Rating: 
Summary: the ultimate tap dance
Review: This musical is not for the faint of heart. It's sexy, bright, loud, in-your-face and irreverent.
One of the most intriguing dynamics of this musical is that it is a scathing satire. It may seem dark because it strips away all the lies, traditions and pretty faces of the most trusted organizations in our country. It doesn't coddle the veiwer with sweet ideals and fanciful justice- it shows life as it is but never loses it's sense of laughing at itself. It never takes itself too seriously, as a good satire should.
That's why one is almost mesmerized at this production, the music being awesome is the least of this production's good points.
It's full of imperfect characters who have vice, selfishness and a myriad of other unhappy qualities- the types you love to hate. I don't admire them, but I understand where they're coming from, they have almost a desperate honesty about them- 'this is what I'm about, so love it or leave it'
I think this musical was brought to the big screen with energy and courage, I loved all the imagery and symbolism, the snapping satire and the biting social commentary.
It's a must-own!
Rating:
Summary: A great movie you'll want to sing along with!
Review: My favorite movie used to be Moulin Rouge and I do still enjoy it, but I'd have to say Chicago is a better movie. I loved the songs and love the Soundtrack. THe acting is great and I saw this movie twice in the theater and I am thinking about purchasing the DVD. Also it keeps you entertained and is anything but boring. Many, many other people loved this movie so don't pass it up just because, like, two people didn't enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: Razle dazzling crowds
Review: To compare Chicago to Moulin Rouge is ridiculous both films are exceptional in their own rights. Chicago's direction is superb and the continuity is impressive. The editing is sharp and never misses a beat. The acting is convincing and never gets flat; the ensemble cast worked well together and electrified the screen. Being a fan of both Moulin Rouge and Chicago I can safely say that both of these features are amazing and yet very different which is how it should be, no two films although in the same genre should be alike because if they are then everything will seem routine and old and the audience will ultimately get bored.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it ... great entertainment ...
Review: Like any movie, this movie is on its way on being named one of the "greats." Overall, the movie was very entertaining. Specifically, at the start of the movie, you wondered where they were going with the storyline ... then everything came together and the movie became more and more enjoyable. As fas as the actors, I am not a fan of Renee (even had a problem seeing her in the role she played at first), but her role in the movie was a good one, and matched the roles she played in previous movies, along with Richard Gere playing the slick lawyer looking for which prison women's plight can pay the most. Now Catherine was GREAT! Her performance from beginning to end was magnificent. You have to get the DVD and see it.
Also, I look at Moulin Rouge and Chicago as "great performances." Some, that I have read, has bombed Chicago and praised Moulin Rouge. Honestly, it depends on the viewer's open mind on what is being shown on the screen. In short, one movie will not be like the other. I liked both of them and want BOTH for my DVD collection.
Rating:
Summary: Give me the Razzle Dazzle!
Review: Chicago is a brilliant screen adaptation of a great musical! The 21st century audience is jaded from the great classic happy-go-lucky musicals of old, but this musical embraces the media-savvy, fame seekers that surround us. It's cynical, but fun. Visually stunning and stylistically amazing. I love the old Hollywood style musicals, but I love this too. It's not trying to be anything it's not. The songs are performed well, and the trick to shooting them without losing movement of the story works amazingly. I could rave for this movie all night. It's simply wonderful and a must-see for every movie fan--whether you enjoy musicals or not.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful, conservative, and artistic movie!
Review: Deep down - this movie is irredeemably cynical about human nature. This is a very conservative, Christian worldview. Chicago mocks the legal system (Billy Flynn a Johnnie Cochran-type shyster who gets women murders off by turning their trials into media circuses). It mocks the media (Mary Sunshine - seeing the world through a liberal's rose-colored glasses). It mocks the government. And it mocks liberals by making incredibly sexy images of hot women in leotards - smoking cigarettes). It does not go near the church however. As a dancer I love the fabulous dance numbers - glittery, sexy, and clever. My favorite is Roxie's cabaret number - the one with her in the glittery silver leotard and high-heeled silver shoes; and of course Cell Block Tango, and All That Jazz - very sexy numbers. All healthy, heterosexual men will love this film. Unlike Moulin Rouge which was about cinematography - not dancing, this movie does dance. You see the dancers' bodies (very nicely) and their character is communicated through their dancing - not fast-paced editing. This movie is not for children (unless you read the original Grimm's Fairy Tales to your children), but it is for adults. Indulge yourself, smirk at authority. Go see Chicago.
Rating:
Summary: FABULOUS-A MUST SEE-JOYOUS EVENT!
Review: This Movie/Musical is fanominal! I thought that this was such a well put together movie that I saw it more than once at the movie theater, which I hope you did! If you did not you must buy this DVD because Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renee were such great choices for the roles of Velma and Roxie. If you like musicals you will like this "modern day" musical, even if you don't like musicals there is such a fun story her that you msut give it a try! I read the bad reviews on this site and could not disagree more. This is the Millieum and things change, maybe that was the complaint, but this movie is such a show stopper I can not see how someone could not enjoy this. I loved Molin Rouge when it came out and I still do, I love Nicole Kidman as well-but Chicago took it ever furtur and caught you up in the moment! See and/or buy this Movie Chicago, me, and u!
Rating:
Summary: AMAZING
Review: Chicago was an amazing film that has a star studded cast that lits up the screen. Renee Zellweger played her best performance to date, Cathrine Zetta Jones was captavating, and Richard Gere was excellent in a different role than usual for him. It's a fun musical unlike anything I have ever seen, and the soundtrack will keep you dancing in you seats.
Rating:
Summary: The greatest movie musical ever made!
Review: I have heard some reviewers whine and complain about how horrible this movie is because we are led to sympathize with the bad guys. One reviewer, Daniel Wahl, even rants about how the movie industry is taking a happy wonderful genre and turning it dark and horrible. Well, I want to say that I personally can't stand those syrupy sweet, unrealistic musicals where everything is so nice, the good guys always win with a minimum of effort and all is right with the world. Also, this is not some spur of the moment musical. It is a classic, having been written and rewritten as a classic Broadway musical and various movie versions, one starring Marilyn Monroe. It is based on the real trials of two women in the thirties who did get away with murder. It is dark AND sexy, and the scene with the lady murderers singing about killing their men is one of the sexiest in the movie. If you want sweet and cheerful, get the Sound of Music (gag me with a spoon.) If you want a truly spectacular movie musical, get Chicago.
Rating:
Summary: If you'd think, you'd hear and see it
Review: First, to the reviewer who blasted all for enjoying this because its focus is murderesses, your point is good, but this isn't overtly based on reality. Don't take it so seriously.
Second, to the one who blasted this for not being like Moulin Rouge, it's not intended to be like Moulin Rouge. Roxie Hart was a movie character played by Ginger Rogers in a movie of the same title in 1942; Fosse did the musical for the story (which bombed, by the way) in 1975. This isn't intended to be an anachronistic play on song to tell a story. Moulin Rouge was Luhrmann's way of making a statement about song--and it was beautifully done. Comparing this to Moulin Rouge is like comparing apples and bananas--they're both fruits, both alphabetically close to each other, but completely different fruits with completely different characteristics. Both movies take historical incidents and play with them in the context of music, but the intent and the vision behind the playing is completely different.
But the real thing going here for "Chicago" is the versatility of the actors. Even the imperfections of the actors (which cannot, in any sense of the word, be applied to Zeta-Jones' or Latifah's performances) fit with the imperfections of life that boosted Roxie and Velma into their livelihoods and their crimes. This movie is about the corruption that existed in the legal system in the '20s (and still did in the '70s and still does today). It's about juxtaposing the reality of the '20s with the mindset of the '70s, which was further embellished with a 21st-century mentality representation on film. The musical to movie adaptation was amazing on this movie.
You can dislike it if you want, but don't dislike it just because it's a musical or because its main characters are murderers or because it doesn't exactly mirror the only other musical of note that has come out in the last five to ten years. Because you certainly cannot complain about the beauty of the performances in the midst of the imperfections of the times being represented.
And as for the reviewer who made comments about the anachronistic music in Moulin Rouge, you missed Luhrmann's point entirely.
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