RENT, the movie?
November 29, 2005 3:39 a.m.

I must state right forth that the Jonathan Larson masterpiece is so near and dear to my heart that I cannot make a disinterested review of the film.

I don't know how well they brought the show to screen for those are unfamiler, I can only compare to the original.

but, I must say that Chris Columbus has no idea how to pace a film. That or he just hires poor editors and has no say in the process. This is the man who made Harry Potter boring! I, as a fan of the books, enjoy the first 2 films, but honestly people, they are boring. he took the the fasted paced books I've ever read and made them slow and boring.

he kinda did that with RENT. he slowed the pace down, he drew out the action over multiple days, when in the stage production most of the action happens on one night. He also pulled a few punches which I found kind of annoying. he doesn't explain how Roger's girlfriend dies. if you watch the movie you assume she died from AIDS related causes, but in the stage show we find out before Roger's big defining song. "Close on Roger, his girlfriend April left a note saying, "We've got AIDS," before slitting her wrists in the bathroom". I think knowing how she died is so much more impactful. Her death really fucked him up, I'm sure it helped him get clean. And it also explains why he has such a hard time opening up, and living, and letting Mimi in.

Also, I wasn't a big fan of all the dialogue. RENT is an updated Oprea, and Jonathan Larson kept it an oprea. The stage version has very little spoken dialogue, most of it is sung,....So ..in this version they tried to mix the singing with spoken dialogue and that really creates the imfamous problem of people breaking out into song. If the whole thing started wtih singing....hell, if they had just played it just like the show it would have worked much better. And I really didn't like that they started the movie with Seasons of Love. That's like when you're favorite obscure band suddenly has a hit single, ...which is annoying enough as it is....then have them open the concert with it. I would be like Fiona coming out and playing Criminal.

Also, there were some big song cuts. Some I can understand and brush off, but There was one really big scene, very importent scene, which I have no idea why they would cut! It's emotional, intense, and explains alot of character motivations. ...They even left in a portion at the end of the film that alludes to this scene, and for people who aren't familer with the show (Carrie for example) that little bit confuses them. But I noticed that song is actually on the film soundtrack, so hopefully we will get in on the deleted scenes,...but fuck, why couldn't they have let it in! It was seriously important! hopefully those people who see the film and like what they see will pick up the soundtrack and hear that song and have everything fall into place.

there was a scarey moment when I thought they cut the big lesbian song, and that had be pissed off for a bit. ...but the kept it in and did it in a kind of a weird way in the mist of an entirely fabricated storyline,....but the outcome was the same. I compare it to Frodo sending Sam away in Return of the King. ...it doesn't happen in the book, and it's frustrating, but...you can kind of understand why it happens...and it doesn't really affect the outcome, so we can kind of let it slide.

But, on a whole they did a very good job. I was Very impressed with Rosario Dawson, she was a perfect Mimi, and I entirely get behind the recasting of Mimi because the original Mimi looked fuckin' old at the time! I have an issue of Newsweek with Roger and Mimi on the cover. he looks young and hot, and she looks like an old lady in vinyl, it's gross. ...so clearly 10 years later she does not have the face to play a gorgous 19 year old who looks younger. Mimi has to be young, thin (heroine) and have a body to die for. Rosario totally fits the bill.

I am so glad they got the original cast, not only because, well Adam Pascal and Idina Menzel are sexy as hell, but They ARE Jonathan Larson's cast. He chose these people, they are His vision. And on a whole I think they succeeded in bringing his vision to the screen. La Vie Bohem was Perfect! (aside from the weird mixing up of the lyrics about the the improptu performances. There wasn't a need, so I don't understand why they did it.) Another Day...one of my tippy top favorite songs, Perfect, (well...maybe a 9.9999). the ending almost perfect.