I think it’s important to protect your own soul from impurity – crude or mean lyrics in music, excessive violence, and the ever over-sexualized media in TV, ads, and movies. It’s not easy to do since it calls for withdrawing from social norms and allowing others to label you as an extremist, but it’s worth it. For example, we used to watch The Office all the time – hilarious, right? we never missed an episode; but somewhere along the line, sexual humor was pretty strongly woven into the dialogue and plot. Sure the show’s hysterical, but when it comes down to brass tacks, general disrespect toward sex and its sacramental purpose is unacceptable. We don’t watch media with sexual content; movies with scenes of sexuality in them are ruled out because it’s just not pure and holy to watch other people, acting or not, and we don’t want to invite such content into our home.
What you accept/watch/read reveals the inner on-goings of your soul, what you value, and what you don’t. I haven’t always subscribed to this approach – there was plenty of music and media that I won’t encounter again because despite a good beat, plot, or lesson involved, it came at the cost of purity of heart; which, according to Christ, is the ability to see God (Matthew 5:8). And I excused myself from this rule saying that I wasn’t been corrupted or compromised.
image from imdb.com
Let me say that I’m not commenting on Les Miserables by Victor Hugo or the stage production, but rather the most recent movie release. Truth be told, I haven’t read the book and it’s been 10 years since I went to the production. I was over the moon for the movie to come out and anticipated its release for months and months. Since seeing it on stage, I memorized the soundtrack, shouting “2-4-6-0-1″ from my room in high school and blaring “One Day More” on repeat in the car. Sitting in the theater the other day, I breathlessly awaited the main theme once Jean Valjean tore up his parole papers and knew I was in for an amazing experience.
I saw Les Mis this weekend and I don’t think it’s worth seeing – at least in-theater.
The music and actors have nothing to do with it, neither does the general story because all were sublime. There’s no denying the rush of the score and the fervor in the lyrics, both of which were powerful. I don’t recommend the movie because, at least while it’s in theaters, you can’t skip over the gross sexuality on display, and on such a huge scale. In addition to the general sexuality within the first part of the movie (completely through “Master of House”), there were two sexual scenes/shots – one could have been cut entirely and the other didn’t have to be nearly as explicit as it was. If you’ve seen it, I’m referring to the entire “Lovely Ladies” scene including Fantine’s first “client” as well as the general behavior in “Master of the House,” which includes the “Santa shot.” [Spoiler alert] –> Silly me, I didn’t realize how involved the on-screen adaptation would be once Fantine sold herself into prostitution, especially once Hollywood got a hold of it; even setting her tragic situation aside, the blatant immodesty among other characters (both main and chorus) was already too much, but was then further emphasized by cinematography. How many shots of overly revealing attire do you need??
Les Mis, as a movie, was poisoned by both significant and subtle exploitation of sexuality and the human body; and what could have been a beautiful story purely portrayed left a bad taste of “it was ok, but…” It’s a genuine tragedy since so many Catholic themes are presented throughout the rest of the film, including God’s saving grace, the welcoming charity among religious communities, the difference between allowing your heart to be softened by faith versus hardened within it (Valjean vs. Javert), and a monsignor who shows remarkable compassion and mercy. Thank God I can find this actualized elsewhere.
So what, you’re going to write off the whole movie based on 2 brief scenes and some low-cut dresses? Yes, I am. We live in a time when too often people do the opposite by writing off sexuality in media for the sake of a good story, a funny sitcom, or a drama that gets you hooked. But at what cost am I willing to be entertained? Is it worth letting my soul’s guard down to see “A Heart Full of Love” so sweetly performed? No. Please note that I’m well aware that this film could and will draw others to God, to Christ, to the Church, but my suggestion is that, for those of us who already hold dear the aforementioned Catholic themes, seeing the movie in-theater is inadvisable because the sexuality is unavoidable.
The bottom line and my own concluding 2 cents is that life can be lived better without seeing Hollywood’s adaptation of Hugo’s novel – at least in theater. My thoughts have nothing to do with the story itself or the difficulty of the historical age, but rather speak to Hollywood. If you must see it, wait for the DVD or Blu-Ray release so you can skip the trashy scenes. In hindsight, I wish I had stuck to the soundtrack and production in my memory.
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there be any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8 RSV)
Thank you. I was going to go see this because I have always heard of Les Miserables but have never seen it. Also, like you I loved the office. The first 5 minutes of Dwight would sometimes leave me crying I was laughing so hard. But, also like you I quit watching it because of how they ruined the show.
Thankfully I have your blog, Spirit Daily and few others to read. Thank you for your authentic Catholicism. Your honesty helps me take a good look at myself too. It’s very refreshing in our day and age and let’s me know I’m not alone! Abundant Blessings…
Great point. That scene was really pointless (with Santa). I mean, it just didn’t fit the rest of the movie.
Amy
I agree!! The film had all the expectation of a carefully prepared creme bru le by the finest chef, but when I tasted it, he left a few egg shells making it inedible. Despite the creamy texture, the perfectly glazed sugar top, I pushed it aside.
Moreover, I am counting the cost if I should use my time to hopefully be inspired by a film.
While watching Les’ with my hubby, I grabbed my rosary beads in my coat pocket and prayed for the actors and all involved in the movie production as well as all the movie patrons. ” Father forgive them they know not what they do. “
Vanessa, the part about praying for the actors and others involved…that’s something I never thought about. What a great idea, something to remember in the future! Thank you!
Wish I had read this before I went and saw it Sunday night. I am right with you. It put a bad taste in my mouth and as you said, I came out thinking it was “ok.” I have never seen it on stage or an opera at that and thought that was the reason behind me not liking it so much. After reading this post, it’s all the more clear to me. Thanks
Well, I am glad there is some discomfort in this movie on this blog. I am not in favor of Les Miserables for other reasons (subtle and overt politics of the Enlightenment era fed to readers through pathos), but I am glad even now, to know there are other reasons not to see it. I hope your post is not met with resistance for those who ought to know better.
Thank you so much for posting this. I was going to go see it but I will now save myself the trouble. Getting to the point that only Ignatius Press movies are worth my watching. The latest one on St Augustine was shown at our movie theater and was fabulous!
God bless you for speaking the truth and Happy New Year!
I disagree with your opinion of this movie. I thought it was wonderful and definitely worth seeing.
Thanks for your review — I had been really looking forward to it too — glad I won’t be wasting my money
I was thinking of seeing it….maybe waiting until it comes to the $2 theatre but now I will take a pass. We had to give up watching ‘regular’ and almost all TV although my husband and sons love sports. But even in watching a game, there are “ED” commercials and ads for impure shows. You just cannot get around it.
I recall a couple of years ago when my family still watched some sitcoms. I came into the room and in 5 minutes I noted MANY sins that were glorified. I mentioned them: lying, fornication, immodesty, etc. And I got “Oh, mom, its funny.” No, it is a perversion of sensibilities. We do not filter out these immoral words and scenes and we become desensitive to evils and thus evils are allowed in our society as ‘harmless’. They are not for they lead to sin and to the loss of souls.
So eloquently put! Thank you for putting into words what I couldn’t! It’s hard to go against the flow because people will defend mediocrity and acceptance of the unacceptable.
Thank you for upholding the truth in a world filled with deceptive twists.
Love,
Mom
I would have seen it too if I hadn’t read your blog. Hollywood has a way of messing things up. The last musical I’ve ever seen was back in 1962 with West Side Story. If they redid it now, I’m sure there would have been more amorous scenes in it as well. Will wait till the DVD comes out.
Well, I’m going to be the odd woman (Catholic) to say I don’t agree. I wasn’t thrilled with the Master of the House scene, but given the story setting, I wasn’t surprised. I found the Catholic themes wonderful, and the scene with Jean Valjean seeking sanctuary in the convent with Cosette quite moving (the nuns praying before the Blessed Sacrament), Jean Valjean’s interior struggle was done very well.. Fantine was a prostitute, and I was happy that the filmed showed so little compared to what they could have done. It goes along with the story..her despair, and how she cries out from the depths of her soul. And while I felt the Santa scene could yes, certainly have been left out, overall I felt the movie did a wonderful job of portraying the Catholic faith as one of mercy and salvation through God. The whole movie wasn’t sexualized, just certain scenes of the corrupt innkeeper and his wife.
I completely agree with you Jen – the Catholic themes within the movie were incredible and profoundly moving and also that it wasn’t the entire movie that was sexualized. Honestly, the scene with Fantine’s first “client” made me very uncomfortable along with the whole “Lovely Ladies” piece and of course the “Santa part” – but as I mentioned in my post, it was silly of me to fail to anticipate the high degree of sexual content in that whole section.
I don’t know. Those scenes SHOULD make us uncomfortable of course. Sin portrayed for what it is will be ugly. I still haven’t decided about seeing this movie but I am glad to know of these things ahead of time so that I can be prepared. My 16 yr. old daughter wants to see it and she has read the book so if I let her see the movie I will counsel her to look away for these scenes. I think in that way she can protect her modesty and still know about the ugliness that is there. I hope so anyway.
I agree with you. I loved the movie, maybe even more than I loved the play. I felt it was VERY pro-Catholic. Yes, there were a few gratuitous sex scenes that were unnecessary, but overall it was a very uplifting movie.
I agree with you. It was, for the most part, wonderfully rendered for the big screen. To be honest, I went into it worried that Hollywood would have gone much farther than they did. The troubling scenes for me were Fantine’s first client, the lovely ladies in general, and Mrs. Thenardier during “Master of the House.” What is this “santa” scene you all are referring to?
We saw the stage production 20 years ago and it had little sexuality beyond the words in those few songs. I took my teen daughter two years ago for the American tour and found the sexuality to be much more obvious. It was disturbing. Frankly, that was actually worse than some of what was in the film. Overall, the message of mercy and hope for our fallen species comes through with even greater brilliance against the dismal backdrop of such sin.
I agree completely with your take on the Santa scene. I certainly wouldn’t throw out the whole movie because of that error in judgement. I, though, thought the movie well worth seeing. I thought it was beautifully done and the points were well made about the hell that women went through. It should turn our stomachs. We live in a jaded culture. The point needed to be emphasized. If we did that with everything we would not be able to leave our houses. There was so much good in this movie; the themes of redemption and love; the themes of forgiveness and the inability to forgive; the idea of humility or lack of it; the sacrificing of oneself for another, and, most beautifully, the power of the Truth of our faith.
Thank for the review. I was going to see the movie but received a spiritual check that it might not be suitable. As one gets closer to God there is more and more that one cannot watch or listen to these days. I might still watch it but at least I know where to avert my eyes and close my ears so thank you. On the other hand, why contribute financially to this ethos? Fortunately I remember the TV movie done in the early 1990s that was so well done. So my one movie last year was “For Greater Glory”. I hope that movie does not portend something.
Katie, thanks for your perspective and while agree with your points that the scenes you allude to are gratuitous and could have been portrayed in a better way, my wife and I walked away from film with an overwhelming sense of hope in the dark world we live in today. And that hope really is to us the saving (pardon the pun) grace of the film. The Light of Christ always shines in the darkness and ultimately will conquer it. Perhaps one other benefit of movie at least in our experience is it motivated the 2 other couples we went to see the film with to talk about redemption, mercy, and salvation thst can be found in each other and of course in the Church. This conversation being with couples who have drifted a bit away from the faith. God works sometimes in ways we do not expect. God bless and Happy New Year.
I just didn’t find it that bad. There is a lot worse out there without the redemptive aspect. Sin and evil will be here until the end of time. It’s what we choose, and help others to choose, in the midst of it, is what counts. It just seems some folks are missing the entire point. I could relate to the scene of Fantine and her “partner” because I was that
girl (not a prostitute but lost spiritually and morally). Something about being in the depths of hell on earth, and being saved only
by God Himself, changes your perspective. I think it would be a shame for Catholics to boycott this movie. It shows our faith in a very positive light and that is rare. Light and darkness are intertwined in a battle as long as we breathe on this earth.
I just came from viewing the film accompanied by my husband. We both loved it and I have walked out of films that I thought were sinful and disturbing… The horror of women forced into the degradation of prostitution was realistic and restrained. The film did not veer from the original story or play which I had the privilege of seeing three times. I felt uplifted by the Catholic themes of redemption and mercy that were expressed throughout the movie… and THAT was what I took away from the film… How often do you see a character in a film today living his Cathholic faith through prayer, forgiveness and compassion for his fellow human beings? I felt that the character of Jean Valjean was an inspiration for the people of our time and culture… a man of faith, honor, decency and unselfishness… and as I watched it, I hoped that movie goers would see it and be inspired by it!
This video is the production of extreme Protestant Fundamentalists with a very distorted view of the end times. While it raises some good points, I can’t help but think some of the “damning” quotes were lifted out of context. These are the same people who will tell you that the Roman Catholic Church is of the devil and that the Pope is the antichrist. Take this with a big grain of salt, please.
Thanks for your opinion on Les Miserables. I had never seen it before; nor read the book. I was very moved by the overall Catholic themes of redemption and mercy. I did not appreciate the scenes you mentioned and agree that Hollywood has a great desire to infiltrate and poison our culture. It is up to us to navigate that culture through Catholic values. It is harder and harder to do do just that these days.
Thanks for your review. I have been extremely bothered by the “santa” scene since I saw the movie. I wasn’t ask bothered by the “lovely ladies” scene because I recently saw a new stage version of Les Mis this fall and it was horrible. I had such a great memory of it from the first time I saw it ten years ago that I jumped at the chance to see it again. Sadly, when I saw it this last time and at the movies I had a very different reaction. I wish they had left out the “santa” part from the movie, it ruined it for me. Nice lyrics and all, I am DONE with this musical.
I agree with you, Katie, in regard to the objectionable scenes; they were uncomfortable to watch at best.
I do think, though, that overall it was refreshing to go to a mainstream movie with Christian ideals and imagery treated respectfully for a change! (I am thinking of the visual images of the crosses on churches, the sisters in their chapel, and the portrayal of the Monsignor as a forgiving and holy man.) Of course, the entire theme of Jean Valjean’s life of self sacrifice and forgiveness in a context of gratitude to God is one that we scarcely ever see in popular entertainment these days. I would hope that the success of this movie would encourage other film makers to consider pursuing substantive films that include positive depictions of people of faith.
Kathy
Thank you for your comments, you took the words right out of my mouth. It is a drop of poison that spoiled the movie — it really was unnecessary to have that Santa scene and show Fantine in a position with her legs being spread apart. This was supposed to be a family movie –what was I thinking? If anyone wants to see Les Miserables –I recommend that you instead watch the 24th anniversary concert edition with Alfie Boe, Lea Salonga and N. Jonas –and read the book.
I saw the movie after reading a review at MovieGuide.org. I do wish the reviewers there had been more specific about the Santa scene – they mentioned it, but even though it’s a short shot, it is very noticeable, more graphic than they indicated, and completely unnecessary. It really does poison the movie. I was interested in your love for the stage production. My sister had attended a production in New York but left because of the bawdiness of it. Apparently there are different versions, and people thinking of seeing it on stage should do research before purchasing their tickets, which are far pricier than movie tickets!
I do have to give a plug (no benefit to me, I just love them!) for Clear Play DVD players. I will definitely be using ours to filter the movie when it comes out on DVD. There are many movies that would be fine for teenagers, films that contain thoughtful messages, if it weren’t for the gratuitous sex scenes, but Clear Play filters them out. Their service really opens up a lot of film entertainment to the family.
Thank you, Katie, for courageously sharing how the secular world poisons the most well-intentioned literature that extols the faith. Poison is indeed, poison. Even if it is couched in the most nutritious of drinks, it will still cause illness and death; in this case of the soul.
Thank you, Plain Catholic, so very much for your encouragement. It’s helpful to read among mixed reactions.
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