Rating: 
Summary: WHAT!?!??!?!
Review: I absolutely LOVE this movie! It's a feast for the senses! I love the singing and acting it's all just superb! The singing is actually quite outstanding particularly Ewan. He has a very strong clear voice and it's one of the best things about this movie! The acting is great. Nicole Kidman at her best. Ewan is always the best! This is definately oscar worthy material! And those who it doesn't appeal to...well I can understand that it doesn't appeal to everyone but I absolutely can't understand why! No offense meant. As a singer myself I can appreciate good voices when I heard them and these two, although not the best, are more than able to get the job done! Terrific flick go out and buy it now! Go!
Rating: 
Summary: One of Ten Worst Movies Ever
Review: I'll never trust a critic again. Looked like a poor MTV video covered by amateurs. I absolutely hated this. Maybe, I'm being unfair since after an hour, I could no longer stand the pain and turned it off. I promised my wife I would put a review on Amazon.com to let others know to beware! Anybody that says they liked this either has never seen a movie or is lying. Believe me, I love movies and am tolerant. I even found some good points in "Eyes Wide Shut" and watched "Far and Away" a couple of times. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME ON THIS!!!
Rating:
Summary: IT BLOWS CHUNKS
Review: Yuck! This movie is a waste of time and money. Not even seeing Nicole Kidman in scanty clothes is enough to drag this movie from the slime. Was it different from the usual formulaic tripe that passes for movie making nowadays? Yes. But was it good? The answer is a resounding NO! I would rather watch paint dry or grass grow. A TV Test pattern has as much interest as this movie.
Rating:
Summary: The movie I wanted to hate, but couldn't.
Review: I watched this movie only after several people (whose opinions I really respect) recommended it to me, already cringing and ready to tear it to pieces. "Obi-Wan Kenobi and Tom Cruise's ex-wife in a musical? HA!" There was something so hokey about the trailers and the whole concept that I had already judged the movie and deemed it a piece of pretentious artsy-fartsy drivel before having ever seen it. It just seemed ripe for parody. Not only that, but I hate musicals. HATE THEM! I've tried to give as many of them a try as I could stomache, but all of the ones I've seen have been terribly cheesy. It's one of the resons I hate Disney movies. There's something just basically stupid about them that I've never been able to get past, and to me, Moulin Rouge was going to be just another stupid musical to add to the list. Then I saw it. Ok, now I have to admit how wrong I was. The music was excellent, the sets were amazing, the story was compelling and it was really funny. It was that last part that won me over. It was funny in a very unpretentious kind of way that I found endearing. It wasn't necessarily self-parody, but the director seemed to know exactly when to add humor to break up the melodrama, and the melodrama was just enough to not seem saccharin. For some reason all the flamboyant corniness ends up being charming instead of revolting. The flick just has heart. I was expecting something gaudy like a half-drunk, middle-aged drag queen belting out show tunes and grinding out the rent. Instead it has a sort of childlike innocence that wins you over like a kid whose voice is mediocre but sings with passion and sincerity and never blushes. For those of you who've already seen it in the theater, the DVD is excellent. It has lots of bonus goodies like deleted scenes, lots interviews with cast and crew (including one with Fatboy Slim who I had no idea was involved), feature-commentary, music videos and behind the scenes stuff. The DTS sound is amazing and sounded awesome on my system. Anyway, regardless of what I think, most of you are going to either love it or hate it, I think you should give yourself the opportunity to do one or the other. Don't make the same mistake I almost made. Watch it first, then judge.
Rating:
Summary: Best Movie Of All Time!!!!
Review: Well....Moulin Rouge is by far the best movie I have seen in ages. It is filled with action, humor, music, and most of all romance. The first time I saw it I was a little bit confused about what was happening, but the second time blew me away. Nicole Kidman's singing, dancing, acting, and overall preformance was outstanding. Her part really showed all of her talents. All of the preformers played their parts in an outstaning way also. I think the story, the choice of characters, and vocals really completed the film. The day after I saw the movie, I bought the soundtrack, and it had been in my cd player since. The people who did NOT enjoy the movie obviously have no true taste in what is good and what isn't. Well if you haven't seen it yet, I encourage you to, because you are missing out on a masterpiece!
Rating:
Summary: Seriously the best DVD of the year
Review: I have to agree with the rest of the reviewers who say that Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor leave something to be desired in the singing category, but there is so much about this movie, and whats more, the DVD that makes it easy to overlook the singing. Besides, even though Moulin Rouge is a musical, Baz Luhrman and Craig Pierce did not set out to create the next Phantom. Moulin Rouge is a clever movie, with witty, beautiful use of contemporary songs. They are a lark. They are not meant to be the next inclusion on Barbara Streisand's 15th Easy Listening album. The story is admittedly a send up of old opera story lines. How old can you get? Its plot is not tired, rather it is--if i may say again--clever. With elements of Offenbach's *Orpheus in the Underworld* (Christian comes from on high, and goes to the *underworld* of Paris, wherin he tries to rescue his love from there) and Verdi's *La Traviata* (complete with Christian throwing money at Satine, paying his whore, not to mention her tuberculosis)
I had absolutely no desire to see this film when i saw the promo MTV "Marmalade" video, and before i saw the film on dvd, i heard the soundtrack, and wondered what in the blazes was going on, Ewan wasn't the next Broadway star, but he at least sounded robust and strong, as opposed to Kidman, who nonetheless sounded sweet. El Tango de Roxanne is a great song, and the strongest element that got me to see the movie, besides reccomendations from friends. And from there, i was hooked. All of the music made sense, Kidman didn't even sound nearly as weak as in the soundtrack. The dances are phenomenal, and every element is truly, truly clever. The DVD makes it even better, with more extras than you can shake a stick at. Oh yeah, and Kylie Minogue makes a really nice green fairy.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Film Both Visually And Emotionally
Review: Luhrman, who in the past gave us the Leonardo Dicaprio/Claire Daines' Romeo and Juliet, who is known for his superb cinematography and use of MTV pop culture symbolism, has once again outdone himself in this remarkable love story. Set in turn-of-the century Paris, a bohemian poet Christian (Mcgregor) has joined the circle of writers, dancers and musicians who work for the comedic and dimunitive Toulousse Latrec(played by Leguizamo). During a making of a musical which they indeed to perform before the Duke who has threatened to close down the Moulin Rouge, Christian falls in love with the doomed courtesan Satine (Nicole Kidman) who is at her best in the role. The love story is mixed with excellent dance numbers, such as the can-can in the Moulin Rouge sequence, and songs such with Kidman's "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend", the Elton John love song "How wonderful life is now you're in the world", "Tango of Roxanne" and a medley of 90's and 80's songs including a very comedic sequence using Madonna's "Like A Virgin." The Paris sequences are excellent, the tenement slums, the elegant Moulin Rouge and Satine's elephant house, with close ups and aireal views providing the backdrop for this tragic love story. In a subtle manner, Luhrman is giving a young audience their first taste of opera. Verdi's La Traviata is the story of a young man who is a lot like Christian who falls for a courtesan dying of consumption a lot like Satine is. The conflict between the Duke, his obsessive desire to claim Satine for his own, and Christian's pure love, is finally resolved in the last scenes, only to our dismay we realize that for Satine, it is too late. The Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Maya remake of the Patti Labelle classic "Lady Marmalade", which was the number song last summer, is fitting to the extravagance and decadence of the can-can dancers and entertainment performed at the Moulin Rouge. This film is extraordinary. You will be instantly in love with the music, the story, and the breathtaken beauty that is Moulin Rouge. Another triumph for Baz Luhrman. What will he come up with next ?
Rating:
Summary: A Destined Cult Classic
Review: The images flourishing in Moulin Rouge have only before graced the world of animation, and we finally have a live-action movie that has all the life, movement, color, imagination, and free play that a beautiful animated feature can produce. To call this movie irreverent is an understatement--we do not even question why Zidler hops and flies about like an enchanted gnat from a Disney flick. Sure the moon can sing! What's wrong with a pistol flying across France then striking the Eiffel Tower? Nothing! I don't find myself wondering, "Yes, but WHY do all the people in the room suddenly know the same song and dance number?" I know to ask that of musicals is to miss the point, but musicals so often seem forced and contrived because they just cannot blend realism with the fantasy that is a musical. Moulin Rouge never pretends to be realistic, thus, it is allowed to throw caution to the wind and overstep all boundaries. My breath catches when stars explode on the screen, when we're bombarded with a montage of images meant to tell the story, when it seems the demented Duc will catch Satine and Christian in the act of deceiving him. I really feel for the two main characters, and it's somewhat of a wonder why--their personalities weren't terribly well developed, no more so than other characters who seemed expendable to me in other movies. I think it is really the nuances that make them loveable. Their glances, their giggling, the earnestness in their eyes, and their chemistry culminate in unforgettable romance. Never once did the attraction between these two lovers seem forced. The musical numbers and visuals are for the most part, completely enjoyable. I found the duet between Zidler and the Duc a bit unnerving and weird at first, but watching it a second time, it's not quite so freaky. It's actually a bit funny and just another reason to dislike the Duc (he's evil, therefore, he cannot sing or dance worth lick, of course). I'm sure some people found the singing tiresome and thought Kidman and McGregor were ill suited to the task of singing. I, personally, found McGregor's voice to carry scenes amazingly, and it was full of such sincerity and emotion that I just had to love the character for his very innocence and passion. Kidman's voice was not as impressive, but she also was not given as many demanding tunes, so who really knows what she is capable of? Regardless, she is truly, truly captivating, enchanting, and wonderful in this film. Her flailing on the floor in a fit of poetry-inspired passion is worth the price of any ticket or DVD, and she perfectly personifies her role with her sparkling eyes, fiery cascading hair, lithe body, and porcelain skin. She commands the screen with true presence and charisma. She really is a "Sparkling Diamond" in this film. My heart ached for her when she accepts her role in life as a caged bird, and though she's a courtesan, I never see her as a tramp, undignified, or tawdry. I immediately sympathize with her and wish her all the success and love she so desperately tries to find in life. I cried during this movie, and Christian and Satine are two truly tragic figures. I knew a little of what to expect from this movie, but I was blown away once I finally saw it. I understand why some people find it ridiculous, overblown, reliant on pop-culture and whatnot. That's okay. The movie is just not middle-of-the-road enough to please everybody, but the payoff for those who CAN appreciate it is all the more rewarding because it provides a feast for the senses and the emotions that is rarely, if ever, dared in cinema.
Rating:
Summary: I Still Maintain It Is the Best Movie Ever
Review: There are however a few requirements you probably have to meet if you're going to enjoy this film.
1. You have to know Baz Luhrman's film style, it's very unique. You also have to be able to get his humor.
2. You have to love musicals obviously. And musicals that are a stretch, seeing how this one is like no other I've ever seen.
3. You also must realise this film got a love/hate reaction, either you're going to be completely obsessed or you're going to think it's terrible.
Now that that is over, I'll say why I liked it. A lot of reviews here seem to say that the two main actors (Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor) have no chemistry and cannot sing. I guess this is a matter of opinion, becuase I think they are gorgeous together and they both have beautiful voices. I saw this four times in the theatres, and every time something very dramatic happened, or there was a very important part, the audience reacted heavily. This was the only movie I've ever seen in theatres that caused the audience to have a very visible reaction. And as I left each time I noticed over half the people were crying. People you don't usually see crying too, like college guys and stuff.
One thing that has also been heavily criticized about Moulin Rouge is the fast paced filming style. Baz Luhrman used a unique panning in and out and just moving really fast style to create an atmosphere. By making what's onscreen appear fantastical, he keeps the audience aware that they're watching a movie, yet also lets them feel as if they're a part of it.
If you already knew you liked the movie, I definetely suggest the DVD. There is so much extra stuff on the second disk, and also on the first there are two different audio commentaries. I usually don't like those commentaries, but at least one is really fun because it lets you go behind the scenes of only certain scenes to see how they were made. The HBO Making Of special is also included, which is great.
If you're still wondering, "This story is about love." I think it's one of the greatest love stories ever told, and anyone with an open mind would like it.
Rating:
Summary: The BEST DVD In My Collection. Period.
Review: I missed "Moulin Rouge" in the theatres. In retrospect, the best way to see "Moulin Rouge" WAS in the moviehouse. The energy and passion of this undescribable film DESERVE and DEMAND the biggest screen possible, because the extravaganza leaps from the screen in its full, warped Technicolor glory. "Moulin Rouge" is either a movie that you "get" or you "don't." If you "get" it, "Moulin Rouge" will most likely become your favorite movie: for example, it has become my "Chase Your Blues Away" flick...that "Dance Around Your Living Room In Your Underwear Just Because You Can-Can" flick. But if you don't "get" it, "Moulin Rouge" just will not appeal to you AT ALL. It's that devisive. I'm not certain why, as I think "Moulin Rouge" is the cat's meow...but that's just how it is. You either completely "get" it...or you utterly don't... ...and for me to describe "Moulin Rouge" would be a great disservice to the movie. Does it have more energy than any movie I've seen in years, yet is not an action testostronathon? Yup. Is it a pop-song composed musical set in a parralel trippy-verse where we're asked to believe not only that Christian (Ewan McGregor) is the world greatest poet, but that his poetry consists of modern pop-music? Yup. Do Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman generate more chemistry than any screen couple EVER, whilst singing Elton John-Nirvana-Madonna-Queen songs to one another (to say nothing of the rest of the brilliant cast)? Yup. And then some more of that same insanity. You'll either love it or you'll hate it. Regardless of which side of the coin you're on, "Moulin Rouge" has one of the best DVD treatments you'll ever encounter, with lots of featurettes and documentaries detailing the structure behind the madness, a couple of commentary tracks, multi-angle dance sequences...where you pick one of four angles and shuffle through to "edit" your own dance sequence (of four.) And there's so much more. Much like the movie, my words are only scratching "Moulin Rouge's" shiny surface. Regarding "Moulin Rouge," I have found that for those who "get" it, the connection is deep, romantically intense and personal in nature. For myself, it acts as a spiritual remedy for life's trying times...whether the trial is individual, such as career apathy and dissatisfaction, or more universal in nature: a reminder of the good, the true, and the joyful creations of man at a time when the "real" world is responding to humanity's dark side. So check it out. If you "get" it, buy it. It will become one of your favorite DVD's...one you'll watch over and over again, with every viewing just as remarkable as the first. Or you'll really hate it.
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