Rating: 
Summary: Great movie, with a few exceptions
Review: I'm sure everyone knows the plot, so I'll skip it and go on to the finer details.The song / dance pieces blended very naturally into the film's flow and dialog. This was greatly enhanced by the fact that the cast members performed all the songs and dances themselves. The greatest surprise was John C. Reilly's performance of "Mr. Cellophane", even though lately he seems to be type cast as the not - too -intelligent husband... The only thing I didn't like was Renée Zellweger. Before starting, I admit I never liked her as an actress - I don't think she just isn't that good.. Like in Chicago - unlike Catherine Zeta Jones, who surprised many viewers with her singing & dancing ability, Renée Zellweger's voice can best be described as... annoying. Even as the supposed 'star' of the movie, she was easily overshadows by her co stars (Zeta Jones, Queen Latifah).
Rating: 
Summary: A Thrilling Experience
Review: This Oscar-winning movie shows us a 1920's Chicago where booze and jazz fuel people's dreams and disappointments. Roxy Hart is one of them. Bored with her life, she dreams of fame on the stage of musical theater. She has an affair with someone who promises to get her into the theater, but it turns out to be a lie of seduction. Enraged by this deception and humiliation, Roxy murders the liar. Ironically, it's this murder which launches her on her way to the fame she always wanted. After she retains the services of the genius criminal lawyer, Bill Flynn, it's showtime. Billy remolds Roxy and manipulates the press like a supernatural puppetmaster. Roxy finally achieves the fame she wished for, but she learns about the transitory nature of fame. I think this is very relevant to American society today. We can explore the issues of injustice in the criminal system, the issue of fame in America, and the tendancy of the American press to repeat whatever is fed to it. You get the impression that those who have money, or those who have a telent for manipulating people will have no trouble escaping from justice, whereas those who have no voice in the world, as represented by the Hungarian woman who was executed, will never get the justice they deserve. It's important to watch this to get a feel of where American society is going. Getting back to the movie itself, it is just spectacular. It's perhaps one of the best musical movies ever produced. THey split the story between the real world and a fantasy stage. When they do a musical number, it shifts to the fantasy stage, so there isn't an unnatural feel when they do the musical numbers. All of the actors give fine performances, and the songs and choreography are top notch. You'll watch it again and again. I know I can't stop.
Rating: 
Summary: Chicago belongs onstage
Review: I first saw this movie during its early run, at New York's Ziegfeld Theater. I loved it, and was thrilled to see it in the company of a packed house of musical theater aficionados and men. Chita Rivera's appearance was greeted with prolonged applause, which probably didn't happen in Cleveland.
I loved Catherine Zeta-Jones (and still do), as well as Richard Gere, Renee Zelwegger, John C. Reilly, and Queen Latifah.
A few months later, I returned to New York and caught a performance of Chicago onstage at the Ambassador. I was lucky enough to get a seat in the front row, center.
In the (C. Z-J) role of Velma Kelly was the mutifariously gifted and indescribably charismatic Dierdre Goodwin. As soon as she walked on stage, I knew I was in the presence of a master.
In the (R.Z) role of Roxie Hart was Melanie Griffith, who is not a master, but who is an underrated naturalistic actress (i.e., Milagro Beanfield War) and a dazzling star (i.e., Working Girl). Ms. Griffith did not always sing well and didn't dance consistently, but you couldn't take your eyes off her (for those of you interested in such National Enquirer things, she looks from five feet away not only magnificent but natural). She made you care about Roxie because she impersonated her utterly and absolutely, and because she did so without artifice and without hiding behind the cheap, facile camera shenanigans that characterize the movie.
Seeing the show up close, with Dierdre Goodwin and Melanie Griffith, expertly directed and conducted, made me realize that the movie is an entertaining two-hour video, and that the show is a life-affirming experience.
(A couple of evenings earlier, I was lucky enough to see Nine, with the extraordinary Antonio Banderas, the even more extraordinary Mary Stuart Masterson, and the utterly iconic Chita Rivera......)
I hope the beautiful and gifted Mrs. Douglas one day displays the sheer guts of Melanie Griffith and appears onstage. Until then, my hat is doffed to Melanie Griffith, and not only because of her nerve: she gave a genuine and affecting performance.
This movie gets one star from me for bringing the movie musical back into existence (let's see how far THAT gets ;-) and an extra one for the one performance that really counted: that of John C. Reilly.
The stage show gets at least a million stars, and Melanie Griffith many of those.
Rating: 
Summary: Should have a negative 5 star rating
Review: Just could not stand watching this movie. Actually there is no movie, it has too simple of a story with only about 10 to 15 minutes of dialogue, the rest of the time is halfas*ed musical scenes. Truly a waste of money.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as bad as it seems
Review: The music was not the best but the story was good. It seems to reflect a lot about our society of present time.
Rating:
Summary: Too much camera movement
Review: In addition to the fact that this film version had way to much camera movement, I also found that I liked no character other than the poor abused husband. Everybody else had no character to speak of, and if you really can't root for the main characters, then how can you enjoy the film? Had the characters been written as seedy and flawed, yet somehow portrayed by the actors as likeable and human, then that would have been amazing acting. But I found them all to be superficial and sleazy. And I found myself thinking they deserved to go to jail! Maybe the play was better.
Rating:
Summary: I liked it, and I don't like musicals!
Review: I'm not a fan of musicals. I can't get past how silly it is when people burst into song. This movie is one of the few exception, along with "Cabaret". The sets are great, the acting good and the story is moved along by the songs instead of interrupting the story line. Rene Zellweger suffices in her role, and Catherine Zeta-Jones shines. I recommend it to those who might be dithering because they have the same preconceived notions about musicals that I have.
Rating:
Summary: It's definetly a chick flick and for the girls
Review: I am a huge fan of movies. I do happen to like some musicals. My mom owns 40 something and has made me endure all 40 something of them. Chicago is a decent musical, but is more of a chick flick musical. Chicago tells the story of Velma and Roxie Hart. Both vixens have commited murder and are trying to be the biggest vixens in town. They both get defended by Richard Gere's character who is the smoothest working lawyer in town. Will Roxie and Velma go and stay in jail for murder or will they run the night life of Chicago. You will just have to watch the movie and find out. I liked Catherine Zeta Jones in Chicago. She is one of th most beautiful woman in the world. She is great as Velma. I dind't think she was as good as Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge, but Catherine does a worthy job singing and dancing. She has a great voice and dances well. It's funny towards the end of the movie as you can see she is staring to show her pregnancy. I didn't like Renee Zellweger that much. I don't think she is all that pretty of a woman. Catherine and Queen Latifah easily steal the show in my opinion. She sings and dances all right, but not as good as the others. Richard Gere is smooth in the movie. This guy was my hero when I was younger and he was married to Cindy Crawford. He does a good job being the lawyer. Girls and die hard musical fans will like Chicago. I don't think most guys will like it. I can see why it won best picture because it is a good film. It's just not a film I like that much.
Rating:
Summary: A step down from the show
Review: I disagree with the reviews that put this film on par with the stage production. As I saw it presented on B'way, Chicago had a sharp-edged cynical sense of humor that put vitality into so many of the projects Fosse worked on. The movie seems to have edged away in the direction of drama, and though the film may seem masterful in comparison to the bloated confusion of Moulin Rouge, Zellweger's, Zeta Jones's, and Gere's heroic attempts at singing and dancing are off the mark, and the loss of humor is a disappointment. Veteran character and stage actor John C. Reilly, playing the humdrum hubby Amos, ironically provides the most interesting glimpse of the bittersweet energy at the core of the story. Queen Latifah also bucks up the production a bit. The loss in transition to film is tangible. As presented on stage, the number "Cell Block Tango" was laugh out loud funny, as seemingly normal (and, of course, innocent) women expounded on being driven to homicide by acts ranging from gum-popping to more serious infractions. In the film, we get a familiar Hollywood type, [...],who apparently just likes to kill. Yawn. The backing dancers, like the leads, seem to have been selected for something other than dancing ability, and we're left with a pale reflection of what could have been.
Rating:
Summary: THE MUSICAL IS BACK!!!!
Review: Have no fear those who are skeptical of "Chicago", this film delivers! Great movie musicals have been, sadly, few and far between for the last 20 years or so. I walked into the theatre to view "Chicago" with a bit of hesitation, expecting another poorly organized and sketchy musical version of a Broadway hit. I was blown away, however, by the exciting and original way that director Rob Marshall integrated the engaging story line with the stunning musical numbers. He used a style that has never before been seen on a movie screen. The performances are not to be overlooked, either. Richard Gere is sensational as Billy Flynn. He departs from his usual style to deliver a brilliant performance and he manages to belt out two of the greatest songs in the film like no one else could. Catherine Zeta Jones is sexy and magnificent as Velma Kelly, and Renee Zellweger in stunning and seductive as the idealistic Roxie Hart. I recommend this film for anyone who is a fan of great musicals, great movies, great directing, and great acting. Winner of 6 Academy Awards including Best Picture, "Chicago" scores!
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