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I was a little disappointed in the portrayal of the Thenardier's in the mmovie.  Helena Bonham-Carter's voice was not that bad. Sasha Baron-Cohen was absolutely horrible.  I was just disappointed that the characters were portrayed so evil and hard, not like the play where they were the comic relief to a point.  They were still evil, just not so overtly so and they still got the job done.  Stealing, pulling out gold teeth, etc.....  Helena should not be so hard on herself.

Just wondering why the director would opt for live singing.  With all the wonderful movie techniques and manipulations, he could have made the movie so powerful by not sacrificing the songs.  As a musical theater performer and director, I understand the passion created by a full orchestra and how it enlivens and impassions the actor.  It is diffficult to concentrate on the singing and acting simultaneously if you an not an accomplished singer.  It can be witnessed by the audience as well.  The scene at the inn was too busy with its collage effect that it missed its point of being the comic relief.  Too bad!

I must've gotten 'spoiled' by first hearing/seeing 'The 10th Anniversary Concert' ( 1995 )...which aired as an episode of 'Great Performances' on PBS, and featured 'The Dreamcast'.  Philip Quast's intense portrayal of 'Javert'...with his RICH baritone....and those eyes.   Alun Armstrong ( the ORIGINAL ) as 'Thenardier'.....a strong voice, sinister but humorous.  ( I keep thinking...if Jack Nicholson were a younger man, HE might have had a BLAST chewing up the scenery in this film...)  It was the music & the strong vocals that made me fall in love with 'Les Miserables'.   I understand that they needed to 'tone down' the volume of the background score.....I suppose to NOT overpower the more 'natural'...or quieter voices of the actors...( Did I say that right? )......but it kind of left me disappointed.   A LOT of changes to the lyrics, and 'Dog Eats Dog' ( Thenardier sings it down in the sewers ) was completely left out of the film.  I compared the lackluster, kareoke-like version of 'Stars' by Crowe ( Songs from the soundtrack are on YouTube now ) & Cohen's distracting & weird 'Master Of The House'.....to the Quast & Armstrong versions from 'The 10th'.  I also listened to some cuts from the original cast album for the first time.  You get the full dynamic you can comprehend the words coming out of the singer's mouths.   Get yourself a DVD of 'The 10th Anniversary Concert....or the CD....or a CD of the original cast recording.....if you want to enjoy the music.   You can feel it....You can sing along if you want to.....I certainly DON'T want to hear Russell Crowe 'mealy-mouth' his way thru 'Stars'...or 'Javert's Suicide'.......YOU..​...reading this.  YOU could step into your shower stall and do a better job of it.    YouTube the Philip Quast....and the Russell Crowe versions & listen to them back to back.   Do the same with Cohen & Armstrong singing 'Master Of The House.......or 'The Bargain'.....Helena didn't bother me.....but the other 2 guys are the difference between winning 'Best Picture'..........an​d having to settle for just being 'nominated'.........​THAT's just MY opinion...... ......