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Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 11-24-2005, 04:15 PM:
 
A qualified recommendation. While I liked the original stage production immensely, and have played the original cast CD numerous times, the movie was a bit of a letdown. However, I did enjoy seeing faces to the (mostly) original cast that I have heard. It might be it’s just impossible to capture the same freshness of a live cast on a fairly neutral stage design than seeing the theatrical songs in a real setting. One problem is the decision to drop the sing-songy bridges between numbers for dialogue. While this was initially a good idea in my opinion, it doesn’t work because they didn’t change the words, they’re just spoken without music, rhymed lines and all.

Having said that, there is much to admire. Production values are strong, and some of the songs resonate with power and emotion. While the plight of most of these people are of their own doing, they are still human beings, flaws and all.

Theatre: Edwards (Regal) Bakersfield 14. Print quality was excellent. No noticeable grain and rich solid color and blacks. Changeover cues were yellow and sometimes looked etched in. Presentation was just about perfect. Framing was centered, focus was the sharpest I’ve seen in a long time, even brightness throughout. The sound (SRD) was also properly calibrated with no distortion.
 

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Posted by Dan Lyons (Member # 1454) on 11-25-2005, 03:29 AM:
 
Have to disagree here about a few things.

Overall, it was an entertaining film with some good music. It also had some really bad music; dialog set to music.

The age of the actors didn't fit with the roles; they were at least 10 years too old for their parts.

Technically, it was just average. I didn't notice anything special as far as color, though it did have great steadiness. Grain was very visible from the back of the theatre; damn super 35!!

I'll give it 3 out of 5 stars.
 

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 11-25-2005, 09:20 PM:
 

quote: Dan Lyons

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Overall, it was an entertaining film with some good music. It also had some really bad music; dialog set to music.

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Well said. I saw this live in Chicago before I moved out to Utah... it almost put me to sleep except that the moving lights were quite entertaining. Personally this thing sucks big time... I have not been back to a live show since.

Mark
 

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Posted by Frank Dubrois (Member # 3042) on 11-25-2005, 10:41 PM:
 
I haven't seen it, but from what I heard, its a musical about AIDS and eviction?? If so, who the hell wants to go to a "feel good movie" like that?
 

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Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 11-27-2005, 07:56 PM:
 
RENT - 2nd viewing

Well, this time I went to see it at a different theatre in Bakersfield. The projection of this theatre (Regal's UA East Hills Mall, major upgrades since the take-over)) is just as good as what I saw at the Edwards. It was as bright, evenly lit and focused. It was the print that was inferior. It was grainy, fuzzy in places, and color was weaker. There was one reel that seemed to be filled with what I can only guess was negative dirt from the printing stage (lots of tiny white specks). There were also 5 lab splices (2 in one reel). Changeover cues looked normal in this print, black ovals with yellow outlines (all but the first reel's cues were yellow without the black fill, and definitely looked scratched in (weren't as steady as normal, not solidly yellow, either).
 

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Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 11-27-2005, 08:49 PM:
 
LOL, kinda sucks when we booth personnel really can't sit down and just simply enjoy a movie without "ripping" the movie and the auditorium apart left and right..especially when we are watching someone elses presentations. We're kinda doomed in that area...

Only time when we can really enjoy a movie is the one we are running and/or have put together ourselves and watching it for the first time...

-Monte
 

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Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 11-27-2005, 08:52 PM:
 
To clarify, both presentations I saw were excellent as far as projection quality was concerned. It was the quality difference of the two prints that surprised me.
 

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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 11-27-2005, 11:02 PM:
 
Paul, the projection equipment plays a crucial role in how the final image on screen looks. For example, Schneider lenses have better color saturation and better contrast (particularly over the washed out looking ISCO "red" line). Significantly better colors can be had from one lamphouse to another (for example a Christie lamphouse will be much more colorful than a CFS). Likewise, better contrast and colors are generally found from Harkness screens. Also some projectors are simply capable of projecting a higher resolution image than others (Kinoton shines in this department). Heck, even the color and placement of auditorium wall treatment affects the image! It is for this reason that the first dozen feet (or more) of an auditorium should be nothing but pure black.

As such, it isn't fair to say that one print was inferior to another unless you screened both prints on the same equipment.
 

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Posted by Richard Greco (Member # 2032) on 12-13-2005, 12:10 AM:
 
Well, I finally got time to see this one...

Having never seen or heard the Broadway production, I wanted to see this for what it was. I really liked the music, Upon first listen, I thought it was great. While not the best movie of the year, I really enjoyed it and the musical numbers. There is a Greco factor here.....(no not with "Angel" you sick freaks ) I must say I was very entertained during "Mimi's" "Out Tonight" number....Definately 8/10 for that.

On the movie, however. I'd give it also an 8/10 having no prior exposure to the play. Very Enjoyable.
 

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Posted by William Hooper (Member # 71) on 12-13-2005, 01:42 AM:
 

quote: Frank Dubrois

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I haven't seen it, but from what I heard, its a musical about AIDS and eviction?? If so, who the hell wants to go to a "feel good movie" like that?

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