Rent

I watched the musical "Rent" for class. I really enjoy this movie, and I think it is done very well in many different ways. First of all, I have seen the broadway version of Rent, which is obviously the original script. It was really interesting to see the changes in plot and direction that needed to be taken to make this an effective film. Because there was no need to be confined to a stage, there was a lot more that the director could do with setting. The subway scene, in particular, was really great in the movie because the characters were singing on a real-life subway. This scene was a lot more effective on film, because the viewer didn't need to use their imagination so much, and could instead just sit back and watch the scene. In general, the movie stayed very true to the original. Even six out of the eight of the main cast were from the original broadway production, and many of the same props were used, such as the projector screen showing everyone's faces at the end of the show. I think a lot of musicals that are adapted from the stage to film try to break away from the original, but "Rent" is very true to its broadway roots and makes a large effort to stay true to its original self. One other big difference is the amount of dialogue. There is a lot mroe dialogue in the film, because a film is a different type of production than a show. While "Rent" on stage is more about the production, dancing, and visual effect of a staged show, the movie needed to focus more on plot. Things that could be looked over in  a staged show needed to be explained through dialogue in the film. For instance, the death of Roger's ex girlfriend is quickly mentioned in the broadway show, but in the film this is not enough, and so it needs to be explained by the other characters through dialogue for the viewer. In general, I loved "Rent"and want to watch more musicals!