Rating: 
Summary: Exemplary modern musical
Review: A glorious spectacle of weirdness and banality, unrestrained creativity and artistry. Very modern, irreverent and yet devoid of cynicism. The plot and characters are simply drawn, but the presentation is out of this world--an explosion of color and sound, and a celebration of high and low culture. I think it is a wonderful film, in all senses of the word. Especially pleasing are the medleys and musical numbers featuring the vocal stylings of Nicole K. and Ewan M., who do very well without being too skilled or pretentious--simply expressive and emotionally potent. I also enjoyed the narcoleptic Argentinean's rendering of 'Roxanne' in a bawdy French manner. Many pleasant surprises. I have only seen the DVD version with limited extras (the green fairy accompaniment and Director's commentary), but as you see the current release has too many extras to mention, which should more than satisfy anyone interested in production details.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrible, awful, horrendous, noisy and just plain BAD!
Review: I rented this last night without reading the back cover or reviews, being under the impression that it was a serious re-make of a classic movie.... ... I hated the constant, frantic flashing around of scenes... my eyes could hardly focus on a scene before the camera bounced off to another shot, usually totally different. And the frantic, loud, mostly flat music assaulted my ears as badly as the camera did my eyes. After 49 minutes (yes, I counted nearly every one of them) of hoping the movie would get better or at very least settle down, I finally turned it off with a huge sigh of disgust and said, "Welllll, it only cost a dollar." Wasn't even worth that. Just so you all know... I'm not a staid, fuddywuddy, as I generally like artsy-fartsy and art nouveau movies, but this wasn't artsy, or even arty... only frantic and noisy. I was in total disbelief that it was even considered for the Oscars, let alone nominated. I give this nose-wrinkling, eye-narrowing, frown-making, sour lemon of a movie a strong, hearty two thumbs DOWN!!... Of course... this is only MY opinion, haha.
Rating:
Summary: Cinematic Magic
Review: If only "Moulin Rouge" had dusted off it's poppy sleeves and unsheltered it's dazzling razzles 10 years ago. I would of been innocent back then, age 9, still unkempt and drawing on illogics and faulty imagination to explain why the sun goes up, and then down, or why the sky is blue. Surely now, "Moulin Rouge" dangles it all in front of me, a neo-masterpiece so overtaken with its self, it pays homage to homages of 1940's music movies. And why shouldn't it? As inventive as cinema can be, as colorful as a bright enigmatic rainbow vehicle, as atrociously addictive and likeable, "Moulin Rouge" transcends travesty and tragedy itself, breaking barriers from the inside out. Sure, the sets are lavish, the music appreciative, the culture creative, but the feeling of it is like a heart rising out of your body and winking at you. Baz Lurhmann doesn't sing; he yelps glittering gallons of melodramatic hipster hop, redefining cool as yesterday, and savoring every surface of it. Ewan MacGregor and Nicole Kidman spare no less, with intoxicating animosity in their quiet loud emotions. Critics spar between glorious filmmaking and watered-down flashiness, but I'll take the former. This ain't no Betty Boop bonanza that turns on 60 old geezers who are spitting out their dentures. This is musical surreality that turns on everyone with truth, beauty, freedom, and love lunging out of it, grasping, and never letting go.
Rating:
Summary: Nicole Can Sing
Review: I enjoyed this excellent musical. To my surprise, both Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor (yes the same Obi-Wan)can hold a tune. The story plays out to an excellent script with song after song in delightful fashion. This is a very uplifting film despite being a 'Greek Tragedy'. If you haven't seen the film, you will be missing an experience. If you have seen the film already, watching this again will bring on a smile.
Rating: 
Summary: Bad News Musical
Review: This is another one of those movies that you either love or you hate. I seem to be in the minority. As a fan of musicals I was looking forward to the film, and definitely to the rebirth of the movie musical. I was quite disappointed by this film though. First, it represents everything that is bad about postmodernism. The quick cut editing (a la MTV and Michael Bay) doesn't lend itself to a musical - or at least a traditional musical) and before you say it isn't a traditional musical (which I realize), understand that musicals rely on staging for effect. The director is so quick to change the shot or angle before the audience gets bored that he never allows the actors to truly perform. At times it becomes even cartoonish and while an accurate approximation of a vaudville musical, it's hard to generate any sympathy for Nicole Kidman or to even begin to care about the love story when Baz doesn't care enough to develop the characters beyond two dimensions. With only one original song, the soundtrack sounds like a well done greatest hits of pop songs with elaborate orchestration. Kind of like The Boston Pops does KIIS 97 FM (The best hits of the seventies, eighties, and nineties). While Luhrman certainly has an eye (reminiscent of Terry Gilliam in many ways) it doesn't lend itself to a musical - and without his help this production (as beautiful as it is) collapses under its own weight.
Rating: 
Summary: A Sparkling Diamond
Review: It's a feast for the eye's.Almost a masterpiece.Almost.
Nicole Kidman certaintly did well as Satine.She has a magnificant voice.If they ever re-did Cabaret,she should star in it.
Ewan McGregor also has vocal talent.Despite the fact he looked tired and sweaty and his character's obsession with love.
The can-can girls stole the show,though.With there voices,dancing and attitudes.They should of spent more camera time on the can-can girls.Less on Christian.
The whole movie is very entertaining.I highly recommend it for theatre lovers.
Rating:
Summary: A little strange a first, but it grows on you.
Review: Moulin Rouge is the one of my favorite movies of all time! And if you decide to get this movie, I highly recomend the DVD edition. It is filled with huge amounts of extra footage that you may find very helpful. At the beginning of this movie I was alittle frightened, but as the movie progressed it just grew on me. Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman are all above exelant in this comical, tragic, wonderfully portraded musical spectactular! This is above far one of Ewan McGregor's best. His voice is extremely wonderful. And his ability to feel the charactor he is portraying is definantly seen in this movie, especially in the end. Nicole was so great in this film. And she can certainly sing as well as dance. It is a tragic love story that will capture your heart and lead you into believing that all you really do need is love.
Rating:
Summary: Awful, but Endearing
Review: At the suggestion of a close friend, I decided to go against my better judgement (I loved "Gosford Park," just to give you some idea of how "against my better judgement" this was) and watched this film. I started hating it with a passion almost immediately, as soon as John Leguizamo (what a waste of his comic talent!) started lisping and Ewan McGregor sang "The Sound of Music." For the opening sequence, in the Moulin Rouge, especially, but also for the whole movie, the cameramen must have been working under the influences of amphetamines or something, because the camera moved so quickly I thought I would puke. I tried to sit through it, and succeeded, but it was difficult because of a problem (for me) that repeats throughout the movie, and it is this: I'm sure that I'm not the only one who has trouble watching men in top hats and tailcoats waving there hats and white gloves, singing, "Here we are now, entertain us!" Kidman's performance of the various "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" numbers was passing, but still unbearable. Maybe, just maybe, if the writers had enough creativity and vision to actually write original songs (what a thought!), the movie might have been far better, because we would always be waiting to see what kind of song was coming up next, as opposed to knowing for a fact that it would be some over-blown classic. And poor Ewan McGregor, obviously straining his tenor's falsetto on camera! What an embarrassment. But, there was one redeeming quality to this movie, one thing that kept it from being completely awful, and that was its eagerness to please. It was endearing, and this was the only conceivable reason to explain how I sat through the whole mess.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely breathtaking
Review: There is no comparison to this musical/comedy/romance/tragedy. The sets and costumes are gorgeous, the actors are in top form (as are their voices) and Baz Luhrmann is a genius. Everytime I watch this movie I enjoy it just as much as the last time. This movie draws you in and keeps you hooked until, regrettably, the final curtain is drawn. This is so much more than just a fast-paced "MTV" movie; it explores human nature at its best and worst. Lush, extravagant, and yet so real at the same time, this movie has everything and if you don't like it then I'm sorry you're missing out on the Moulin Rouge experience I get everytime I watch this. The DVD features are wonderful. The extended dance sequences (especially the tango) are great. The commentary by writers Luhrmann and Craig Pierce is great, if just to hear their Aussie accents. Plus, you get to see the evolution of the Green Fairy. What could be better than that? Not to mention a very funny look at Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman having fun on the set. Unless I haven't made my point clear, go get this movie! It's the best operatic tragic musical romantic comedy ever! Get it just for the pink umbrella in the Your Song scene on the roof.
Rating:
Summary: Oscar material!
Review: You haven't liked Niole Kidman or Ewan McGregor until you have watched this film. A stunning visual masterpiece of huge proportions, Baz has done it again! this movie could not be any better for more than one reason. The acting is amazing, the plot thick, and the script well written.Baz, Nicole,and Ewan have brought this movie to new heights.Step over, "A Beautiful Mind" and step into the spotlight, "MOULIN ROUGE!"!
|
