His progression through the movie is certainly the highlight. Instead Neeson performs wonderfully as a man who is trying to shed the hardened shell of a man imprisoned for two decades. He isn't as vulnerable as the man portrayed in the musical. The pinnacle of the 1998 adaption is Liam Neeson in the starring role. While there are aspects about the recent musical version that I like more, the facial expressions and raw emotion that comes from them, for example, there is a lot to be said for the way this version of 'Les Miserables' treats its characters and their arcs.

Even though Valjean has much more capacity for forgiveness, he knows how dangerous Javert is, but running into him seems preordained. The way Neeson and Rush portray their animosity for one another here is downright palpable. The struggle between the two is one of literature's most memorable battles. Javert merely wants to follow the law as it's directed. They are continually crossing paths as Valjean attempts to reinvent his own life. Valjean has a bona-fide arch nemesis in Javert. These two create one of the great hero-villain combos. Hot on Valjean's heels is Inspector Javert (Geoffrey Rush).

And so begins the long, harrowing tale of Valjean and the various folks he'll meet along the way. After the convent's priest shows mercy and has Valjean released from custody, the priest challenges the poor waif to make a new life for himself with the money from the silver. He tries to steal a large amount of silver from a local convent, but is caught. Once out, Valjean has a hard time leaving behind the hardened man he became in prison. The cruelty of the French judicial system sentenced him to years of hard labor.

Valjean has spent the last 19 years locked away for stealing a bit of bread so he didn't starve. The sweeping epic of the French Revolution is centered around Valjean (Liam Neeson), a lowly convict. The two films complement each other rather well. While Hooper's version is enthralling – and by the way, features one of the most heart-breaking scenes in cinema when Anne Hathaway sings 'I Dreamed A Dream' – August's retelling of Hugo's immortal tale is much more grounded in reality, human struggle, and triumph. Since we can expect Tom Hooper's musical version of 'Les Miserables' in theaters very soon, it comes as no surprise that Billie August's 1998 adaption of Victor Hugo's novel is coming out on Blu-ray.

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