Moulin Rouge

A dazzling and yet frequently maddening bid to bring the movie musical kicking and screaming into the 21st century, Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge bears no relation to the many previous films set in the famous Parisian nightclub. This may appear to be Paris in the 1890s, with can-can dancers, bohemian denizens like Toulouse-Lautrec (John Leguizamo), and ribaldry at every turn, but it's really Luhrmann's pop-cultural wonderland. Everyone and everything is encouraged to shatter boundaries of time and texture, colliding and careening in a fast-cutting frenzy that thinks nothing of casting Elton John's "Your Song" 80 years before its time. Nothing is original in this kaleidoscopic, absinthe-inspired love tragedy--the words, the music, it's all been heard before. But when filtered through Luhrmann's love for pop songs and timeless showmanship, you're reminded of the cinema's power to renew itself while paying homage to its past.

Luhrmann's overall success with his third "red-curtain" extravaganza (following Strictly Ballroom and William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet) is wildly debatable: the scenario is simple to the point of silliness, and how can you appreciate choreography when it's been diced into hash by attention-deficit editing? Still, there's something genuine brewing between costars Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman (as, respectively, a poor writer and his unobtainable object of desire), and their vocal talents are impressive enough to match Luhrmann's orgy of extraordinary sets, costumes, and digital wizardry. The movie's novelty may wear thin, along with its shallow indulgence of a marketable soundtrack, but Luhrmann's inventiveness yields moments that border on ecstasy, when sound and vision point the way to a moribund genre's joyously welcomed revival. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com essential video

A Treat For Romance Lovers...

Moulin Rouge is a movie that you really can't "sort of like." Either you do, or you don't. Warning: it can be taken to come off as a little corny, but as long as you can get past that...the movie is FABULOUS! The songs are "on point," the acting is commendable, and the story...wow, well you'll just have to see the movie for yourself! September 18, 2008

A must have!

If you are looking for a movie filled with fun, romance and music, this is the movie for you! Although set in 1899 France, the story takes on a very modern feel with songs that everyone knows and loves. It will have you laughing, crying, singing and falling in love over and over again. September 16, 2008

What were they thinking?

I bought this DVD at the urging of a trusted reviewer. While I was entranced by the imaginative cuts and effects during the beginning credits, my companion and I were immediately turned off by the extreme over-acting. Yes, I've been cautioned that this technique was used to satisfy the intended theatrical effect. However, in my opinion, the desired effect was dreadful, distracting, and irritating. Only the first 10 minutes of my DVD was ever touched by a laser. Unless you're a masochist, save your money. September 5, 2008

Super-Amazing!

I'm a music fan. I love all tipes of music, but did not like show music so much. After watching Moulin Rouge, that perception changed. Moulin Rouge has the best soundtrack ever, and after watching it more than 5 times, I decided to get the two soundtracks to the movie. Any music fans out there, Moulin Rouge is one of the best musicals ever!! August 25, 2008

Moulin Rouge

This movie/musical was very well made. it wasn't annoying like most musicals are. Kidman and McGregor were perfect as the leads, who knew those two could sing! August 22, 2008

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