Before I begin my review for the film &#8220Rent,” I must admit to being rather unfamiliar with the popular Broadway musical from which it was adapted. I understand that the musical has developed a huge following, and – judging by the size of the audience at the showing I attended on opening day – that includes a sizable legion of fans in this area.

For those people, I really can’t say how this &#8220Rent” stands up to the stage version, but I do know this – I enjoyed the movie. While it does have its problems, I found a great deal of infectious energy and some wonderfully choreographed musical numbers that were enjoyable to watch and listen to. This isn’t on par with recent musicals like &#8220Chicago” or &#8220Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” but it is still good enough to outshine last year’s rather mediocre &#8220Phantom of the Opera.”

For those not familiar with &#8220Rent,” the story follows a year in the life of seven people living in the East Village of New York in the late 1980s. The group includes filmmaker Mark (Anthony Rapp), musician Roger (Adam Pascal), their former roommate Tom (Jessie L. Martin), his drag queen lover Angel (Wilson Jermaine Heredia), and exotic dancer Mimi (Rosario Dawson). In the year that follows, the group deals with love, loss, drug addictions and AIDS against the backdrop of a pulsating musical score.

Director Chris Columbus (best known for &#8220Home Alone” and the first two &#8220Harry Potter” films) does an OK job, although I would have been interested in what someone like &#8220Hedwig’s” John Cameron Mitchell could have done behind the camera. Columbus takes a very theatrical approach, practically breaking the film into Acts and Scenes. It proves to be an agreeable approach to material that necessitates a very intimate feel and setting.

The best moments come during several show-stopping numbers, including &#8220La Vie Boheme,” &#8220Take Me or Leave Me” and &#8220Seasons of Love.”

&#8220Rent” isn’t without its flaws. Taye Diggs’ character, Benny, seems more like a plot device than an actual three-dimensional character, and the relationship between Mark’s ex-girlfriend and her lesbian lover does produce one of the soundtrack’s great numbers, but still doesn’t measure up to the rest of the sub-plots.

Still, it isn’t the story that drives &#8220Rent.” It is the music. And the music in &#8220Rent” is strong enough to appeal to fans and non-fans alike.

DVD dandy of the week

Just in time for the holidays, this week’s dandy is &#8220The Polar Express” (B-).

Based on the popular children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg, it is a visual feast that is worth a look, even if its screenplay feels quite padded.

&#8220The Polar Express” tells the tale of a young boy who is beginning to doubt if Santa Claus exists. He gets his answer late one Christmas Eve, when a train arrives at his front door, waiting to take him to the North Pole. The boy’s journey is full of visually entertaining moments.

Director Robert Zemeckis used technology that captures images of the actors and transforms them into an animated re-creation. The technology is interesting, allowing Tom Hanks to play several characters, but at times comes off kind of creepy.

The technology is enough of a marvel to accept &#8220The Polar Express” for what it is – a thrilling film to watch, just not one with much substance.

&#8220The Polar Express” is rated G and is now available on DVD.

– Sportswriter/movie reviewer Micheal Compton now has reviews available on the Web. Just go to www.bgdailynews.com and click on the Compton’s Critiques link for a quick hit of movies now playing in the area. Micheal can also be reach via e-mail at mcompton@bgdailynews.com.