Rent the movie (US theatrical release 11/23/05)

[GayNow]

Mods: I couldn't find another thread dealing with either the movie or the play. I hope this is the right place to put this thread. Gleefully repost in the appropriate forum if necessary.



So I'm very excited about this movie opening next week. I've yet to see the show on stage, but I know the show backward and forward via music and the script.

I'm glad they got most of the original cast to reprise their roles. From what I understand, Rosario Dawson does an really nice job as Mimi. I admit, when I first heard that she was cast in that role, I thought "WTF?" But it seems as though she's pulling it off fairly well.

Of course, I'm most excited about Idina Menzel. Man that woman can sing!

Anyone else planning on seeing it?

[Tiggrscorpio]

I can not wait to see Rent next week. I saw it on Broadway four times, three times with the original cast and once with a newer cast. I'm excited to see so many of the original players returning for the movie.

I wondered why Daphne Rubin-Vega wasn't returning as Mimi, but then I found out that she was pregnant and couldn't accept the role. She must have been farther along than Catherine Zeta-Jones was when she did Chicago.

I didn't know whether the musical would work as a movie, but after seeing and loving Chicago, I have really high hopes for this as well.

[Foomatic]

I saw 'Rent' a couple of years ago in San Francisco. They had a special drawing 2 hours before the show for $20 front row tickets, and my friend and I put our names in the fish bowl and got two seats in the second row! It was one of the best experiences, sitting up there, being able to see everything, from sweat to spit. It's just an amazing show! As an added treat, Daphne Ruben-Vega played Mimi, and she was fantabulous! I've seen it a couple of times since then, but no other Mimi has held a candle to her. I had never heard the music before, but became quickly obsessed after seeing the show. My partner and I are actually going to use 'Seasons of Love' for our commitment ceremony next year.

As for the movie, I got chills when I saw the trailer. I think it'll be great, but at the same time, you can't beat a live show.

[JustSkipIt]

I absolutely can't wait to see the movie. I've seen the play three times. I had already seen it when Rachel and I started dating. But she hadn't. I found out that it was in Dallas and we drove up to spend the weekend. She met my mom & her partner and we saw the show and had an incredible night and great weekend. Then I saw it with another friend when the friend's sister had to work. It's one of my favorite musicals and I have the feeling they've done a good job of moving it to the screen.

Understand that when I say I can't wait, I mean "I can't wait to find someone to baby-sit so that we can go." With Thanksgiving all of our normal baby-sitters are busy or out of town so it may be a while.

[YMKA]

I just saw it....and I'm speechless, can't wait to see it on Broadway....if the movie was that good...I can only imagine live show....

[SySnootles]

Question...

How close did the movie get to the stage production? And was the music altered in any way? Songs added/changed/deleted?

[Tiggrscorpio]

Wow...I just got back from the morning matinee. I absolutely loved it. I laughed, I cried...it's as moving as the live production. Rosario Dawson kicks ass as Mimi. So does Tracie Thoms, who replaces Fredi Walker, as Joanne. What a great voice.

As for the changes from the theater production...

[spoiler]In the theater production, 99% of the words are sung. It was off setting at first to hear some of those lines spoken. I wondered how many takes the original cast needed to keep themselves from singing those lines. In the theater production, the first act takes place over one night. The movie uses several different days.

The film opens with them singing "Seasons of Love" to an empty theater. That sets the tone that you are about to see a musical. There are just a few songs omitted including, "We're Okay", "Christmas Bells", "Contact" and "Halloween."

There's a very amusing additional scene for Joanne/Maureen. I won't give it away but it leads to "Take Me or Leave Me."

The production numbers for "Today 4 U", "Tango: Maureen", "Out Tonight" and "La Vie Boheme" are all outstanding.

My only teeny tiny complaint is that in some of the upbeat numbers like, "Rent" and "Out Tonight" the music tends to drown out the vocals.

All in all, I can't wait until it's available on DVD![/spoiler]

It exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoyed the theater production.

[JustSkipIt]

We went to see Rent yesterday (yay for trading babysitting). I was more impressed than I expected and less impressed than I probably could have been. Tiggrscorpio highlighted some of the differences between the stage production and the movie and my question for one of them in particular was: why?

Every performance was fantastic. I’ve seen the play 3 times and listened to the CDs hundreds and have never particularly warmed up to Maureen. But she was stupendous! Absolutely stole the show every time she was on screen.

The movie is definitely “bigger” since they take it off a stage and give the actors the city (or more) to move around in. At first that seemed very weird to me but I got used to it very quickly and liked it a lot. Today 4 U was spectacular and it actually seemed weird for me that the audience didn’t’ give a standing ovation. La Vie Boheme B was another fantastic number.

[spoiler]There were quite a few changes from the stage production to the movie. First is that rather than spanning a few hours, the first act now spans 3 days. In places this causes the song lyrics to have to change. Out Tonight becomes a larger song, moving from Mimi’s job at Cat Scratch through the streets, onto her balcony (fire escape). The number is well done but I felt disappointed that they deterred from the stage choreography. The Tango Maureen is fantastic and they took advantage of the wonders of film and the possibility of flashbacks/dream worlds.

My only disappointment with the first act was what I thought of as the “single threading” of the Life Support meeting and Roger/Mimi. In the stage production, these scenes and songs interact both thematically and musically. Here, they were depicted separately. I was quite satisfied with the way Collins, Angel, and Mark joined Mimi in her serenade. It did seem to really bring together the two scenes in a meaningful way.

Most of the movie/musical’s changes came in the second Act. The largest was the addition of a commitment reception between Joanne and Maureen. I couldn’t stand it! I thought it was completely unnecessary. Even though it made the set up for Take Me of Leave Me (and the performance) really great, the scene made no sense. In the stage production, I never got that Joanne was at any time satisfied with Maureen’s commitment. This scene made her look like a fool for believing in it.

The other change in the second act was the removal of Contact and it’s merge into the I’ll Cover You reprise. My guess is that they felt Contact was just too risqué, too raw for audiences or for their rating. It’s sad though because the way that scene was done was always really powerful. Angel’s death is still really powerful but very different.

Those were what I thought were the notable changes between the two versions.[/spoiler]

Ok, my over all rating. I’d give it 4 out of 5 thumbs up or stars or whatever you’re looking for. Definitely see it!

[oneyedchicklet]

The movie is definitely “bigger” since they take it off a stage and give the actors the city (or more) to move around in.

I bought my daughter tickets for Christmas to see it on Broadway. We both loved it and after watching the movie, we both agree with what Justskipit said.

My daughters high school chorus is doing Seasons of Love for the finale of their next concert and my daughter got one of the solos. She's worried that she won't be able to hit that final high note unless they bring it down a few octives. I'll be proud of her anyway. The finale is also when they ask the parents to participate. I'm usually asked to play the drums but I'll have to bow out this time since I had foot surgery.

HUGS
Barb

[Emms]

OMG! I LOVED RENT! And I was shocked that it made it all the way to the end before it got completely corny. One word: HOT! (Mmmm...Marleen's girlfriend...what's her name? Joanna? YUMMY!)

(I really can't remember names tonight. )

xoxo
Emms

[umgaynow]

I loved this movie! But I have had "Light My Candle" stuck in my head for 2 days and I really am not digging that...arrrrrgghhhhh...at least it's not a TV theme song or commercial jingle this time

[billy]

I've been watching Rent on DVD. I've not seen it on stage or heard the music before, which is a bit odd because I love musicals, so have nothing to compare it against but I absolutely loved it! And could it be possible to have a more beautiful cast?

Disappointed to hear that quite a few songs are missing though some are included as deleted scenes. I'll have to buy the original CD to hear the rest of the songs.

I don't know if the stage version includes dancing, but that is my biggest complaint about movie versions of musicals like Evita. Don't bother trying to make it look more realistic. Show me the dancing!!!!!!!!!!