RENT: Live from Broadway (Film) - Thoughts — Page 2

i'm going to agree with other people about the jummp cuts... i also didn't like the shakiness of some of the shots... i felt like i was watching the Bourne Supremacy again with all the damn shakey camera movements! and i also didn't care for some of the views where they show the lights... so bright!

other than that.. i loved this film... great cast... made me really sad this show isn't playing on broadawy anymore...

I saw it tonight at the Metreon in San Francisco. Absolutely gorgeous, everything about it. I'll admit I haven't been following whose in the cast, so I was pleasantly surprised to see both Eden and Tracie, who were both phenomenal. I also really enjoyed the actors playing Mimi, Roger, and Angel (he was the funniest I've seen). It was filmed beautifully...for the most part, the camera caught all of the pertinent reactions of various characters that I always watch for it particular scenes.

My one pet peeve, which I realize some may disagree with: I was disappointed in the OBC members that didn't show up at the end. I realize everyone is busy with their own stuff, but for most of them, RENT really started their careers, and I thought it was a shame (and a bit tacky to boot), that several didn't make time to make an appearance.

But yeah, overall, phenomenal. I'm thrilled to hear that it's going to be made a DVD.

Updated On: 9/25/08 at 02:36 AM

Which movie theater in Pittsburgh did you see Rent?

I'm planning on going to the matinee at 1 PM on Saturday at Showcase Cinemas Pittsburgh North.

I wish I had seen whatever EugLoven saw as it must have been entirely different. I could not describe the erratic editing as "perfection" in any way. And for those who loved Over the Moon, did any of you happen to catch how it was originally performed? To me, it has just deteriorated into such a self-indulgent hamfest. Previously, it didn't attempt to extract the laughs from the audience with cutesy poses and takes and holds for laughter. Now, it plays like an old sitcom bit directed by Don Knotts.

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I posted this in another thread:

I saw it last night. In a nutshell, I was not as impressed as I had hoped to be. The film comes off like an MTV video. The cameras were all over the place. Very few times did the camera pull back to let you take in all that was going on in a scene. Instead you got a lot of close-ups of hand gestures, groin thrusts(!), head turns and facial reactions. In my opinion it sucked most of the relationships between characters right out of the show. As for the cast....the show was pretty well sung. A lot of notes that we are used to being held longer are cut short and the show has lost its rock edge. I don't know the names of every cast member but the guy who played Mark seemed to just walk through his part. Will Chase just had no personality in the part. Ms Goldsberry (Who I saw in Color Purple) while posessing a wonderful voice, was very miscast as Mimi. The two that came off best in the film, in my opinion, were Ms. Espinosa and Ms. Thoms. And I was waiting for mr. Mcelroy to nail I'll Cover You (reprise). He didn't. He has a great voice and I like what he did with a lot of his songs, but the reprise just lacked some passion and was mostly vocal "styling". I could go on, but I won't! If you have not seen it yet, judge for yourself. Also, they gave out survey sheets and one question was where you heard about the film. Other sites were listed but BWW was not. A few of us went to the kids that were handing them out and told them we were writing in this site and checking it off. And at the theater I went to in Denver, it was shown on a smaller screen so we lost about a foot of the film at the top and bottom of the screen. When the movie started, the projectionist did not open the curtains fully so for Act I, we also lost about a foot or two on either side. During intermission I went to a manager and he called the projection booth and we at least got the curtains open fully so we didn't lose that film on the sides. The disappointment of this film actually makes me want to see the upcoming tour even more. I know want to see it onstage so I can take everything in. And I hope they cast some fresh new talent outside of Pascal and Rapp to bring this show back alive.

A lot of us were waiting for the extra footage or special features that never came. (Maybe they will put them on the DVD. But we were under the impression they were to be included with the movie) I seem to recall that in the initial announcement for the film it was said that we would get some extra's. The montage during No Day But Today was nice, but I will let you in on a little fantasy ending I have thought about for the final performance in the theatre...It would have been nice to have had all of the cast members past and present represented and right at the final No Day But Today, a picture of Mr. Larson ended the montage on the back wall of the stage and stayed there through the encore of Seasons of Love. Yes we got his picture in the movie, but I think it would have been nice to do that night. (Or maybe they did? We did't see the film onstage, only the one done for the movie) So for the 20 bucks we paid to see this, I think it was worth about $10.00. I will most likely not buy the DVD unless they re-edit it (Which won't happen). I suggest that whoever directed this and edited it, take a look at some shows that have been filmed in the past (Sunday, Passion, Legally Blonde, Into the Woods) and take some notes. Just my opinions!

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Updated On: 9/25/08 at 12:53 PM

I saw it in my town and it was unbeliveable!!!!! Almost as good as seeing it live

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I didn't even notice any of the "shaky cam" people are complaining about. I think some people are just super sensitive to that. I know my mom is. And she didn't complain about it with Rent at all, so apparently there are those even worse off than her.

I do think there were too many closeups. But I still think it was edited very well.

I'm watching it on Saturday. I can't wait to see it.

Very well said, crushgroove!

I saw it tonight and loved it.

Updated On: 9/25/08 at 11:25 PM

There were only 13 people in the theater.. they haven't really advertised it.. at least where I live... so no mooing.

But I must say, this was about as amazing as I think it could have been. Lots of tears were shed by the sheer amazingness and the sadness. But mostly from the amazingness!

Absolutely wonderful job. I'm so glad people have a chance to see this as opposed to the movie, if they weren't able to get to see the show.

Saw it in South Jersey tonight. And like most have posted, the turnout was dismal. That sucks. I think it's always special and exciting to have a Broadway show preserved in this way. Poor sales might hurt the chances that it will happen again.

Just got back from the show.. And I loved it!! I thought it was better and more energetic than the movie.. Eden was a stud!! And she completely pulled off Over the Moon, Will Chase was awesome!! And he looked mighty fine!! It was so much better than I thought.. I am so excited that it is going to be in DVD!!!

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Loved it. I too would have liked some wider shots, but that's ok. I found Will's eyeliner and nailpolish a bit distracting (I've never seen the man before - Utah gal here), but he grew on me; definitely one hell of a Roger. The whole cast was incredible. I might go one more time this weekend, alone, because taking the kids again is entirely too much money - gotta save some to fly to San Diego and see Adam and Anthony next year. There might have been 50 people tops in my theater. Maybe that's why the tickets are so much...

Updated On: 9/26/08 at 05:11 AM