So, what does everyone think on RENT, the movie?
I had a chance to see the musical when I was in NYC, but I saw Avenue Q (which is awesome, btw). I really liked the movie though. At school, I'd be conversing with some friends and they'd break out into songs from RENT and move closer to each other as though I wasn't there. I was sick of it. I don't like people obsessed with musicals. But today at work I couldn't stop singing La Vie Boheme. :hypocrit:
The movie was kinda depressing. When Angel was dying, I was so sad, evne though I knew it was coming. Rosario Dawson did an amazing job, IMO.
So, what are your thoughts? And what is your favorite song? :D

I'm an avid fan of the musical, I have been a fan since it came out back in 1996 on Broadway. I've literally seen the musical dozens of times so it is something that is important to me. Musicals in general are important to me and are an important part of my life. The music in RENT is sensational, meaningful and the message of the story is very powerful as well. Jonathan Larson wrote an amazing show and it really changed Broadway and it changed people too. His music is some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard and it is such a shame that we will never hear any more of his music again aside from his other off-broadway show "Tick Tick Boom" (which was also good, but not as good as RENT).

However, the movie removed a lot of the transitional songs/group songs that are in the musical, I know they probably removed this to save time, but I think that they should of left out all of the dialogue and replaced it with its original songs. That way, the transitions between songs and dialogues would not seem awkward, as they did to me. I also had a beef with them changing some of the words in the songs, since the songs were written a certain way. The words were changed to change the timeframe of the story, and why they did that is beyond me (The original story is told within one night up until the reprise of the song "La Vie Boheme" - then every song after that is told within a year). They also changed the words so some of the swearing was cut, the swearing should of stayed, it added another form of passion to the music, and being a NY'er, we all swear, a lot :p. The show is not a PG13 rated show, it is an R rated show, I don't think the rating should of been changed in hopes of reaching more people and getting more money. While I want RENT to expand to more people and touch their lives as it did my own, removing themes and language from the original piece will not give the true meaning of RENT to other viewers.

I was extremely happy that almost all of the original Broadway cast was in the movie, and while I enjoyed all the performances, after having some time to think about it, I definitely enjoyed the performances on Broadway a lot more, probably because it is live and nothing can beat that.

Overall, the movie was good, I enjoyed it and it is something I will buy and watch for a long time. However, it in no way replaces the stage version and the stage version is much, much, much better. If you want a full RENT experience, see the stage version, because the movie in my opinion, will not cut it.

I dragged a friend along to see it with me. Our conversation before the show:

HER: "Are you sure we have to see RENT?"
ME: "Yes."
HER: "It's a musical."
ME: "Yes. And we're actors. We're going to see RENT."
HER: "But...it's a musical."
ME: "You're going to love it."
HER: (unconvinced) "Uh-huh...Are you sure we have to see RENT?"

And immediately after end credits started rolling:

HER: (pause) "You know I hate it when you're right."
ME: "Told you you'd love it."

However, the movie removed a lot of the transitional songs/group songs that are in the musical, I know they probably removed this to save time, but I think that they should of left out all of the dialogue and replaced it with its original songs. That way, the transitions between songs and dialogues would not seem awkward, as they did to me. I also had a beef with them changing some of the words in the songs, since the songs were written a certain way. The words were changed to change the timeframe of the story, and why they did that is beyond me (The original story is told within one night up until the reprise of the song "La Vie Boheme" - then every song after that is told within a year). They also changed the words so some of the swearing was cut, the swearing should of stayed, it added another form of passion to the music, and being a NY'er, we all swear, a lot :p. The show is not a PG13 rated show, it is an R rated show, I don't think the rating should of been changed in hopes of reaching more people and getting more money. While I want RENT to expand to more people and touch their lives as it did my own, removing themes and language from the original piece will not give the true meaning of RENT to other viewers.


I agree whole-heartedly. The movie was great--but I was annoyed by the parts that were changed, particularly when I couldn't see why they were changed.

I would love to see the broadway show, but I doubt I ever will get a chance. Who knows? But I think it is awesome that most of the original cast was commited to bringing the show to a wider audience.

I would love to see the broadway show, but I doubt I ever will get a chance. Who knows? But I think it is awesome that most of the original cast was commited to bringing the show to a wider audience.

Never say never :) Everyone comes to NY at least once in their lifetime I'm sure, and tickets are pretty cheap at the TKTS booth since the show has been on for quite a while.

Oh My Gooosh i thought it was soo good. I was crying for probably the last 45 minutes. It was depressing but even if movies are depressing like that with a happy ending i still love them. The music was absolutely amazing. Right when the credits started, I asked my mom if we could but the soundtrack right then (of course she said no because it was about 10:30). I have heard a lot of people saying it wasn't good, like they didn't like the acting or some of the actors' voices or that they didn't like then singing all the time (to this I told them "Hey you're the one who buyed tickets to a musical). Granted, the acting wasn't the best but it was alright but i think the music made up for it all. So all in all I really enjoyed and want to see it again and can't wait to but it on DVD.

And now of course I'm begging to go up to NYC to see it broadway.

Oh My Gooosh i thought it was soo good. I was crying for probably the last 45 minutes. It was depressing but even if movies are depressing like that with a happy ending i still love them. The music was absolutely amazing. Right when the credits started, I asked my mom if we could but the soundtrack right then (of course she said no because it was about 10:30). I have heard a lot of people saying it wasn't good, like they didn't like the acting or some of the actors' voices or that they didn't like then singing all the time (to this I told them "Hey you're the one who buyed tickets to a musical). Granted, the acting wasn't the best but it was alright but i think the music made up for it all. So all in all I really enjoyed and want to see it again and can't wait to but it on DVD.

And now of course I'm begging to go up to NYC to see it broadway.

Go see it on Broadway, it is better than the movie :)

I thought the movie was great, but I would still love to see it on broadway. Hopefully, I can make it up to NY soon. :biggrin: Hmm...my favorite song? Well, they're all so good, but my favorites are "Another Day", "Take Me or Leave Me", and "Seasons of Love".

Eep! I forget to mention my favorite song!

How to choose, how to choose...

"Light My Candle", "Out Tonight", "Another Day", "I Should Tell You", "Without You", "Your Eyes"

And, well, every other song, too.

My favorite songs are "I'll Cover You (Reprise)" - The one Collins sings at Angel's funeral, "Your Eyes", "I Should Tell You", "Goodbye Love", and "One Song Glory"

I loved the show on broadway when I first saw it way back when. So I was psyched to see the movie with most of the orginal cast. (can we just say that I think Adam Pascal is adorable... and getting to talk to him after the play was a highlight of that trip in high school!)

anyway... I loved the movie.. I was glad to see that they kept a lot from the play. I was worried they were going to mess it all up. But I was so excited to hear Mark say 'dec 24th 9pm' Though, I did not enjoy the '1989' Some things thew me in the movie.. like how they spread things out. The protest wasnt on Christmas eve and that engagement party... And they didnt sing some of the songs. boo. But over all I loved it. And I def want to own it (now!) so I can watch it over and over again...

I think my fav. songs (which is hard, bc I love them all) are 'One Song Glory', 'Without You', 'La Vie Boheim', 'Another Day'...

I love Adam Pascal as well, I've gotten to talk to him a few times and that's made my life a bit happier :) I even got his autograph on his Model Prisoner CD. I talked to him once after RENT, Aida, and then when I went to see him perform songs from his Model Prisoner CD.

Oh.. Im jealous!! sooooo jealous. He's cute.. and that voice. :sigh:

He is a major cutie. Not to mention he is so nice in person.

Hmm...I never mentioned my favorite songs. Well, I love Out Tonight, Another Day, and La Vie Boheme.

Out Tonight has always been my favorite songg from the show, but after seeing the movie last night I forgot how great the other songs were so I bought the soundtrack (to the Original play) today. Love Rent. The movie was great. I went through so many emotions watching the movie, it was just so powerful and it really makes you think about your life and how short it really is and how we have to take advantage of the time we have.

I went through so many emotions watching the movie, it was just so powerful and it really makes you think about your life and how short it really is and how we have to take advantage of the time we have.

I know. Rent has such a geat message.