Rating: 
Summary: A Visual Feast
Review: Visually rich, but somewhat shallow, this is a fast-paced frolic of a film. Nicole Kidman is gorgeous, and her co-star is also handsome as the impoverished writer whom the courtisan loves but tries to resist in favor of a rich but ruthless Duke. This is more of a musical than anything else, and most of the film is sung and danced rather than spoken. Enjoyable but not for everyone.
Rating: 
Summary: Freedom, Beauty, Truth, Love, and Above All Things Quality
Review: In the beginning, I was enthused that director Baz Luhrmann was going to make a movie musical, considering the cinematic flair and emotional intensity, and surprising humor of his previous outings. "Strictly Ballroom" A story where much of the character's emotions were told through dance. Then there was "William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet" A retelling of the quintessential love story, seamlessly set in our time. Both of these films were dazzling achievements in artistic cinema. And a musical would've been a thrilling next step for Luhrmann. But this overwhelming feeling of trepidation hit me when I realized what would be in the film. One fact about me is that I'm a fanatic of musicals, If you look at my previous reviews you will see that. Fact of the matter a real musical has original tunes. When I heard that "Moulin Rouge" would use a compilation a modern day pop tunes and that the compilation would include the putrid, festering presence of Music industry courtesans Christina Aguilera, Mya, Pink, and Li'l Kim (Learn to spell, Kim). Plus the fact that I had never forgiven Ewan McGregor, for the atrocities that were "Star Wars: Episode One", and "Eye of the Beholder," not even "Velvet Goldmine" could save my opinion of him. But the time came when I noticed the mixed reception that audiences and some critics had given it. Realizing I could not go by those opinions (usually I side with the critics). I inevitably had to rely on my own. I went to go see it, finally. And thank god I did. what a fool I was to doubt Mr. Luhrmann's artistic vision. The opening of "Moulin Rouge" is a bit of a tease. It starts out to be serene and docile as the camera zooms through a scratchy, black and white street of turn-of-the-century Paris and up into the Window of a dishevled Christian (Ewan MacGregor, who redeemed himself with this one, with his most energetic, and touching performances). But then the story begins with Christian arriving in Paris and almost immediately falling in with the Bohemian revolution with a dwarf Toulouse-Lautrec (John Leguizamo showing in his performance, that big things come in small packages.) and the sordid world of the Moulin Rouge. Upon arrival to the Moulin Rouge, in the film we're pratcially invited to this wild, surreal party where the clientele appropriately sing "Smells Like Teen Spirit" whilst the "Diamond Dogs" tempt them in with "Lady Marmalade."(Mercifully Luhrmann didn't include the actual appearances of the aforementioned music industry trolips.) Suddenly in enters Jim Broadbent and his flambuoyant brillance as Rouge Owner Harold Zidler (Who is at his best in this film with the hilarious revamped rendition of Madonna's classic "Like a Virgin"). Soon the party enters into a CanCan dance filmed and edited with a striking vibrancy, and intesity that in which could only be done in a Bazmark production. It begins to go faster and faster until down from above comes Satine, the Sparkling Diamond (Nicole Kidman basking in her natural glamour and surprisingly powerful singing voice). Swinging high above on a trapeze. This entire opening sequence completely assaulted my senses and soon upon it's completion I was putty in this movie's paws. But soon the movie progresses to a more serious tone. Satine becomes contractually bound to The Duke, played by M:I 2's Richard Roxburgh. At first you think The Duke is just a clueless schmuck, but soon becomes intimidating upon his realization of Christian and Satine's romance. Roxburgh effortlessly achieves that transition in the character. Baz Luhrmann's directing manages to deliver the bohemian messages of beauty, freedon, truth, and love, and succeeds in irking the audiences emotions. Especially the tragic finale (which is wisely revealed in the beginning of the film to avoid the shock, and to brace the audience for the inevitable.) Luhrmann also manges to unveil new hidden talents in all of his leads that were never shown in their previous films. I haven't seen a director do that since Sam Raimi made Keanu Reeves actually ACT in "The Gift." Though I will say that the lack of originality in the songs and the plot almost brought it down but fortunately the songs fit perfectly with the incredible orchestration and though the storyline is unoriginal it is played extremely well. But I still felt that when it came to recent movie musicals "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" succeeded with far less effort. Nevertheless this is still one of the most entertaining films of the year and one of the few great movies to come out of the WORST summer in cinema history.
Rating: 
Summary: Rouge with embarrassment( Camille meets Gigi)
Review: I agree with the other reviewer. I wanted to like this movie because I love musicals. The modern songs presented in an 1899 setting just didn't make sense. Ewan McGregor, Star Wars is calling your name. He either sings loudly screaming or soft. There is not much contrast. I think if he got some singing lessons maybe he would be better. I thought Nicole Kidman was beautiful but think maybe she should stick to nonsinging roles. Anyway, whoever conceived of this musical couldn't decide whether they wanted comedy or drama. It started off comedy with The Hills are Alive..from the Sound of Music and other comedic elements then they brought Nicole in as a French Courtesan dying of consumption. Sounds like they borrowed this from Camille(A great old movie from the past) and mixed it with Gigi( another great old movie from the past. If they had stuck with the drama of the movie from the beginnning and used new songs that would lend themselves better to the time period I think it could have been a great movie musical. Is there any wonder that they don't make many musicals anymore? Visually this movie is beautiful.(The set is gorgeous) but for the rest, I give it one star. I wish it could have been better.
Rating:
Summary: Something smells
Review: To say that this movie is terrible is to be an insult to all things terrible. Once again Hollywood shows that they will put ANYTHING on film. Kidman is beautiful as always but we already know this. But using modern musical tunes as the dialog is tiresome. It would have been a better sell if they had set the movie in current times. But the people who did this piece of crap decided to set it in 19th century France. This just does not work it come off as silly. Steer clear of this movie if you have an IQ of over 40. But if not rent it and be entertained, sort of. But above all dont buy it you will be sorry.
Rating:
Summary: Gladly surprised
Review: Having hated the soundtrack the first time I heard it a few months ago, I have to admit I was skeptical to say the least, to check out this movie. But I did, and I'm gladly surprised: the things that ignorance can trick you into thinking... This movie is directed by Baz Luhrmann, the same genius behind the extravagant-yet-amazing version of "Romeo and Juliet" starring Leonardo Di Caprio a few years ago. Now, on a similar note, he brings this wonderful work starring Scottish Ewan McGregor and gorgeous Nicole Kidman in front of a production that could be compared to Broadway musicals, while retaining a special life of its own, with an abundant sense of humor (take the blend of lyrics of highly-known pop songs into the most unpexected dramatic situations and the Argentinian that falls asleep everywhere, for instance) and some visuals that will leave you astounded. Unconventional as it is, the movie explores a genre that might as well only belong to Luhrmann forever, but the matter of the fact is that it accomplishes its goal in storytelling while resulting highly entertaining and filled with some very good acting, specially by McGregor.
Rating:
Summary: wow!
Review: this movie was absolutely horrible...it made no sense and was just too weird...i mean, c'mon, they were singing madonna and nirvana songs in 1899??? nah.
Rating:
Summary: This is more than just a story about love!
Review: MOULIN ROUGE ROCKS!... Literally! The music used in the film was made famous by other artists, but they seem completely new when sung by Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman. Baz Luhrmann, the director and co-writer, used the lyrics from famous songs by The Beatles, Madonna, Sting, Elton John, Marlyn Monroe, etc., to tell the story and what the characters are thinking. Unlike some musicals, the songs actually move the plot forward. The songs are the story. Ewan McGregor (Star Wars Ep. 1) and Nicole Kidman (The Others, A
Far Off Place) have excellent, excellent, excellent chemistry in this movie. Kidman plays a prostitute that never lets herself love anyone because it will interfere with her work. McGregor plays a boy obsessed with love. Both of their voices blew me away, especially McGregor's. I never would've thought that they could pull it off. I expected Kidman to have a screechy Mariah Carey wannabe voice, but I was very wrong. Baz Luhrmann (director of Romeo and Juliet + Strictly Ballroom) has made an incredible piece of art. The visuals alone deserve to win a few Oscars, which I'm sure it will. He has made a movie targeted to the VH1 audience with the MTV effects. Together they make a stunningly beautiful film. I was in awe and still am. This movie is a modern classic that is definitely worth the time and money. Buy it!
Rating:
Summary: A musical for the times
Review: I'm not a musical movie fan (I cared very little for 'The Sound of Music...but I did watch it), so I approached this movie with trepidation. My biggest regret now, is that I didn't go see it on the big screen; I'm sure it must've been even more dazzling than the DVD on my little TV. The musical story surrounds the life of a young man named Christian (played by Ewan McGregor) who comes to Paris in 1900 in search of life's inspiration (sounds kinda corny, I know, but keep reading) and finds it at the Moulin Rouge --- a famous dance hall of the period that really existed. He stumbles upon Louie Lautrec (forgive the spelling, please) who was a brilliant poster artist and general artist (and doomed alcoholic) for the Moulin Rouge but here is given a larger role as a bohemian actor. And from here Christian comes into contact with Satine (Nicole Kidman), a beautiful cortisan who aches to be a true actress. Christian is immediately taken with her but so is another that night: a Duke who is deathly jealous of anyone who 'touches his things.' He soon considers Satine 'one of his things.' Initially Satine mistakes Christian for the Duke and unknowingly falls in love with him. But soon she discovers that he is NOT the Duke, but it's too late. She loves him, but he has no money...and the Duke does. He can make her the actress she's always wanted to be. What's a girl to do? The story is as old as Romeo and Juliet (star crossed lovers forced apart by greater circumstances). There are obvious parallels to the recent movie 'Shakespeare In Love' as well. But that's where similarities end and epiphany in Hollywood began; Someone left a director to his/her own devices! And look what happened...BOOM! instant success and a possible classic. The filming of the sequences is dazzlingly and dizzingly perfect! The sets and costumes were perfect! And the acting was incredibly engaging (even for Kidman!). The mesh of music, past and present, gave it a surreal quality---as if you were relegated to another plain of existence. The dance scenes were...well...they left me speechless. The scene with 30 couples doing the Tango left my mouth agape (dancing to an incredible version of Stings 'Roxanne'). I was initially worried that the combination of music from the present with footage of 1900 Paris might be too close to another failed movie (A Knight's Tale), but this was not so. This is on an entirely different level. A level that I, as of yet, have seen no equal in the musical movie making industry. I'm buying this one!
Rating:
Summary: Let Yourself Go!
Review: If you sit back, allow yourself to simply let go of all your preconceived notions of what a movie musical should be, let go of cynicism (not easy in this day and age), and just relax, you will have the time of your life. I found it amazing that a conventional/standard love story could be made into one of the most original movies I have every seen.
Loved this movie from the moment it began. A true feast for the senses! There was not a moment where I wasn't enjoying myself.
Rent "Strickly Ballroom" too, it's by the same director. Treat yourself and buy this movie, the DVD has all sorts of extras. Truly what a DVD is for.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie! An even better DVD!
Review: A ground breaking revolutionary film that is just as revolutionary as a DVD. Baz Luhrman gives us a full DVD plus more of fabulous extras. Buy this DVD!
| 
