Rent (2005 movie Review)

     

     Usually when viewing a musical I can recommend it on the merits of how great the music and dance choreography is but with the 2005 musical “Rent” I had a hard time deciding between what I felt in my heart and my mind. My mind was telling me that this was an outstanding musical with lots of stellar musical numbers, style and having the guts to talk about lots of serious subject matters. But my heart was telling me this movie was disturbing, mean spirited and at times offensive.

 

    The movie depicts the lives of several Bohemians and their struggles with sexuality, cross-dressing, drugs, homosexuals and lesbians, life under the shadow of AIDS, and paying their rent. It’s very depressing and it gives the film a very downbeat overtone but it clashes with all these very upbeat and energized musical numbers. Most of the songs themselves have this exact contrast, there’s one song called "What You Own" and it sounds so upbeat with such a sizzling vibe that you’d swear it was a vacation song or something like that, yet the song focuses on life struggles and we see images of people out on the street playing music to gain money and all kinds of unpleasant things. It gives you a wired feeling, honestly don’t know what I’m supposed to feel while watching this film.

     Before I get to ahead of myself, let’s look at the individual stories and subjects that are all present in this film. It all takes place in the East Village of New York City in the late 1980s and we have three stories that the film focuses on. The best story that the film should have focused entirely on is a guy named Roger Davis who just lost his girl friend to aids. Now he’s falling in love with a girl named Mimi who lives next door to him and is also suffering from aids. Roger loves Mimi but he is afraid to have a serious relationship with her because he doesn’t want to feel the pain of losing someone he loves to aids again. This, to me is an interesting concept and is well portrayed by the two. The thread that holds all these individual stories together is a filmmaker named Mark Cohen who moves in and out of these three stories and is what links them together. The last two story arcs follow the same theme of homosexuality, we have two boys named Angel and Tom who are in love and there’s two girls named Maureen and Joanne who are trying to get married. Personally, this is a subject that always makes me feel dirty and sick but I’m certainly not talented enough to discuss why I think it’s bad, so let’s just move on.   

    The film does have a terrific selection of songs and it’s hard not to recommend to people who love musicals. The opening song called “Seasons of Love” starts things off very well, it has a very sweet and beautiful melody. The actual “Rent” song is another musicale number with a lot of energy and a very entertaining beat despite the depressing concept of not being able to pay for your rent. “Tango: Maureen” is an interesting dance/musicale number, it’s the only song that features choreographed dance extras in the background and some really fun dance choreography from our leads in the foreground. My favorite musical sequence is “Out Tonight and Another Day”, not just for the great music and but for the changing settings, it’s focuses on Mimi as she begins at work (which happens to be a place for strip dancing) and then we follow her on the road, in her apartment, in someone else’s apartment, back out on the street, interacting with different people and it all happens the some musicale number, it’s great. Other great songs that I love from this film include “One Song Glory”, “Light My Candle”, “I should tell you”, "What You Own", “Love Heals” and “Know Day But Today Reprise”. It’s great that many of the actors are actually from the “Rent” show on Broadway and they all can sing very well. There are some songs that I don’t care for and are just plain forgettable but there’s far more good than bad. If you don’t want to be subjected to the films depressing, unpleasant and just all around odd feel, I still highly recommend listening to this soundtrack on its own because it’s really good.  

 

     This movie was directed by one of my all time favorite movie directors Chris Columbus, who’s worked on other great films including “Mrs. Doubtfire”, “Home Alone”, “Gremlins” and the first three “Harry Potter” movies. As always Chris gives solid direction and the characters have good chemistry. Like I said earlier, the films music is fun and upbeat but subjects are very depressing and even the look of the film is downbeat. Everything is shot in the dark and you’re always looking at ether a dirty apartment or street ally. Fans of the Broadway play will be pleased with this adaption but anyone else might be very picky at plotlines and situations that seem to just come out of no ware, there’s plenty of subjects that regular viewers may even take offence too and it makes this film really hard to recommend. With music this good, I definitely recommend the soundtrack but watch the movie at your own risk or at the very least be aware of what you’re getting into because it has a lot of uncomfortable sensuality and it’s a downer. I’m still very glad I saw it because it dose deliver some powerhouse musical numbers, I give “Rent” 3 ½ stars.                             

My Top 10 Secondary Disney Villains

  When it comes to animated villains, the Disney rouges have certainly taken on a life of their own, and most of which are preserved as some of the all-time great movie baddies, animated or not. However, while the main Disney villains get spotlighted all the time, I wanted to give some attention to the secondary villains, who I feel deserve as much room to shine. Just to be clear, I’m not ranking the most famous side-kicks, so forgive me if some of the really popular henchman in the vein of Iago from “Aladdin” or the Hyenas from “The Lion King” don’t make this particular countdown. This is just my personal ranking of the second place Disney foes, who I feel stole just as much the show, if not more so than the lead rouges. So, with all that said, here are my personal, Top 10 favorite Secondary Villains from animated Disney Movies.

 

#10 Flotsam and Jetsam (from “The Little Mermaid”)

  I know most Disney fans prefer the sneaky henchman to be more silly, comedic, and generally at odds with their wicked masters … and while the goofy lackies have their place … I personally prefer the ones that are just as sinister. Ursula the sea witch for example needs no introduction as one of Disney’s classic animated villains, but frequently less appreciated are her two nasty eels Flotsam & Jetsam. They may not be as quotable as Scar’s goofy pack of Hyena’s, but I still think these are two of the coolest henchmen of any animated Disney picture. The late actress Paddi Edwars, who previously voiced Gozer from “Ghostbusters”, has an appropriately slithery voice, and gives the two a presence equal to Ursula herself.

 

#9 The Sheriff of Nottingham (from “Robin Hood”)

  In general, Disney’s “Robin Hood” features one of my favorite ensembles of animated characters, with the main villain Prince John steeling the show as my favorite funny villain of the whole roster. However, while Prince John is a joy to have on screen, he doesn’t really work as an imposing obstacle for our main swash buckling hero Robin Hood. This is where the nasty Sheriff of Nottingham gets to shine as the secondary foe, as he’s more capable of putting up a fight, and has a generally more threating demeaner as an anthropomorphic wolf … but still not without the same goofy charm that characterizes most of the cast in this film. It’s a special case in which a henchman can be appealing as a pompous goof, but not without his fair share of threating qualities.    

 

#8 Kaa (from “The Jungle Book”)

Disney’s animated take on “The Jungle Book” has always been a mixed bag for me, with changes to the source material that I was either on board with, or put-off by. One difference from the book that I’d absolutely put in the plus column for the movie is the giant snake Kaa, who originally was one of Mowgli's closest friends and mentors in the books, just like Baloo and Bagheera. Of course, in the Disney movie, he's changed into the secondary villain of the film, and his encounters with Mowgli make for some enjoyable highlights. This is another memorable character, who’s both goofy and kind of a looser, yet there’s still something unnerving, and predatorial about him. 

His song “Trust in Me” comes off as average in presentation, but thematically it’s actually one of the darkest of all the Disney villain songs. It’s a song that highlights the creepy concept of “stranger danger”, and why kids shouldn’t be so open to excepting candy from questionable figures. Also, the visual design of Kaa is one area in which the animation of the film really shines. Of course, everyone loves to point out that Kaa is voiced by Sterling Holloway, the same talent most famous for voicing Winnie the Pooh ... which is a hilarious contrast.

 

#7 Roscoe and DeSoto (from “Oliver & Company”)

  Good old “Oliver & Company” was always a childhood favorite of mine, and one that regrettably falls under the radar for most viewers. The lead bad guy, Bill Sykes, is also frequently placed among the lower-class Disney villains. That may be, but in my personal opinion, Sykes has the absolute coolest henchman of any Disney villain. Whereas most evil lackeys are depicted as goofy or comedic, Sykes two pet Dobermans named Roscoe and DeSoto are genuinely intimidating, and are honestly more exiting to have on screen then the main villain himself.

 

#6 Helga (from “Atlantis: The Lost Empire”)

  On the race to find the lost city of Atlantis, our main hero Milo finds himself betrayed by his commanding officer ... and really just another forgettable twist-villain to begin a long line-up of boring twist-villains. The one thing I feel could have made this film stronger is a double twist, in which the traitorous commander is overthrown by his sneaky second in command Helga. From her very first scene, Helga came off as more of a suspicious snake in the grass, and while her betrayal would have been more obvious, I also feel she would have left the more memorable impression as the main villain. She’s the classic architype of the femme fatale you’d see in detective stories or Film Noir, and it’s cool to have her as a Disney rouge. I’d argue she’d be even cooler as the lead villain … but she at least has her place among my favorite secondary villains.  

 

#5 Honest John (from “Pinocchio”)

  On his journey to becoming a real boy, Pinocchio has to face a number of enemies. My favorite of the films villains by far is actually a character named Honest John, a swindler who always steers Pinocchio down the wrong path. Similar to Kaa, this is another character that always comes to mind when I think of “Stranger Danger”. He’s soft spoken and charismatic, but you just know you shouldn’t trust the guy, and I think it delivers a good message to kids. I especially love the design of this guy, in contrast to all the other human characters seen in the film, Honest John and his cat side kick are the only anthropomorphic characters featured in the film. I always took it as a metaphor, like ... maybe the other characters actually see him as a person, but we the audience see Honest John for what he really is ... a tricky and deceptive Fox.

 

#4 Sabor (from “Tarzan”) 

It’s tradition for Disney’s animated jungle themed ventures to feature a villain that comes in the form of a deadly jungle cat, but the one difference with “Tarzan” is that this cat is a secondary villain as opposed to the lead threat. Needless to say, the ravenous female leopard called Sabor is absolutely awesome, and lends to some thrilling action. Every time she comes on screen, she’s intense, exciting, intimidating, and feels like a genuine threat for our heroes to face. I like that she doesn’t have a voice, she’s just an impulsive animal, but still conveys some subtle traits of character. 

Her connection to our heroes is also layered, deep, and it sets her up as a perfect foe for Tarzan to face. Unfortunately, my one and only real issue with this film is that Sabor is taken out of the movie way too soon, and replaced with a human villain, who really isn’t as cool by comparison, nor has as meaningful a set-up as Sabor did. Like I mentioned with Helga before, this is another case in which I feel the movie would have been better off if the secondary villain was made the lead threat.

 

#3 Scroop (from “Treasure Planet”)

Disney’s animated Sci-Fi adventure “Treasure Planet” features one of my all-time favorite villains in the form of the pirate John Siler, who’s character arc is just as layered, and even emotional as the lead hero Jim Hawkins. However, while John Silver shines as a sympathetic villain, who’s capable of redemption … he isn’t always as exciting as a threatening presence. For a fast-moving adventure like this, it also needs a threatening villain to heighten the action. This is where John Silvers sinister first-mate Scroop really works as a menacing secondary villain. While not very popular, I find Scroop an awesome, and equally underappreciated Disney villain. He has this really cool design, almost like an intergalactic crab-spider, and he has an especially imposing, slithery voice to go along with it, making everything he says drip with pure discustt. 

Voice actor Michael Wincott had proven himself a decent villain actor in movies like “The Crow” and “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves”, but he really has a distinct vocal pitch, that really works in animation. Usually, supporting villains are just there to be stupid side characters, but this guy was even more threatening than the main villain. He never waists time talking to the characters or even laughing … instead he’s fast, deadly, and quick to attack. "Treasure Planet" is already a very underrated Disney film, but it’s one of my personal favorites, and has two awesome villains for the price of one.

 

#2 Kronk (from “The Emperor’s New Groove”) 

  While I generally don’t care for the goofy villain side-kicks that mostly play for laughs … there is no beating around the bush when it comes to Kronk … who’s in a whole other league of his own, and has a secure spot among my all-time favorite Disney characters in general. Even as a faithful servant to the wicked Ezma, Kronk is still infectiously lovable, and you cheer for him, knowing he has a big heart, and just needs to break away from his master. Aside from that, he has all the best lines, and Patrick Warburton’s vocal charisma is honestly on par with the best of Disney talents. While “The Emperor’s New Groove” has its share of likable characters, I think most fans of this movie would agree that it’s the absent minded Kronk who completely steals the show with his funny antics and consistently upbeat attitude.

 

Before I reveal my number One Favorite, here are some quick Honorable Mentions …

Fidget (The Great Mouse Detective)

Goanna (The Rescuers Down Under)

Ronno (Bambi)

Percy (Pocahontas)

Iago (Aladdin)

 

#1 The Cheshire Cat (from “Alice in Wonderland”)

When it comes to secondary animated Disney villains, my favorite character of all is the mysterious, and mischievous Cheshire Cat. Unlike the many crazy inhabitants of wonderland, the Cheshire Cat seems fully aware of just how insane he is, and has fun with it. He’s like the wild card of the bunch, always leading Alice down a different path, and usually to his own selfish delight. For me, the best villains are the ones who at first glance don’t convey a sense of evil, but are really malicious trouble makers under a colorful and jubilant appearance. 

While not as threatening as the films evil Queen of Hearts, I feel the Cheshire Cat is far more nefarious, as he set’s things in motion for Alice … only for them to crumble apart for his own twisted delight. Once again, we have another memorable vocal performance from Sterling Holloway, and I think his portrayal of Cheshire Cat is his best by far, giving the character an up-beat personality, but laced with a sinister edge. He’s crazy, he’s unpredictable, he has a zany attitude, and as a result, he’s just a tone of fun to watch … and is personally my favorite of all the secondary villains from Disney animation. 

Thanks for reading my countdown ... and continue to enjoy the characters you Love!  

                                 

                                                                     The End

My Top 10 favorite Musicals

                                                                                                                                                                                              

    When it comes to genera’s of film, musicales aren’t exactly amongst my absolute favorite, I’m more of a comedy, Sci-fi and action movie guy, but musicals are still a joy to watch. It’s easy to just sit back and enjoy films with great musical numbers, terrific sets, swift dancing choreography and lovable characters. This is when things like plot or character development are important but there not what you pay attention to, it’s all about the escape and submersing yourself into a world of music, wonder and entertainment. I’ve seen all kinds of great musicals ranging from “Singing in the Rain”, to “Guys and Dolls”, to “Sweeny Todd” but instead of just listing them off, I’m selecting my top ten favorites, here we go!  

   

#10 Chicago (2002)

                                                                                                  

      It lacks both the heart and emotion of other musicals but it is still very inventive with an amazing artistic style and some genuinely great music. Unlike most musicals where the characters are actually singing, all the songs are imagined by the lead female who’s crazy about the theater, making this both unique and original. The cast is brilliant, the adorable Renée Zellweger, the smart and sophisticated Richard Gere, the very talented Queen Latifah and the gifted and insanely beautiful Catherine Zeta-Jones all play there parts to a tesp. If you love musicals then check it out!  

#9 Rent (2005)

                                                                                                      

        It's intense, downbeat and even offensive at times but it’s also a little more human than most musicals. The conflicts are deep, and the situations at hand are things we see all the time in real life. All this drama and negativity are balanced with high-spirited musical numbers that are all very memorable and occasionally quiet beautiful. The film has its problems to be sure but for anyone that loves musicals adapted into film, this is one worth viewing.         


#8 The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

        I’ll admit, when I first saw this film, I thought it was boring and lacking any genuine excitement but it’s grown on me over the years. Joel Schumacher brings art and craftsman ship to the film and the musical numbers are all rather good, not exactly my style of music but great for what it is. Gerard Butler is fantastic as the Phantom, proving that he doesn’t just have a commanding Spartan voice but also a great singing voice and Emmy Rossum is very lovable in the role of Christine. Overall the Phantom is just as fun as both a classic Universal horror monster and as a rich musical. 

    

#7 Mary Poppins (1964)

                                                                                             

    Julie Andrews's has starred in many successful movies and musicals but nothing tops her role as Merry Poppins. Even the most cynical film viewer will fall victim to her irresistible warmth. Also Dick Van Dyke is outstanding and a lot of fun as Bert. This is such a delightful family fairy tale with dazzling visuals, upbeat songs, a magical environment, a great family moral and it really puts you in a good mood while watching it. 

#6 Hairspray (2007)

 

                                                                                                      

     It’s hard to explain what makes this film so good, it’s just such an innocent and pure film, with terrific musical numbers that will make you want to get up and dance, some genuinely funny moments, a really cool artistic style using special effects and an amazing cast of talented actors including, Amanda Bynes , Queen Latifah , Christopher Walken , Zac Efron and that’s just to name a few. They are all having a blast with their parts and I especially enjoyed newcomer Nikki Blonsky who is delightful and full of energy in the role of Tracy.  It’s a sweet and wholesome family musical that easily puts you in a good mood.

#5 West Side Story (1961)

                                                                                         

      The most iconic and technically brilliant adaption of Shakespeare’s classic drama (Romeo & Juliet) to the big screen. The performances are strong, the choreography is brilliant, the lyrics are terrific, the score is great and Robert Wise’s direction is still just as dazzling as ever. I think that sums it up, check it out. 



#4 Evita (1996)

                                                                                           

   Perhaps the most epic musical ever maid (at least one of the biggest), with a solid lead performance from Madonna, a sly and fun side performance from Antonio Banderas and potent look at one of the darkest chapters in the history of Argentina, “Evita” manages to convey lots of complex emotions through its music, making the experience all the more powerful. The style is great and I love how the music perfectly ranges from rich and haunting to fun and upbeat. There are times when the music will make you want to get up and dance, but still keeping the dignity of the source material in check.   



#3 Les Miserables (2012)

 

      Ever sense I saw the play, I've been in love with this musicale, and this theatrical retelling is a more then worthy adaption. Full of emotional depth, elaborate sets and powerful performances, it's just an epic muscle on all grounds and one that I've been anticipating for years.

#2 The Wizard of Oz (1939)

                                                                                        

    It’s the classic family fairytale that we all grew up with and is a must see for both young and old. The songs aren’t really sensational but they're still timeless, the characters are just as lovable as ever and in all honesty, it’s just a spectacle to look at. The painted backgrounds have so much charm and the set designs are absolutely beautiful. It’s one of those great nostalgic gems from our past that’s always great to dig up again.

      

#1 Moulin Rouge (2001)

                                                                                                

      This is simply one of my favorite movies ever, it’s a big love it or hate it film and as for me, I love everything about it. The music may not be original but in all honesty, these old songs never sounded this good and it feels like a celebration of classic music, just given new life, like how “Mama Mea” was a collection of ABBA’s music, just given new life. In all honesty, I love just looking at this film, there’s so much color, and very detailed sets, every time I watch  it I notice something new, and everything has some kind of symbolic meaning. The relation between our two lead lovers is so sweet and Nichol Kidman gives one of the best performances of her career. The film is very daring with its vision and despite using old songs, it still feels very original and it works in place with the films time seting. But great music and beautiful sets aren’t all the film has to offer, it also contains topics of morality, a beautifully written story and some real legitimate drama. It’s such a spectacle with big music, big cinematography, big emotion, big sets, some may say it’s to over the top but I love it, this is a movie that celebrates cinema, and if you’re a big movie buff then this film is mandatory.