RENT. The broadway musical DVD.

[IndyKlipschFan]

OK, I admit it. It is possible and I am a "straight guy" and I LOVE old movies, musicals, and the theater. My parents actually thought it was cool to take us to hear Orchestras, Plays, Musicals, etc., as kids... And because we didn't know any better, we loved it. I could list so many it is not even funny. I was lucky enough to see "A Chorus Line" it's first year at the Shubert Theater and the revival of "The Kind And I" with Yule Brenner before his tragic death to lung cancer which he pleaded everyone NOT to smoke, too, afterwards.. He knew he was dying... All this in NYC and I was just in awe.

Whew, good to get off my chest. next thing you know people will ask if I also like to sing Karaoke.. OK, busted there too. Anyway.....

In my opinion, A solid 8 on DVD. on to the Amazon.com DVD review.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
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

[jacksonbart]

Sorry but I would not be able to sit through it much less rent it.

[Speedball]

Thank's for the tip...........

Should go well with our Chicago, Chorus Line, Hello Dolly, Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Annie, and my favorite Fiddler on the Roof DVD's.

Come on JB, it's not that bad.

[IndyKlipschFan]

Not for everyone true. I might add I was in NYC a several times in the late 1980's. It was pretty scary (just being nice here), too. 42nd street was all drugs, hookers, and VHS some DVD porno shops and porno movie theaters booths. HIV / Aids was really killing a lot of people on Broadway. I had friends on wall street that showed me the town going to CBGB's I saw The Clash, The Cars, Other one hit wonders groups.... I loved eating at true NYC pizza at 2- 4 am.... LOL.... Just going dancing, drinking with your friends, and staying out really late, you saw a lot of squatters/ homeless/ terrible conditions for people just to survive.

Enter Disney and the recent re invention of the theater right on 42nd street, most... if not all 100% of that porn business is now gone or on to someplace else.. By Walt Disney's investment in a theater.. Also by Julianni and the NYC Cops/ courts, to me.... They have done an incredible turn around. That said.....

To me "The Theater" was like a magical escape. To see Miss Saigon, Cats, Le Mis, Phantom, How to Succeed in Business, The Producers, etc., just to name a few, in person, was a joy.

The DVD "RENT" is dated some. The 80's type music, the adult themes, and not for most true. As a modern musical, it has its drawbacks too. But it does work. And Rosalie Dawson.. ggggrrrrrrrrr sexy does not even try and explain her at all.

[Foxman]

I genuenly like Moulan Rouge and Chicago...but I was luke warm at best with Rent which we rented and I am glad that was all we did. I just couldnt get into it.

[IndyKlipschFan]

Not even the song five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes? It is still in my head..LOL..

That said, it is not for everyone. I will say this.. I did enjoy it more after the 2nd, 3rd, time watching it too. It is just a lot to take in as well.

And again, Miss Dawson.... OOOO LA LAAAAAAA

Thanks for taking a chance on the "RENT"-al.

[Foxman]

Actually, for me, that song was by far the highlight of the movie....especially the opening version. It sounded great coming through the system.

[Jeff Matthews]

The music was good, but the story was definitely not for me. A bunch of deadbeat queers with AIDS being glamorized (in the name of just asking for simple acceptance) is not exactly something to sing about - unless you're one of them.

I have no problem with the "nature" of the plot, but the writers try too hard to make their point by shoving it in your face over and over. They don't give the actors much of a chance to be "normal" people with quirks.