If you have ever wanted to see the musical, but didn't have the means, I highly recommend the movie.

I saw the London production back in 1998 or 99 and thought it was the best musical I had ever seen, and still think so.

However, I was skeptical when I saw they were making it into a movie. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised!

Not only did they manage to get the entire story in the movie, but three of the cast members were actually in the London cast when I saw it (Tom, Roger and Mark) and the girl who plays Joann was an understudy for the Broadway cast. The music is fantastic, and some of the songs are so good they make you want to just well up and cry. The story is so good, and the way they did the movie wasn't cheesy. It's almost identical to the stage production except with better stage settings and props.

I can't recommend it highly enough. Go see it if it's playing near you. And bring a box of tissues.

~spidey

i heard it was really bad. i think i will wait for the dvd.

Cambece

Actually, it is very good. The individual performances are excellent. The singing is top-notch as are all of the song and dance numbers. Each number manages to recreate the feel that I had listening to and watching it in the theatre.

The major failing of this movie is not in the performances or the script, but in the direction. It is terribly directed and concieved. From beginning the movie with "Seasons of Love" which makes no sense until much later in the story, to the odd empty-theatre frame that they never reference again. The direction does its best to alienate you from the characters, rendering them all as distant and empty. Luckily each of the performances strives against that, creating interesting people you care about. The direction seemed to be trying to establish each one of the main characters as an every-man or woman by toning down the things that made them individual and, therefore, vibrant. However, it is the performers again, who save the movie from itself. Their love of the material and the obvious joy they have in sharing it makes each character stand out. Bringing back much of the original cast was a great idea. At least someone involved knew what this musical was really about.

The only other criticism I have of the movie was the insistence of trying to make it more accessible by singing only during the offical 'numbers'. "Rent" is a modern Opera. It was meant to be sung, and whatever hollywood producer figured that people wouldn't 'get it' did the movie and the audience a huge disservice.

All that said, I'm glad that this show is saved on film for posterity. I think that the cast did a wonderful job with it, and that it manages to be a good representation of the stage show. It is worth seeing.

Captain Nevarre

p.s. The worst part of the film? At the point that Collins and Angel finally kiss, some fucking highschool twit lets out a big "ewwwww!". What the hell did you think you were coming to see, punk? There was going to be a brawl with theatre people whupping some ignorant twats, but luckily one of the asshat's peers hit him and hissed "oh grow up", effectively silencing the ass and redeeming the entire group.