Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway [Blu-ray] | Broadway Musical Movie | Perfect for Theater Lovers & Home Entertainment

One of the most emotional and stirring Broadway experiences ever has been captured on film, and this is as good as it could possibly get.It is said that nothing recreates the sheer visceral thrill of a Broadway show...or I should say, a GOOD Broadway show. That particular alchemy of of live performance, plot/story, music and an audience is essentially un-reproducible in any other media.But MAN is this close!I started by referring to "Rent" as a Broadway "experience" more than a show. That's because the show is better the more you know about it.Beginning with the initial idea, the transposition of Puccini's "La Boheme", modernized to late 90's New York...is it too early to refer to that time period as "turn of the century?"...it was a musical that was strikingly contemporary and exceedingly specific. Since it was masterfully done, it has also proved to be timeless and universal. They don't hand out Pulitzers for nothing.Knowing that the show's creator, Jonathan Larson, died of an undiagnosed thoracic aortic aneurysm the night before opening night previews, adds immeasurable subtext to a show about, among other things, living each day as if it were the last.Knowing the special relationship between the show, its' production crew, its' fans and the city of New York heightens the drama and intensity of the show itself, and here, the final performance.In other words, the story of "Rent" is as enthralling as the show itself. The documentary on the DVD of the FILM version of "Rent" does a terrific job of telling THAT story.And speaking about that film version...(which is never referred to during any of the several excellent behind-the-scenes segments here)...many die-hard Rent-heads have been quite vocal about their disdain for the film; critics were not that impressed either. Personally, I feel they did about as good a job as could have been done, without simply filming the show itself. Plus I got to see most of the original cast members, something I'd never otherwise get a chance to see.Like I said, nothing reproduces that sense of urgency and drama like live theater.THIS is that "filmed show." They literally filmed a Broadway performance. What seemed a bit dull in the movie bursts with color and vibrancy here.They cheat a bit; sometimes the cameras are right over the shoulders or in the faces of the cast members. That clearly didn't happen closing night. This is seamlessly edited together with previous performances using cameras on stage in the midst of the action. It is so well done that the close-ups add to the intensity. Seeing a cast member with a tear rolling down their cheek...something you couldn't see past the fourth row...just nails certain points in the show with that "real" drama you don't get from "film". It pulls you close.Hearing the roar of the crowd, either to applaud each performance or in some cases, to applaud in anticipation of an upcoming appearance (which is, I have to say, really cool to hear...) adds to the immediacy of your viewing experience. Seeing little imperfections, a little stumble, a vocal wobble, does the same thing. (For all I know, they were intentional...how the heck do I know...) The feeling of "you are there" has never been done as well as it has been done here.The show has become so personal to so many people, with so many fans seeing the original cast, the various Broadway iterations, the touring companies, the film, and now this, that they'll have their own favorite Mimi or Roger or Angel. This particular cast, I have to say, is pretty fine, top to bottom. Hardcore Rent-heads will find little to quibble about, and newbies won't be missing a thing. Yes, you might miss having Mimi a bit less polished (I always envisioned her character as a little "sloppy" or rough; here she sings perfectly)...and in my "Rent" world, Angel is usually more diminutive...more petite.Did this affect my watching this Blu-Ray? Not even remotely.In fact, I felt the same way I did when I saw the show for the first time, here in L.A. Then, I was so unexpectedly overwhelmed by the show, I was moved, as they say, to tears. Not the little, single drop that spills over your right eyelid either. Big messy sobs. From a 40-year-old heterosexual male. In public. Way embarrassing.Here, "Rent" got to me again. This time, knowing all that I know about the show, that sense of love and loss was just that much more profound. The tears came back, a bit more reserved this time, but continued throughout the compelling "making-of" segments.Technically, the disc is awesome. Awe-invoking. Awe-inspiring. Whatever. Awe. With the pristine vocals from and center, music presented on a huge soundstage and the raucous crowd swirling in your surrounds...I'm telling you, I was right there.Even the intermission...ten minutes long...is presented in its' entirety. Seriously. A camera sits stationary, maybe center front balcony, while a clock ticks down on screen. You see production crew moving things around, the tops of the heads of the people in the first rows milling about...it's kinda funny actually. At one point, a stage hand walks across the stage and waves to the camera.The video reproduction is impeccable. Only in the scenes where the lighting is necessarily super-low do you get any sort of image degradation...it's trivial. Otherwise, this looks so real. It's HD at it's finest. Again, "you are there." Only better.If you've read this far, there are a few things for you that I haven't written about, that you need to find out about on your own.1) You will go nuts during the encore...they do another song, with some friends showing up.2) You need to see each and every featurette. Stuff they show and talk about in the first ones comes back in the later ones. Things you think you know, you don't. You'll be moved beyond belief.3) If you've seen a lot of "Rent" shows, you will see old cast members in the audience, during the various featurettes. Check them out for that reason alone.This is not a rental...you need to own "Rent." Go. Click. Now.