"Hey Collins! Try not to get your ass kicked this time."

[leighblack]

I'm just home from my second viewing of Rent. *le sigh* I'm not going to say anything spoilery. And I'm not going to nitpick the changes. Chris Columbus did a very, very good job of converting the show to film. I completely LOVED it!!!

"Tango Maureen" was PURE perfection! I don't know how it could have been done any better. Mark and his dorky dance moves there and in "La Vie Boheme" were fab! Everyone did a great job. But truly, Jesse L. Martin MADE the movie with Collins. I cannot rave about him enough! Loved, loved, loved him!! "Merry Christmas, bitches!" indeed.

The midnight showing was packed! The theater fell completely silent once the movie started, but cheering happened when Jonathan's name appeared on screen. There was some mooing, but no singing, thankfully. And there was certainly a lot of sobbing all around. I'm glad I brought a kleenex box for us to share.

So, of course, I want to see it again. If anyone wants to go this weekend, let me know when & where!

Comments

[miriam-heddy.livejournal.com]

Obviously, at 35, I'm too old to be a part of the "Rent" generation. I'm a member of the "Fame" generation.

So tell me... what's the appeal of "Rent"? I mean, not as an aesthetic object, but in what way does it speak to you and who you are?

[leighblack.livejournal.com]

No one is too old for the Rent generation. There were all ages in the movie theater.

Rent means...Well, I don't really know how it started. I wasn't into theater or musicals, but something about Rent just speaks to me.

First, it's the music. It's gorgeous! It's a little bit more rock & roll, which appeals to me more than traditional musicals. It's very well-written and beautifully arranged.

Second, it's the characters. They're very real and diverse. Of the four couples, one is 2 gay men, one is 2 lesbians, one is a black man & a (unseen) white woman and the other is your normal boy & girl. And it totally appeals to me that the couple that is the most functional is the gay men.

Third, it's the message. It's all about celebrating life & love and living each moment to it's fullest. It's about living without regret and accepting who you are and who other people are.

It's just a beautiful story and it touches me every time I see/hear it.

[miriam-heddy.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I think that there was something generational about it, even if there are older audience members seeing it. All the people I see talking about it are in their twenties. And that suggests it was one of those things like "The Breakfast Club" and "Fame" that were a huuuge deal and that I suspect you missed, being too young when they came out. Sometimes, you can be too old when something comes out. That movie "Napolean Dynamite" I was entirely too old to notice or care about, but it's was considered a major movie by my own 18 year old students last year.

[seimaisin.livejournal.com]

Yay! We're going tomorrow, before dinner, and I can't wait to see it! Am ignoring all actual professional reviews, as everyone I know who's seen it thus far has adored it. Whee! :)

[leighblack.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I haven't read any real reviews. Especially since I heard the Star Trib gave it a bad review. It's really only the fans that matter.

[dazeebean.livejournal.com]

Just got back from the 6:50 show at Regal. It was my "break" since I didn't get one today...8 hours on your feet allllllll day=not good, or fun!

I really didn't expect it to be so packed, I think it was probably sold out. I should call Em to see how the 9:45 show is. Anyway, having never seen the musical, or seeing anything about it in person. (I'm guilty of listening to the OBCR though.) It's really nice to finally see the actions and the story on the big screen.

Personally I thought Columbus did a rally good job, all I could think of though, was how beautiful JLM was throughout his entire performance.--I agree with the Legend, and that he carried the story. Anyway, I won't say anything more in case some haven't seen it. However, Leigh, I would love to see it with you either tomorrow night (if we can get in???) Otherwise Em and I will see something else. But I am free Saturday after 5pm and then Sunday all day, so just let me know.--12:30, 3:25, 6:50 and 9:45.

[leighblack.livejournal.com]

If you don't think we can get in tomorrow, that's fine. Sat night or Sun afternoon should work for me.

Glad you liked it!!

[dragonessasmith.livejournal.com]

Gah! We almost went to the 10:15 show tonight...and we managed to get tickets...but the line for the theater (it was one of those HUGE theaters) went all the way around the back of the building and almost into the lobby, so we figured our chances of getting seats together were diddly over squat.

:( Woe. But I will be seeing it before this week is done. I hope. Because I can't stand being the one who's constantly missing out on the squeeage.