Rating: Summary: A briliant, fun film Review: Ah, the ecstasy, the thrill of a big production! I loved everything about this film, from the trademark Luhrmann editing, to the bigger-than-big dance sequences, to the absolutely trite and predictable storyline, to the little "see who recognizes the pop reference first" game that you inevitably play against whomever your watching this film with. This is what happens when you combine a smart, young, creative filmmaker with Rodgers & Hammerstein. The acting? Nothing to write home about. The singing? I've heard better. But it isn't any one element that sells this movie, it's the grandeur of it that makes it a wonderful EXPERIENCE. And isn't that what we want from a movie in the first place?
Rating: Summary: A Hyperkinetic, Muddled Mess Review: I know I'm in a minority, but I hated this movie. I kept feeling as if Baz Luhrmann was sitting next to me, nudging me with his elbow and saying, "Look! Look at how I did that! I'm so hip! I'm so cool!" Where to start? The songs were weird, just weird. "Come What May" was kinda nice but ultimately forgettable. The soundtrack could have used more original songs; sometimes the rehash choices seemed bizarre and inappropriate. That quick bit from "Rhythm of the Night" was an extremely bad, stupid choice, and should have been chucked. The "Like a Virgin" scene was disturbing and way too perverse. Ewan McGregor's singing is OK enough, but he shouldn't quit acting. Compared to the professional singers on the soundtrack, his voice is weak and watery. Nicole Kidman's isn't bad, to be fair. The "love story" is trite and contrived. McGregor and Kidman have zero chemistry. None. They couldn't have brewed tea in their scenes together. And they seem to fall deeply, genuinely in love within nanoseconds of meeting...like that happens. The whole storyline is very whitewashed and prettified, which is at odds with the grotesquerie that surrounds the stars. They've been put against a backdrop of decadence and depravity without ever participating in it. Some people praise the story as being about "true love", which I find laughable. It's about movie love. These folks strike me as romance-novel fans who are projecting their own daydreams on this movie. The acting is adequate. Nicole Kidman is a longtime favorite of mine but in this movie there's little for her to do aside from standing around and looking beautiful. (Why she got a Golden Globe nod for this is beyond me.) Some people praise her acting in this, seemingly because "she sang her own songs!" Big whoop. Hundreds of stars of musicals over the years have sung their own songs; do they all deserve Oscars for that? Besides, Kidman was infinitely better in THE OTHERS. From a technical standpoint...oy. The first 30 minutes is a horrible mess, hyperkinetic and trashily gaudy. (When I saw it in the theater many people were leaving the theater in disgust during the first half hour.) You can't keep track of what's happening, and you can't even focus for half a moment on the backgrounds and sets. In the theater that's a serious irritation; perhaps on disc it's more tolerable. Some say that this movie demands repeat viewings; I personally feel that a movie should only have to be seen once to understand its message. As for the overall tone, it lurches drunkenly between cartoonish parody and halfhearted attempts at serious tragedy. Neither really works, as each half lessens and erodes the other half. Some have also cried that Luhrmann has "reinvented the musical". My response is, "I hope not." This movie will be regarded in the future as a mere blip in cinematic history. I doubt this will change how movies are made, especially musicals. One movie like this is bad enough; more will be even worse. MOULIN ROUGE is totally undeserving of all the praise and accolades it's been getting. Remember, THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH won Best Picture when it came out, and now it's regarded as one of the worst films ever made. The same fate awaits MR, as in future years DVD copies will be gathering dust, and people will remember, with embarrassed laughter, about how mad they were over this swill.
Rating: Summary: electric eclectic multi-media extravaganza Review: A movie that exudes enthusiam, obviously made by people who love what they do. DVD has uncut dance sequences on second disk. Check out the mind blowing Bollywood-style hindi tantra can can.
Rating: Summary: Unbelievable Review: I expected to like this movie.... but never to love it as much as i did! I have had the songs stuck in my head for days now....go BUY THIS MOVIE NOW!!!!!!
Rating: Summary: Awesome DVD Review: After Romeo and Juliet, I was not a big fan of director Baz Luhrmann. However, was always an avid fan of Nicole Kidman. And on Ewan McGregor, I was an agnostic. Now after watching the Moulin Rouge DVD, I am a believer of all three. I won't say that this movie is for everyone. But anyone who likes the theater and opera is sure to like this movie. Excellent scenary (although not real). Excellent tunes. Nicole sings almost as well as she looks! McGregor sings much better than he looks. If you saw the movie, you know what I'm talking about. But the DVD is worth the purchase. Extra clips, footage, documentaries, and "stuffs" to keep you busy for days. Come what may? Own this DVD and you won't be disappointed.
Rating: Summary: The best movie of the year 2001............... Review: When I saw this movie in the cinema I did not know what to think. The first half of the movie was just chaotic mixture of the past and the presence, but than it started to have a real action. The performance of Nicole Kidman is just excelent. This movie takes you out of reality to a different world of sadness, love and kitsch. It is a worth to see this movie, just to forget all daily problems, sit down and listen to the beautiful songs.
Rating: Summary: Makes Battlefield Earth look like Oscar material. Review: Like Titanic, this was a movie that I intented to enter my grave having never seen. Unfortunately I ended up watching it. That's two hours of my life I want back. This movie is the most disjointed piece of trash I have ever seen. The cinematography alone is enough to make me hate it, but add to that the plot that seemed to have been created while the writer was on some sort of illegal substance[...].P>I'll admit that the costumes and sets were great. Fine. But everything else was so bad that it made up for it. I can't see how anyone likes this movie, or how anyone would be proud to have been in it. I just kept expecting that it would get better, but it never did.
Rating: Summary: Dazzling!!!! Review: I have to say it! I have never seen anything LIKE this before! I was told it was good, which, to me, usually means I'm disappointed. However, this one's a gem! I couldn't wait for the DVD! The extra's are incredible and I've watched it about 15 times since I bought it - I switch on the DVD to watch one quick song (Roxanne!) and end up watching the whole thing over again. It's absolutely mindblowing! LOVE Ewan, LOVE Nicole, hell - Love everybody! Boys who are into their cars, go play with "The Fast and the Furious" - this one's not for you. For everybody else, stop hanging around and buy it - you won't be sorry!
Rating: Summary: A Bohemian Treasure Review: If you like musicals, songs you can sing along to, romantic stories, or stories that leave you with a smile and tear, you'll LOVE Baz Luhrman's Moulin Rouge! Moulin Rouge is set in France in 1899. It's the tragic story of a spontaneous love affair between a young, idealist writer named Christian and a jaded showgirl named Satine. All goes well until the Moulin Rouge becomes dependent on an evil Duke, who just happens to wants Satine all for himself. This is a love-it or hate-it kind of movie. With remakes of songs from artists like Elton John, the soundtrack is a truly dazzling entity in and of itself (BUY IT!!) However, with songs about every five minutes, it's hard for people with short attention spans to fully appreciate the little nuances in the songs and in Ewan's great smile. But if you're a showgirl at heart, or if you truly believe in Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Love, you'll LOVE this movie!
Rating: Summary: No laws. No limits. One Rule. Never fall in Love. Review: Christian, a struggling young poet, moves to 1899 Paris, joining the dark, fantastic world of the now legendary Moulin Rouge. Bedecked in the dazzling and newly-discovered electricity, Moulin Rouge introduces him to Satine, its most beautiful courtesan. Satine responds to his love, but nightclub owner Harold Zidler warns her to forget him. Her life is about satisfying men for the dollar. Not love. Zidler tells her: "We're creatures of the underworld. We can't afford to love...". For Christian the doors to Moulin Rouge will only lead to sorrow..."Moulin Rouge" is exactly like those corny old musicals we all love--only completely different. An intoxicating entrance into the imaginative mind of master director Baz Luhrmann, "Moulin Rouge" has been nominated for 6 Golden Globe Awards. Fresh from her acclaimed role in the excellent horror-thriller "The Others", Nicole Kidman sings and dances her way through "M.R." with strength and clarity. Her co-star, Ewan McGregor, does not fare as well. McGregor played Obi-Wan Kenobi in the "Phantom Menace" in 1999, and returns for "Star Wars Episode II-Attack of the Clones" in 2002, and "Star Wars III" in 2005. English born Jim Broadbent is superb as feisty showman Harold Zidler. Producer, director, and co-writer Baz Luhrmann filmed "Strictly Ballroom" in 1992. He directed Leonardo Di Caprio in "Romeo and Juliet" in 1996. The Australian director invested 4 years on "Moulin Rouge", his third film. The music of "M.R." is integrated masterfully between pathos, mad humor and green absinthe. The lead actors sing standards by the Beatles, Elton John, Madonna, Sting, and more, all with their own voices. The only original song, "Come What May", is in fact the best. Fox's brand new "M.R." DVD is 2:35.1 anamorphic widesreen DTS 5.1 Dolby Digital and THX. It's flawless. Disk 1 gives you the 2 hour movie and 2 separate commentary audio tracks. That's 6 hours of entertainment. Disk 2, over 3 hours long, has a documentary, interviews, bios, photos and detailed reviews of set design, dance, music, and more. There are 2 videos of "Lady Marmalade". You need 9 hours to see it all just once. "M.R." has 8 Easter Eggs. To find one hidden on Disk 2, go to Main Menu and select "This Story is About". In the next menu, highlight "Old Storylines and Script". In that menu, select the Return key. Now press the "Right" arrow on your remote control and a green fairy will appear. Press "Enter" and watch the director spout some off-color language. The other 7 Easter Eggs can be found on the Internet. A big, brassy colorful romp spinning 90 miles-per-hour,"M.R." is a musical-comedy tragedy about love. As our young writer says: "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love, and be loved in return".
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