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Any chance of Les Misérables 10th Anniversary Dream Cast on Blu-ray?

post #1 of 18
7/31/09 at 9:02pm
Thread Starter 
I was sorely tempted to resurrect THIS THREAD (yet again)...but decided this discussion would be better served in the HD Software sub-forum.

With all the complaints about the poor audio & video quality of this production--BUT leveled against it's HUGE popularity--does anyone think the 10th Anniversary Dream Cast of Les Misérables will ever be released on Blu-ray?

It seems like it would be an extremely good seller...but I just wonder if the source materials would hold up underneath the technological advances of HD.

The DVD (seen below) was released as recently as 2008...but still contains just a DD 2.0 soundtrack.  And, while widescreen the video is fairly dim and grainy.

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post #2 of 18
8/1/09 at 4:48am
 Ahh, Mike, hard to say.

This title was supposed to be released on Sony Superbit many years
ago and just kept getting pushed back time and time again until it finally 
disappeared.

Would love to see this title resurrected on Blu-ray.
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post #3 of 18
8/1/09 at 6:14am
I'd love to see a real movie version of this pop opera, my favorite of that particular musical genre, but since EVITA and THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (pop operas from the same era) only did moderately at the box-office, maybe producers are wary of trying another, especially one that would require a huge budget to do it correctly.

In the meantime, I'd love to have this concert version on Blu-ray, too.
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post #4 of 18
8/1/09 at 7:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MattH. View Post

I'd love to see a real movie version of this pop opera, my favorite of that particular musical genre, but since EVITA and THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (pop operas from the same era) only did moderately at the box-office, maybe producers are wary of trying another, especially one that would require a huge budget to do it correctly.

In the meantime, I'd love to have this concert version on Blu-ray, too.

I'm thinking that those two movie musicals did poorly because, IMHO, they were mediocre movies.  Seems to me they were poorly cast.  If a movie can't be made of Le Miz, why not a BD of the stage production.  In addition to this particular production mentioned here, I'll bet there's already a top notch recording of the stage production already in the can.

BTW, what was the last live action musical that was a financial success?

I'd buy the BD of this is sec.
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post #5 of 18
8/1/09 at 8:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnny Angell View Post





BTW, what was the last live action musical that was a financial success?

I'd buy the BD of this is sec.

 

MAMMA MIA!
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post #6 of 18
8/1/09 at 9:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MattH. View Post




MAMMA MIA!
 

Next one to watch for: Nine (opens Nov. 25, 2009).
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post #7 of 18
8/1/09 at 12:42pm
Thread Starter 
And before Mamma Mia! there was this little thing called Chicago in 2002--first musical to win Best Picture since Oliver! in 1968. 

They released that Broadway production of Rent onto Blu-ray in February.  Not my favorite show, for sure.  I'm just glad to see that people haven't entirely given up on the musical when it comes to film/video.

Ron:  That old thread (2003) I linked-to in my OP goes back to that whole discussion of the never-to-happen SuperBit of the Les Miz concert. 

Matt:  I agree with you that a movie version of the actual musical of Les Miz could be done really well (I think of Sweeney Todd) and be successful as well.  And, I'm not the HUGEST fan of this work.  I'm more of a Rogers & Hammerstein-type of guy.  I DID see it on Broadway and enjoyed it...but will confess to actually sneaking quick listens to the Red Sox/Yankee game that was taking place that day across town.     I also really like the dream cast concert.  Maybe they could film a re-staging of that concert if the source materials aren't so good! 
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post #8 of 18
8/1/09 at 1:01pm

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon View Post

And before Mamma Mia! there was this little thing called Chicago in 2002--first musical to win Best Picture since Oliver! in 1968. 

 

Nine has the same director (Rob Marshall).
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post #9 of 18
8/1/09 at 4:51pm
Was lucky to find the SUPERBIT edition a few years ago at Amoeba. -Still sealed. --Would like a blu ray transfer.
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post #10 of 18
8/2/09 at 2:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon View Post

And before Mamma Mia! there was this little thing called Chicago in 2002--first musical to win Best Picture since Oliver! in 1968.

To me Chicago symbolizes what's wrong with Hollywood musicals.  I know, it was best picture.  I remember thinking as I was watching it that they had dumbed down the dancing requirements for Catherine Zeta-Jones.  Yeah, I know she got the oscar.  It hadn't been that long since I had seen in NY and I was mostly disappointed.  If Hollywood would establish a track record for casting the best people for the parts, musicals would fare better overall.  But I digress from the thread subject.  Bring on Les Miz, please!
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post #11 of 18
8/2/09 at 3:00pm
Thread Starter 
Johnny:

I couldn't agree with you more about Chicago.  It could have been much better.  I had a lot of questions, too, about the casting choices in Chicago.  All the leads (with the exception of John C. Reilly) were quite weak in my mind.  The fast editing--although the rage--was probably necessary for a multitude of reasons (not just Catherine Zeta-Jones).  Hollywood shouldn't be so afraid to cast Broadway-types in these roles.  But I also thought Sweeney Todd didn't suffer much from casting issues. 

I would think a full-blown film of Les Misérables could be quite a fetching piece of work.  Until then, I think an improved version of this title (which I took off the shelf last night after this discussion) would be just the ticket! 
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post #12 of 18
8/2/09 at 9:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon View Post

Johnny:

I couldn't agree with you more about Chicago.  It could have been much better.  I had a lot of questions, too, about the casting choices in Chicago.  All the leads (with the exception of John C. Reilly) were quite weak in my mind.  The fast editing--although the rage--was probably necessary for a multitude of reasons (not just Catherine Zeta-Jones).  Hollywood shouldn't be so afraid to cast Broadway-types in these roles.  But I also thought Sweeney Todd didn't suffer much from casting issues.
Sadly, for making (IMHO) several wrong casting choices, they were rewarded with a well received film.  Since it was best picture I presume it was box office boffo, which only reinforces this klutzy casting syndrome.  The story goes that Frank Sinatra was first choice to be Harold Hill in the Music Man, except that Meridith Wilson said no Robert Preston then no movie.  I'm a big fan of Sinatra but you don't have to be a rocket scientist to know Preston was the right choice.  Gee, they choice a lesser draw and still had a big hit.  Learn from that Hollywood.  I'm surprised they didn't put Antonio Banderas in Chicago.

Jeez, don't get me going on fast editing.  I like to see what I'm watching
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post #13 of 18
8/2/09 at 9:19pm
Thread Starter 
Speaking of Sinatra...and then there was the casting for Guys & Dolls! 

And they were thisclose to casting Nicole Kidman as Ulla in The Producers! 
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post #14 of 18
8/4/09 at 12:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon View Post

Johnny:

I couldn't agree with you more about Chicago.  It could have been much better.  I had a lot of questions, too, about the casting choices in Chicago.  All the leads (with the exception of John C. Reilly) were quite weak in my mind.  The fast editing--although the rage--was probably necessary for a multitude of reasons (not just Catherine Zeta-Jones).  Hollywood shouldn't be so afraid to cast Broadway-types in these roles.  But I also thought Sweeney Todd didn't suffer much from casting issues. 
 

The fast editing was a bit annoying, I have to agree. The number 'I Can't Do it Alone' could've been a great one shot song and dance piece, but it was ruined because of the editing. Every Oscar they got for it wasn't really deserved as well. I hold Sweeney Todd much higher in regard, even though the actors aren't the best singers. I'm still looking forward to Nine, though.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon View Post

And before Mamma Mia! there was this little thing called Chicago in 2002--first musical to win Best Picture since Oliver! in 1968. 
 

Wasn't Hairspray a hit as well? It has a sequel coming, so it must be.
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post #15 of 18
8/4/09 at 2:24pm
I too would love to own a quality staged production of Les Miz (along w/ various other staged musicals) on good quality BD, but not really *that* interested in the dreamcast concert though.  Just not the same at all.  I'd rather just listen to my original B'way cast recording on CD instead.

I guess there's no love here for the non-musical film version of Les Miz from about a decade ago w/ Liam Neeson, Geoffrey Rush, Claire Danes, Uma Thurman, et al.   I remember it being rather disappointing and a real drag in pacing, but just checking IMDB now, it seems to have found some fans given its 7.2 rating over there.

_Man_
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post #16 of 18
8/5/09 at 9:27am
I'm torn. In some ways I feel the same as Man, in that the Dream Cast concert was just weird with the singers standing at mics (and of course the abridging of the musical).

But on the other hand, it's just about the only place to hear both Colm Wilkinson and Philip Quast in the same concert. If they had been able to wipe out Gary Morris and replace him with Wilkinson, the Complete Symphonic Recording would be the end-all recording. Okay, maybe swapping out the Japanese girl (who did an admirable job considering she can't speak English) with another Eponine would have helped. Lea Salonga I thought did well in the Dream Cast version.

If they do release the Dream Cast on BD I hope they can fix some of the audio problems. There were quite a few instances of distorted or clipped vocals. I don't know if that was because of bad mastering or if the problem was inherent in the original recording.
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post #17 of 18
8/5/09 at 10:12am
Thread Starter 
Carlo: 

Simply put, Lea Salonga has the voice of an angel.  She is my main reason for returning to the Dream Cast DVD. 
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post #18 of 18
8/5/09 at 4:25pm
Hmmm...  Maybe I should just pick up the Dream Cast CD set.   Does that also have the audio problems that Carlo mentioned above?

_Man_
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