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Amazon.co.uk Review
Rent, the show that in 1996 gave voice to a Broadway generation, has finally become an energetic, passionate, and touching movie musical. Based loosely on Puccini's La Bohème, it focuses on the year in the life of a group of friends in New York's East Village--"bohemians" who live carefree lives of art, music, sex, and drugs. Well, carefree until Mark, an aspiring filmmaker (Anthony Rapp), and Roger, an aspiring songwriter (Adam Pascal), find out they owe a year's rent to Benny (Taye Diggs), a former friend who had promised them free residence when he married the landlord's daughter. Roger has also attracted the attention of his downstairs neighbor, Mimi (Rosario Dawson), while Mark's former girlfriend, Maureen (Idina Menzel), has found a new romance in a lawyer named Joanne (Tracie Thoms). Philosophy professor Tom (Jesse L. Martin) finds his soul mate in drag queen Angel (Wilson Jermaine Heredia). But because this is the late-'80s, the threat of AIDS is always present.
The remarkable thing about Rent the movie is that nearly 10 years after the show debuted on Broadway, six of the eight principals return in the roles they originated. They're a bit older than would be ideal for their characters, but they do have the advantage of having learned the show directly from creator Jonathan Larson (who died of an aortic aneurysm while the show was in previews), plus they started young--we're not exactly talking Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford here. Alongside a polished performance like Rapp's--sometimes observer-commentator, sometimes participant in two of the score's showstoppers, "The Tango Maureen" and "La Vie Boheme"--the two new additions (Thoms in place of Fredi Walker, Dawson in place of the edgier Daphne Rubin-Vega) slip comfortably into the ensemble; the pivotal Dawson makes a seductive case as Mimi when she tempts Roger in the mesmerizing "Light My Candle" or burns up the stage of the Catscratch Club in "Out Tonight." Moviegoers who have an aversion to people who break into song while walking down the street probably won't have their minds changed by Rent (even if they are singing rock songs), and the gritty subject matter and lack of big-name stars make it unlikely to cross over to general audiences the way Chicago did. But fans of musicals should find "Seasons of Love" as stirring as ever, and the show's passionate admirers--the "Rentheads"--probably couldn't have wished for a more sympathetic director than Rent fan Chris Columbus, or a more faithful representation of the show they love. --David Horiuchi
Synopsis
Based on Jonathan Larson's bohemian rock musical, Rent tells the story of a group of social outcasts struggling to live in the moment yet survive the realities of New York's gritty East Village.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Good Lord, I love this film. I have never seen the stage production - but this film makes me want to.
The first time I watched it - it was good, don't get me wrong - but it takes a few times to really listen to the lyrics, watch subtleties in performances (there's a huge amount going on in any single frame), get over the fact that not only is it a musical, but that even dialogue is sung much of the time.
Once you've swallowed all of that, you're left with an enormously enjoyable film to sing along to. That and the overriding positive uplifting message that's suitable for anyone, not just those living with HIV or AIDS. No day but today.
Notable performances from each of the main cast members (6 out of 8 from the original broadway show), although I think Taye Diggs may have a right to feel short-changed. In order to fit the movie timeline, a couple of his key character arc scenes were cut. Small gripe, and it did fit the overall flow...
DVD is good, deleted scenes good to watch, especially the cut song "Goodbye Love", commentary from Chris Columbus, Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal is informative - with good insights about deceased creator Jonathan Larson's vision. The only thing missing is that I think in the US this was a 2 disc version, with an extra documentary. Still a good buy though.
The first time I watched it - it was good, don't get me wrong - but it takes a few times to really listen to the lyrics, watch subtleties in performances (there's a huge amount going on in any single frame), get over the fact that not only is it a musical, but that even dialogue is sung much of the time.
Once you've swallowed all of that, you're left with an enormously enjoyable film to sing along to. That and the overriding positive uplifting message that's suitable for anyone, not just those living with HIV or AIDS. No day but today.
Notable performances from each of the main cast members (6 out of 8 from the original broadway show), although I think Taye Diggs may have a right to feel short-changed. In order to fit the movie timeline, a couple of his key character arc scenes were cut. Small gripe, and it did fit the overall flow...
DVD is good, deleted scenes good to watch, especially the cut song "Goodbye Love", commentary from Chris Columbus, Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal is informative - with good insights about deceased creator Jonathan Larson's vision. The only thing missing is that I think in the US this was a 2 disc version, with an extra documentary. Still a good buy though.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
Rent was written and composed by Jonathan Larson who spent several years pushing hard to get it on stage. Unfortunately during the last night of rehearsal before the stage show Jonathan tragically died alone in his apartment....His memory lives on in this very dramatic pulsating musical with a terrific score....The energy of the actors/artists who also acted in the stage equivalent is phenomenal.Rent is a story of eight close friends living in Manhattans Alphabet City in run down buildings with no electric or heating facing eviction as they try to survive......Chris Columbus portrays the characters very dramatically from HIV positive
aids sufferers of whose story is very touching and sad. Don't be put off as this is not a dull film quite the opposite... this is a modern day rock masterpiece transferred gloriously onto Blu-ray as I owned the dvd but both the picture is a lot sharper and the sound is really breathtaking....Jonathan Larsons Pulitzer prize winning adaption onto screen lives on ....This was a super talented young man and his storyline is one of the most dramatic touching extra's on blu-ray that I have seen with the loss of such a great talent but his stage and film production crew do his memory proud...."Well done Jonathan".....buy it you won't regret it....
aids sufferers of whose story is very touching and sad. Don't be put off as this is not a dull film quite the opposite... this is a modern day rock masterpiece transferred gloriously onto Blu-ray as I owned the dvd but both the picture is a lot sharper and the sound is really breathtaking....Jonathan Larsons Pulitzer prize winning adaption onto screen lives on ....This was a super talented young man and his storyline is one of the most dramatic touching extra's on blu-ray that I have seen with the loss of such a great talent but his stage and film production crew do his memory proud...."Well done Jonathan".....buy it you won't regret it....
33 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The musical, the film, of course five stars. But this as a dvd package this is such a blatent rip-off for us Brits. You can get the American Region 1 two disc edition for less than ten quid if you shop around online. The second disc has an amazing two hour doc charting the life of writer/composer Larson and it tracks the life of the show through it's birth all the way through to the process of making the movie. It is well worth getting the the two disc version and is interesting to newcomers and fans alike. And it's cheaper. Great great film, crap dvd. Stop letting the studios rip us off and buy the import version.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
RENT - Pure Genious
This is one of my favourite musicals of all time! The stage-production was amazing and the best thing is... the movie stays very close to the theatre version!! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Unfortunatley-Crazy!
Most intellectual musical ever created!
The genius of Jonathan Larson is really depicted throughout the whole of this musical. It is incredibly poignant, still to this day! Read more
Published 3 months ago by M. Bond
BEST FILM EVER!!!
this was my best investment yet on amazon. I had heard of this film from friends and studied its oringal writer Johnathan Larson at college but never managed to see it on stage. Read more
Published 3 months ago by holliesidonie
Broken Box
The DVD played fine, however the box was broken on the inside when I recieved it. The DVD was moving around freely in the box and as a result has a few scratches. Read more
Published 5 months ago by ...
RENT
This film is a defiant must see for any musical fan; however is also a good musical film for people who aren't really into the "cheesy musicals". Read more
Published 13 months ago by RJAyling
Slightly Stylized Bohemia
RENT is a musical that extends beyond the Musical Theatre genre, sitting between styalized bohemia and a desire to be gritty. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Radio_Dance
MUSICAL DVD.
THIS IS THE MOVIE VERSION OF THE STAGED BROADWAY MUSICAL, ONE OF MY FAVOURITES, HANKIES ON STAND BY YOU WILL NEED THEM. Read more
Published 15 months ago by ANGEL
Memorable songs and a brilliant show!
I had been wanting to see this for ages, as its a classic musical! I think what did it for me was the brilliant and moving songs in the show/film, its a bit of a dated storyline... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Louise Roberts
DOWN BUT NOT OUT
2005 film of the 1996 hit rock musical inspired by Puccini's "La Boheme", the setting this time New York's most poverty-stricken district. Read more
Published on 1 April 2010 by Mr. D. L. Rees
minutes in a life - spend some of yours on this
I was in floods of tears before the film even began. The actors do an overture of the main song out of character right to camera. Read more
Published on 22 Feb 2010 by Taz
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