Rent ranked #5 in America's Box Office — Page 7

Hey there! I'm new to the boards. I was very surprised to see that Anthony actually posts here. Few entertainers today are willing to take time out of the day to talk to "normal" people like us... and notice the quotes because I use the term normal very loosely jk I'm going to apologize in advance because this may end up being a "book."

As far as politics are concerned, I find it very disturbing that so many people believe that being classified under a particular political party (ha alliteration!) means that there is absolutely no grey area, no room for exception. I come from conservative Texas. I was born and raised there and am not in the least bit ashamed of it. Almost without fail, when I tell people that, they automatically assume that I am some country bumpkin, right wing, nutty, extremist and that I could never like a show like Rent that touches on so many realities that are considered taboo. I'm not going to lie, I do generally tend to lean towards the conservative side of life... but I believe that, as long as no one is being hurt, it doesn't matter what another person believes nor does it make them any less deserving of love and respect.

That's what I LOVE about Rent. I LOVE that it questions all the things that are wrong with society, all the injustices and hardships that people in every-day life face. In a way, it is the story of my life. I can't say I've ever seen anything that evoked so much emotion from me at one time or characters that I felt so much for. Despite the different circumstances, the emotions they go through are the same ones that billions of people deal with all the time, myself included.

While everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, I think that people who can take a show like this and manipulate it into something it isn't just for argument's sake and for a reason to dislike it are extremely sad. Unfortunately, it is simply reality that they exist. I don't care what any critic says about the movie, I thought it was absolutely and undeniably fantastic. Besides, what kind of qualifications do you need to be a film critic anyways? That's right, none. Coming from someone aspiring to do musical theater professionally myself, thank you for making this incredible story available to such a larger audience. You have every right and reason to be proud of yourself... and to do a little happy jig... and tape it so we all can watch

<3 Briana

Allow me to threadjack for a minute, to say how wonderful it is having here posters like kass. EVERY post of her I see makes me love her more and more. Kass, you are one true classy LADY !!!

It was a holiday weekend. Family movies ALWAYS win out during a Holioday weekend. I think many people weren't expecting RENT to come in at #5.

I have to say I didn't love the film overall, but I have more affection for it the more I think about it. I think the movie was made with very good intentions and that I do appreciate.

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GreekMusicalFan, I am quite touched by your comments. Thank you. Made my whole week. : )

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Updated On: 11/28/05 at 02:12 PM

All I have to say, is go see the movie. BRAVO!!!!! Great movie. I enjoyed it.

Updated On: 11/28/05 at 02:54 PM

By no means did I intended to say this movie was a flop. I was just clearly stating what the news article indicated. Please see link in the 1st post.

Why didn't it play in more theaters?

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I said this in another post in another thread about the movie, but I'll say it again just because let's face it, Macomb, IL is not exactly the cultural hub of America and I'd much rather post too much here than get too drunk at some random bar like most of my schoolmates. When I first heard RENT was being made into a movie, I was EXTREMELY skeptical, mostly because I heard names like Justin Timberlake being tossed around in conjunction with it. My first experience with RENT was when I was 11 years old; I've basically grown up with this show being my only constant. I've laughed with it often, and cried with it often, and more than anything I wanted the movie to evoke those same feelings in me and it did. There were things I liked and things I missed (where's the table humping?? and the Mark/Roger fight in "Goodbye Love" has always been one of my favorite parts of the show, it just reveals so much about both of them at once), but overall I felt that the movie truely captured the heart of the show. I mean....and again, I said this before, but if the expressions on Anthony and Adam's faces while Jesse is singing the "I'll Cover You" reprise don't just destroy you, then you must not be human. ::sigh:: that song gets me every time. Or during "Will I?" when Mark starts singing, in the backround but at the same time trying to be included.....it's just so *him*. I think that other fans out there who have shared similar experiences, including initial skepticism, will tell their friends about the film and the response will continue to grow. As many people have pointed out, RENT came out in the midst of Thanksgiving and family times; but for a lot of us, without many friends or family to connect with, RENT is how we connected with our true families rather than being a child dragged to see "Yours, Mine, and Ours" or whatever else is playing right now. I wouldn't know, our movie theatre here only plays 2 movies at a time....and I don't think we should be comparing RENT to other movies, because it's truely unlike anything else out there right now. It's unique, and quirky, and ambitious, and totally insane, and crazy, and so many other things I can't describe; some people will love that, and some people won't. All we can hope is that it will change as many people in as many positive ways as possible.

remember: Angel helped us believe in love.

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Updated On: 11/30/05 at 08:48 PM