Reviews provided by RottenTomatoes
Janet Maslin, New York Times: With a first-rate cast and a venerable storytelling style, it fluently condenses Victor Hugo's epic novel and retrieves some of its suspenseful momentum. Read more
James Berardinelli, ReelViews: Towering over the entire film is Liam Neeson, the Irish actor who seems at home in any kind of picture, whether it transpires in contemporary America, World War II Germany, or centuries-ago Scotland. Read more
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: It contains the moments of high drama, clearly outlines all the motivations, is easy to follow and lacks only passion. A story filled with outrage and idealism becomes somehow merely picturesque. Read more
Charles Taylor, Salon.com: The movie's whole virtuous conception of Jean Valjean sticks in my craw. He's haunted and hunted, but he reeks of a reasoned, noble superiority that's a pretty sterile quality in the hero of an epic. Read more
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: It never sinks, but it never really soars either, though here and there it hits a powerful moment. Read more