Rent (2005)

It Stinks

I've never seen the play and have never even heard of it before. I did see the preview for it and thought that the opening music was uplifting and held high hopes for this movie, at least enough to rent it.

After seeing it, I should have just stuck with my visions of it from the preview, because that was the only good part of this film.

I've seen film adaptations of musicals fall short (except for Grease) and would be willing to go to the play to see if it was any better. But, if it is even remotely like the film, I will probably feel the same way. July 11, 2008

Takes "Rent" To The Next Level

I'm one of the few musical lovers that think musicals are better on the small screen than they are on the live stage. Chris Columbus takes Rent, an already good musical, and makes a really good movie out of it that focuses on character rather than theatrics, letting the songs drive forward the plot and character development.

I'm not sure how Rent-fans, who are just as passionate as Star Wars and Buffy fans, will feel about this movie, so I won't speak for them in this review. I saw the stage version once, thought it was good enough but nothing that really captivated me, so I'll review this from the point of a movie lover. The introduction is a bit weak, but once Tom Collins (played by Jesse L. Martin, who gives the best performance in the movie) walks into Mark Cohen (Anthony Rapp) and Roger Davis's (Adam Pascal) apartment and introduces them to Angel (Wilson Jermaine Heredia), the plot starts rolling and never stops. The film does have weak points, such as the supposed main character Mark Cohen disappearing into the background halfway through the movie and becoming a supporting character for the rest of it as well as songs (especially the song at the diner) which last way, way too long.

Overall, it's a very well done movie that takes what Rent was and brings it to the next level. As far as musical adaptations, it's way ahead of Hairspray and will register not only with Rent fans, but also with people who like movies or musicals in general.

7/10 June 15, 2008

Viva La Vie Boheme and Rent

When `Rent' first took the stage at an off-Broadway theater in 1996 the history of theater instantly changed. Jonathan Larson composed the Pulitzer Prize winning revolutionary rock opera. Rent was loosely based on Puccini's opera `La Boheme'. Rent has been on Broadway for twelve years and will be closing September 7, 2008.
RENT is about eight starving artists living during the HIV/AIDS epidemic in 1989 living in the East Village in New York City. "Measuring their lives in love" the eight struggling bohemians must cope with poverty, illness, starvation, life, love and trying to pay off last year's and the current year's rent.
The eight friends are Mark Cohen (Anthony Rapp), a nerdy love-struck film producer who is trying to get his big break. Rodger Davis (Adam Pascal) is a washed up songwriter with HIV whose girlfriend Amy recently died of AIDS. Mimi Marquez, the drug addicted dancer at The Catscratch Club who falls in love with Rodger. Maureen Johnson (Idina Menzel) is a bisexual outspoken performer who dumped Mark for a lawyer named Joanne Jefferson. Joanne (Tracie Thoms) is a lawyer who is sick of Maureen mooning over other men and women. Tom Collins (Jesse L. Martin) is a computer-age philosopher at NYU with AIDS who falls in love with Angel Dumott Schunard, a gay Drag Queen street performer who "provides a comfortable home for the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome" (Angel from "You Okay Honey?" song from Rent). Last but not least is Benjamin "Benny" Coffin III an old roommate of Mark, Collins, and Maureen who recently married Allison Grey of the Westport Greys and is now the landlord of Avenue A, who hopes to evict all the homeless from Alphabet City and build a cyber studio.
Directed by Chris Columbus (Known for Home Alone and Harry Potter) this powerful and riveting movie moves even the hardest of hearts and leaves everyone crying and with a feeling of hope. If I could give it a million stars instead of five I would! This is one of the best movies ever created and Jonathan Larson is a GENIUS!!! The acting is amazing and the singing is phenomenal times 5,25,600! Do yourself a favor and watch RENT!

WARNING: This movie is rated PG-13 for a reason. RENT includes a mature theme involving drugs and sexuality and strong language. June 12, 2008

wonderful movie and service!!!

The movie was shipped out the same day that I ordered it!!! It came in perfect shape!!! June 9, 2008

Different

I a musical with teeth that will bite. The movie will put you in places that the averge person don't want to know about or ever go. To put it simply it's real life with some singers. June 6, 2008

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