Les Misérables: 10th, 25th, or Movie Cast

Well, I've been pondering this for quite a long time. Between the 10th, 25th, and Movie cast of Les Misérables, I was wondering about all the other Les Miz fan opinions about this. So here are my answers and reason, some ties will be on here, as well. 

Jean Valjean: Tie: 10th Anniversary and Movie

Colm Wilkinson as Valjean in
Les Misérables 10th Anniversary
*I Do Not Own Picture

Hugh Jackman as Valjean in
2012 Movie
*I Do Not Own Picture

Valjean is a great character, plain and simple. Turns from being a broken-down prisoner, to a man who puts his trust in the Lord and becomes a better honest man. Now, the reason I liked the 10th Anniversary Dream Cast Valjean, Colm Wilkinson better, than the 25th Anniversary Valjean, Alfie Boe, was because of his voice (a given), but even more his acting. I know he's not in a film, but even on stage it's important to feel the role, and I thought that Wilkinson did. I watched the 10th Anniversary Dream Cast before the movie version came out on DVD, and I was rather shocked. The performance was beautifully done. Hugh Jackman stars as Valjean in the movie role. I don't think they could have made a better choice. I mean, I can't THINK of a better Valjean. Hugh Jackman first of all is an incredible actor, but add singing, passion, and tears: WOW! As I said about Wilkinson, you can just watch and see that he felt the role. Not to mention that he was there to encourage him a bit! But I was so impressed. In the song "Valjean Soliloquy", the way he truly looks broken as he sings and cries at the same time, unbelievable. It's unbelievable how believable he looks and sounds. So all in all, this is why I loved Wilkinson and Jackman, as my favorite Valjean. 


Javert: Movie 

Russell Crowe as Javert in
2012 Movie
*I Do Not Own Picture

Well, we come to Javert a commonly known false-villain. First, I want to set it straight that I DO NOT think of Javert as a villain. I think people want to believe it, but honestly, if you have read the Brick, he was just trying to do his duty to the law. It states in the Brick, that he had been from the gutters, also. That's his reason. Anyways, Russell Crowe was AMAZING!!!! Like, I've never been so wowed in my life. I watched the 10th Anniversary before the movie, and the 25th after the movie, but I was mostly impressed with the movie. Some people love his voice, some people hate it. Me, I love it. I don't know, it sounds so serious, and something else that I can't define. I love the way he always yells "Valjean!", and refers to himself in third person, aka, "Let him speak to Javert." and so on. I love watching behind the scenes and I feel bad for him. In the scene of "The Confrontation", Hugh Jackman accidentally beat Russell Crowe twice with the metal rod he was holding. Hugh Jackman stated, that when Russell took off his shirt, you could see the welts of where Hugh hit him! (Ouch) But all in all, you can see in Russell's face the way he struggles with the law and the man who could have set justice to him, but chose to spare him, in the song "Javert's Suicide". So, this is why I love Russell Crowe as my favorite Javert. 


Fantine: Movie

Anne Hathaway as Fantine in
2012 Movie
*I Do Not Own Picture

Fantine, such a sad character, honestly! I used to think she was overrated, but a comment either on Youtube or somewhere totally changed my mind. If Fantine wasn't a character, Valjean would never had learned to love, because Cosette wouldn't have been born, Marius wouldn't have been so ditzy in love (no offense :)), and yeah, the story would be a complete wreck. If you would have taken any main character out, it just wouldn't have made any sense at all, so shout out to Victor Hugo! My favorite Fantine is Anne Hathaway. Ruthie Henshall played Fantine in the 10th Anniversary, but at first I loved the way she sung "I Dreamed A Dream", but when Hathaway sang it, I realised that Henshall had no emotion! She was just singing, there was no sadness, remorse, anger, you name it, it was not there! Lea Salonga was good, but not the greatest. She had more emotion than Ruthie, but way less than Anne. So very big shout-out to Anne Hathaway, who won "Best Supporting Actress" at the Oscars. 


Cosette: Movie

Amanda Seyfried as Cosette in
2012 Movie
*I Do Not Own Picture

Oh, where do I start with the actresses who have played Cosette. Judy Kuhn played Cosette in the 10th Anniversary Dream Cast, and while she was good, once again, no emotion, whatsoever. Katie Hall, I, kind a way didn't really like her voice. I don't know why. She's just not the Cosette I imagined. I admire her small emotion she did in the 25th Anniversary Concert, but my winner is Amanda Seyfried's Cosette. In the Brick, she's described as a lark. "More like a lark than a dove", it says. Amanda's voice is the perfect description for that. She's so high with her beautiful coloratura soprano voice. Her vibrato is amazing, and her emotion is on a high level. Some of the emotions you'll see are loneliness, longing, sadness, panic-stricken, happy, devastated, and a lot more. I love her when it comes to the "Epilogue". As I said in my "Let The Music Move You", she was so emotional, crying while she's singing. This is why Amanda Seyfried is my favorite Cosette. 


Marius Pontmercy: Tie: 10th and Movie

Eddie Redmayne as Marius Pontmercy in
2012 Movie
*I Do Not Own Picture

Michael Ball as Marius Pontmercy in
Les Misérables 10th Anniversary
*I Do Not Own Picture

Well, I think I'll start with my least favorite one who's played Marius Pontmercy. Nick Jonas, in the 25th Anniversary Concert. He, he, was just the wrong person to play such a character. I'll stop here; that should tell enough. Michael Ball, from the 10th Anniversary Concert, he was AWESOME!!!!!! I love when he says, "My world if she's not there". He actually has quite some emotion. Especially when he sings "A Little Fall of Rain" with the dying Eponine. Now, we come to Eddie Redmayne. Geez, he's handsome, great singer, and as ditzy as Marius is in the novel. The way he sings "Empty Chairs and Empty Tables", just beautiful. I'm really going to have to say a tie here. I can't say who I like better. I just can't. 


Eponine Thenardier: Movie

Samantha Barks as Eponine Thenardier in
2012 Movie
*I Do Not Own Picture

Lea Salonga was good, but Samantha Barks was magnificent. She did well in the 25th Anniversary Concert, but in the move she was even better. "On My Own" is such a beautiful piece of music, and to add Samantha's voice to it, it's just beautiful. The way she sings the last line of "On My Own" is so heartbreaking. "I love him, I love him, I love him, but only on my own." The first "I love him" when she's looking down, it sounds so heart-breaking. It makes you feel so bad for her. At the end of the day, Samantha Barks, you are my winner, as my favorite Eponine. 


Thenardier: Tie: 10th, 25th, and Movie

Sacha Baron Cohen as Thenardier in
2012 Movie

*I Do Not Own Picture

Matt Lucas as Thenardier in
Les Misérables 25th Anniversary
*I Do Not Own Picture

Alun Armstrong as Thenardier in
Les Misérables 10th Anniversary
*I Do Not Own Picture

I'll start with the movie Thenardier, played by Sacha Baron Cohen, was good. It took me quite a while to get into the version of "Master of the House", but he was very good with his acting. After many tries of listening to this song, I warmed up to it, and now I love it. The 10th Anniversary Concert, Thenardier was played my Alun Armstrong. His version was my absolute favorite of "Master of the House". I absolutely loved that version the most. He was incredibly funny, which is probably why I loved him so much. The 25th Anniversary Thenardier played by Matt Lucas was also great. My favorite line he sings is, "In the absence of a victim, please Inspector, may I go?" He says "May I go?", he says it as a question, not singing it. The crowd laughed, as did I. So all three tied as my favorite Thenardier, all with good qualities about them. 

Helena Bonham Carter as Madame Thenardier in
2012 Movie
*I Do Not Own Picture

Madame Thenardier: Movie
The 10th and 25th Anniversary Madame Thenardiers were excellent, but 
Helena Bonham Carter took my breath away with her stunning performance. The way she treats Cosette and Thenardier, is mean and spiteful. Beautiful! Beautifully done! 








Enjolras: Movie 
So, I wasn't all too impresses with Michael Maguire's version of Enjolras. It was a little like, "Eh." Ramin Karimloo from the 25th Anniverasry was excellent. The way he acted as if Marius was an annoying pesky little brother was brilliant. They act closer in the movie than in the Brick. But Aaron Tveit's performance blew me away. He seems more like a leader, fighting for Liberty. Sooo, that is why I love Aaron Tveit as my favorite Enjolras, but Ramin, you most certainly are not far behind! 


So these are my lovely reason why I love the people I picked. Hope You Enjoyed! 


Who Is Your Favorite Valjean, Javert, Fantine, Cosette, Marius, Eponine, Thenardier, Madame Thenardier, and Enjolras? Post Your Answers If You Like In The Comments Box.