Rent 4K Review: 20th Anniversary Set Looks & Sounds Great
The new Rent 4K release is a great way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Chris Columbus’ musical movie. Featuring a top-notch transfer and a wonderful audio mix, it has never looked or sounded better.
“Set in New York City’s gritty East Village, the revolutionary rock opera Rent tells the story of a group of bohemians struggling to live and pay their rent. ‘Measuring their lives in love,’ these starving artists strive for success and acceptance while enduring the obstacles of poverty, illness, and the AIDS epidemic. Rent is based on Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning musical, one of the longest-running shows on Broadway. The raw and riveting musical stars Rosario Dawson, Taye Diggs, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Jesse L. Martin, Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, and Tracie Thoms, and is directed by Chris Columbus,” says the official description.
While it doesn’t live up to the lofty standards of the iconic musical, there’s a lot to like about Rent. It’s fun seeing most of the Broadway cast return, with the notable addition of Rosario Dawson as Mimi, and the musical numbers are still a highlight. However, the film does lack a certain bite, with Columbus cutting half of “Goodbye Love” and leaving April’s death more ambiguous than the stage version, and it’s not one of the best stage-to-screen conversions.
That being said, the Rent 4K release really shines when it comes to its video and audio. The film is dazzling to look at in full detail, with the black levels looking great, and it’s a huge upgrade from the Blu-ray. Another notable improvement is the Dolby Atmos track, which allows the vocals to really shine and the musical songs to really stick out.
The only disappointment in the Rent 4K release is the lack of new bonus features. With it being the 20th anniversary, and marked as such on the box, it would’ve been nice to see something new created. However, this still features plenty of extras, including an excellent making-of documentary called No Day But Today, an audio commentary track featuring Chris Columbus, Anthony Rapp, and Adam Pascal, and deleted scenes (including an alternate ending). Throw in two PSAs and its theatrical trailer, and you’ve got a full-featured release even if nothing is new.
Rent 4K Review: Final Verdict
While the musical movie has its flaws, the Rent 4K release is spectacular. Featuring a top-notch transfer and an incredible Dolby Atmos audio track, this is an audiovisual delight that will make fans of the musical more than happy. While it’s a shame that new supplemental material wasn’t produced, the old bonus features are still included.
Disclosure: ComingSoon received product from the distributor for our Rent 4K review.
Source: Comingsoon.net