Happy New Year!!!
I hope you all had a wonderful time ringing in 2013 and bidding farewell to 2012. Ryan and I had a no fuss celebration as planned and celebrated together over margaritas.
Earlier in the day, before the margarita drinkin’, I saw Les Mis!
I really, really wanted to love this movie. Really. But I just didn’t.
I feel like I’m in the vast minority, but I simply wasn’t enamored with Les Mis. I adore musicals but have never seen Les Mis on stage before, so maybe that had something to do with it? Perhaps knowing and loving all of the songs beforehand would’ve made me feel more connected to the film?
I thought it was a decent movie with some beautiful songs, but I felt restless as I watched and thought it was rather long. (I must say that I thought Anne Hathaway’s “I Dreamed a Dream” was absolutely gorgeous and have already downloaded that song, so there were some moments in the movie that I definitely enjoyed.)
Workout
After a later-than-usual start to the day, Ryan and I meandered over to the gym for our first workout of the new year this morning.
I warmed up with 20 minutes on the elliptical before I completed my Winter Circuit Workout.
Super sweaty!
Breakfast
Breakfast this morning featured your average run-of-the-mill staples: Cereal, fruit and yogurt.
Nothing too special, but it tasted good and satisfied my hunger. That’s all I ask!
Question of the Morning
- Is there a movie out there that everyone seems to love that you don’t think it all that great?
For me that movie is The Goonies. I never saw it as a child and after seeing it for the first time as an adult, it left me feeling underwhelmed (as they say on Cupcake Wars).
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Most recently, I was very underwhelmed by Ted. I love a good comedy, and everyone carried on about it like it was the greatest thing. The trailer was the funniest part. I’ve been looking forward to Les Mis, but I fear that I’m going to have the same experience that you had! Happy New Year! 🙂
Agreed! I was super excited to see Ted but as you said, the best parts of the movie were in the trailer. Even my husband (who is a sucker for those rediculous comedies) thought they were reaching a little too far to make people laugh.
There are TONS of movies like this for me! One that comes to mind is The Hangover. I think it was just hyped up SO much before I saw it that afterwards I was just like “eh.”
I agree. The Hangover didn’t do it for me at all.
I also have to agree. Although my boyfriend would disagree with us.
Completely agree! I think it is a guy movie for sure.. But although it had a few decent bits.. A lot of it I just felt was ridiculous.
I too have a lot of movies that I feel that way about.. Also just about everything that has the cast members from SNL.. They makes them sound amazing and they end up with like 2 funny bits and mostly gross and rude. :/
I didn’t like The Hangover when I first saw it, but liked it the second (and third, fourth…).
I loved The Hangover!
I’d never seen Les Mis or knew the songs, but I really enjoyed it. I wasn’t “moved” by it like some people (we had some criers) but I thought it was beautifully done and I felt like the time flew by.
Mine would have to be all those movies that have multiples..Harry Potter, Twilight, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Transformers, etc. They are just too long and there is so much going on for me to enjoy! And Goonies honestly scare me as a child, so I don’t like it either now. :p Happy New Year! 🙂
Sorry you didn’t love Les Mis… I haven’t seen it yet, but am not really familiar with it either.
Everyone seems to love Star Wars & I honestly just can’t do it.
I have a really long list of these. Goonies, The Little Rascals, A Christmas Story, and pretty much every Will Ferrell movie.
I’m not a fan of Will Ferrell, so with a few exceptions, I’m underwhelmed by the vast majority of his movies. And this includes Elf – I just can’t find it all that funny!
I totally felt this way about American Beauty. Ugh. There are also a ton of tv shows out right now that my husband and I talk about all the time. Everyone thinks they are great, hilarious shows and we just don’t feel it. But we both have a pretty goofy sense of humor, so we find other shows hilarious that most people don’t. 🙂
Harry Potter. Will never get the hype.
I can understand that. I’m a huge Harry Potter fan, but I will say they didn’t do the movies justice at all. The books are so much better!
Armageddon came out when I was a teen and I have yet to see it. All the hype around it made me not want to see it.
Goonies! Really!? Love that one, but I get it, I’m like that about a lot of movies that everyone thinks is great. The most epic example I can think of is Citizen Kane. It is the best movie of all time according to every list ever and I was bored to tears when I watched it. And the ending wasn’t that profound.
Happy New Years! I really want to see Les Mis but I’m worried it will be too sad and depressing. I’m a baby with movies, I get too into them so if really bad things happen I get stressed. ;P I’m such a dork.
Happy New Year Julie! Thanks for letting us know about the movie… we were considering going to see it but maybe we will be cheap and wait til it’s out on red box….
Morning Gal! When is our book review due? 🙂
And by the way, I turned down an outing for Les Mis because I felt like I wasn’t going to want to sit through the entire thing. I appreciate the review.
Happy New Year!
Yes – Bridesmaids! I just didn’t think it was that funny…. I thought it was rather gross, to be honest! BUT, Goonies is one of my favorites. Then again, I watched it as a kid, so maybe that’s why. I’ve read mixed reviews on Les Mis – People who’ve seen the musical have said the movie wasn’t very good, but I’d still like to see it.
Happy New Year!
That’s sacrilegious lol the first time I saw bridesmaids I was underwhelmed but every other time ive loved it. Give it another chance.
I’ve watched it twice… Maybe third time is a charm? I just got grossed out during the dress fitting scene and I didn’t care for Melissa McCarthy’s character. I really tried to like it/her! I loved her on the Gilmore Girls and I guess I just always picture her as Sookie!
Maybe I’m about to get criticized for this, but I’m completely underwhelmed by 99% of The Princess Bride! Ahhhh sinful, I know! Haha my husband LOVES that movie, and I found a few parts funny, but in general I just sat there with a stupid look on my face, like “huh?”
Happy New Year, Fagan fam!
Agree! I don’t get that movie.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinions…but you are WRONG!!! Hahaha!!! 🙂 The Princess Bride is amazing!
The Batman movies. Like, the Dark Knight, Dark Knight Rises, all of that. Not a fan–but all of my friends are, and they can’t believe I don’t share their same enthusiasm.
I totally agree! I fell asleep in the theater during Dark Knight and my husband and his friends still make fun of me for it!! 🙂
I feel that way about The Hangover! I try so hard to find it funny, but just can’t!
There is no better way to celebrate the New Year than with margaritas!! 😉
Happy 2013!
This is how I feel about Bridesmaids. I’ve seen it twice now and just don’t get it! We are going to go see Les Mis later in the week & I am such a fan of it that I’m afraid I’ll be super critical the whole time I am watching.
I agree!! Bridesmaids was no where near as funny as I thought it would be!
Definitely the Lord or the Rings series and most recently, The Hobbit. Also, Harry Potter (though I’ve technically never seen it…).
Then again there are movies are I LOVE and everyone else hates. Rom-coms, mostly 🙂
The Goonies was filmed in the Oregon where my family lives. Claim to fame, baby, claim to fame. happy new year!
Haha, I’m a diehard for Les Mis. But then again, I’ve seen it on stage twice….same cast…2 different states….I’ve auditioned with one of the songs before…..I know every word….have autographs with the cast….so I guess I have an excuse 🙂
Personally, I don’t like any Nicolas Sparks movies except a Walk to Remember. They’re just always sad, nothing happy ever happens, you know? I always feel depressed later.
Totally with you on this. Have read the book, seen the play (twice), auditioned with it, and loved it for years. I thought the movie was done beautifully.
Agreed! At first, I my thoughts were “Whoa, okay, the isn’t what it’s supposed to be like”, but then I thought about it, and realized that this is the movie version, it can’t be the same. Of course they have to sing quieter, and they will do things differently. So my final thought was that for a movie, they did pretty darn excellent.
Movies like Dumb and Dumber, Ace Ventura, etc … I never found them to be all that funny. I didn’t hate them, but I just didn’t laugh out loud. 😉
totally agree about ace ventura!
Same here!! Ace kinda grossed me out actually haha.
I liked Les Mis but I went in with really low expectations and didn’t think I would, so maybe that helped. I’m in love with the muscial!
I have never been able to even sit through Up and everyone I know adores that movie. Also, I didn’t much care for the Hunger Games either, but I did like the books.
I hate Jim Carrey and so any of his movies fall into this category for me. I don’t want to see Les Mis.. it doesn’t appeal to me and I’ve never seen the show on stage, so I think I’ll skip it. I also never saw the Goonies as a child and by the time I saw it (when my husband made me in college) I just didn’t get it.
Hey, Julie!
See if you can find a copy of the 25th Anniversary Les Miz Concert from 2010 or — maybe better — the 10th Anniversary Concert from 1995. Although concerts, both are done in full costumes and makeup and, of course, both have wonderful singers, full orchestras, and large choruses. The 10th Anniv. Concert is better in the sense that it has Colm Wilkinson, the original Jean Valjean — he was the Bishop in the movie — in that role as well as several other performers who originated their roles. And both have great encores at the end!
Good luck!
I second this! The 1995 Anniversary concert is a must! You can watch it on youtube. Colm Wilkinson, Lea Salonga and Michael Ball..it doesn’t get better than them! I didn’t like the 2010 performance. Mostly because I had a huge issue with a Jonas brother being cast as Marius.
I third this. I’ve seen the show 5 times and read the book so my expectations are HIGH – I will either cry through it when I see it or be critical. I think I’d skip the 2005 one and go straight to the 1995 one (don’t kill me but I’ve never LOVED Lea Salonga… she practically says “and when I woose my way I close my eyes and he has found me.”). Colm Wilkinson is THE gold standard. It’s hard to take Les Mis seriously with a Jonas Brother in it 😉
I fourth this! (..if that’s possible??…) Both anniversary shows are awesome! Sometimes they show the 25th anniversary shows on PBS, if you’re lucky you might find it sometime. Also, a few fun facts: Colm Wilkinson (the original Jean Valjean) played the bishop in the beginning of the movie that Jean Valjean seeks refuge from. And the actress who plays Eponine in the movie also plays Eponine in the 25th anniversary 🙂
I’m going to fifth this recommendation!
It really annoyed me when I bought the DVD, that the plastic wrap had a sticker that said “Starring Nick Jonas …”. And I can’t stand that he sings like the words are tatooed to his eyebrows.
Yes!! The tenth anniversary edition is the only version worth it in my opinion. Sooo sooo good!
The Notebook. The actual book was great,but there’s something too cheesy about the movie. I know, I’m the only girl that thinks this 🙂
Not the only girl – I HATE the Notebook. Passionately hate. Although not because it’s cheesy…I just can’t get on board with cheating on your fiancee (especially one who is amazing and loves you VERY much) by sleeping with another man. I don’t care how “conflicted” you are. Stop being a slut, figure out what you want, and then end your other relationship before hopping in bed with someone else. *end rant*
… I also don’t like Elf at all, and I’m glad to see several other commenters on there agree with me on that one too. 🙂
Oh my Lord. Great minds. No Notebook here and no Elf. Can’t stand either. I thought I was alone.
Elf…I have absolutely zero patience for that movie. I can see why people would like it, but all I get out of it is stupid humor and Will Ferrel killing brain cells.
I’m sorry you didn’t like Les Mis! I haven’t seen it yet because I try to hold off on seeing movies in theater unless I am fairly certain it’ll be worth my money. Great to hear your opinion as well!
I was shocked by Les Mis… almost to the point that I couldn’t formulate an opinion about it. I think, perhaps this came from the emotion that came out in the music. It’s sometimes difficult to show the full range of emotion when singing. And I feel that all of the actors did such a great job of this. I felt myself pulled into the emotion of the story more than once. I think this is why I felt so shocked by the film.
James Bond movies… Not a fan and they all seem the same to me, Sorry I don’t get them!
You are SPOT ON with Les Mis. I felt like I should lose my “woman card” when I liked it SO MUCH less than my husband…then we discussed why I didn’t like it and it came down to these three things:
1. Russell Crowe cannot sing…so why didn’t they cast a singer in one of the most integral roles in the film rather than an aging actor??
2. I had not seen Les Mis before either, but had loved all fo the music, and didn’t feel as if it applied to the film in the way I had always imagined in my mind.
3. Turns out they cut out some fairly important portions of the movie in the sake of time (like how Jean Valjean spent 20 YEARS in prison being tortured by Javert!)
So, just know that you were not alone in your distaste for Les Mis…although I agree that Anne Hathaway was amazing!
I liked Goonies, but I wasn’t blown away by it, either. I also saw Labyrinth when I was older, but when I finally watched it, I hated it! I didn’t like Lord of the Rings, either, and even though Easy A was a cute movie, I wasn’t a huge fan like my roommates were.
For me, it’s The Breakfast Club. I’ve had so many people freak out over the fact that I hadn’t seen it. I finally saw it and it just didn’t do anything for me? I think it’s because it’s an older film. When it came out, it was probably great, but years later it seemed awkward and boring.
I loved Les Mis but I have also seen it several times on stage and know all of the music by heart. I think it would be a very different experience if I had never seen it.
For me it is the Princess Bride. I hate that movie…
We celebrated NYE over margaritas, too! 🙂
For me, the movie I just don’t understand why everyone loves is Caddy Shack. It was just “Meh” to me, but I know people that live to quote it and crack themselves up.
I’ve never been a huge fan of the Lord of the Ring movies. It seems like everyone loves them (my husband included), but I just have a hard time getting into them.
I am totally with you on that one, Ashley! My husband and I recently saw The Hobbit..and I just couldn’t get into it. I enjoy a nice nap during it though.. 😉
Almost all 80s movies. I don’t get it. They weren’t that great. Almost everyone I know can quote them all, but I was completely underwhelmed by that era — both in movies and music.
On the other hand, I was not expecting much from Les Mis, but absolutely LOVED it. 😉
PITCH PERFECT! I was so pumped to see it that I RENTED it from Amazon (something I never ever do) and I so much as hated it. Talk about disappointing.
I really enjoyed Les Mis, but I think this is ONLY because I saw the musical beforehand. I actually just went and saw the musical two weeks ago…and didn’t like it! I knew I wanted to see the movie, so I did some reading on the plot and the background story, which really helped me gain a better understanding for the story’s message….so I think going into the movie with some background knowledge DEFINITELY helped me 🙂
So funny, I loved Les Mis!!!!! I wanted to stay for the next showing when it was over. But I’ve seen it on stage and know every note of all the songs, so I’m sure that helped.
Oh no! So sorry to hear you didn’t love Les Mis. I think that happens sometimes when people or the media hype up a production so much. I still have yet to see it but I’m hoping I love it. I was blown away when I saw in on broadway so I’m hoping i feel the same with the movie.
Mine was the “Hangover.” It was just “eh” for me.
Goonies is one of my favorite movies of all time! I actually watched it last night. LOL
You aren’t the first person that’s blogged about how bad that movie was. I really really want to like it too. I’m still going to watch it in hopes that I’m an oddball! 🙂
Oh No! I’m so disappointed that Les Mis didn’t get a good review from you. 🙁 I’ve been wanting to see it so badly, I just don’t have the time. Maybe when it comes out on dvd. On a good note: I cooked up a batch of apple chicken sausage and zucchini this morning and the combination is fantastic! So, thank you for posting about that. Hope you have a wonderful New Year’s Day, Julie!
I have not seen this version of Les Mis, but have seen the last movie and seen it on stage twice. My mom went though the other day, and while she said she enjoyed it, she felt that there was some miscasting and that she wouldn’t bother buying the soundtrack. If you get a chance to see it live though, I would highly recommend it.
ahhh I’ve been dying to see Les Miserables but I haven’t seen the musical yet either! But my husband and I are talking about saving up for that in the near future. I’ll still watch it but I hope I do love it! 😀 And I have TONS of movies that people LOVE but I feel underwhelmed with: Transformers, Titanic (ABHOR IT, LOL), The Notebook, and many of those really “dumb” comedy ones of young people partying and being drunk all the time…haha.
I’ve seen Les Mis on stage 3-4 times, it’s my favorite Broadway. I loved the movie, but it was very long and found myself wishing they had cut more out to make it shorter.
I cannot, for the life of me, understand the obsession with The Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter. Those types of movies just aren’t my jam! My husband and friends die for those movies…and I can’t keep my eyes open through one of them. I do really want to see Les Mis because everyone is raving over it. Since I own The Sound of Music (the world’s longest musical) on DVD, I have a feeling it will be right up my alley 🙂