Customer Reviews

Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(112)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I saw both the show on stage and the highly stylized film version and having now experienced this performance, filmed live on Broadway at the end of the show's run, I now truly realize just how short the film version comes to really capturing the essence of what Jonathan Larson created. This high octane, musically innovative and striking show is also a beautiful and heartfelt exploration of youth, both lost and reclaimed; a very poignant portrait of the search for love and compassion, of hope and beauty in a world that everyday recedes deeper into the empty comforts of materialism and social acceptability. An updated version of Puccini's masterpiece La Boheme, Rent is obviously not as shy about not only examining the wounds of its characters but of exhibiting them; its blatant honesty and unapologetic credo of life are a million miles away from the subtle, innocent and elegant sentiments of late 19th century Parisian artists, starving in their garrets while courting muses. Rent is the "black sheep" of the Boheme lineage. It's a piece of theatre that bristles with tenacity in the face of hardship and rejection: No one here is willing to take anything lying down. It's really little wonder it was as critically acclaimed as it was and won the many prestigious awards that it did and reason for that is that it manages to be what few musicals have ever managed to be: Authentic, relevant but, ultimately, profoundly human; a rebellious celebration of life even in the face of addiction, illness and death . Add to that mixture some really first rate music, stellar performances and stage direction (an ingenious arc that fluidly shifts its characters around Manhattan yet all within the confines of a stage that's, for the most part, barren) and you've got one heck of a winning recipe. Rent is the musical for people who think they don't like musicals. It's as far removed from traditional American musical theatre as it possibly can be. It is the heir apparent to the socially relevant, politically conscience and in your face musical experience that was ushered in 40 years ago by the groundbreaking rock musical "Hair." But, of course, the most tragic element about Rent was the premature death of its creator, Jonathan Larson, who, sadly and ironically, died the day before opening night, a few days shy of his 36th birthday. But what a legacy he left us all.

When you watch a live performance of a concert or musical and if that Blu-ray goes as far as it can to replicate that live experience, you know you're going to have a enjoyable time. "RENT: Filmed LIVE on Broadway" is a fantastic experience on Blu-ray from awesome picture quality, great sound utilization for those with a home theater and a disc loaded with featurettes with substance. A solid and fantastic release for those who are passionate for the seventh longest running musical ever.

"RENT" had been in development since 1988 and made a reality in 1994. But the musical wouldn't become a success until its Broadway debut in Jan. 1996. "RENT" is a reimagining of Giacomo Puccini's opera "La Boheme" and its modern setting and enjoyable characters and addictive music has captured so many hearts with its twelve year run. It has won a Pulitzer Prize, four Tony Awards and credit has to go to the hardworking and passionate staff and its cast members who have put their heart and soul to "RENT", but this release is also a celebration of life and love, written by "RENT" creator Jonathan Larson.

From the actors getting on stage and everyone applauding to the ten minute intermission and then the final farewell in which the current cast and the original cast share the same stage and all sing "Seasons of Love", the final live performance was powerful and as for the Blu-ray, the additions of the bonus features will definitely attract the hardcore and even curious fans!

VIDEO & AUDIO:

The film is presented in 1080p high definition (1:78:1). The picture quality was amazing on Blu-ray. Picture quality was clear, colors were vibrant but most importantly, almost similar to any successful concert performance, what can make it or break a performance is how many camera angles are utilized, how they are edited and how well they cut from character to character. And the good news is that this musical was successful in accomplishing the job. Lighting was just right! Performances were fantastic and the ability to cover each performer interacting on stage knowing that a camera is probably in their way, everything went quite well. So, with the Blu-ray video transfer receiving high marks, how does the audio even compare?

As for the audio, audio is featured in English Dolby TrueHD 5.1. And I have to let you know that if you own a home theater system with surround sound, how awesome the sound quality is. In fact, for those who want that theatre experience like if you were watching it live. The audio clearly features the dialogue and music from your front speakers. But your rear surround speakers feature the audience. I was blown away to hear the audience giggling, cheering and their overall excitement during the performance. Although it doesn't beat being there for an actual live show, at least there was great care in making sure the audio was great. So, it's like being in the front row and hearing the audience behind you. Well done!

SPECIAL FEATURES:

This is probably what is going to win the RENT-heads and those who admire or are curious about "RENT" will truly enjoy. Lengthy special features targeted towards the fans of "RENT" and are featured in standard and hi-definition. The majority of them are in HD. Included are:

* The Wall - This featurette focuses on how the fans have left hand written messages on the walls of Nederlander Theatre. A good size featurette showcasing the various signatures written throughout the years and the goodbye messages from fans of the musical. Very touching!
* The Final Curtain -This featurette focuses on the original cast who were backstage and preparing to join the current cast for the final farewell and all of them united in their final goodbyes and singing "Seasons of Love" together. Very touching and emotional to watch.
* Home - This featurette was about how they chose the Nederland Theatre and how it was not quite hospitable and needed a lot of fixing up. But even today, the interesting things about the theatre that the cast and crew share their experiences. Answering questions of why the ceilings were not fully painted, the obstacles the crew had to face in getting it ready and much more. An informative but also fun featurette.
* The Final Lottery - Since moving to Nederland Theatre, there has been a lottery to RENT-heads who would camp outside in order to get the discounted $20 tickets for the show. Those who got tickets got to sit in the front two rows. This segment features the final lottery, hundreds of people in line hoping to get a ticket for the final day and how emotional the experience was for the fans who won tickets for the final day and also how emotional it was for the two men in charge of giving out the tickets for the lottery.
* Casting - A behind-the-scenes look at the casting for "RENT". Every person who auditioned have been kept in dozens upon dozens of binders. Each person who was cast had to be seen multiple times and you get quite a bit of insight on the casting and the experience of the current talent and how many times (and how many years) they auditioned to get a role in the musical.
* Rent: The Final Days on Broadway - This is the lengthiest featurette featuring a specialized casting for the final week of "RENT" bringing back some old cast members but finding the right cast for the final week and the final day. Bringing everyone together and an in-depth look at how emotional everyone was during the filming. A lot of interviews with cast and crew. Especially those remembering "RENT" creator Jonathan Larson and bringing back the Larson family one last time for them to meet and greet the crew, staff and talent. Touching and overall an awesome featurette! But to see how emotional distraught some of the hardcore fans were on the final day was incredibly touching. So many people touched by this musical and also the lives changed for the positive because of "RENT" was amazing.
* Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation PSA - This featurette is about the foundation for those in the performing arts who can win a grant (to be used for anything, groceries, rent, babysitting, etc.) to help out performing artists.
* National Marfan Foundation PSA - "RENT" creator Jonathan Larson died from an aortic aneurysm believed to have resulted from Marfan syndrome. And this informative PSA was letting people know about the genetic disorder and the National Marfan Foundation.

I was first introduced to "RENT" back in 2000. As most musicals, my first introduction is typically by the soundtracks first but I have dreamed of watching "RENT" in Broadway for many years and I ultimately thought that it was a musical I can just catch whenever and expected a long musical run. So, when I found out that the long running musical would no longer be live in Broadway as of Sept. 7, 2008, I was saddened and felt that I lost my opportunity.

But after watching "RENT: Filmed LIVE on Broadway", words can not describe how happy I was to hear about a Blu-ray release and how the live performance would be in High Definition.

The Blu-ray release was absolutely fantastic! This is probably the next best thing of catching a Broadway show without having been there because not only was the picture quality outstanding but the way the audio was created, the awesome energy from the audience is felt through your surround sound. The music just comes alive and everything was just done right when it comes to the video and audio presentation to DVD and Blu-ray translation from the final Broadway performance. Camera angle cuts, editing, lighting, audience participation and more. And if you thought the awesome performance of the musical was all your getting, "RENT" fans will not be disappointed because you get a good number of lengthy featurettes included on the special features section.

Although the Broadway performance of "RENT" is over, the long running musical is captured perfectly in "RENT: Filmed LIVE on Broadway" and is absolutely fantastic on Blu-ray! I wouldn't be surprise if this video became a cult-hit among the fans of the musical for many years to come. This release is not just a live performance, it's a celebration of life and a celebration of love.

If you are a fan of "RENT" or like myself, have always dreamed of watching "RENT" live, "RENT: Filmed LIVE on Broadway" is not only fantastic, it's highly recommended!

I was pleasantly surprised with "Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway". I thought I'd be bored with seeing a stage production on film, I was wrong. The project was in good hands, close-ups in the right places etc.

I have been a "Renthead" since the show opened in '96. I had a chance to hear the original cast on Broadway (I couldn't get in to see the show, but the guy in the lobby let me hang out there and listen to several songs - what a guy) and see Wilson Cruz and Neil Patrick Harris in L.A.

"Rent" was the first time that I heard a love song between two guys in a musical and a semi-sorta love song between two women too. I was blown away. Everything about the musical helped me through some rough times when I was coming out and dealing with people around me dying from AIDS. Jonathan Larson was truly inspired.

With all that being said, it's sad to see the show close on Broadway. But this DVD is a great keepsake to have. The show is complete. Unlike the movie where certain aspects were dropped, this version shows it all. "Christmas Bells" is in it and thank goodness it is.

The cast is phenomenal. Sure it's impossible to replicate what the original cast did, but the show lives on through this cast of fresh faces. Particular stand outs (in my opinion) are Will Chase as Roger and Adam Kantor as Mark.

If you're already a fan or new to the Life Cafe, this DVD is worth buying. There are some pretty awesome extras as well. And seeing most of the original cast at the end is a treat.

No day but today!

This sort of thing makes me wish they would give all shows this treatment. I was SO impressed with the cast and quality of filming done on this DVD. Watching this makes one understand why a show written for the stage is best left on the stage; Hollywood movies, no matter how they are "altered" to better the story or whatever, cannot compare to the emotion, adrenaline and feel of the stage performance. If you are a Rent fan at all, I recommend you add this to your DVD collection because it shares with those of us not fortunate enough to see the show on B-way the true message and power of the show.

Have always loved "Rent," but I was skeptical if I would watch it again on a DVD having seen it many times.

I WAS BLOWN AWAY. What an incredible performance by the entire cast. I found myself understanding some nuances I had missed, and a teared up about every 5 minutes.

I found the close-ups and the camera work on this DVD to be stunning. Enough long shots to remind you you are watching a stage production, but enough close-ups to really add to the total emotion of this musical.

WOW!

"Rent: live on Broadway" is a killer production. Jonathan Larson has created an upscale La Boheme that resonates with passion and diversity.
Never having seen Rent live, I was impressed with the whole presentation.

The music was vivid and raw, while the themes that resonated were ones we see everyday. The issues of homelessness, 'art' vs sell out, and real estate/business vs the little guy are vaild everywhere. While the drug/sexual culuture pervades the storyline, the success of the characters as they live one year on talent and the grace of a benevolent landlord is obvious.

The special features are a good fit for the DVD, and turn this into a must own DVD for musical fans.

This comes highly recomended.

"Rent" is a fantastic show, however, we were disappointed that this one did not star two of the original cast: Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp. The filming would have been better without closeups and seen more as an audience member would have viewed it. It is still a great show to see and the music is incredible. We really enjoyed the bonus features!

There were a couple of instances in this film where I wished they would have zoomed out a bit for a wider shot...but that's small potatoes.

This was great. There's a special place in my heart for the original cast (they join in for the final Seasons Of Love), but I thought this cast pulled it off well. Justin Johnston did a great job as Angel (probably my second favorite next to WJH's), and I love the part during I'll Cover You where he says, "My Wig! Hold on!"

I'm also glad to see Tracie Thoms finally make it to the stage production.

Overall, this video was wonderful. A must have if you've never seen RENT live, and a great keepsake if you have! More Broadway shows should do this for the people who can't afford to pay $100/ticket and/or live in an area that just doesn't have the venue for live shows.

I saw the movie first, but was intrigued by question of how it could be done on stage. This video answered the question.

Which version do I prefer? It's a strained comparison. Some things just worked better on stage.

-- Bart

I've never seen RENT in person, but am a huge fan of the movie and story. I bought this knowing I may never have the opportunity to see the play on stage and I LOVED it! I thought they did an excellent job of filming everything and keeping it true to seeing it live.