Rating: 
Summary: overblown and overhyped
Review: This is pretty good entertainment. I'll give it that.It's well put together, and has some catchy dialogue.The problem is, is that, none of the actors can sing or dance.I mean when you watch it at first, you think, wow they're amazing, but after time passes by, your amazement wears off, and you begin to see this film for what it really is-it's well-filmed.The shots are basically what make all the actors look like they're dancing.Even then I wasn't impressed.And Catherine Zeta Jones, who CAN sing and dance(relatively) is one of the film's weaknesess.She overacts wayyyyyy too much.I mean, I never thought of Jones as anything special, and this movie proves it.She's not able to perfectly capture the chracter, so she does what any mediocre actress would do-she overacts!!Richard Gere, now I've always disliked him as an actor.I have my reasons.I mean he's capable of giving a decent performance here and there, but I have always disliked him because he overacts,is trite, and brings no depth or poignancy to his characters.His singing in the movie bored me to death, and so did his dancing. It also felt that throughout the whole movie he was putting on one big show, and trying to impress everyone.Rene is a great young actress, but she cannot sing or dance, and I really don't care how much she tried.Now, I thought Latifah's singing was the best in the film.She also proved that big women can be sexy, and gave her cheesy chracter a somewhat new spin.John C. Reily.I like that guy.And his performance as the pitiful husband left behind was ok, but his singing was out of place.In the end, what we have here is a big budget film, with realy nothing to stake it's claim in.I wish they had chosen people who could sing and dance, and provide more range and depth to their chraccters, instead of trying too hard to please, and making it one big show.I'm sure that the musical is better than this.
Rating: 
Summary: And all that jazz
Review: Rob Marshall's jazzy adaption of Bob Fosse's 1975 Broadway musical CHICAGO is a successful attempt at combining court-room drama and classy musical numbers. And while it may not win big at the Oscars (My bet is on GANGS OF NEW YORK), it still displays enough kinetic, energising spirit to make it a worthy contender for the awards. Marshall's knowing direction makes the whole film enjoyable and the musical numbers are as kitchy as they are catchy. Richard Gere's performance as greasy, smooth-talking laywer Billy Flynn is a nice departure from his usual New York city man shtick. The leading pair of Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones have never been better. An exhilarating film that keeps up its flashy sense of fun until the closing credits, CHICAGO does razzle and indeed, dazzle.
Rating: 
Summary: Just as Good as Broadway
Review: I could not believe how wonderful this movie was. I actually saw the broadway musical with Lilith from Cheers. I thought that was great and I wondered how could Gere, Zeta-Jones, etc. pull this off. You will NOT be dissapointed. The music is so powerful and exciting. I will be buying this on DVD when it is released and I don't buy a lot of movies. If you don't want to know what the movie is about please skip a lot of the reviews because they give away way too much. Just rest assured you will be entertained.
Rating: 
Summary: A movie for Musical/Broadway lovers, others wait to rent.
Review: My friend and I wanted to see the movie before the Academy Awards were on. I just want to start out by saying I do enjoy musicals and all types of movies. While I was watching Chicago at the theatre I wished I had waited for the rental as I did for Moulin Rouge. I fully enjoyed the second half of Moulin Rouge so I was glad I stuck with it to see what the hoopla was about, however I'm also glad I waited for the rental. The movie Chicago has great musical numbers, humor, drama, but there was something missing. It's odd because my friend felt the exact same way. We both looked at eachother and said "rental". I think the reviewers who really enjoyed it were happy to see something from Broadway make it to the big screen and that it was done well. I thought the performances were very good but the size disparity between Rene and Catherine throws off some of the scenes especially when they are dancing together. Anyway, not everyone can go to Broadway so this means of reaching people is great. But, if you like "Movies" this may not be the one for you. Get it?
Rating:
Summary: All That Jazz and then some!
Review: If I could give this movie 10 stars I would. What a brilliant picture. The dancing, singing, and performances are all ACES! Better than any past producton of Chicago.It's hard to review this film. you can't just talk about it......you have to experiance it. Trust me see it NOW!
Rating:
Summary: Chicago---My Kind of Movie
Review: Even though I am a live theatre fan and have seen the show on stage, I thought the movie was amazing. Of course the vocals and choreography were fabulous, but what I especially liked was the lighting and special effects. Most stage plays don't make it on the big screen, but Chicago did it all! Kudos to everyone in the cast and crew!
Rating:
Summary: BEST OSCAR NOMINATED MOVIE IN YEARS
Review: This is the best oscar nominated movie in the last few years. It is better than last years Moulin Rouge. After I saw this movie, I wanted to go dancing. I hope that this movie will win best picture and everything else it was nominated for.
Rating:
Summary: ~*~*~*~*~Chicago.....The Best Movie Ever~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Review: My friend and I went to watch "Chicago" together, and we thought it was one of the BEST movies ever. The actors and actresses did a wonderful job!! And seeing Richard Geer tap dance was awsome!! My favorite part was when they were doing the Cell Block Tango! It was great to hear all of them sing!! I highly recommend you to watch this movie!! It is worth all your time!!
Rating:
Summary: The best and most creative musical I've seen
Review: I didn't expect much from Richard Gere or Renee Zellweger going into this movie, but they really all did such fantastic jobs. It's no wonder that it has been nominated for 13 Academy Awards. This was truly the most classy and fun movie of the year. I didn't see a more unique one at all from 2002. I have never seen a movie done like Chicago before. Musical sequences are intertwined with reality sequences that truly make Chicago a very memorable movie. It is very risque for a PG-13 movie though, and there are a few cuss words, so you might want to think before taking the kids. Other than that though, Chicago was phenominal.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Marvelous
Review: Think Hollywood actors can't be multi-talented? Think again. 'Chicago' is the product of countless hours spent with vocal coaches and choreographers to perfect the art of the movie musical and director Rob Marshall has hit the jackpot ' his whole cast can sing, dance and act as if they were indubitably part of a Broadway troupe. 'Chicago' starts off on a literal high note, the film's energy remaining vigorous to the closing credits. The call of 'five-six-seven-eight!' is sounded by a bandleader in a smoky nightclub as an unseen woman in stilettos struts through the rear entrance. Making a hasty costume change after killing her husband and her sister Veronica in a jealous rage, Velma Kelly (Zeta-Jones) has little qualms about performing their two-woman vignette on her own. She rushes the stage and in relishing the spotlight, the self-absorbed starlet doesn't even notice the Chicago police storming in to arrest her as she enthusiastically belts the opening number to what is, from the very start, a fantastic show. Watching enviously from the audience is Roxie Hart (Zellweger), an aspiring singer who longs for her own stage act that will one day make her a star. So hungry is she for glory that she'll step over ' or slaughter - anyone that stands in the way. In due time, Velma and Roxie both become jailbirds and once imprisoned for their misdeeds, the best musical numbers come into play. At the femme brig, Roxie meets some interesting prisoners and is formally introduced to 'Mama' Morton (Queen Latifah), a tough-talking prison matron with a soft spot for attractive dames. Roxie has scruples about her chances of surviving hard time and starts feeding Mama the ol' 'damsel in distress' routine, convincing her to make a phone call to a high-powered attorney named Billy Flynn (Gere). Knowing she'll receive a death sentence by hanging if she doesn't secure herself a trial, she charms Billy into taking her case. Unfortunately, every woman in the prison is vying for Flynn and Roxie and Velma start butting heads, the brash blonde even stealing the trial date that Velma had originally secured. While waiting for her first day in court, her imagination brings her comfort, her mind conjuring some pretty spectacular song n' dance sequences. The most entertaining sketch comes from 'Cell Block Tango', six inmates sharing their salacious murder stories (''and then he ran into my knife ' he ran into my knife ten times.'). Other sassy numbers include 'Razzle Dazzle', 'I Can't Do It Alone' and my personal favorite 'We Both Reached For The Gun'. Each song is seamlessly woven into the action, a musical number starting almost immediately after another has ended. 'Chicago' ends on a literal bang, the finale containing an original song written especially for the film that brings down the house. It's easy to identify the theater veterans. Zeta-Jones, in a tour-de-force performance that has earned her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress, once belonged to a Catholic performance troupe in her childhood and starred in productions of 'Annie', 'Bugsy Malone', 'The Pajama Game' and '42nd Street'. Gere, an accomplished pianist and composer, polished his vocals and fancy footwork up from his last foray into theater some twenty years ago. Considering who else the producers and casting directors had in mind for the part of Billy Flynn (John Travolta, Kevin Spacey and Hugh Jackman were all considered), Gere is a pleasant surprise and my only disappointment is that the Academy failed to notice him. Christine Baranski, John C. Reilly, Deirdre Goodwin and Taye Diggs round out the theater veterans, the latter two of which made an appearance in the 1998 Broadway revival of 'Chicago'. Who really astonishes here is Renee Zellweger. Director Rob Marshall really took a chance on the 32-year-old Texan - she had absolutely no vocal or dance training whatsoever (though no one would know this watching her ' she's that good). She prepared for the role of Roxie Hart not only by watching well-bred co-star Zeta-Jones but endured a grueling schedule of vocal and dance instruction for 10 months to meet professional criterion. For someone who's never set foot on a stage, she has managed to gain her second nomination for Best Actress for doing just that ' it was a risk well-worth taking after all. Also astounding is Queen Latifah - she belts 'When You're Good To Mama' with such gusto that one would think she's been on Broadway all along. Even more of a shock is her very first appearance on a A-list of Academy Award nominees, not to mention being up against co-star Zeta-Jones in the very same category. Probably the most awe-inspiring aspect here is the man behind the iron curtain. Rob Marshall, who has been a dancer and choreographer for several years, has taken his first solo stab at directing ' and he's chosen a major motion picture to oversee, no less, a medium completely apart from musical theater. Having co-directed the wildly successful 1998 revival of 'Cabaret', Marshall worked with then unknown director Sam Mendes (who won an Academy Award two years later for 'American Beauty') and gained a good amount of knowledge as to what it took to helm a production. Not long after, he was called upon by Miramax producer Harvey Weinstein to discuss a film version of the Broadway musical 'Rent' but pitched his ideas for 'Chicago' instead. Weinstein and others gave Marshall the green light and four years later, his dream was realized. A virtually unknown member of the entertainment community, he now has a chance of winning an Oscar for Best Director (much like Sam Mendes' out-of-the-blue nomination and victory). A little golden man on his mantle will not only make him a household name but will also be the ticket to numerous offers to direct and/or produce over the next few years. Bottom line, I'd have to say it's an incredible case of beginner's luck for all involved. I think it goes without saying that not only will 'Chicago' be a hit on Oscar night but it will also make an impact with audiences when the DVD (no doubt loaded with special features) hits the shelves sometime this year.
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