“If I speak with the tongues of men and angels but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” I Corinthians 13:1.
Me, Go to a Musical?
They say music is the language of men and angels.
I was skeptical as I went to the see the movie Les Miserables, because I am not a big fan of musicals. I had seen the 1998, non-musical version of Les Miserables starring Liam Neeson, which was very good. Perhaps viewing that version helped me to follow the musical version now showing at the theaters; I don't know. But the bottom line was that I was not prepared for how much this movie would move me. It literally brought me to tears not once, but many times through the movie (watch trailer below or click here).
Hope and Joy
This movie powerfully brings you through themes of tragedy and destitution, merciless legalism and self righteousness, mercy and redemption, and freedom, love, and self-sacrifice. There is a scene where Ann Hathaway, at the depths of despair, sings a beautiful but heart-wrenching song that concludes: I had a dream my life would be so different from this hell I'm living...Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.
But there was one man, Jean Valjean, who intervened in her world. I'm not going to go through a step-by-step review of the movie. But one thing this movie caused in me was self examination. How do I respond to people? Do I judge them based on outward appearance? Do I love them, especially if it requires involvement and self-sacrifice? I wish I could say I have always acted in love. But as is so elegantly demonstrated in this movie, there is hope. Any of us can change...we can be redeemed and transformed. Indeed, the lives of others may count on it. For you never know when you may be the only person who can make a difference in in someone else's life.(1)
I highly recommend that you see this movie. With a great cast (Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, and Amanda Seyfried), great cinematography, and most of all a great message, its a pretty sure bet you won't be disappointed.
Footnotes:
Me, Go to a Musical?
They say music is the language of men and angels.
I was skeptical as I went to the see the movie Les Miserables, because I am not a big fan of musicals. I had seen the 1998, non-musical version of Les Miserables starring Liam Neeson, which was very good. Perhaps viewing that version helped me to follow the musical version now showing at the theaters; I don't know. But the bottom line was that I was not prepared for how much this movie would move me. It literally brought me to tears not once, but many times through the movie (watch trailer below or click here).
