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Chicago (Widescreen Edition)

Chicago (Widescreen Edition)

List Price: $19.99
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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I loved it!
Review: I never expected to enjoy this movie as much as I did! I saw it in the theater with my friend and we were both impressed. Renee and Catherine are amazing and the whole cast is impressive. I bought the sound track as soon as possible and I can't wait until August 19th to buy the DVD!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: we had it coming......
Review: like the former review, stating that i have never seen the stage version. i never even herd of any of the songs on cd. therefore i had no idea what was in store for me. i saw this movie 3 times. i will wait in line to get it dvd. i bought the special edition of the cd. it also includes a special dvd that has the video on it as well. it also has some of the original songs that was heard in the play, back in the '70s. this will be a must for my dvd collection. i heard that they are working on Rent, Les Miserolbs (sp), and Mrs Sigon. i am very glad that musicals are now back in the spotlight again.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Snap! Crackle! and Pop!
Review: This film deserves all of the praise it receives, especially given the fact that it is derived from a Broadway musical (1973) which was, in turn, derived from two non-musical films, Chicago (1927) and Roxie Hart (1943). I can think of few other works of high quality which have such a heritage. (Can you name five film sequels which are superior to the original?) Crisply directed by Rob Marshall with choreography devised by Bob Fosse, this film operates simultaneously (and seamlessly) on two different levels of narrative: a murder trial which requires the main characters to act and a musical revue which requires them to sing and dance. Thus, the film has a multi-dimensional "choreography" for which Marshall deserves special credit. Frankly, I was surprised by Gere's performance, especially by his footwork both when dancing and while defending Roxie Hart (played by Renee Zellweger) in the courtroom. In my opinion, he deserved at least an Academy Award nomination. Among the targets of the film's social comments are the role of media in celebrity creation, how an adroit attorney such as Billy Flynn can manipulate the media to his clients' advantage, and how transient celebrity can be. Long ago, I recall my grandmother suggesting that "Today's news wraps tomorrow's fish." In all respects, this is a film with Snap! Crackle! and Pop! Here is pure entertainment, worthy of favorable comparison with Singin' in the Rain which remains, nonetheless, my favorite film musical.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Liked it alot!
Review: Im a kid I normally hate musicals but this turned out to be really good. I liked All That Jazz that was a great song the film was so good liked it alot.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Wonderful Journey Back to Chicago in the 1920's
Review: Chicago is a wonderful movie. Though I usually prefer movies that date from the 1930's and 40's, this intruiged me. The musical scores are elaborate and sexy, and the story line always keeps you guessing. Zellweger plays Roxie Hart, a girl who dreams of becoming a star of the stage. However, when she murders her lover and is thrown into jail, her life is stalled. However, she soon finds a way in which she can get out of jail, with the help of a criminal lawyer-who always wins. Throughout the story, Roxie tries to twist her way out of jail while still trying to pursue her dream of starring on stage and bacoming famous. To find out what happens to Roxie, you'll just have to see the movie yourself. You will absolutly love Chicago.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: From the Moulin Rouge to Chicago, Musicals are Back!
Review: I have to say one thing to people out there. STOP COMPARING CHICAGO AND MOULIN ROUGE! They are two completely different movies. Chicago is traditional in it's form, and uses the very distinct Fosse dance moves to heat up the screen. Moulin Rouge uses pop songs along with a classic love story while turning it inside out using modern movie making techniques.

I have to say one thing about Chicago. Catherine Zeta-Jones was so hot in this movie, I am very suprised that the screen didn't burst into flames every time she was on it. The film's All That Jazz opening is so impressive, it's hard to put into words. I really liked the part when Velma whips around on "all...that..." and it turns into Roxie to complete the line, "JAZZ!" as part of her day dream. Then, as the number continued, Roxie and Fred's movements imitated those being preformed on stage by Velma and the dancers. It was a good idea from whoever had it.

Also, Rob Marshall was the right guy to direct this stuff. I honestly don't think anyone could have done a better job then he did on Chicago. And, please, don't compare Rob to Baz! Both were the right men to direct each movie they made.

Some people are complaining that the movie's main characters are all murders or money hungry slimebags. Well, it is what the original play Chicago was about, and I thought this would be obvious; It is a musical song and dance romp, not meant to be taken so seriously.

Finally, I am sure a lot of people who see Chicago will enjoy it. To those who don't, at least admire the excellent craftsmanship that went into it.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Superficial and Manipulative - but entertaining
Review: Chicago's plot is basically pretty rickety - not to mention just slightly contrived. It's technically and critically a very good movie, but I just don't like how the audience is blinded with colorful, flashy dance numbers so they can't see how the movie has no heart and basically no story. The whole thing is cold and unfeeling and is filled with elaborate song and dance numbers to almost fool the audience into thinking how wonderful the movie is. It deserved a lot of the awards it got, but the fact that this movie beat out the Pianist for best picture is almost sickening....The acting in Chicago is pretty pathetic, and so is the direction and the script. But I just don't like musicals that completely rely on the music to carry the movie.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Chicago is a movie for everybody: Dames and Cool Cats
Review: I have to admit that I am not a fan of musicals, but Chicago is an exception. I am used to watching comedies and science fiction fantasies. And, as a heterosexual male, I always shun Broadway show tunes or any movies about Broadway. I was very judgmental about Chicago, thinking that the movie was a run-of-the mill musical featuring corny songs and stupid dialogues. Chicago changed my mindset about musicals because the movie runs on different levels for viewers. Senior citizens will love Chicago because the movie is set in the 20s. Women will like the catchy tunes and the choreography. Men, like myself, will adore the beautiful women prancing around as prostitutes, the Jazz slang, and the abrupt violence. Chicago is a movie that captivates all types of people.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: I'm not a fan of musicals but...
Review: Personally I'm not a fan of new musicals. I don't mind old musicals from the 50s like Singing in the Rain, but when a new movie comes out that's a musical, I just think it's kind of weird in modern film-making, even if the movie is based on a Broadway show. Remember to take that into consideration about my review, because it probably means the movies better than what I say.

Based on the Broadway show, "Chicago" was about Roxy Hart, who got arrested for shooting and killing the man she was cheating on her husband with. She then goes to prison, and with some help from Mama (Queen Latifa) and her lawyer (Richard Gere), she is able to win the public's support, lie her way through her court trial, and become a famous Vaudeville actress.

The musical parts of this movie were the highlight, even though the music wasn't your typical Danny Elfman (based his music on the original from the broadway show). The musical sections would come in as Roxy would imagine an alternate reality where she was a famous singer, and the whole story was a show. The highlights of the best musical scenes were where everyone was Richard Gere's puppet, and he did the talking for Roxy and a croud of reporters. This was probably one of the most fun scenes in the movie, but the Circus/Courtroom scene was also very well done. It switched flawlessly from reality to Roxy's imagination.

Like I said, I don't like most musicals, so my rating may be lower than it would be if I loved musicals, but overall, I'll give this movie 4 out of 5 stars. Pretty good if you ask me from someone who doesn't like musicals.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wow
Review: The comments that Moulin Rouge pales in comparison are so right (and here I am an Australian saying that:)). Baz hold the camera still please!

Chicago has it all - tremendous screen presence from the leading ladies, a surprising good "patter" song from Richard Gere, and the brilliant "Cellophane Man", not to mention the extended dance sequence "Jailhouse Tango" which has to be up there with the best filmed dance sequences.

And quite surprisingly its live action American satire that works because it is not self-concious.


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