lesmisadaptationranking

[lesmisadaptationranking]

Arm Joe: A-tier

Les Mis arcade fighting game. What more could you possible need in life?

You get to play (against) all of your favorite characters! Valjean, Enjolras, Ponpon, Éponine, Javääähhrt, Thénardier, Police, Cosette, Judgement, Robojean and Marius!

The characters have 3 different skins each and can perform special attacks (like Enjolras can make a barricade rise from the depts of hell to crush his enemies).

It's old so the controls are really janky and changing them has a high chance of crashing the game and the music can suddenly stop and be gone until you restart the software. The setup is NOT in English and only displayed "???" "?????" for me, so it was a bit weird to set up.

Aside from that it's a silly, relatively short old fighting game. Pretty nostalgic for me personally and if it weren't for the janky controls Arm Joe would be S-tier.

Also Robojean is unfairly over-powered and it took way too long to beat him. In this essay I will--

[lesmisadaptationranking]

Cosette's Fate and Jean Valjean: F-tier

This whole experience was just miserable. I bought these games on sale and still wasted way too much money.

The artstyle is appalling. The game mechanics are dull and repetitive. There is no real story to speak of. The riddles are boring and illogical. If one of the games glitches, which can easily happen at random, you have to restart. They're like a cheap mobile game but you have to pay money for them.

The whole gameplay is "Cosette/Valjean has a problem! Here is a screen where you have to tap the listed items. Why? Because!"

Cosette's Fate is already bad enough but Jean Valjean manages to be even WORSE and MORE repetitive and boring.

My friend tried Jean Valjean for herself because she didn't believe me how bad it is and she nearly slapped me after.

It's best summed up in this Steam review:

I want my 4 Euros and 5 hours of my life back.

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Dear Friends of L'heure Bleue by @aki-511 : S-tier

An ongoing Les Amis centric manga. It's not a 1:1 adaptation but that's honestly a non-issue.

The artstyle and character designs are amazing. I read the first volume online but because I sadly don't speak Japanese I had to work with Google Translate. (I also tried to order a physical copy but it wouldn't ship to Austria which goes to show yet again that Austria has NOTHING. In this essay I will-).

Despite the language barrier it WAS a fun read and you can understand what is going on. There are free chapters available to read online linked in my pinned post and of course on @aki-511 's blog.

Very excited for if/when it releases in English.✨️

[lesmisadaptationranking]

Les Misérables 1972: A-tier

(I had a whole thing typed out and just had to add the tags but my phone crashed so I had to re-write it. Yay Tumblr✨️)

It's a pretty stellar adaptation imo. It is more Amis-Marius-Gavroche-Éponine focused and Valjean and Javert take a backseat for majority of the first part.

Everything from Valjeans release to him rescuing Cosette is explained rather than shown; Fantine gets less than a minute of screentime and I'm not sure if she's even mentioned by name.

Aside from that, it is a rather good mini-series. Les Amis not only appear, are not only named on screen but they also get to show some personality (not all of them but Enjolras, Courfeyrac and Grantaire are ICONIC).

Gavroche and the mômes are really adorable and their interactions are peak. I love that Gavroche is given agency and isn't just The Revolution Guy's sidekick.

Éponine is (imo) cast perfectly in this one. The role was made for her. I can't describe it coherently, but she is the Éponine of all time (so far (in live action adaptations)).

Marius is Marius. Punkt.

I'm kinda disappointed that Cosette was kinda just The Love Interest and The Daughter. I mean, this does seem to happen a lot (in non-Cosettecentric versions) where writers don't know what to do with Cosette once she's an adult because "Can a woman be more than an object of affection? Apparently not."

Despite it's flaws, it's a pretty fun adaptation. I'd say it's worth the watch.

And big big big kudos and thanks to @vapaus-ystavyys-tasaarvo @shellcollector @midautumnnightdream @astarion-dekarios for the time and effort of adding English captions🫶🫶🫶🫶

[lesmisadaptationranking]

BBC Les Misérables: D-tier

I just. Don't like this one. Not as bad as 1998, but still bad.

I'm pretty sure they messed up the timeline at one point (iirc they had Cosette be born 1816 instead of 1815 which makes her relationship with Marius that little bit weirder. 17 and 22 was already only acceptable with Bauchschmerzen but 16 and 22 is... ehhhhhhhhh).

The scene of Fantine and the other grisettes peeing really didn't have to be in there. There are other settings in which they could've talked away from the guys. Why this?

There is some "tell don't show" exposition that really could've been done more subtily and more efficiently. One that especially stuck to my mind was Mme. Thénardier's relationship with Gavroche. There IS the scene where she tries to abandon him, but they're really not doing a lot to show she treats him worse than her daughters aside from the line "I have no motherly feelings for him" (THEN SHOW US. ONE MORE SCENE WOULD'VE SUFFICED. Showing an 8 year old being beat is fine but we draw the line at neglect???). She's also barely shown to spoil Azelma and Éponine. Baby Éponine and Azelma are also never shown to do... anything. They only ever sit at a table and laugh and sneer at Cosette and no one ever interacts with them. They feel more like furniture than characters.

Also Fantine is shown to basically neglect Cosette several times in favor of spending time with Tholomyès, making her leaving Cosette behind less impactful (in my opinion).

Also why did they make Baby Cosette say bitch? It's just not funny. And forcing her to leave behind her doll?!?!?!?!

The child actors are all super adorable tho.

Other irritating thing: Valjean firing Fantine. Also Valjean screaming at basically every woman he interacts with.

Les Amis consisting of 4 guys (including Marius) also annoyed me. It didn't feel like "organized group" but more like a group of frat boys going "Omg wouldn't it be, like, so fetch if revolution?". Also Grantaire actively playing a part in the insurrection goes against the point of his character because he's supposed to be a cynic not a guy who's on board but kinda nervous. (But hey. They died holding hands.)

Also also Éponine and Gavroche's deaths in this one were so ridiculous. Gavroche just. Jumping and hopping around in slow-mo was so silly and I tried to feel sad when he died but I couldn't take his death serious. And Éponine just emerging and jumping (and spinning in the air) out of nowhere the way she did looked so dumb. I had to pause when this happened because what the hell.

Also the way Javert jumps to his death. Why do they all have silly, jump-y deaths?

Additionally it's just so iffy that the only people of color are: the main antagonist (Javert), villain/scammer/thief characters (the Thénardiers), and a servant (Toussaint). To be fair, also the exceptions of Courfeyrac and Simplice, but it still feels off. I honestly wish there'd been more diverse casting that didn't fall into the categories of "villain" or "servant" (I know Gavroche isn't a villain character but he is a pick pocket). I guess they had good intentions but the execution was just. Ehhhhhh. (No hate against any of the actors tho, they did amazing despite the crappy script).

I also didn't really love neither Cosette's nor Valjean's characterisations at certain points. I can't put my finger on it but something just felt off.

All in all, not the worst in the world, but it would take a lot of convincing for me to watch it again.

[lesmisadaptationranking]

Links (Will update)

Holding onto hope that Steam Unlocked adds the (absolutely awful) games to their site because I don't want anyone's morbid curiosity leading them to spend money on this garbage. If anyone else would also request the game, it could potentially speed up the process💖

Needless to say, not all adaptations are in english or have english subtitles.

LM 1978: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zu508QeCr2A&t=8s (thank you @archonofdivinity 💖)

BBC les mis: https://archive.org/details/les.-miserables.-2018.-s-01-e-01-1 (ep1)

https://archive.org/details/les.-miserables.-2018.-s-01-e-02-1 (ep2-6)

LM 1972: https://www.tumblr.com/vapaus-ystavyys-tasaarvo/184394624659/les-mis-1972-english-subtitles

Shojo Cosette: https://w1.kissanimefree.cc/watch-anime/les-miserables-shoujo-cosette/eps/1

Les Mousserables: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyYZfSmwH3c

LM 2012: https://www.bilibili.tv/en/video/2040814301

LM 1998: https://www.tokyvideo.com/video/les-miserables-1998-drama-movie-with-liam-neeson-geoffrey-rush-uma-thurman

Gnana Oli 1972: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lxrd47faPA0&t=145s

El Boassa 1944: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9H3RDA-Oxk

Gavrosh 1937: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2BF6UKZl8M

Dear Friends of L'heure Bleue: https://comic-growl.com/episodes/ac534984a082e

1992 Cartoon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLk5hMandsc&list=PLBqc73oQ4bMPU1KXsTg3QwzbTidZgjJDh

LM 1912 Silent Movie: https://archive.org/details/les-miserables-1912

Gavrosh 1986: https://vk.com/video-135285_456241476?to=L3ZpZGVvLTEzNTI4NV80NTYyNDE0NzY/

Kozete 1977: https://kinogo.online/multfilmy/60489-kozetta.html

I Miserabili 1964: https://www.tumblr.com/lucrezianoin/47849594140/italian-les-miserables-1964-english-subtitles https://www.raiplay.it/programmi/imiserabili (if you live in Italy or have a VPN (which I don't)) this one requires an account. If you dont wanna make one, message me and I'll give you log in data!

1979 Animation/Jean Valjean Monogatari: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYF7bRKHyV8

1897 Victor Hugo et les Principaux Personnages des Misérables: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHVWwVyVMaM&list=PLmw3OykqYc-3Ybykahcjwdgy02ZbSs5rC&index=3

LM 1982: https://archive.org/details/les_miserables_full_english_dubbed_1982

LM 1925 Silent Movie: https://archive.org/details/les-miserables-1925/Les+Miserables+ (thank you @vapaus-ystavyys-tasaarvo 💖)

LM 2000 Mini-series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoAMAR9EMFo&t=1s (pt1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2Sayn8oS38 (pt2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS3qIA5H_-0 (pt 3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n69FPQptfTg (pt 4)

Arm Joe: https://www.myabandonware.com/game/arm-joe-dd2#download (You need to reconfigure the controls and possibly download the Fix too) https://tig.fandom.com/wiki/Arm_Joe#Gameplay (guide for controls/attacks)

Animated Classics LM 1988: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrxy3iwfAYQ

Unable to find (so far): *1987 DDR Gavroche TV movie (TV archive has shown that it was only aired two times; in 1987 and 1989) *Shojo Cosette 1977 (google searches only show 2007 anime) *Aa Mujo 1978 (basically no info)

[lesmisadaptationranking]

Sesame Street Version/Les Mousserables: S-tier

No need for elaboration.

[lesmisadaptationranking]

The Musical: B-tier

I love it to bits and cry every time at certain point. Still got some problems tho.

Most prominently Lovely Ladies making it out that Fantine was forced into prostitution by other prostitutes. Also literal child abusers being the comic relief.

Generally not at all a bad adaptation but could use some tweaks. Like the movie, makes for a great gateway adaptation to Les Mis as a whole (who would've guessed).

[lesmisadaptationranking]

Les Misérables 1998: F-tier

My god where do I start with this?

The implied romance between Valjean and Fantine. Valjean hitting Cosette. Valjean bashing Javert's head against a wall. Valjean hitting Cosette. Valjean hitting the Bishop. Valjean hitting Cosette. Marius as the leader of the barricade. Valjean watching and smiling as Javert kills himself. Did I mention that VALJEAN HITS COSETTE IN THIS?!

I think it did start off pretty well. The sets were aesthetic. The actress playing baby Cosette was adorable. But thats about it.

Hard watch. Thénardiers don't appear at all except for when Valjean fetches Cosette from them (which defeats the purpose of emphasizing that they have 2 daughters). Gavroche appears for a total of 2 seconds before he dies (which makes his death significantly less impactful).

So much rage about this movie without enough brain to put all my issues with it into words. Wouldn't even poke it with a stick. Avoid at all costs.

[lesmisadaptationranking]

Les Misérables 2012: C-tier

Might be a bit of an unpopular opinion, and as much as I love this movie, it's not all that great. By far not the worst but definitely not the best.

Positives first: it's a good adaptations foe beginners/for people getting into Les Mis, as it introduces the characters and story in a digestible way. The child actors are adorable. Elephant of the Bastille mentioned.

Aside from Russell Crowe's infamous performance in this movie and that crack when he kills himself, there are other things to be criticized.

Hugh Jackman (other actors too but him especially) has moments in which his singing ia not... sing-y enough. Too quiet and breathy to understand what he's even saying without subtitles. The ensemble are also rather quiet and sound like they're holding back; they sound like they're singing while trying to be quiet not to wake up their parents at night.

Many lines of songs were cut for time reaons but they apparently had enough time to add an original song that feels entirely like filler. I get that some parts can't be translated to screen well, but other parts (like Grantaire's part in Drink With Me or the beginning of Red and Black) didn't have to go. Generally feels like some of les Amis verses were cut in order to get to Marius faster.

Some sung lines were turned into dialogue (Valjean telling the foreman to deal with Fantine) while other lines, that could've worked better as dialogue (Valjean and Javert meeting in M-s-M), were sung.

The movie would've benefitted if all the singing hadn't been done exclusively on set. That in addition to the alleged aweful treatment of cast, crew and orchestra, and Tom Hooper in general, really knock it down from what it could've been. And also the fact there have been no movie adaptations released since this one (two are currently in the making), is kinda disappointing, especially considering that before that, adaptations have come out within 1-7 years of each other.

[lesmisadaptationranking]

Shoujo Cosette: S-tier

Anime made for kids. Things like Fantine's prostitution being cut, a few inaccuracies, and some things being a bit more toned down are kinda to be expected.

Still, overall a really good adaptation with a cute art style. More accurate, gut-punching and developped than many of the other adaptations I've seen so far that were made for adults.

[lesmisadaptationranking]

Just so you know

I'm gonna try to rank every available/findable adaptation of les mis. Might be inactive because I'm doing finals and have problems concentrating and also finding adaptations is a fight.

Rankings are just my subjective trashy opinion so don't come after me with pitchforks if you disagree w/any of them. Will elaborate on why something gets the ranking it gets.

Getting my hands on adaptations is a teensy weensy bit difficult, as there are dozens of adaptations that: 1. Can't be found, 2. Are in a language I don't speak (language comprehension limited to german, english and minimal french), 3. Are expensive. I have to either order them (currently awaiting the arrival of the 1978 adaptation DVD (est. arrival in NOVEMBER)), get them from my local video store (who only have around 3 adaptations), or find less legal ways to acquire them. I feel like Austria has NOTHING.

Planning on maybe one day making a video elaborating on every adaptation in detail