IT COULD HAVE SAVED THE FILM!!! (Rent Alternate Ending)- Page 6

[overthemoon419]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 3:29pm

I loved the ending to the film. The shot of Angel (which, thanks to commentary, I now know came from a test shot) was perfection, in my mind.

I always thought of the opening, with the cast on the stage, as kind of an Overture for the movie, a way of introducing us to the 8 friends. It was a way of them saying "Here is our story." Not to compare it to Shakespeare, because that would be absurd, but I found it to be in the same vein as Romeo & Juliet's prologue. Here's our story.

That being said - when I started watching the alternate ending, I burst into tears at the sight of a spotlight where Angel belonged - I actually started saying "I don't like it!" out loud before I realized I was watching the movie alone. When Angel came out, I sobbed more and was reminded of the stage show, which I enjoyed. I loved that Collins grabs Angel's hand. And I loved that the movie still would have ended with a shot of Angel. Coming full circle was nice, in a way.

But.

I totally agree with the commentary, where it was said (I'm not sure if it was by Columbus or Adam Pascal) that this ending allowed the audience to detach more from the story. Having the movie end on stage and bringing Angel out - it really *is* like when we found out Patrick Duffy was alive, or that St. Elsewhere was really inside a snow globe. This ending would have given the audience a feeling of "Why did I just spend two hours on this?" rather than the lasting impact the released ending does, of hope and love and sorrow. In a way, it would have trivialized the story.

While I thoroughly enjoyed both endings, it is obvious to me that the released ending was the right choice for the film.

[xrent_headx]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 4:07pm

I agree that the ending shot of Angel was amazing. But once i saw the alternate ending, i feel in love with it. When Angel touches Collins hand - so nice... i admite that the alternate ending might've been better for the show. None of my friends that i went to see it with understood why Angel was the last shot...i think the alternate ending shows it better.

[Kringas]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 4:09pm

I did prefer the original ending. Much like the end on stage, I thought the alternate ending was cheap and offensive. "Hey, look! He really didn't die of AIDS! Yay!"

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 4:10pm

What's not to understand about why Angel is in the last shot? Did they... pay attention?

[Kringas]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 4:12pm

Ha!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 4:12pm

Seriously, I'm confused!

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 4:14pm

I have talked toa bunch of non-theatre people who saw the film...they all hated the alternate ending.

[guitargeek0624]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 4:15pm

I think that the original ending suited the movie better. HOWEVER, standing alone, I adore the alternate ending. It gives me goosebumps and I cry each time I see it. I think that the alternate ending brings everything full circle, since the movie starts with SOL on the stage, but I think the original ending drives the message home more. I think that the alternate ending would've confused people who don't understand the story that well.

Posted: 2/27/06 at 2:23pm

All I'm trying to say is that people who don't like RENT overall should not even be in a RENT thread in the first place. It's just common sense. It's like Cowboy's fan walking into a Steelers club meeting, then saying that they hate the team. It's just stupid. That person knows that they're just going to get other people upset and arguing back.

[ShuQ]

Posted: 2/27/06 at 2:30pm

Oh Sherry...that was so deep. Thank you for enlightening us all with your brilliant insights and innovative examples.

[MissMonika]

Posted: 2/27/06 at 2:48pm

The madness! Stop the madness! Hehehe

Personally, I really like the alternate ending BUT am really happy they didn't put it in the movie. For me, the alternate ending was kind of dragged out way too long since they are just standing on stage. When my brother saw it, he said, "Ok, are they going to stop singing now?" Then he got really confused when Angel came out to join them on stage and I had to explain to him that's what they do on the stage production. The original ending suited the movie much better. The alternate ending appeals more to people who have seen the stage production than those who haven't.

[grizzabella]

Posted: 2/27/06 at 3:01pm

This has been a very interesting thread, with excellent arguments on both sides, and my remarks will change no one's opinion, nor am I trying to. This is just my take for whatever it's worth. Let me preface my comments by saying that I came to discover RENT late in the game, and I have not seen it on Broadway. That said, I came to the movie with essentially a fresh eye. My spouse is not familiar with the storyline, except for having heard my OBC cd, and came to the show with no preconceived notions whatever. We both preferred the film ending, as opposed to the alternate-ending. Ending with Mark's movie, and the end shot of Angel, who was in so many ways the life-force that held the friends together, was fitting and packed an emotional wallop.
I liked the alternate ending, too, and I can well understand why this would work well on the stage, especially as you are aware that it is live, with actors, who will probably be taking a curtain call shortly, anyway. However, it does encourage an emotional disconnect from what we've just seen for a movie audience, especially one not attached to the stage show. On stage, it must have a beautiful sweetness.
Essentially, movies and theatre are entirely different media, and what works for one, does not necessarily work for the other.

[Color and Light]

Posted: 2/27/06 at 3:09pm

I enjoyed the Rent movie. It will never be close to making it on my favorites list, but I had fun every time I saw it. That being said, I did love the alternate ending - but not so much that I disagree with Chris Columbus for ditching it. Fans will get it and like it, but what works for a small niche doesn't matter in comparison to what works for a nationwide audience. Sorry.

That being said, having a different director would have saved the film. At the very least, "Goodbye Love" should have been left in.

But what really killed the movie for me has already been pointed out before - there aren't many smooth transitions between scenes. When I first saw the movie in November, I referred to it as "The Best of Rent". The film would have flowed better if they had kept the shorter bits of music in. It's not like it's the godawful recitative stuff from Phantom of the Opera. I always thought the smaller bits in Rent were the most fun to sit through.

[Ravenal]

Posted: 2/27/06 at 11:24pm

The only thing that could've saved the film for me would've been if there had been a horrible accident during the New Years Eve fireworks that wiped out the entire cast; therefore saving me from the rest of that bore of a movie.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/27/06 at 11:31pm

............

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 2/27/06 at 11:39pm

I agree 110% with capn. I thought the same exact thing when I watched the alternate ending. I liked the movie as it was but I got chills and nearly started to tear up JUST by watching the ending. If put at the end of the movie after watching it in its entirety, I think I would have cried buckets and it would have had a much stronger emotional impact.

[shiksa_goddess]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 12:39am

Ughh I hated the alternate ending! I thought Marc's film was the perfect touch for the ending! I actually loved this movie, I thought I would hate it because of all the complaining here, but no..it was great. Except for Columbus' lame cut of "Goodbye Love."

[Ashleydanielle]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 12:48am

I completely agree that the ended should have been different. I haven't seen the alternate on the dvd yet, but when I saw the movie, I didn't like the ending. I said that it should have been ended just like it started with "Seasons of Love." I didn't even know until today that was how it ended in the show. Sounds so much better. I can't wait to see the alternate on the dvd.

[idinarocksmysocks!510]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 10:00am

the altrnate ending was cool, but i like the ending they've used

[HWT]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 12:41am

Chalk me up for the loves-it-but-understands-why column. I watched the alternate ending once first without commentary, and the thoughts I had basically mirrored what Columbus talked about in the commentary. It's really neat, it's nifty, but it causes too much of a disconnect in the viewer's mind to carry the emotion and energy into the end of the film. (It also doesn't help that he used the behind-the-line shot again, which I find to me the most distracting shot of the stage scenes.)

As for Halloween and Goodbye Love... when I first saw the film, I thought they should have been left in. Now that I've seen how they were filmed, I agree they should have been left out. Halloween doesn't really share much new information and would case the film to just stand still for a bit at a time when it wanted desperately to move. The cigarette exchange was right to cut for exactly the reasons they gave. As for the second half of Goodbye Love itself, I don't think the problem lies in the song itself, it lies in the way it was shot. Specifically, it drags. It takes too long to start, with yet another infamous pan-up-to-loft shot. To make it work, we needed to get into it faster, like how it happens on the OBC recording. (When I first saw some photos of Goodbye Love being shot, I had assumed that the argument takes place in the cemetary as Mark chases after Roger.) And I think Mimi's bit at the end with rushing to the window is the part that is most guilty of the over-the-top effect they claimed the song was causing. So basically, if they had paced it better, Goodbye Love would have worked. The way they shot it, it would have just dragged the ending, despite the crucial argument scene it contains. Same reason Benny's conversation with Roger near the end needed to go.

As for What You Own, there are two things I would have done differently. First, I wouldn't have started it as a Mark voice-over. It takes some of the power out of it for me to not see Mark actually sing those lines. Second, as we've all discussed, the damn cliff needed to go. I would have had Roger walking along a highway or at least some sort of road to maintain *some* kind of symmetry with Mark's walking-down-the-road shots. This is actually my biggest gripe with the movie, because that choice seems obvious to me. What You Own is my favorite song from the show, and I was extremely disappointed in the way it plays out.

Oh, and just to save some of you the trouble, I've written your next post for you: Boo. The Rent movie sucked. Chris Columbus is the worst director (for this material/in the history of mankind). And I loved/hated the stage production. (Circle those terms which apply.)

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 12:51am

Alright - I thought the film was awful (see the many other threads if you care to read more about THAT debate) but having watched the special features - I think Columbus was right in all of his decisions for cuts.

The film montage was the right choice for the rest of his "vision" for the film. The alternate take - back on the stage doesn't work and is as uninspired as everything else. At least that final shot of Angel in the film footage is arresting.

[Millie42]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 10:54am

It's probably been said (I don't have time to read through all 6 pages), but the alternate ending is a cute little thing for all the Rentheads familiar with the stage version, but otherwise, it doesn't make much sense--- it takes you out of the moment because there is no reason these characters (including a dead one) should be singing on a stage.

[robyn525600]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 12:01pm

I disagree - I thought the alternate ending was lacking any emotional tie to the characters. The ending he used was very personal and heartfelt.

[JBSinger]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 1:39pm

I finally watched the extras on the DVD and the alternate ending was incredible. I just watched it totally out of context without watching the movie on DVd beforehand. It was stunning. Once you put them back on stage and with the empty spotlight - I was done. I immediately started to cry (unlike the movie ending) and was bemoaning the fact that THIS was not the true ending. Totally powerful - totally awesome. Would've been awesome IN the movie.