RENT DVD - A Review

[benjamingullett]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 4:58pm

Let me begin by first saying that I've been a fan of RENT since '96. I've loved it always. It was one of the first musicals I was introduced to and will always hold a special place in my heart. With the film being released I was very excited from the beginning. With pictures being posted here from the shooting of the film, to the blog @ the Sony website, an early release of "Seasons of Love" on iTunes, the various film trailers, the minute previews of the songs on the Sony website and finally to the album's release I LOVED EVERY BIT OF IT!!! The music sounded great, so much louder and stronger than before. Of course, I was disappointed with some of the cuts (Christmas Bells, Contact, etc.) but I understood that some changes would be made. Then the movie:

I saw it on opening day... and was very disappointed. In my head I had expected so much more, and was very let down. It seemed slow and didn't seem to pick-up until about "I'll Cover You." And that's all I'll say. I could go on with the nit-picking but that been bludgeoned to death here at BWW. To the DVD:

Watching the movie again I enjoy it slightly more than what I did before. It helps not to have such a high expectation going into it. The commentary on Disc One with Chris Columbus, Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal is just what you would expect from any commentary. It offers some insight into the making of the film, particular choices for the film that were made and how they were made, song cuts and some discussion of a double faced review made by Roger Ebert. Some good stuff here, worth a listening or two.

Disc Two provides us with some previews for other films, two PSA's, a six minute one for the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation and a minute long one for the National Marfan Foundation featuring Anthony Rapp. Disc Two also includes five deleted scenes: "My Cat Fell," "Halloween," "Goodbye Love," "She Still Loves You," and an "Alternate Ending." "Halloween" is enjoyable but doesn't include anything special. However, "Goodbye Love" is great and in my opinion should have remained in the film. And though the "Alternate Ending" probably wouldn't have worked in the film and would have caused even more whining from the critics, it still sent chills down my spine being a fan of the show.

Finally, Disc Two includes a feature-length (One hour and fifty-two minute) documentary entitled "No Day but Today." A fantastic documentary about the creation of RENT but more so an even better documentary of its creator Jonathan Larson. It includes interviews with Larson's family, his closest friends, the show's producers and cast members of the film and stage productions including Daphne Rubin-Vega and Fredi Walker-Browne. I was very moved by the discussions here and even though not much of it was new to me, I still found it very interesting. Something that all RENT fans must watch and hopefully anyone who happens to buy or rent the film will give a watch as well.

All in all the DVD is good. I would have liked to have seen more special features. I don't think I could ever have enough RENT. Here's to a special 10th anniversary concert edition DVD of RENT!

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 5:01pm

What's the alternate ending, if you don't mind my asking? I don't know if and when I'll get to see this DVD.

ps Thanks for the thorough review! :)

[Benzy92]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 5:03pm

am i going to be the first to ask how you got it ?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 5:05pm

The alternate ending is really similar to the ending on stage -- Angel comes and rejoins the group. I haven't seen it, but IMO, that's far too theatrical. I love the sentiment and the way it ends the show, but the movie's a movie, and I think they made the right choice.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 5:06pm

Alternate ending: During Finale B, they switch from watching Mark's movie to the whole cast being back on the stage like in Seasons of Love and Angel comes out again.

Benzy, reviewers copies are already out.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 5:23pm

Well, at least with that alternate ending, they would have returned to the stage motif they established during "Seasons of Love." That was one of the things that bothered me about the film. It was a set up that had no pay off.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 5:27pm

I think it would have been corny and didn't make sense if they went with the alternate ending. I much prefer the one they went with.

[timote316]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 5:27pm

When you said alternate ending, a piece of me was hoping for an ending in which Mimi dies...

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 5:29pm

I was hoping the alternate ending was where they all realize they are 35 and go get jobs.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 5:30pm

Mimi will never die in Rent; that was one thing Jonathan Larson was always adament about.

MB- just f*ck off.

Updated On: 2/10/06 at 05:30 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 5:30pm

True, MB, yet I think it would've taken audiences away from the story, in a way. I think then you would feel like you were watching a play -- and almost be expecting the cast to bow, or something. I think having Angel return in the flesh like that would establish in an unbalanced way that these are actors playing parts, which... doesn't seem like it would flow so well in a movie. On stage that's something you're much more cogniscent of than you are on film, IMO, and it's expected to see the actors shed their character guises. On film, not so much. Yes, they would still be playing their characters, but Angel can't come back to life -- yes, even if Mimi sort of did.

I don't think that makes sense, but I tried.

Apparently Columbus preferred the alternate one; he says so in the commentary, and Adam tries to convince him he made the right choice.

I love how every. single. thread. about this movie has to turn into an opportunity for the people who get such kicks out of going on about how much they hated it to continually gang up and sound their horns about it, as if it hasn't YET been made obvious that you hated it. What's it worth anymore?

Updated On: 2/10/06 at 05:30 PM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 5:34pm

Oooo, let's all b*tch about how much Michael Douglas ruined A Chorus Line too! That'll make a difference!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 5:35pm

You're probably right Emcee...it was just kind of a half assed artistic choice. I say bookend the film with a theatrical setting like that - or open the film with a different visual for the song. You know?

Oh come on, you can't deny any us the joy of upsetting the Rentheads - its just...so...easy...see orangeskittles' comment above.

P.S. Michael Douglas didn't ruin ACL on film, Richard Attenborough did - the director - much like Chris Columbus did to RENT. Updated On: 2/10/06 at 05:35 PM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 5:38pm

Who said I was upset? Or a Renthead?

Main Entry: sar·casm
Pronunciation: 'sär-"ka-z&m
Function: noun
Etymology: French or Late Latin; French sarcasme, from Late Latin sarcasmos, from Greek sarkasmos, from sarkazein to tear flesh, bite the lips in rage, sneer, from sark-, sarx flesh; probably akin to Avestan thwar&s- to cut
1 : a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain
2 a : a mode of satirical wit depending for its effect on bitter, caustic, and often ironic language that is usually directed against an individual b : the use or language of sarcasm
synonym see WIT

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 5:39pm

I think that -- even if some see his choices as a failure -- Columbus had a mind to remain very faithful to the stage show, and the fact that he preferred the alternate ending is another facet of that.

See, that's my problem. While you have good things to say in the realm of mature discourse, I can't help but think your stabs of going on and on, reminding us that we can't forget how much you didn't like the movie are honestly... kind of childish. I find it that, as well, that it's becoming impossible to talk about the movie without making comments and then slithering out ON that excuse. Get your joy somewhere else. We can't deny it? How tactful of you.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 5:40pm

Well, generally sarcasm and wit is not associated with profane language unless its in the form of a limmerick, and I've yet to see a thread about RENT that you haven't posted on orangeskittles so....

:)

Em, what makes RENT irresistable to "stab" at as you say is because the die hard fans were just so wrapped up in it that they COULDN'T have a mature discourse on it. Because anytime any one mentioned "failure" in conjunction with the film's reviews, box office and word of mouth it was taken with such hysteric hyperdefense.

It's only a movie... Updated On: 2/10/06 at 05:40 PM

[Katurian2]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 5:42pm

Come on guys, let's not turn this into another fight thread about the RENT movie. I am also hoping for a 10th anniversary concert recording of the show. I would have liked to see the alternate ending in the movie. I know it's theatrical, but the whole movie was not a big leap away from the show in the first place.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 5:43pm

Every thread will inevitably turn into a fight, won't it?

Either that or the clique of people who think it's funny to upset Rentheads, combined with the people who can't quit beating their dead horses because they're right all the time will come and turn it into ANOTHER laundry list of mistakes.

*head.desk*

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 5:44pm

MB: https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?thread=886444&dt=4

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 5:45pm

No fair - you haven't commented in that thread because the tour hasn't played in your village yet!

[keggss23]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 5:47pm

Sorry to interupt but, when is the DVD being released (I tried to do a search but couldn't find anything)?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 5:48pm

MB --

1. Don't generalize. It's offensive and unbecoming.

2. "It's only a movie" isn't an excuse for what you're doing and have done, I'm sorry. I don't believe in enjoying yourself by -- before someone's eyes -- shooting down something they like, and letting them know you take pleasure in doing it. There's a much more mature and productive way to discuss the film, and you certainly aren't going to get it by happily upsetting people. "It's fun" is a twelve-year-old's excuse, and I think you're more than 12.

keggs -- February 21; a week from Tuesday.

Updated On: 2/10/06 at 05:48 PM

[SirLiir]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 5:59pm

I just love LuvTheEmcee

[DAME]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 6:00pm

"Em, what makes RENT irresistable to "stab" at as you say is because the die hard fans were just so wrapped up in it that they COULDN'T have a mature discourse on it. Because anytime any one mentioned "failure" in conjunction with the film's reviews, box office and word of mouth it was taken with such hysteric hyperdefense.

It's only a movie..."

I agree. And in a sense the die hard rent heads helped make the movie a flop. I hope you are all patting yourselfs on the back.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/10/06 at 6:03pm

Emcee -- I don't say these things just to ruffle the Renthead's feathers. I do truly think its a terrible film. And every time I express MY opinion, I have to defend myself against forty teenage girls (and Munk). This is a message board - people are allowed to be contrary.

Let it be a personal diatribe if you must, but get back to me in 10 years and tell me you don't think RENT is the new BEACHES.