Rating: 
Summary: Moulin Rogue Sets The Screen Ablaze
Review: To begin, I went into the theater with extremely high expectations of this film, in hopes that I would leave the theater with a smile upon my face and a feeling of satisfaction for the months I have been waiting to see this film. All dreams and expectations were fulfilled in the two hours which I sat in the theater. From the first frame to the final image of the curtain and the conductor I sat in awe and silence as the movie enveloped me into its world. In left the theater in a hurry to go and see if I could sneak into another theater to see it again. In short, this is a true masterpiece. Baz Luhrmann, of Romeo + Juliet fame, here introduces us to his own Romeo (Christian) and Juliet (Satine) the sparkling diamond in the crown that is the Moulin Rouge. The film begins with Christian, a young writer, leaving his home in England and going to Paris to live the bohemian lifestyle. Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and above all things Love. Soon we are introduced to Toulouse-Lautrec (Leguizamo), a midget who is also an actor and seeker of the bohemian revolution. As the show goes on we learn how Lautrec was hired with his troop to write a show for the Moulin Rogue. However, when Christian is asked to assist in the production, the writer leaves and Christian is left as the sole writer. Soon after, the group of men go to the Moulin Rouge gentlemen's-club of sorts, where they meet up with Zidler, the manager of the club. This opening shot of the club is the first visceral onslaught of many. It is a wild tornado of sweeping camera shots and fluid shots which come together in a bit of a mess, but by the end of the film one becomes use to Luhrmann's nutty styles and artistic choices. When the first dance is over, Satine descends from the ceiling and so begins the tale of mistaken identity, where Satine thinks that the Duke, who is the man who will be paying to transform the Moulin Rouge into a theater, is actually Christian. From this point on the film begins to show us how one can have comedy and drama exist in perfect harmony. The film goes on in a roller coaster ride of sorts, twisting and turning and through it all we sit back, enjoy, smile, frown, and are relived in the end, yet, like any good roller coaster, we want to go back again. Every single shot in this film is a picture stolen from the hidden safes of the worlds greatest artists, or perhaps the worlds greatest artist has simply opened his safe and shown the whole world his vision. Baz Luhrmann takes on classic pieces of music like, Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend to Your Song by Elton John, to modern classics like Nirvanas "Smells Like Teen Spirit" to Sting's "Roxanne". Moulin Rogue is an escape from the ordinary and makes us remember why we go the theater. This film, hopefully, will be accepted by all facets of the industry, and with any luck films which intertwine old and new styles as this one has, will be made more often. In my mind Moulin Rouge is an instant classic which takes bold risks and pushes the envelope of what we consider good and what we consider outlandish together in one film that is far beyond good and a film which will hopefully affect the future of film making. In short, I loved this film and I intend to see many more times. If you see one picture this year or any year, Moulin Rouge should be it.
Rating:
Summary: Spectacular Spectacular
Review: Just got back from seeing it. Bought sound track on way home. Can't wait for the DVD. Simply gorgeous! No, I'm not a studio hack.
Rating: 
Summary: Dirty Dancing 2
Review: I had the most enjoyable time watching this one. This is the "Dirty Dancing" of the 21st century. Patrick Swayze watch your back cuz Ewan McGregor has got your number in the hip-shaking game. Plus he has the voice to back it up too. When I heard him sing for the first time, I forgot that I was in a theatre and not in heaven. The other star, Ms. Kidman, was spectacular in her own right. One of her better performances since "Days of Thunder." The movie wanted me to get up and dance in the theatre aisle, as i did when i saw "Dirty Dancing" I never knew i could have "the time of my life" again!
Rating:
Summary: I would give it 10 stars
Review: This is a close to a perfect creative venture as anything gets. Here is a film that has it all. It is joyful, funny, passionate, romantic, sad, and optimistic. The art direction, sets, musical treatments, casting, dancing, costumes are all executed with great talent, judgment and gusto. I have seen this twice with a large New York audience and this crowd, known for being jaded and cynical adored this film. They not only laughed throughout (and cried) but both times the crowd broke into spontaneous applause at least five times. A heard a few gasps as well. It seemed as if we were participating in a live performance. That's how involving it was. My husband and I can't wait to see it yet again. Kidman and McGregor are magical. It is one of the most remarkable films ever made. A true original in every respect. Do see it.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: A completely astonishing film, both visually and emotionally. The amazing chemistry between Nicole and Ewen only make this wonderful love story more special. The musical numbers are great, the acting is great, the cinematography is great, constumes...I could go on and on! Do not delay, watch Moulin Rouge Today!
Rating:
Summary: Simply Spectacular
Review: By far the most amazing film I've seen in years. Every aspect of this production is perfect. McGregor and Kidman are perfectly cast and have awesome voices. If you love movies, you must see this. You will be dazzeled.
Rating:
Summary: Extravaganza with heart
Review: Finally made it into Westwood to see Moulin Rouge -- I was bound and determined to see it before it opened wide, and I'm glad I did. The house was half full, kind of incredible when you realize it was a decent sized cinema in the middle of the afternoon on a Thursday, in a hard-to-get-to place the day before the movie opens everywhere.I can't remember the last time a movie made me laugh out loud, break into spontaneous applause (more than once), and hold my breath at the end. It's hilarious, tragic, pure fun, over-the-top silly and surprisingly touching. I'll never think of "Like a Virgin" the same way ever again. After hearing Ewan McGregor belt it out (he goes through more musical styles in two hours than most people do in a lifetime, and does them well) Elton John's "Your Song" will never be the same either, but for vastly different reasons. "Come What May," the only original song in the film, is still playing in my head. I think I'm a little dizzy, and that was after an hour-long drive home when I didn't play my radio because I didn't want to interrupt the songs echoing in my mind. The film is gorgeous. I'm not sure if I was intoxicated or assaulted, and I *am* sure that's intentional. The writing is weak, but that's to be expected -- the script isn't the thing here, the emotions are, and those are broad and naked and rapturous. The cast worked together beautifully, and put blood into it. Rarely have I seen an ensemble throw themselves into their work as wholehearted as this one (if ever). Nicole Kidman as Satine was described by a critic as 'game' in this, and I can see why -- she does a strong job, but she's miscast. Happily, the film isn't actually about Satine, any more than La Traviata is about Violeta. This is Christian's story, and Ewan McGregor is more than capable of carrying the film, because he's the heart of it. And if this film is about anything, it's about heart. Each of the supporting characters is good, particularly the Duke and Ziegler. The whole feeling is operatic, with high camp and severe pain interspersed, sometimes so closely together I got emotional whiplash. Which is exactly how I was supposed to feel. I identified with Christian completely, from his initial confusion to his bursts of genius, through his discovery of love to his bitter feeling of betrayal, all the way until his heart led him back where he needed to be. Even the colors of the film follow the pattern of Christian's experience -- the world is bright and chaotic and huge at the beginning, and as he experiences life and love and pain it gradually closes in to two buildings as the world is leeched of color. The editing approached frenetic, but it worked by and large, especially during the Roxanne Tango (one of the two places that had me holding my breath). Kidman and McGregor both have excellent comedic timing, and McGregor also has a way of pulling the stops out and breaking your heart when you least expect it. I can well understand why he's gotten good reviews even from reviewers who didn't like the film. The music is surprising and fun and weirdly perfect for the story: I say weirdly because I'm not sure Baz intended to get some of the reactions he got, but it worked. This is one of those rare movies that will hit every culture that sees it in a different place, and if the audience is willing to suspend cynicism long enough to care about the heart being bared for them, then it will work everywhere it plays. This film worked for me because it does what opera used to do (and still can when it doesn't get too grand for its britches). It takes a love story, makes it the center of the world, surrounds it with music, and drenches you in the experience. The audience in Westwood was a microcosm of what I expect the broad audience to be. Women in clumps (it's a chick flick), couples (it's a date flick), gays (in couples and in clumps -- it's definitely going to be a hit with the unabashedly artsy among us). I have a feeling the film's going to play relatively well in the US, and really well overseas, where they're not as embarrassed to be thoroughly entertained as we seem to be here. The overall impression I carried away from the film was hopeful and sad and brilliant at the same time. I smiled all the way home, and given how the last scene at the Moulin Rouge (not in the film, but on-stage at the club) ends, that's saying something about the power of the two hours that preceeded it. I'm going to go see it again tomorrow (and I seldom see movies twice in the cinema). I can't recommend it highly enough. Leave your ennui at the door and prepared to be swept off your feet.
Rating:
Summary: The cinematic breakthrough we've been waiting for!
Review: I was most fortunate to be in L.A. during the preview weekend, and found this to be the most amazingly brilliant and original film I've seen in many years. I can tell that this film may not be for everyone, as it was so different from my expectations. The first 30 minutes are frenetic and more than I bargained for, and after the film was over I wasn't sure how I felt about it. I don't pretend to know much about film making, but upon awakening the next morning I realized I had been completely blown-away and I have been obsessed with Moulin Rouge & Nicole ever since. My senses and emotions have been reeling, and it took a while to realize I had seen a most remarkable effort that we may not see again for some time. Baz Luhrmann is genius, and Nicole Kidman and cast (Ewan McGregor! and John Leguizamo!) have my profound respect for risking their careers in such a bold, daring work - and a musical at that! Way to go, Nicole! Everything in the film was perfect and brilliant while balancing on such a fine line. It works! Costumes, art direction, cinematography, acting, music, singing and choreography create visions you will not soon forget. The use of contemporary songs and music will surprise and delight. And the story of "truth, beauty, freedom and love" set against the bohemian backdrop of the Montmartre district of Paris 100 years ago will entertain you, from the madcap comedy of errors in the beginning to the emotional crescendo that grabs your heart at the end. Again, this may not be for everyone, but I can't aplogize for my enthusiasm and over-the-top hyperbole... go along for the colorful spectacular ride and perhaps you will find the magic of the Moulin Rouge as well.
Rating:
Summary: Thank God for Lurhmann
Review: Sit back and let your mind roll, this is magnificent. After watching this film I was actually proud to be an Aussie for a few days. Although Baz Lurhman sounds like a typically shallow pretentious Sydney boy that good and honest Novocastrians like myself despise, he's actually incredibly clever. There are moments of sheer, blinding beauty that are overwhelming. The use of the music is incredible and the arrangements of the songs are novel and exciting. As for the editing, at no point was it anything but thrilling. The visual narrative is sumptuous. Ewan Macgregor and Nicole Kidman are luminous; I actually teared up twice not because it was sad but because it's so damn gorgeous. The film is also incredibly funny and just plain fun to sit through. I saw it 3 days ago and I'm still thrilled to bits about it. I kept thinking, at last this is a musical for me, for my generation unburdened by traditional musical theatre narrative, so inventive. Robbie Hudson
Rating:
Summary: Brilliantly Spectacular!!!
Review: Simply a MASTERPIECE of movie making. It was tremendous what Baz Lurhmann & CO. achieved in this film. Moulin Rouge takes viewers into a fantasy world that is so exotic and memorable. GO SEE and EXPERIENCE MOULIN ROUGE!!! You won't forget it.
|
