All Rent Reviews (Place Here) — Page 24

Okay, I just got back from seeing it for the 1st time. I loved it. I didn't get into it until One Song Glory, but from then on I was hooked. I thought everyone did a fantastic job. Idina lit up the screen. I've never seen her look so beautiful. Tracie is amazing. Anthony, Adam, and Taye were great as always. Wilson and Jesse lit up the screen as well. Rosario was wonderful. No complaints from me about the cast. A few highlights:

Today 4 U- Wilson at his best.
Tango Maureen- Loved the dream sequence--who knew Idina could dance like that? So sexy too.
La Vie Boheme- Need I say more?
I'll Cover You reprise- Jesse's raw passion made me weep.

I do have a few general complaints. One is that we don't see enough of Taye. We don't see him paying for Angel's funeral, which I think is an important part. We also don't see Mark and Roger calling each other out after the funeral, which is also important. Nothing do with the movie, but there was this little kid wandering around the theater during Without You, so I totally missed that song. He tried to yank my glasses off, he stole my popcorn, where the **** were his parents? Anyway, I loved the movie and am definitely going to see it again.

Saw it and loved it! It wasn't perfect (what is?) and it's not going to win any awards, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself and would see it again. I thought the engagement party (and staging of Take Me or Leave Me) and Roger's road trip were somewhat unncessary and could have been better executed. I was surprised by the amount of dialouge that was added but it helped to clarify some things for me. And I found the lyrics easier to decipher and more understandable than in the stage show. The audience seemed to love it, as well. They were remarkably well behaved throughout, and appaluded (about half of them) enthusiastically at the end. All in all, a highly enjoyable Thanksgiving Day treat!

---

Metacritic currently gives it a score of 55, based on 31 reviews:

http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/rent

---

My sorta review is on the previous page or so but I wanted to add that I was quite surprised at the crowrd. The theatre wasn't huge...I mean, it's in a small mall in Bucks County but less than 1/10 of the theatre was full. Yes, it is Thanksgiving but since it came out yesterday I thought it would be at least 1/4 full.

There were a handful on teens who didn't seem to be RENTheads but they did clapwhen it said "RENT" on the screen after 30 minutes of previews and trailers for other upcoming movies- (By the way, I find that absolutley ridiculous that there is 30 minutes of that!) It says the movie STARTS at 11:00, not 11:30!

Nobody mooed and nobody's cell phone rang. The only thing is that a girl was going to the bathroom at "Light My Candle" and she was bringing her popcorn with her for some reason and she spilled in right in front of me, but not only that. She bent down and started cleaning it up!!!! I couldn't believe it so I moved a few seats over with my mom a few seats back...lol

---

I've finally seen the movie version of RENT tonight.

The film version of Rent is uneven and missing some crucial elemnts. The score sounds fantastically recorded and the vocals are all top notch.

By far the greatest asset to this film is Jesse L. Martin. He is an inspiration, giving a performance that is both loving, intense and heart wrenching. He is the only one who felt honest. His interpretations of the lyrics and the music was breathtaking to the point that you forgot he was singing even though the notes were beautiful. The ability to manipulate the music to reflect the thoughts of a character is what defines a musical theatre performer and Jesse L. Martin has it.

Adam Pascal was not very good. His over the top acting choices and his screeching and screaming at Mimi when she's on her death bed was perhaps theatrical but cinematically it was a very poor choice. It's awkward seeing a man belting a bad rock song to a dead body, or maybe I'm just weird like that. I was not impressed by his acting choices nor his vocal chops. He also needs to learn to walk like a New Yorker. His awkward Santa Fe scene wasn't anything to be proud of.

I don't know what to think of Anthony Rapp. Vocally he was extremely impressive, doing some musical gymnastics with that voice. I thought he was extremely entertaining and shone during "Tango: Maureen" but his acting was a little to big for the screen. Not as big as Pascals but big enough to be a distraction. When you set him next to Taye Diggs or Jesse L. Martin you realize he doesn't melt into the screen (in a good way) like they do.

Wilson Jermaine Heredia was excellent. His Angel was fully realized and the dancing and singing was superb. The acting was top notch and you can tell that there was a spark between him and Martin. Heredia is a very beautiful person outside of the makeup as well. I wanted to see more of him and thought it was unwise of Columbus to not develop Angel more. I was so close to tears but it didn't come because the relationship hadn't been completely developed.

Tracie Thomas was impressive and I loved her approach to the character. Menzel lost a lot of laughs during her performance, only to be saved by an overhead shot and videoclips. I was disappointed in her. Taye Diggs was quite good in an unremarkable role.

Rosario Dawson was a very surprising and impressive standout. She sang quite well (obviously a new voice) and danced very well. I thought she was too pretty throughout the show and the change in appearance should have been more gradual (if it was gradual I missed it).

The staging of the musical numbers was generally uninspired and boring. My major complain is having Seasons of Love in the beginning of the show. The Tom Collins solo has little meaning in it now because of the placement of the song and I believe that solo is the pivotal moment in the piece.

"Tango Maureen" was easily the most effective number. It was what a lot of the other numbers should have been; imaginative and rethoughts. Instead I was given a bunch of people walking around or riding on bikes which may have been appropriate in the context of the songs but which wore me down after a short while.

The scenes after the fight proceeding the funeral were weak and the show fell apart at the seams. The preceding work had been excellent however. I especially liked the scene where Mark goes to get a job the colors and lighting of the film is changed to a fluorescent feel. Clever.

Overall a moderately entertaining piece of film.

---

His awkward Santa Fe scene wasn't anything to be proud of.

I respect your opinion, but I don't understand why this is Adam's fault. Sure, the Santa Fe scene was awkward, but for some reason I don't think Adam chose to film it that way.

Updated On: 11/25/05 at 02:01 AM

Are you serious???? Good grief.

---

Yes, Im VERY serious, it totally ruined the moment in What You Own. A first year film student would not even go with the stereotypical cheesy MTV shooting of that part of the song. Shame on you Chris Columbus, this isn't Mrs. Doubtfire.

Of course he could. Columbus is not Hitchcock or Kubrick that used their actors like props. Any good director listens to and collaborates with the actors they work with. Adam could have very easily said he wasn't for the shot. And btw you learn that not in the second year but the third year of film school.

Of course, good directors collaborate with their actors. But you are suggesting that Adam put his foot down. Much love to Adam but he is not Tom Cruise or Julia Roberts.

You are living in a fool's paradise if you really think what you are saying, honey.

Can't wait until your actors start making demands on your vision.

---

Well, he was certainly a great director, nonetheless--as was Kubrick.

There are different historical perspectives on directing (stage and film) that run the spectrum from complete control of actors to giving actors complete reign.

---