Rating: 
Summary: Time for reappraisal?
Review: In a recent episode of 'Black Books', the fabulous British sitcom set in a second-hand bookstore, a volume was promoted entitled 'Tempocalypse' which, in its cynical combination of women's issues and violent thriller, was designed to appeal to both genders. Something of the sort seems to have been the thinking behind 'Showgirls', a film which tries to attract a (heterosexual) male demographic, with its extensive scenes of lapdancing, er, show-girling and sex, all fetishising women's bodies (naturally) rather than men's; yet tries to claim itself as a feminist narrative about a young women trying to negotiate her own identity in a violently exploitative and sleazy male subculture, that turns women from potential allies into ruthless rivals. Throw in some campy musical sequences and a lesbian subplot, and you've got something for everyone. In this, it is no different from any Hollywood blockbuster, which tries to reach as wide and varied an audience as possible, at the expense of originality, individuality and clarity. In the end, these things rarely please anyone, and with the exception of a few dirty macs, nobody went to 'Showgirls'.Verhoeven's film, in its schizophrenic attempt to unite male and female pleasure; or, more precisely, a female story filmed with a male gaze, mixes the music with the Western. 'Showgirls' is basically an update of '42nd Street', with its story of an unknown becoming an unexpected star, and all those Warners backstage musicals, with auditions, rehearsals, backstage life, sleazy financiers, tough-but-decent producers etc. And in a way, Verhoeven is only making literal the erotic euphemisms choreographed by Busby Berkeley in his big numbers. But by removing the element of play, that contract between choreographer and audience that knew these were more than groups of girls dancing, by simply exhibiting sexuality, Verhoeven removes all those psychic proceses that create the ideas, fantasies and experiences of sexuality for audience. But Verhoeven can argue that he was trying to avoid fantasy, that this documentary-like hard look at an exploitative industry is why his film is feminist. This doesn't explain the lingering framing of female flesh, but theoretically, a film about lap-dancing should reveal the tools of the trade just as a film about doctors or soldiers would focus on scalpels and guns. I read that 'Showgirls' was actually a satire on contemporary Hollywood and its behind-the-scenes machinations - this makes the film more forceful, as it's always interesting to see the corrupted Ozes behind glittering Emerald Cities, but it doesn't make it any more competent a piece of film-making. Ultimately, 'Showgirls' is a Western, about a heroine who moves from East to West, from New York to Las Vegas; a character who tries to create a new identity, lifestyle and freedom for herself away from the oppressions of the past and authority. If it hadn't been such a gawpfest, you'd almost be tempted to think the film WAS feminist, such is the way Verhoeven and Esterhaz play with genres and cliches only to confound them - see the road-to-damnation drug subplot for example. But it is a gawpfest.
Rating: 
Summary: Hilarious! I Love It!
Review: Ok, I know this movie isn't a comedy, but each time I view it, I can't help laughing! The dialouge is absolutely rediculous, and the acting is also rediculous. This definitely should have been released as a comedy. It is a campy movie, and I am a huge fan of camp movies. If you're into those types of movies, then this is right up your alley, and probably one of the best camp movies ever made!
Rating: 
Summary: amazingly, deliciously awful!
Review: were it not for the liner notes and the extra features included with the dvd, you might think that verhoeven and ezsterhaus made showgirls as some kind of quasi=sick joke, giving the world what can be easily classified as the campiest, worst-acted, thinly written cliche film of all time. but, as the notes and features show, they really thought this was going to be a powerful film... little did they know what they'd produce. if you like camp, and are willing to endure some nasty sexuality, then showgirls is the movie for you. elizabeth berkley deserves a special kind of oscar for her atrocious overacted portrayal of nomi, the girl who throws her french fries when bothered and loves to storm out of rooms, thrash naked in pools, and stare blankly from behind her clown-face of makeup. gina gershon is the big-mouthed (literally), aggressively bisexual 'star', crystal connors, of the hottest 'show' in vegas. she loves saying 'darlin', licking her lips, and attempting to dance in her show. the production numbers are hilarious; rotating between pagan orgies around a crystal-erupting volcano and a leather and s&m motorcycle kidnapping number. the movie throws out every cliche in the business and no one, and i mean NO ONE turns in a believably acted performance. ... it ruins what is otherwise a flawlessly perfect bad film.
Rating:
Summary: bad acting
Review: Mabey Elizabeth Berkley should go back to Saved By The Bell. OH yeah that show isnt on anymore. Well there is always Taco Bell.
Rating:
Summary: Elizabeth Berkly and Gina Gershon Passion At Its Best
Review: Elizabeth Berkly and Gina Gershon are by far the most beautiful women on film and just as seductive as Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly in the film Bound. These showgirls lit up the Vegas stage with hot dance moves and sexual passion. Elizabeth thumbs a ride to Vegas to become a dancer. She soon graduates from a strip club dancer to being a showgirl dancer. The movie really takes off when Elizabeth competes with Gina to become the lead dancer in the show Goddess. The movie has good dance scenes and a awesome scene of Gina in a short silver dress and Elizabeth walking nude along the pool. I do not know if the film accurately depicts the life of a Vegas showgirl but the film accurately depicts the beautiful body of Elizabeth and Gina.
Rating:
Summary: So bad its good
Review: Showgirls is one of those films I bought used at a video store and find myself watching from to time just because its so entertaining. This is one of those movies that is pure camp. I think it would have been much better if it had been made to be a campy comedy instead of a supposedly serious film. There is glitz and glamour and exotic costumes and the film really shows Las Vegas as a wild place. Yes the dialogue is awful and the acting is beyond out there. The characters are for the most part not likable at all and the acting is beyond over the top. Its like Elizabeth Berkeley just overacts during the entire film and in doing this makes some very overly dramatic faces. Even the sex scenes are hilarious with the main character making love in a very spasmodic fashion in the pool. I still can't believe these guys made the film "Basic Instinct" which was a very good suspense thriller. All in all, Showgirls is a bad movie but an entertaining one. I'm never bored when I watch it.
Rating:
Summary: ********** SHOWTIME **********
Review: Paul Verhoeven (director) (Robocop, Total Recall) & Joe Eszterhas (writer); the partnership that bought as 'Basic Instinct,' team up again to produce 'Showgirls.'
Without a doubt, Verhoeven is one of the best directors around today, being only surpassed by James Cameron; and he does a fine job directing 'Showgirls'. But the problem is, is that he had to work with one of the most simplistic & unsophisticated stories & screenplays imaginable: So why does it deserve 5 stars??? Because Elizabeth Berkley, the star of the movie who plays Nomi, puts in a stunning, Oscar-winning performance. Both men and women will find themselves captivated by Berkley's beauty. Berkley simply oozes youthfulness, energy, sexuality and positivity - which is simply addictive to watch; and her adolescent & naïve juvenile manner, voice, and sense of humour is utterly adorable and teasing. Berkley, along with her fellow cast, deliver such heart-felt, enthusiastic performances, that they manage to turn Verhoeven's & Eszterhas' sloppiness into one of the most surprisingly brilliant movies of all time...
Rating:
Summary: Highly entertaining
Review: I don't care what others say about this movie, I love it! It's outrageous, daring, eye opening and totally badddddddd. To me this movie is the soft porn version of Cinderalla (haha).
Rating:
Summary: God will protect the working girl
Review: It may be thought that Showgirls is for the lonely salesman in the hotel room, as he punishes the minibar and wonders why his promises to both wife and pastor are as, as Shakespeare wrote, such straws in the wind. In actuality, a subtext of this film happens to be profoundly proletarian in a way seldom seen in Hollywood productions...which despite their populism, celebrate Erin Brockovich's ESCAPE from proletarianization. For Nomi wants to work. Unlike many members of the working class, who accept mininum wage and dehumanizing work, however, Nomi swims, or dances, against the deskilling pressures of work by insisting that she wants to work as a dancer, using her unique (I'll say) body and talents. The problem is that the corporation Nomi works for recognizes her star power but needs instinctively to have Nomi act in hypercompetitive fashion, by pushing other dancers down the stairs. (...)Nomi, like so many working people, is willing to work hard but unwilling to play this game. Instead, she does a bit of revolutionary ultra-violence on a rock star who's raped her friend and walks away from Vegas. There's a mysterious good old boy at the beginning and at the end who swipes, with a grin, Nomi's luggage but picks her up as she walks away. Perhaps Dionysius, perhaps Elvis. In a society which wars on dance, Showgirls manages to celebrate it almost in spite of its overt messages(...)
Rating:
Summary: Why I think every man should own a copy of showgirls
Review: Elizabeth Berkley looks incredible naked. Need I say more?
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