Rating: 
Summary: And all, that, JAAAAAAAAAZZZ!
Review: I was a fan of the original revival recording with Bebe Neuwirth, so when I went to see the movie in Theatres, I was a little skeptical on whether it would be as good as the original stage version. In fact, the film is just as good if not BETTER then the stage version. All the acting is really good, and the plot is much better then other modern movie musicals (cough cough, Moulin Rouge). If you're a fan of the movie "Cabaret" then you'll love "Chicago" written by the same people (Kander and Ebb). Velma (Katherine Zeta-Jones) starts it out with the opening number sure to stick in your head throughout the show and when you leave. Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger) sees Velma on the vaudville stage and she is determined to become a star. A warning to parents, this is a dark comedy not meant for children under 16. Being that the comedy itself falls around Roxie killing her husband because she's furious, most of it takes place in Jail where we meet Matron "mama" Morton (Queen Latifah), one of the show's highlights. The "Cell Block Tango" is sure to stick in your head, also featuring a cameo by Mya (yes, the pop singer). In the duration of her stay at the Cook County Jail, Roxie manages to win the heart of lawyer Billy Flynn (Richard Gere), who decides to help her win the case and get out of jail. Rivals soon erupt between Velma, who once hold the spotlight and newcomer Roxie. Eventually, everyone is pleased and you end up wondering whether you are or not. As I said earlier, this is a dark comedy and it is made to question you. If you feel kind of confused at the end, whether you should feel happy or angry at them, it is perfectly fine. This comedy makes you think. It questions our judicial system and our society's obsession with Murders and Court Cases. If you enjoyed "Cabaret" and "Moulin Rouge" check out "Chicago"--it will surely beat them all!
Rating: 
Summary: For all the "Irony-Challenged" out there: It's a SATIRE!
Review: I don't think the reviewer from Charlotte, N.C. quite "got" it. Chicago is NOT a simple morality tale - nor is it some innocuous MGM musical with Doris Day. It works on an entirely different level, beyond the jazzy music and dance numbers. There's a subtext here, and it's a dark, cynical one ( what else would you expect from a black comedy? ) Chicago is ultimately a comment on the justice system, especially as it pertains to sensational, media-hyped circus trials, and the cult of celebrity in America. That's why the stage version was re-written for the screen - in the wake of the O.J. Simpson trial, I'm sure - to reflect this new "Court TV" brand of mega-market, publicity-powered "justice". ( Can anyone watch Richard Gere as Billy Flynn in this movie, and NOT picture Johnny Cochran? ) It's not a glorification of murderers and immorality, as the previously-mentioned reviewer seems to be suggesting. Instead it's a satirical condemnation of sensationalist journalism, shrewd but morally bankrupt defense attorneys, and a parody of the fickle public's naivete. The 3 main characters are unsympathetic because they're MEANT to be. The ending, like the similar ending to King Of Comedy, is richly ironic.
Rating: 
Summary: Worst...
Review: I must voice the somewhat unpopular view that this movie is completely terrible. The characters are all despicable and their behaivor is not one bit piteous. I hated all the characters and felt the movie was a waste of time, i mean, yeah, the music and costumes are interesting, but they didn't exactly come up with that stuff all by themselves...this DID come right from a Broadway musical. Richard Gere is terrible, and Ms. Zellweger is forced down our throats. Terrible movie. See Moulin Rouge instead.
Rating:
Summary: best musical yet
Review: this movie is #1this musical is the bomb come on it rocks big time all the musical scene seem like there music videos they rock in are the bomb come everyone if u like the broadway one youll sure love this one so go out now in get the movie youll fall in love with yet plus there some sexy scene with the cell block tango gurls so go out now in get the movie
Rating:
Summary: Great Musical :)
Review: I really like Chicago. Yes, it's dark and no, there aren't many sympathetic characters, but it's fabulously energetic and clever. I was impressed by the singing and dancing skills of the leads, especially Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renee Zellweger, and I thought that the way the movie was put together was great. Chicago is not just a superficial musical with people breaking sporadically into song, but the songs - seen through the mind of Renee Zellweger's Roxie - compliment and add new levels to the story and the themes. Richard Gere's performances during the courtroom scenes were especially well done in this way, and my personal favourite was the puppet scene. The costumes are great, the dancing is professional and the songs are fantastic. The scene where one of the inmates is hanged is an admittedly sobering part, but is an important contrast with the rest of the movie. I could understand Chicago winning the "Best Picture" Oscar, but I was a little skeptical of Catherine Zeta-Jones' win. She was great, but she didn't seem to be in the film all that much to win an Academy Award. However, Chicago is definitely worth watching and will probably end up being studied in film studies classes.
Rating:
Summary: Chicago, what a wonderful town!
Review: The best movie made in many years. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Right after seeing the movie we purchased the CD.
Rating:
Summary: I was pleasantly surprised
Review: I am a huge fan of broadway and musicals in particular. As a working Mom I don't get out to the theatre that often, broadway, or the movies. When Moulin Rouge came out I was very excited, so I made the trip to theatre. I was extremely disappointed. It just didn't sit well with me. As a consequence, I wasn't in a rush to see Chicago, especially after everyone raved about Moulin Rouge. Well, what a mistake. I just recently saw Chicago and I was blown away. They did such a wonderful job adapting it for the big screen. It was brilliant. The cast was perfect, the visuals were wonderful, the music was great! I would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of musical theatre.
Rating: 
Summary: Very well done, but almost completely superficial
Review: First, if you did not see this film during its regular theatrical run, I would politely suggest that you *may* want to RENT this DVD before you buy it. Since ticket prices have gotten so high over the past decade or so, I much prefer to watch almost all films via my DVD player, rather than fork over the outrageous cost that is now required, even for a matinee showing. This allows me to rent a DVD at a reasonable price, watch it at my leisure, and review it several times if I so desire. Which brings me to "Chicago". On the positive side, I would say that this movie has excellent cinematography, very good costumes, some very catchy song & dance numbers, and several good performances by the cast. If it really *is* true that the leading actors did their own singing (as is claimed during the film's closing credits), then I must say that, overall, I was very impressed with their performances. I'll be very interested to see if Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger, Richard Gere, and John C. Reilly will be singing again in future films, since they all did a more than adequate job of fulfilling the musical requirements of their respective roles. Hopefully, their voices were not overly "enhanced" by any unusual electronic wizardry, and the singing heard on the DVD is very close to what each of them could do during a live, on stage performance. Furthermore, the DVD transfer is very good, with excellent color and sound. On my 36" CRT HDTV & attached stereo system, the film came through loud and clear, and I was impressed with all the unusual "visuals" that are a part of this very slick production. Thus, all things considered, I thought that the film very much succeeded in bringing this particular musical screenplay to life. On the other hand . . . well, I dunno. It's definitely a dark and cynical story, with very little "reason for being", and no overall depth at all (a very nice exception was John C. Reilly's excellent performance of "Mr. Cellophane"). It has lots of crude, "in your face" sexuality, along with plenty of totally un-necessary profanity. Why in the world so much of Hollywood thinks it's so chic to use the language of an obscene, drunken sailor is beyond me. When I want to listen to that kind of meaningless garbage, I'll buy a ticket for the cheap seats of a second-tier, semi-professional hockey game. Apparently, this must be a requirement for winning an Academy Award these days. So, while there really are several good singing and/or dancing performances in this film, there's really not a lot that can be said for the underlying story. It's just a series of tunes strung together by a paper-thin premise, and that's probably being generous. Am I glad that I rented it? Actually, yes, since I did enjoy seeing and hearing these actors display their considerable musical talents. And the aforementioned performance by John C. Reilly was enough to make the rental price worthwhile. But I definitely will NOT be buying this DVD, unless I decide to pick up one of the many retread "cheapies" that a lot of current DVD owners are offering. Best picture of the year? Hardly! And "Chicago" simply cannot compare to a timeless film musical such as the equally well-done, but much more satisfying, "West Side Story". But maybe, like so many others, you'll really like it. As for me, watching this film brought back to my mind one of the many classic sayings from the Book of Proverbs : "Like a gold ring in a pig's snout, is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion." In other words, rent first, then buy a "cheapie" if you want to add this one to your DVD collection.
Rating: 
Summary: Best Picture? You have to be kidding...
Review: Performances were mediocre. Zellweger looked very unattractive. Zeta-Jones better, but she doesn't sell her character well. Gere is fine as a shyster lawyer, but the whole concept of back and forth from "reality" to musical interpretation was tiring to watch. Queen Latifah steals the show as Mama, the prison matron. But, the overall message, a subtle anti-death penalty theme, and a message that crime does pay, just doesn't fit the musical genre as well. 2002 must have been a weak year for movies for this to take home Best Picture. Moulin Rouge is a far superior film, with dazzling images, and better acting by far. It is tough to feel any sympathy for anyone except Amos Hart in this film. Bottom line: over-hyped, and over-acted. See it for yourself and judge accordingly.
Rating:
Summary: Good movie...but...
Review: ...academy awards? I don't think so. Honestly, I walked away from this film not feeling any different than when I watched "Cats" or "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." I loved the "They Both Reached For the Gun" sequence, but otherwise every thing else was mediocre musical. Again, I'm not putting it down as a movie, but I don't think it deserved all this hype that it got. Academy Award for best picture? Please. Academy Award to Catherine Zeta-Jones for her role? Blasphemy! I'll say this though: this was probably the best role I've seen Richard Gere do.
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