Why Did RENT Flop?- Page 2

[winston89]

Posted: 7/4/08 at 1:03am

I think that the movie was a dud because of the material. I agree that if the original cast was given the right material they could have done a pretty good job.

However, the screenplay itself felt like it was written by someone who had no experience in any sort of writing whatsoever. I felt that the direction itself was lacking to say the least. I do feel that some of the actors came across as too old for their roles while on the screen. For me the one person who stands out the most was Menzel. However, as I said, if they were given good material I am sure that that one flaw (that of the actors being too old for the movie) could easily have been looked over and people could have enjoyed it.

I understand that they wanted to hire someone who had some sort of name because they were making a hollywood movie with actors that most people haven't really heard of ( save Menzel and Martin because Menzel just finished wicked at the time and Martin took a break from Law and Order to do the movie. And, Dawson I am getting to) so they hired someone with some sort of a name and that person is Dawson. I was okay with that. I understood that they had to do that because they felt that the movie might not have sold if they pretty much stuck a bunch of no names on the screen. However, what did bother me was that it was clear that they used a computer to modify her singing and to make sure that she stayed on pitch. The one point in the film where that stands out for me is her line in Out Tonight "so let's find a bar so dark we'll forget who we are."

I also think that they didn't do a good job with the previews. Most of them showed snapshots of the movie with an instrumental version of Seasons Of Love playing in the background and then the title card that said Rent. I feel that it didn't do a good job of A letting people know that this was a movie musical. And, B giving people a sense of the storyline or what it was about. It sort of doesn't give you a clue as to what it is it is a preview for and I thought that did a good job of not having people come and see the movie.

[gypsy4]

Posted: 7/4/08 at 1:08am

It just didn't tranlate well they just should of taped a live performance of the show.

[bundy5000]

Posted: 7/4/08 at 1:08am

By all means maybe Box Office flopped but trust me in the "emo" world it is a hit. In the gay community it is also a hit. In the "Hot Topic" world it was a just an ok hit. I dunno wether it was seeing a movie in a public movie theater with other "groups" of people around or whatever but word of mouth did NOT kill the DVD sales or Illegal downloads of RENT. And I know I stereo-typed, God knows I hate it but sometimes you have to be a dunce to teach a dunce .

Also a lot of Hospital Psychiatric wards show the film to patients cause it shows people how to truly embrace life. And even if your life is a mess you can still make it the best

[Jon]

Posted: 7/4/08 at 10:57am

The casting problem is not that they should have cast younger.

They should have used the original cast - and FILMED IT IN 1998. By 2005, the movie seemed dated. Hell, by 1998, a lot of the play seemed dated. But it at least should have been released as a movie before "the end of the millenium".

[MotorTink]

Posted: 7/4/08 at 12:25pm

Lol Petite - thanks for reviving that Adam thread. That is the place I made my first ever BWW post actually. Who knew what it would lead to, lol.

[toanythingtaboo 2]

Posted: 7/4/08 at 12:38pm

they should re-release the film again the month of rent closing.

this time actually advertise it properly so people realize its out.

and i completely agree that the advert/teasers were crap.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 7/4/08 at 1:30pm

Two words: Chris Columbus.

WHY did he change the show's setting? Oh, wait, because that's when he lived in NYC. Good reason.

Rosario Dawson was a poor Mimi. Her acting by itself was okay, but her singing was emotionless. I would have far preferred Daphne Rubin-Vega, which is saying a lot for me.