The rain was pouring, the theater was packed, and I was a big soggy mess. I saw Les Miserables today, and it blew me away, start to finish. I’d read some not-so-favorable reviews, complaining about everything from the length to the singing to the production values. I don’t know what they were talking about.

Yes, the movie is long. But so what? It was simply stunning. Hugh Jackman was a strong, fiery, tormented Jean Valjean, and man, can he sing!

I didn’t expect to be so moved by the story. After all, I’ve read the book, I’ve seen the stage version several times, I’ve listened to the soundtrack about a zillion times more than that. So it’s not like there were any surprises.

And yet, once Anne Hathaway’s Fantine started her descent into her own personal hell… instant waterworks. And stupid me, with only two measly tissues in my pocket. Every time I recovered, another tear-wrenching scene would come along to start me crying all over again.

The cast was fantastic. Even Russell Crowe (who — according to our local film critic — can’t sing) pulled off a stunning turn with his acting and singing as Inspector Javert. I’m not going to list the entire cast here, but I was especially moved by the young men playing the revolutionaries, taking a hopeless stand on the barricades for the sake of what they believed.

I’m no film critic, not by a long stretch, so all I can do is voice my opinion and relate my own reaction, which is this: Les Miserables is certainly the best movie I’ve seen in a long while, and judging by the faces of the people leaving the theater with me, I’d say they all felt the same.

I feel like I’ve been through the wringer, but at the same time, I feel quite uplifted. And when’s the last time a movie made you feel that way? Go see it. But bring tissues.