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".
Rating: 
Summary: Spectacular, Spectacular
Review: Okay, I admit it. When the Absinthe fairy appeared, I was hooked. I mean, here I thought I was the only guy in the world who saw little green fairies while on a bender . . . The movie is a total hoot! Luhrmann keeps piling up bad 70s pop songs, relentless kitsch, bad 80s pop songs, dizzying camerawork, bad 90s pop songs, huge dance numbers, bad Rogers and Hammerstein songs and narcoleptic Argentinians, one upon the other, until he creates this massive, frenetic, rococo tower of crazed pop images that lists wildly back and forth in the wind, but somehow manages never to collapse upon itself. It's a gorgeous, sprawling, insane mess that completely impressed me with its audacity, energy and originality. And, of course, now I'm gonna think of Jim Broadbent every time I hear a Madonna song . . .
Rating:
Summary: Wish I saw it in the theater.
Review: At a time when movie-goers reward high budget, formulaic, Hollywood concoctions, I am grateful for this creative, unconventional, genre-defying movie. By genre, I don't mean musical or drama. I mean film, theater, opera, circus. Somehow the director had so much vision he managed to take so many unsavory elements (unoriginal love story, singing, dancing, so much lace and ruffles, a bit of campiness)and turned them into breath-taking entertainment. The first time I saw it, it did strange things to my pulse, but it was the second time that I let myself enjoy it. I feel sorry for all the critics and movie-goers who expected it to be what movies are 'supposed' to be and so didnt have anything to compare it to or knew how to relate to it. There really has never been anything like it. For those who have not seen it, I suggest approaching it as you would a roller-coaster ride (dont expect to be in control).
Rating: 
Summary: Not a movie. Just a big budget blown on confusing bunk
Review: Don't listen to the people who praise this movie. They obviously want you to think they are understanding something about it that you don't. There's nothing to understand except a big budget was wasted on a confusing, incoherent, and very maddening collection of scenes. It's like taking five or six pails of different colored paint, throwing them against a wall and trying to pass it off as "art". There will always be a bunch of sheep who claim the result is a "masterpiece", "genius". Please! I'm surprised my DVD player didn't just automatically eject it after an hour in a gagging, convulsive fit of disgust. If I had watched this in a theatre, I would have demanded my money back.
Rating:
Summary: It's Wonderful!
Review: I didn't really think I'd like this movie but I was wrong. I absolutely loved it. I rented it and then as soon as I finished watching it I went out and bought it. I loved the music, the costumes, and the story. The acting was really great also. I've lost count of how many times I've watched it.
Rating:
Summary: Spectacular, spectacular escapism
Review: If you enjoy grand opera mixed with the Bohemian ideals of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and, above all, Love, this is the movie for you. Take the plots from most of the Italian operas of the 19th century, add montagues of pop music, a talented cast, stir, and you have a wonderful escape for two hours. Baz Luhrmann, of Strictly Ballroom fame, has again assembled an amazing cast for a fast and furious ride. Nicole Kidman is exquisite, Ewan McGregor is to-die-for. Jim Broadbent and Richard Roxburgh are obviously having a grand time with their characters. The entire production radiates in the glow of the Moulin Rouge's electric lights. If you are looking for reality or complete historical accuracy, look elsewhere. From the opening moments, we are notified that we're entering a non-real world. Sit back and enjoy. The look of the production is amazing, from the sets to the costumes. I don't know how the women were able to do those dances with real whale-bone corsets on. The DVD offers a second disk of extra material, from interviews to unseen footage. Well worth the money for anyone who enjoys the movie.
Rating:
Summary: I just love this movie!!
Review: I love the world Baz has created- and I think Ewan McGregor is simply brilliant in this film. Other than the movie itself- which I do agree is not for everyone- this DVD set is everything I could have hoped for. The extended dance sequences are wonderful- and the rehearsals are really interesting. Seeing the dancers doing the same choreography in modern dress, on a soundstage shows you just how magnificient the set design,, lighting and costumes really were. The commentary is really interesting, and the musical extras are also cool. I can't believe they included the MTV performance of :ady Marmalade- which to me was the least interesting of all the songs in the movie. I never thought of myself as a Nicole Kidman fan, but I think her look really works- and there are a few goofy scenes where she comes across as very human and real. I will also say that my my brothers and guy friends are movie watchers- but not musical fans- really like this movie as well. I am more impressed each time I watch it, and I think this DVD set really adds something unique and special to the typical viewing experience.
Rating:
Summary: Minus 3
Review: The only thing that remotely saved this piece of tripe was some decent gravy. Costumes and cinematography were lush and creative. The story was almost worthy of the visuals, but the overall camp level was beyond Rocky Horror. And at least Rocky Horror can boast original music. Skip DVD rental, forget pay-per-view and even HBO. Make due with the sound track and make up your own movie from the jewel case art.
Rating: 
Summary: Much ado about Le'Rouge
Review: The stars in this review are solely for the stunning visuals. While I have spent time watching worst movies, I simply cannot believe the amount that went into this supremely unoriginal conceit of a film. La Kidman oozes glamore from a bygone era, but even she could not keep me tuned into this messy reeking fop. From the kitchy score and dated soundtrack, to the unbearable acting and staggeringly unfunny lines, this film moves me not. The script begs the question of just why this film was made. It could have been a soso film if the director wasn't intent on gagging the audience with the hellatious singing of all involved. This will be a sad footnote on musicals in the 21st century. I cannot say more than to advise watching with the volume down...way down.
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