. I, too, loved the movie and would love to have a copy at home. Thanks for the opportunity! (I’m also trying to read through the book. It’s slow going!)

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  87. Ooooooh! How exciting. 🙂 I would be ever so delighted to win this movie for my family of 6 six who all are big fans of Les Mis (and sing to all the songs on the way home from school/sports, etc.).
    And I’ll post this on FB as well.
    Fingers crossed!

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  89. (oops, 6 kids)
    I noticed you said to leave an additional comment about posting on facebook.
    Done. 😉

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  90. I’d love to win one. I wanted to go, but by the time we got a sitter it wasn’t playing here anymore. I read the book in high school and fell in love. My husband got us tickets to see the production once many years ago in Cincinnati.

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  91. I want one, too! Just came across your site from a link on Mama and Baby Love on morning sickness (the current bane of my existence). Love teh blog!

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  92. I would love to win a copy! All my friends have been raving about it, but I haven’t seen it yet because I know the adoption storyline will leave me drowning in a pool of my own tears. Haha!

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  93. Oh wow, yes please! I only own one other movie, but this would be the star! Talk about an incredible display of grace.

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  96. Oooh! We have been wanting to see it so badly but have been waiting since our little nursling won’t be away from us that long!

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  97. I would love a copy! Being stationed overseas, the one movie theater we have (in English) only plays movies one at a time, and usually only once or twice. So on top of already having a difficult time with a little one, it’s hard to catch the movies when they actually come in!

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  99. It warms my heart to see that you have so many followers reading your beautiful thoughts. Oh, and I would love a copy of the DVD. 🙂

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  107. I have not read the book yet (and was thoroughly admonished to do so BEFORE watching the movie!), but I would certainly love to win the DVD 🙂 I have enjoyed your blog as well. I stumbled upon your blog through links about HP. Have a blessed Holy Week! Also, I’m Facebooking and tweeting this link!

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  110. I have loved the book and the musical for years and was delighted that the movie lived up to its source material. So good.

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  111. I felt so inspired by the movie and would love to win a copy. I feel like it is rare to see a Hollywood movie with a focus of devotion to God and how each decision he makes is based off of that devotion. Incredible!

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  113. DO I HAVE TO BEG???

    I desperately want to win a copy of the “Les Mis” 2012 DVD!

    –I read your blog [from home screen icon];
    — I subscribe to the email feed;
    — I shared this link on my FB

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  114. Grandma’s don’t often get the opportunity to go out and see new movies, either – would love this on DVD!

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  116. This is awesome! I would love a copy. I was very moved by the film and thought it was exceptionally well-made! Please send me a copy!!! 🙂

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  132. Would love to win this! I wanted to see it in the theater, but like you said, trying to arrange everything with little ones makes is so much more difficult!

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  134. I commented earlier but just shared it on Facebook for the extra chance to win!! I love this movie too much not to go for an extra chance!!

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  138. I want to win! Jonathan took me to this musical for our first date and we still haven’t seen the movie!

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  144. Wow you have a ton of people commenting! I’ll add mine too 🙂 I haven’t read much about this, but after that kind of a review, I’m intrigued! I would like a copy as well, maybe I’ll buy one after your giveaway if I don’t happen to win, which seems likely with all these fans here! 😉 Thanks forthe oopportunity!

    Maria

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  145. I’ve loved Hugo’s Les Miserables for over 20 years and I’ve seen most of the film versions. I thought this film was amazing & I’d love to own it.

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  146. Your review has made me even more excited to see the movie! My husband and I would love a copy of the movie as our little one doesn’t allow us to go to the theater anymore!

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  148. Thank you for offering this giveaway. I saw the movie in the theater with a girlfriend, and it really impacted both of us. I’d love to win a copy so I can share it with others!

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  149. Oh how I would love to win a copy of Les Miserables! Please enter me in your contest! Also, thanks for your great work on this site!

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  154. I would like to win. I’ve never read the book or watched any version. It’s the hubs’ favorite musical

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  157. Pick me to win and I will give it to my mom. I already bought it and I would love for her to have her own. Then I can get my dvd back!

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  161. I don’t think I commented on here, but I let you know on your FB page – the giveaway was shared by yours truly on FB! 🙂

    Reply

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