After work today we saw “Les Miserables”, treating ourselves to a movie theatre where they serve food and drink. At this cinema, there is reserved seating and menus with entrees and liquor. There is something ironic with sitting in a comfy chair, eating imperial tid-bits and sipping wine served by minions while watching a movie about the poor and downtrodden.
We both liked the movie but found fault with some of the singing and disappointment when some of our favorite songs were edited. Although I have seen “Les Miz” several times, I still don’t empathize with the students at the barricade. What on earth were they thinking about. Someone judged Mr. Crowe’s singing terrible, but I didn’t care for I thought him woofy. When he jumped off the bridge I imagined him falling on me and not into the Seine River.
Tomorrow is my annual trek to Barnes & Noble to buy a blank journal. I like to spend some time picking it out, being careful to get one different than last year’s. 2012’s journal has a plain purple cover, so 2013 should be colourful and whimsical. While there I should also purchase a travel book on Puerta Vallerta.
Someone likes to have the Christmas things down by New Year’s Eve, so I suspect that is on the weekend’s agenda. I want to get back to shirt making; there are several waiting to be completed.
But first there is sleep. Before I nod off I am going to start reading “Portnoy’s Complaint”. I want to find out what all the fuss is about. Given what I have heard about the book, I suspect I will find it very dull or hilarious.
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December 28, 2012 at 10:44 PM
Frogdancer
I read Portnoy’s Complaint years ago when I was a wee slip of a girl. Scarred me for life…
December 28, 2012 at 10:47 PM
truthspew
I really loved your ironic description there. I do wish we had more theaters like that here in RI. I know the Castle over on Chalkstone Ave. tried but failed. And then there’s the Columbus near me – after spending oodles on fire code upgrades they’re finally open again. For how long who knows. I do wonder however how long it took them to scrape the crusted jizz off the floors when they did so. It used to be an X-Rated movie space.
December 28, 2012 at 11:11 PM
wcs
I agree with Someone, except I take the decorations down on New Year’s Day as opposed to the eve. I like looking at the twinkling lights through my (full) champagne glass on the eve.
December 28, 2012 at 11:53 PM
Raybeard
‘Les Mis’ – oh dear! We don’t get it for another 10 days yet but from what you say I’m already gritting my teeth, dreading disappointment. But I note you do say that you both LIKED it.
I first read ‘Portnoy’ way back in about 1970, within a year or two of its publication (aw, shucks!), and do recall finding it very titillating. Seeing such in-yer-face, ‘fruity’ writing on the page was not at all common back then – though these days every second author writes about matters sexual with complete abandon. I dare say encountering it for a first time now could be quite a tame experience – but with the advantage of one being more able to form a balanced view without the bias which the sexual element invites, and to discern the novel’s true merits – or otherwise.
December 29, 2012 at 4:22 AM
wfregosi
We haven’t seen Les Miz yet. We both drool over HughJack. Fritz is not a Russell Crowe fan (only in The Sum of Us but not thereafter) but Gladiator, my first (ahem) exposure to him, printed him on my libido forever. I had some reservations about the show on Broadway: big effective scenes, some very good songs, but lots and lots of dull, not very expressive recitative between numbers. But we’ll see it at some point–they’ve opened a new, really well designed multiplex near us with stadium seating and a crew of young people on the staff who are very polite. And it’s clean!
Our 17 New Years guests (including Dr. Taron and The Wild One) begin to arrive today. At midnight on the 31st we’ll look southwest and say “Happy New Year, Dr. Spo and Someone!”
December 29, 2012 at 6:11 AM
domanidave
True to form, I can talk (and blog) about movies, but struggle to actually make it to the theatre door. Maybe this weekend, finally. Glad to hear you two liked it overall, as others have not, and I was starting to dispair that my anticipation was for naught.
December 29, 2012 at 6:55 AM
Ron
Last movie I saw in the “THEA-TUH!” was “Avator” and that was only because it was in 3-D. I cannot abide watching a movie when other are talking in the audience. I prefer my “home THEA-TUH in my bedroom. That said, I doubt if I would watch “Les Miz” although I do find Hugh Jackman and HIs Fatness Russell Crowe very sexy. The only musical I ever saw in a public movie house that lived up to its expectations was “Chicago.”
I got my blank journal already. It is the Standard Diary – Daily Reminder from At-A-Glance”. Same color every year, red. I kept a journal for nine years (1971 to 1980) then discontinued when a “friend’ read it behind my back and tore pages out about himself. Yes, even back in that day “friends” were trying to censor what I was writing. I began journaling agin in 2007 and will continue until I can no longer function either mentally or physically. I fully expect someone to read my journals after I’m gone and still try to censor me. They’ll probably burn my journals which would be shame. After all, I do let it “all hang out” in my journal writing. Why that bothers some people, I’ll never understand. You know, free country and all that. Some don’t get it.
Happy new year!
December 29, 2012 at 8:49 AM
Shawn
I went to see Les Mis a couple days ago.
Yawn.
If it wasn’t for woofy Russell Crowe I probably would have walked out or fallen asleep. Every time I started to drift off or walk out, he would appear and I’d perk up. Then by the time he jumps to his death I was so close to the end I figured I’d stick it out.
I’ll put it this way, Les Mis is just not my cup of “tea”.
Russell + beard+ uniform = WOOF!
December 29, 2012 at 9:00 AM
Raybob
NO, no, no! Christmas begins on Christmas day and ends on January 5th, the eve of Epiphany! One does NOT take down the decorations before Epiphany when one is STILL in the season.
Ahem. Rant over.
Les Mis sounds good – we’ll probably see it sooner or later. Happy almost-new-year!
December 29, 2012 at 11:22 AM
Urspo
Indeed; in the church the Christmas season STARTS on 12/25; while the rest of society finishes it.
________________________________
December 29, 2012 at 12:26 PM
Chris (in Philly)
I have not seen “Les Miserable” yet. I have heard many complaints from friends about Russell Crowe’s singing. I will not care. I have had a crush on Russell Crowe for years (he my fantasy celebrity ex-husband, my partner Randy’s celebrity ex-husband is Tom Selleck) Every time Russell does something outrageous my Randy rags on him to me as if I have some control over what Russell does so when we see Les Miz we will have a good laugh.
My Grandma and my Mom told me about Portney’s Complaint years ago. My Grandma was a great reader so when Portney’s Complaint came out in its day she bought a copy not knowing what it was about. When she got to the juicy bits she freaked out and worried what everyone at the 5&10 would think of her for buying such…trash. Grandma was born in 1902 so she would have been 68-69 yrs old when the book came out. I guess she was afraid people would have thought she was a “dirty old woman” or something. The way she told the story was priceless, she was a great comedian and storyteller. I miss my Grandma. Enjoy the book.
December 29, 2012 at 1:27 PM
Greg
I, too, am a bit dubious about Mr. Crowe’s Broadway-style singing abilities. That might be one of the throwbacks. That, and Sacha Baren Cohen. Never liked him. But we will see Les Mis soon enough.
December 29, 2012 at 1:42 PM
Jay M.
I haven’t made it to Les Mis yet. I’m afraid to go since I’ve done the show in the theatre, and those shows always are my favorites. As “amateurish” as some of them were, they were always Broadway for me!
I hate to admit I haven’t been to a bricks & mortar bookstore in a long time. I’ve become addicted to my Kindle, and of course, if I want it in paperback or hardback, there’s always Amazon and the delayed gratification of waiting on shipping.
Peace <3
Jay
December 29, 2012 at 6:47 PM
justajeepguy
OFF TOPIC: Had a thought about The Spo-tacular. You should bring enough shirts so that everyone can were one for a big group photo or even to the big get together.
December 29, 2012 at 6:52 PM
Urspo
I need to figure out how many are coming to this little coca cola commercial !
Sent from nowhere in particular.
December 29, 2012 at 6:56 PM
Jay M.
I’ll be there! Made reservations last night with Ron!!!
I’m really sorry, though, I don’t drink Coke! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA Bourbon is more my style! Or water. Take your pick.
Peace <3
Jay
December 29, 2012 at 6:59 PM
Urspo
So glad to meet you ! We will have bourbon – no rubbish either !
Sent from nowhere in particular.
December 29, 2012 at 7:04 PM
Jay M.
Hard to express how much I am looking forward to this.
Jay
December 29, 2012 at 6:47 PM
Mark in DE
Spouse & I want to see Les Miserable too (although I am not allowed to abbreviate it to Les Miz because of an annoying date Spouse had centuries ago). I am afraid I will find fault with the singing as well, since I am used to the Broadway cast recording and having seen it on Broadway. BTW, when are you going to Puerta Vallarta??
December 29, 2012 at 6:49 PM
Urspo
The Week of valentines day
Sent from nowhere in particular.
December 30, 2012 at 1:19 PM
TallPole
Spo – after reading Portnoy, you’ll never look at a piece of liver in the same way again …
December 30, 2012 at 1:50 PM
jmcanuck
I questioned releasing “Les Mis” as a “Christmas” movie – given what happens to most of the characters. (“It’ll make your downer of a family dinner a whole lot less depressing.”) That said, I’ve been told Hathaway’s performance will rip one in half and that might make it worth a visit.