Rating: 
Summary: Worth the film, but lacking some extra features...
Review: The marvelous movie musical "Chicago" is finally out on DVD, though fans of the Oscar-winning film might be more than just a little disappointed with its poor treatment in regards to DVD-extras and behind-the-scenes material. Despite this, it is very much worth owning.Hollywood has a notorious track record of butchering popular Broadway musicals when transferred to the silver screen. What musical theatre fan doesn't cringe the atrocities of "A Chorus Line," or, dare I say, "Evita"? Luckily, this particular musical-to-film translation is completely on target. Under the direction of Broadway director/choreographer Rob Marshall, the film of "Chicago" remains mostly faithful to the original 1975 production and the 1996 Broadway revival. I will spare you a synopsis of this film. What I will say, though, is that "Chicago"-set in the roaring twenties-is a brilliant satire of our modern-day obsession with the proverbial "media-circus" and the criminals that become celebrities as a result. While it may seem an old, tired satire, this film treats it with such freshness and relevance. Rob Marshall's experience in New York theatre lends itself well to the film. His concept of vacillating between reality and the fantasy taking place in Roxie's mind solved the ever-persistent dilemma of so-called "stagey" musical numbers-present in several past movie musicals. Almost all of the numbers take place onstage in a theatre somewhere in the recesses of Roxie's imagination, with the exception of "All That Jazz" (which appears as Velma's nightclub act) and another at the end of the film. Both work well in reality and fit with Marshall's concept. Renée Zellweger hits the spot as Roxie Hart, a wannabe chorus girl that murders her lying boyfriend Fred Casely. While Zellweger is not the strongest singer/dancer (she had no prior vocal or dance experience before "Chicago"), she acquits herself well enough. It also gives a new dimension to the character, saying that maybe Roxie really doesn't have the real talent to be a real vaudeville star. Catherine Zeta-Jones hoofs and belts her way through the role of Velma Kelly-an already established vaudeville star that commits double homicide on her sister and husband. Zeta-Jones' smoldering, sexy performance of "All That Jazz" and the energetic "I Can't Do It Alone" are two great highlights! Richard Gere combines charm and sleaze as defense attorney Billy Flynn, singing in three tough numbers, and proving himself as a tap-dancer. Rapper Queen Latifah is a revelation as Matron Mama Morton. Channeling Sophie Tucker, Latifah knocks your socks off in her rollicking (and quite "busty") rendition of "When You're Good to Mama" and is aggressive in her portrayal of a prison matron that believes in "quid pro quo." In the role of Roxie's mechanic husband Amos, John C. Reilly sings his single number "Mr. Cellophane" with a sadness and brimming anger that breaks your heart. Amos is the moral center in a story where the good guy is the loser, while all the corrupt people are the winners. Other mention must be made for Christine Baranski in the re-vamped role of reporter Mary Sunshine, a clever sob-sister. Director Marshall made smart, if brief, use of five female performers in the roles of accused murderesses in the Cook County Jail. Among them is R&B singer Mya (credited here as Mya Harrison), Deidre Goodwin (a veteran of the Broadway revival of "Chicago") and ballerina Ekaterina Ctchelkanova. For such a good film, I am disappointed to say that the DVD presentation is not up to snuff. Besides the essential English audio and subtitles, what you get is a behind-the-scenes special, running commentary from the director and screenwriter Bill Condon, a deleted scene (with or without director/screenwriter commentary), Spanish subtitles, and a French Language track. The behind-the-scenes special, while informative, gets plodding after about ten minutes. The deleted scene, "Class," is nice to have, but it is clear that the number wouldn't have worked in the final cut of the film-and Rob Marshall explains exactly why. The film's commentary is quite insightful, anecdotal and worth listening to for an hour and forty minutes. The Spanish subtitles, while advertised on the DVD packaging, don't seem to appear whenever selected. A most amusing feature is the French Language track with dialogue AND songs dubbed by French actors and singers. The last time I've found this was with "The Sound of Music." While these features are satisfying, there was so much more that they could have included. I can recall several specials on television in relation to this film, as well as special features that could be accessed online from users of the soundtrack recording. A rumor has been circulating through the internet that a special edition 2-DVD set is to be released at a later date. Even if it means shelling out more money, I hope this does happen and that it is an improvement over the lack of features for a film that was such a critical, awards and box-office success. I give the film 5 stars, but the features only 3 stars, which averages out to 4 stars overall. I recommend this DVD regardless of the lack of features. It is still a great addition to musical theatre lovers as well as those who simply enjoyed the film.
Rating: 
Summary: Chicago - It Doesn't Get Better Than This
Review: I was absolutely amazed by this musical made movie. Zeta-Jones, Zelleweger and Gere's performances are incredible. Their singing voices are perfect for this film, and their dancing is stupendous. The plot melds greed, corruption and murder with satirical song and dance in the one of the best musicals ever written. The extras on this DVD are fun. Mind you, there aren't your typical deleted scenes, but finally being able to see the deleted song "Class" is worth it. Plus, the short documentary on the making of the film was good fun. This DVD is a must have for any good collection.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible
Review: I seem to be in the minority here for loving this movie/musical. That's okay though. I thought that the singing, dancing, and acting was outstanding. In a different review I had written for the CD to the movie, I remarked that I was quite surprised by Renee Zelwegger and Richard Gere. I had no idea how talented they are! The behind-the-scenes section is incredible! I loved being able to see rehearsals and the secrets of how the play came to be. True, it's very different to put a musical that is meant for the stage on to the screen, but this was definitely worth the buy. I am a huge fan of musicals, and this one didn't disappoint me one bit.
Rating: 
Summary: Chicago -- piece of crap
Review: What a piece of crap that was!!! Mis-cast is the least of it's problems and among them and but not limited to are bad dancing, bad acting, bad singing ... er ... lip-sinking e.g. Richard Gere for one. Contrary to what some reviewers have said, Fosse would NOT be proud. As the two heroines in the film play the system Rob Marshall has played us . . . all for suckers.
Rating: 
Summary: Cabaret Meets MTV
Review: As a Fosse tribute, it's OK, but it brings nothing new to the genre. It's basically warmed-over Fosse, which isn't much of a tribute. The cynicism is depressing. The numbers are powerful, but when every one is a calculated show-stopper, sooner or later the show pretty much stops. Zeta-Jones won her Oscar for the same reason Liza Minnelli did -- her power as a singer. Zeta-Jones' acting was merely passable compared to Zellweger -- and compared to Julianne Moore last year, they were both hard to take seriously. The only pleasurable surprise is Richard Gere, who for the first time in his career doesn't strut his way through a performance. Even though I did manage to sit through the movie in a theater and halfway enjoy it, I did find -- and see if you don't agree -- that it loses something on a TV screen. Finally, if you want to see the state of movie musicals in the new millennium, take a look at Moulin Rouge (and Nicole Kidman), which deserved all the attention that Chicago somehow got instead.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent movie BUT the singing and dancing was overrated
Review: I'm probably the only person in the world who thinks that EVITA was the best modern day movie musical but anyway . . . This movie is excellent and as far as Art Direction, Film Editing, and acting this movie did deserve the Oscars it got however the singing was not very good. People talk about how Queen Latifah really "belted out" that number. As a voice major, I can tell you that that was not belting, but yelling. You can tell she's really squeezing out those last few notes of the "Mama" song. And the dancing was, if you've seen the 1996 Broadway revival, really dumbed down for Rene Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Especially in "Can't do it alone" and the final dance number of the movie it was more like choreographed movement, that even I could do, rather than real choreography that only trained people can do. People said, "WOW Richard Gere is really tap dancing." Look closer. He's really shuffelling his feet randomly and pulsing them on the floor as hard as he can with a little "Dorthy's no place like home" tap at the end. Rene Zellweger in not a great singer and niether is John C. Reilly. Richard Gere is worse (if he sang any harder through his nose, I would fear nasal constipation) and Catherine Zeta Jones, though the best overall, has a stong voice but no richness or fluency in her tone.
Rating:
Summary: What a snoozer!
Review: BORING! What a poor excuse for a musical. If you want to see a well made musical film, then by all means rent WEST SIDE STORY, GREASE or EVITA. Avoid this dreck at all costs!
Rating:
Summary: What's old is new again . . .
Review: There are good reasons why musicals went out of fashion: a total lack of realism, too many songwriters trying to reinvent the wheel, and just too much, too often, for too long. But all of a sudden, thanks to Baz and the cycle of things, they're back. There's not much new about Chicago, because it's been played out on Broadway. What distinguishes this film is the smart presentation, and the fact that key actors finally earned their paychecks by having to sing, dance, and act--not just well, but exceptionally well. And the corporate news media is still so polluted, celebrities so ugly, and criminality so glamourized, that the story still holds true, and is funny in a flamboyant, cynical, post-belief in anything fashion. At first I thought I would grow sick of all the singing, but it's orchestrated so well that it is exactly as it should be: constantly entertaining. Best Picture? I think so. The Pianist and The Hours have their virtues, but were pretty much shameless trolls for Oscars. This was a commercial, critical, aesthetical success, hence the multiple Oscars. Congratulations.
Rating:
Summary: Is Guys and Dolls next?
Review: For this novelty act? And Best Picture? Not the worst movie I've ever seen, but not exactly thought provoking either. The visuals are great, but a straightforward remake of a 30 year old Broadway musical can only be so good.
Rating:
Summary: An Above Average Musical
Review: I would say Chicago is a different type of musical. It does not revolve around love but hatred and deception which gives this movie it's distinctfulness. I did enjoy how they incorporated the musical numbers in the movie. I feel that Catherine Zeta-Jones deserved her Oscar win, she did a fantastic job in this movie. Actually, I believe the movie deserved all the Oscars it won except Best Picture. It was definitely not the Best Picture of the year. The Oscar should have gone to either The Hours or The Pianist. I agree that Moulin Rouge! is a much better film and should have won last year's Oscar for Best Picture with Nicole Kidman as Best Actress (luckily she received the much deserved award playing as Virginia Woolf in The Hours), but things don't always work how you want them to. Overall this is a good film and not your typical musical, but if you're really looking for that musical experience, Moulin Rouge! is what you should watch.
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