All Rent Reviews (Place Here)- Page 18

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 11/23/05 at 1:12am

The Post gives it 2 stars, and the headline is DON'T BUY IT.


NY Post

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 11/23/05 at 1:14am

Roger Ebert posted his own review:

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051122/REVIEWS/51116001

You guys should reall check out the paragraph about the love triangle between ROGER, Maureen, and Joanne. It's really great guys (*notes sarcasm*). Here is a snippet:

There is a romantic triangle involving Roger, whose girlfriend Maureen (Idina Menzel) dumps him for a girlfriend of her own, Joanne (Thoms). I believed the character of Joanne, but neither Maureen nor Roger. He doesn't seem much depressed by being dumped, and Maureen is so superficial that she flirts with the cute female bartender at her partnering ceremony with Joanne. That Joanne sincerely cares for her and is really hurt I did believe. When she's accused of flirting by Joanne, Maureen sings the show-stopper "Take Me for What I Am." I wanted Joanne to reply in her own song: "OK, You're a Promiscuous Slut, So Take Me for What I Am, Your New Former Partner."

[JenD512]

Posted: 11/23/05 at 1:17am

I loved this on Movies.com:

Critics' grade: D

Fans' grade: A-

Good thing the fans are the ones buying the tickets.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/23/05 at 1:18am

Los Angeles Times is very negative:

http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-et-rent23nov23,0,4796820.story?coll=cl-home-more-channels

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 11/23/05 at 1:20am

See - and people bitched an moaned when I posted a negative review...

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 11/23/05 at 1:29am

I find it interesting that much of the negativity seems to be about the source material. It seems as though these critics just don't get it. I'm not saying the the film is flawless, because it certainly has its flaws, but these people seem to spend much of the review bashing RENT, and not so much the movie.

I hope that made some sort of sense...I'm tired.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/23/05 at 1:33am

Munk -- people only bitched an moaned because you posted a negative review and then completely recinded it! lol

[JC14]

Posted: 11/23/05 at 1:34am

A- from Entertainment Weekly.

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/review/movie/0,6115,1133604_1_0_,00.html

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/23/05 at 1:35am

What's still most interesting to me is the way that they're either almost all negative or all positive. There's not much middle ground.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/23/05 at 1:40am

Well the original stage production of RENT is full of major, major flaws, and the film is a pretty faithful adaptation. You can't really fault critics for pointing out that Columbus only bandaged those cracks in the foundation.

The bandage of the original production was honestly Jonathan Larson's death. Critics over looked a lot in light of that tragedy. Ten years letter they don't feel the need to be sensative to it.

[JenD512]

Posted: 11/23/05 at 1:41am

Exactly, these are critics who never would have sat through the stage version, let alone the movie.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/23/05 at 1:43am

Actually Jen, I'd be willing to say a healthy majority of them have seen the show. Many, including the reviewers for the Village Voice and the Post are both admitted former RENTheads.

[Benzy92]

Posted: 11/23/05 at 1:44am

1 1/2 stars from People Magazine..

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 11/23/05 at 1:46am

is that online from somewhere? is there a link?

[JenD512]

Posted: 11/23/05 at 1:51am

It's pretty evenly split, from what I've read so far. I've seen a lot of digs at the lyrics that were right out of the stage show, and a lot of the out-of-town/red state reviews have admitted to have never seen the show.

My favorite is still ComingSoon.net--who complained about all the singing. In a musical.

[musicnmath]

Posted: 11/23/05 at 2:30am

RottenTomatoes...51% critics, but 100% users! :)

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/23/05 at 2:37am

Just doing a very quick peek at the major papers, most of which haven't posted on metacrtic or rottentomatoes yet -- its clear that sadly RENT is a critical washout. Average review is 2 stars with many less then that.

Hopefully the film will still do well with young people and word of mouth.

Posted: 11/23/05 at 2:49am

Unfortunately, he made a bad film....

When will America Discover Columbus to be a lousy director.

[EverythingIsRENT]

Posted: 11/23/05 at 3:30am

A bit early to call it a "critical washout"...I don't think Columbus is a bad director at all, and I still love this damn movie so much. Ctirics who don't even get/like the source material will NOT like this movie, but I did and that's enough for me right now ::shrug::

[Cages or Wings]

Posted: 11/23/05 at 3:38am

I just came back from a midnight showing of Rent in Cleveland. First, let me preface this by saying that theater it was held at originally did not feel the demand was high enough for a mindnight show, but after being flooded with calls they changed their minds. Good thing too, because they filled two monstrous theaters with crazy musical theatre people, so cheers on a fun night.

I have only two qualms with the film...

1. The Mountain... It's not just the mountain, but it is. Columbus's direction, though solid in some places, often feels cheesy and amateurish... i.e. the mountain.

2. The cuts to Goodbye Love and (all of) Halloween just kill me. I realize that it may have been a time thing, but the cuts could have been made elsewhere, because I think Mark's character development is seriously hindered without his fight with Roger. The cut of Halloween (though a personal favorite) is not as detrimental (due to the fact that we get the song's message in other parts of the film), but that fight changes the whole dynamic of Mark and Roger's relationship, particularly enhancing the moment on the rooftop during WYO.

That said I thoroughly enjoyed the film. Wonderful performances from the entire cast (particularly Jesse, Rosario, and Anthony). I understand the critic's problems with it, and it is by no means perfect, but its current rating on rotten tomatoes is not a good indication of the film's quality.

p.s. It was really cool getting to meet Kyle tonight. It was actually the first time I had met anyone from the board in person. I look forward to his recap of the festivities of his trip to the premiere.
Updated On: 11/23/05 at 03:38 AM

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 11/23/05 at 3:44am

Wish I would have gone to the Valley View showing...I was at the North Canton one.

Not sure what to think yet. I will sleep on it.

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 11/23/05 at 3:59am

My Review:

This is going to be short as I am conducting a 2nd grade Grandparents' Day music program in about 5 hours....

I LOVED it. It exceeded all my expectations and then some.

I thought I would cry through the whole thing, I thought all the anticipation would finally just release into two hours of tears.

I was wrong.....I didn't cry once during the film. In fact, I didn't move....I am not even sure I breathed. I sat captivated, jaw dropped, and shaking.

Until the final shot of Angel at the end of Mark's film and I started bawling, and I mean absolutely bawling. It was the strangest thing I've ever experienced (I am a pretty reserved person who remains very in control of my emotions).

Whoever has been criticizing Adam is off their rocker, I thought he was fantastic. In fact, there really is not an acting performance I have gripe about at all. Everyone was really very tremendous in their roles.

Jesse, of course, stole the show. But, everyone's been saying that.

I did miss "Halloween" and "Goodbye Love". I'll have to see the deleted scenes, but for now I trust that Chris didn't include them for good reason. However, I did feel a bit of an awkward jump into "What You Own". I wanted more of a transition there.

The cliff ruined "What You Own". Honestly, that was just ridiculous. What on earth was Chris thinking there!?!?!

But, other than those two small issues, I thought this was a glorious and beautiful work.

I feel so energized right now, I don't know that I am going to be able to sleep tonight.

I hope to get a group of people to come with me to see it again tomorrow. They can't give me the "I have to work tomorrow" excuse this time.

Updated On: 11/23/05 at 03:59 AM

[TabooWickedFan]

Posted: 11/23/05 at 5:42am

we just got back from the NYC midnight showing. And me and all of my friends loved it! Anthony and Tracie were both there and sat amongest us and it was a very surreal thing to have them sitting in the theater and being up on the screen. There was alot of mooing, clapping (ends of songs, solos, people coming on screen, funny lines) and a lot a lot of crying. From the funeral scene to about the end, when there would be a pause all you would hear would be sniffles and sobbing. It was soo amazing, except for the Britney Spears video "I am a girl, not yet a woman" cliff, it was just so good. Very emotional though, but overall it was exactly what i wished for!

[The8re phan]

Posted: 11/23/05 at 8:02am

E! on-line's review is here ---

http://www.eonline.com/Reviews/Facts/Movies/Reviews/0,1052,89058,00.html

pretty decent --- they gave it a B+ and say "The once revolutionary story may seem a tad dated now, and Chris Columbus' restrained direction doesn't reflect the grit and guts of the material, but most numbers, like the passionate anthem "La Vie Boheme," get it totally right. Since it's all about the music anyway, and the performers have impressive pipes, this is a Rent to own."

[DreamFlyer22]

Posted: 11/23/05 at 8:33am

One of our local critics here in Upstate NY actually gave it a DECENT review. I think I opened up the paper this morning and fell off my chair. This guy is notoriously harsh on movies (esp. musicals) and although it's not a glowing review, he didn't trash the film like I expected him to. Though it's not available online, the website is here (http://www.dailygazette.com/) and the critic is Dan DiNicola. Here are a few quotables:

" "Rent" has to be the most energetic movie musical in recent memory."
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"The winning concept, apparent throughout, is that "Rent" celebrates diversity and tolerance. Though sexual orientation is clear, the movie, like the play, gets us to ignore those orientations. Instead, we see not deviants or outcasts, but people struggling to survive in an atmosphere or squalor and love."
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"For all its rousing renditions of songs such as "Rent," "La Vie Boheme" and "Tango Maureen", the movie's wittiest and most engaging staging, I did not feel any consistant emotional resonance. You never really fear the bohemians will be evicted, although you have occasional moments when you can relate to the fushion of love and despair.

"Rent" is, afterall, an opera, and operas are, as a general rule, rather weak dramatic vehicles. Add to this singular dimension a rather dated theme and what you have left is spectacle. In this regard, "Rent" is rich and often powerful."
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"I'm guessing that although (mainstream audiences) may not be used to watching films with less conventional characters, they will embrace it with the same kind of fervor audiences took to "La Boheme" even after it received negative reviews."