Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway

This has to be one of the best DVDs I own. Having not even heard of Rent until the movie came out, I never really knew the story until 2005. It was a great idea to do the movie and an even better idea to release the final Broadway show on DVD. It is making it possible for those of us who only learned of Rent late in the game or for those of us who were too young when it came out or for those of us who don't live in or visit New York to see this amazing piece of theatre. The cast did a great job and Jonathan's beautifully written story will live on in this performance. This story is the heartwarming tale of eight friends, with various issues, including some main ones of living in poverty and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The music is incredible and it's not all "showtunes" but rather, it is a combination of various styles, including rock, gospel and pop. It makes a statement and it warms your heart. It takes a couple watches of Rent to fully understand the story but once you do, you're captured in its magic for life.