Can't WE SAVE GOODBYE LOVE?!!

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 3:20pm

Ok, from what I hear, cutting the 2nd half of Goodbye Love seriously hurts the film--it seems that, naturally, it leaves the audience very confused as to what happens with these characters and what there motivation is. SURELY Chris Columbus can see this?! Why in the world would he make such a stupid cut--what was he thinking! Maybe there is something that we just don't know, but it sure looks like he just needed to get the film under a certain time, so he cut what he thought was the 'least essential to the plot.' They keep saying how much they value the fans opinions and how much they couldn't have done this without us, so isn't there SOMETHING we Rentheads could do to get them to see that Goodbye Love MUST STAY!? (and Halloween for that matter)...I'm just so mad!! It already appears that this film has not been done justice to (I say that from the multiple reviews I've read, mostly on this board). I know it seems radical and 'what can we do?' but surely a show with this big of a fan base can atleast make our opinion known! They want the Rentheads' opinions, well lets give it to them! Any suggestions? or is it a lost cause...

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 3:23pm

I think there is little we can do. I mean, it is released exactly two weeks from today. It would probably be impossible/improbable to go back and edit stuff back in.

~Steven

[Musical_nerd]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 3:24pm

Yes it's upsetting. But as you yourself said, theres nothing we can do. Unless you want to push the movie date so it's even farther away.

We can't fully judge it until any of us have seen it, anyways. Why spend time worrying about it.. it's not going to make it any better.

Updated On: 11/9/05 at 03:24 PM

[xM3L24x]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 3:25pm

the only thing i can think of is to comment on the movie site..and maybe they'll add it in when it comes out on DVD.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 3:26pm

I'm at least happy they recorded it. It's beautiful on the CD. I mean, it might have been better in Chris Columbus's mind to take it out. Or, like other people said, it might have just been filmed all wrong and would be embarrassing to keep in. I don't know, there are a number of reasons why it was cut. He wouldn't cut it just because. Essentially, it really is his decision and not ours. After all, he's the director. So we'll just have to deal, I guess, and wait for the DVD to come out.

~Steven

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 3:27pm

Well there are always a lot of factors at play -- some have argued that the sequence as filmed doesn't work, though I would argue that even that is better then incoherent story telling. Running length is another factor.

But without having seen the film, I would still argue that the cut is a mistake. Directors do last minute tinkering all the time on final cut of their films. Restoring the song is not inconceivable, though I would imagine highly unlikely at this point.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 3:29pm

Perhaps he'll release a director's cut later on to get more people to see it in theatres? I don't know, haha...

~Steven

[JoMarch]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 3:36pm

What exactly is the point of these screenings are if they aren't listening to feedback? I've read reviews from people who weren't familiar with Rent before seeing the movie and even they have expressed confusion over that song/the conflict between Roger and Mark. It's clear the song needs to be put back in but the director isn't listening. How disappointing. It's almost like he's given up.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 3:37pm

Well, the lesson here is DO TEST SCREENINGS. I know RENT had a few early showings of the film, but we are talking all within the past six weeks. If they had started screenings several months ago, they might have pinpointed some of these problems and perhaps even have had time for reshoots.

Case in point, MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, which began screenings about three months ago and screened poorly. But the creative team apparently got the feedback they needed to fix the film, and now the buzz on it is great.

But all this is heresay. Perhaps Columbus is happy with the film as is. Maybe its just everyone else who is concerned.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 3:40pm

I haven't heard negative things from the cast. It sounds like they like it too.

~Steven

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 3:42pm

I saw the movie and while I enjoyed it, I think it would fare a lot better with Goodbye Love intact.

They COULD conceivably reinsert the scene at this point, and I can NOT imagine a situation in which that would "mess up" the movie.

The creative team has claimed to have been watching fan reaction all along - now I guess we'll get to see exactly how closely they are paying attention.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 3:43pm

Well I think there is also the possibility they can't see the forest from the trees. I'm sure they want to believe that the film is the best it can be, because disappointment on a project this big is very hard to accept. I would hope though, that they would be able to be objective and really listen to feedback. The film is what it is, but like I said, its not impossible to make editing changes within a two week window before opening. Final print is issued very last minute.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 3:44pm

They've already cut half of the musical material from the show for film what difference does it make if they cut one more?

[JoMarch]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 3:46pm

Very true, Michael. There are exceptions however. I remember when Kate and Leopold was given a sneak preview two weeks before it was set to be released and a particular plot point in the movie didn't set well with movie audiences, so they delayed the release of the movie by two weeks, corrected the problem with some editing and released the film with better results. It's obvious the elimination of Goodbye Love isn't just upsetting Rent fans, it's confusing Rent newbies who have seen the movie and are scratching their heads over the whole Mark/Roger issue. Why Colombus isn't taking this feedback into account is mindboggling. Much as I'm anxious to see the movie, I'd be more than happy to wait a couple of weeks until the segment is restored/solution is resolved. You only have once chance to make a first impression.

Edited to Add: Cats, the previously cut songs in the film aren't confusing the average moviegoer who has already seen the film and expressed confusion over the Mark/Roger blowout. Big difference. Updated On: 11/9/05 at 03:46 PM

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 3:50pm

I agree. All the other cuts make perfect sense to me - and this is coming from a girl who's favorite song from Rent is "Halloween"

But "Goodbye, Love" explains SO much - that I feel that even those unfamiliar with the story will be confused by the sudden jump in action.

If there is ANY way they could fix this at this point... they should do so.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 3:51pm

I agree Jo, and frankly because most screenings are done on digital projectors now, it would take Columbus about ten minutes to restore "Goodbye Love" to the final print of the film. I actually don't think they would have to delay any aspect of the opening, including the press junket this weekend.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 3:53pm

I wonder if he (Columbus) actually knows how the fans feel about the cut for those who have seen advance screenings. If he has heard complaints or concerns, I'm sure he would take them into consideration. But I don't know... Hmm....

~Steven

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 3:57pm

I think the problem with any advance screening in which the cast/director attend, is that you get an overly warm reception. Call it the excitement of seeing everybody live and in person. I'm sure its very frustrating to have people tell you to your face how much they love your film and then go home and write something scathing on an internet chat board, but I think you have to exercise perspective. Which is the honest opinion?

I'm sure Columbus has heard now how audiences are reacting to the cut.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 4:08pm

I like Goodbye Love. I wish that Jonathan Larson had fleshed the song out a bit more. I think it would have been really dramatic had the song been introduced in Act 1 and reprised in Act 2. (I would have liked to have seen Roger sing it in Act 1 and then Mimi sing it back to him in Act 2).

I wish they would leave as much of the song in the movie as possible.

[joliz]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 4:26pm

It really doesn't make sense to me why he'd cut it. I hope someone asked that in the ask the cast/crew thing on the blog.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 4:40pm

joliz, apparently the it was deemed too melodramatic for the film.

Which is silly, if you ask me. If that's the problem...reshoot, or make for for what you've lost with dialogue. But don't take out some of the best, most insightful material in the show because it didn't film well that time.

[11/11/05]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 4:44pm

IT DOES EXIST!!

It is my understanding there is already at least one PRINT (movie) of RENT with "Halloween" and "Goodbye Love" included in the film!!! No re-editing is necessary!!

This original print was shown at an early screening (someone at imdb saw it and loved GL) and also for the Cast screening at the AMC theaters last month!

It would not be difficult for Chris/Sony to use/copy THAT print as the released version on the 23rd. The only problem is, the (edited version) film has already begun screening for the media and hollywood industry people. Is it too late?

11/23/05

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 4:44pm

It does sound like reactions are being taken into account -- or at least heard. Feedback is being collected in a more official way than reading angry posts on a message board. Whether that'll be taken to heart is anyone's guess, but Columbus *does* think that things work better without it.

The reason he cut it is because the direct confrontation was too melodramatic on camera. Too much for film. To cut it down to bare-bones, that's why.

It'll be on the DVD. Personally, I hope there's an extended cut of the movie, rather than just an option to watch the deleted scenes are stand-alone pieces.

[LariTheLoud]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 5:00pm

I'd love an extended movie.

Although I'd love Goodbye Love to be reinserted into the final cut... ... ... I just don't understand why they didn't try some new dialogue. I think that's what boggles me. Even if the song was melodramatic, I'm sure with a bunch of dialogue-tweaking, they could have figured out something just as effective for the screen.

I'm still gonna be happy with it no matter which direction the movie takes. I'm more than fairly certain of this.

Updated On: 11/9/05 at 05:00 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 5:06pm

"The reason he cut it is because the direct confrontation was too melodramatic on camera. Too much for film."

And with Dreamgirls coming up, you have to wonder how Bill Condon will handle one of the most melodramatic songs "And I Am Telling You".