...
Billy soon agrees to take on the case and Roxie’s husband Amos has come up with the money and they are working to come up with some good press to make Chicago fall in love with Roxie to get her off the murder charge.
Just how will Velma take the lack of cooperation from her lawyer ... Read review
Adapted from the long-running stage version, this big-screenChicagois a non-stop singing ... more
and dancing extravaganza that may well herald the welcome revival of the film musical. When the part-time lover of wannabe star Roxie (Renee Zellweger) is murdered...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Hal Leonard Chicago Blues (DVD): Each song starts with a lesson from a professional guitar ... more
teacher. Then, the teacher performs the complete song along with professionally recorded backing tracks. You can choose to turn the guitar off if you want to play along, or leave the guitar in the mix to hear how it should sound. You can also choose from three viewing options: fret hand with tab, wide view with tab, pick & fret hands close-up; All Your Love (I Miss Loving) [Rush, Otis], Easy Baby [Magic Sam], I Ain't Got You [Reed, Jimmy], I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man [Waters, Muddy], Killing Floor [Wolf, Howlin'], Mary Had A Little Lamb [Guy, Buddy], Messin' With The Kid [Wells, Junior], Sweet Home Chicago; in english language
Postage & Packaging:refer to website Availability:in stock
Advantages: Great story, acting, song and dancing Disadvantages: None from me
...some good press to make Chicago fall in love with Roxie to get her off the murder charge.
Just how will Velma take the lack of cooperation from her lawyer now he has anew client and will Roxie ever fulfil her dream of being big on stage?
I really did not know what to expect from this film as it stars three big actors but all of whom I have never head sing or watched dance so for me it was a nice surprise. I found Renee ... ...set in the 1920’s in Chicago and this is very apparent from the costumes and sets which have been used. I found it all looked very real and authentic for this year and I loved seeing how different everything was back then. I did however find that at times it was quite dark and just wished we could have seen more of the film shot in the daytime.
The DVD which I have does have some bonus features which include:-
As I had my Nan staying with me last week we both decided that we would take over the TV and watch a film of our choice. We both agreed on this one as we are both fans of Richard Gere much to hubby annoyance!
The film is based around Roxie Hart who dreams of making it on stage, she is even having an affair with a man who she believes can make her dream come true. Things go wrong for Roxie when she finds out the man is lying to her and she ends up shooting him. Roxie sweet talks her husband to take the blame but he soon drops her in it when he finds out the truth behind his murder. Roxie is taken to prison where she meets her idol Velma Kelly who is also there for murdering her husband and sister after she found them sleeping together.
Roxie and Velma are soon competing with each other for the time and work of the top lawyer Billy Flynn who has never lost a case. The prison Matron, Mama is also helping Roxie as she too believes that Roxie would be big on stage and as she is taking a cut of all the profits and goods she is receiving.
Billy soon agrees to take on the case and Roxie’s husband Amos has come up with the money and they are working to come up with some good press to make Chicago fall in love with Roxie to get her off the murder charge.
Just how will Velma take the lack of cooperation from her lawyer now he has anew client and will Roxie ever fulfil her dream of being big on stage?
I really did not know what to expect from this film as it stars three big actors but all of whom I have never head sing or watched dance so for me it was a nice surprise. I found Renee Zellweger who played the role of Roxie to be fantastic and she really could belt out the tunes and I found her character to be both naive and powerful which really did make for some good viewing and gave us a wonderful insight into her mind. She worked extremely well with Richard Gere who took the role of Billy Flynn and I think they had a great on screen chemistry together.
I was expecting Catherine Zeta Jones to have had the main role of the film but she played Velma who appeared to be second after Roxie. She too did a great job with her character and gave her such a good competitive edge. I thought she had an amazing voice and loved seeing her in the dance routines. I also found the competitiveness between her and Roxie made for some entertaining viewing.
The supporting actors were all very good and for me the best by far was Queen Latifah who took the role of Matron Mama. She had an amazing screen presence and showed so many different sides to her personality and I also found hr vocals to be excellent.
The film is a musical and I have to say it worked so well. I have not seen this on stage so cannot make any comparison to that but for me the film was excellent. I found the mix of straight acting with the songs to work so well and it all just seemed to fit into place without much effort needed to follow what was going on. The songs throughout were brilliant and despite not having seen this before I did know quite a lot of them so was able to sing along at times. I think the vocals from everyone and not just the lead actors were good and made for some great listening.
The film did start off in a strange way with us being shown Roxie’s dreams but after the first 15 or so minutes they did become easy to follow and differentiate between dream and reality.
There was one scene which really did stand out for both me and my Nan and that was when Richard Gere did a routine with the characters and Roxie being puppets. I thought this was all excellently made and really was the highlight of the film for me. Even hubby did say that it was very good.
The film is set in the 1920’s in Chicago and this is very apparent from the costumes and sets which have been used. I found it all looked very real and authentic for this year and I loved seeing how different everything was back then. I did however find that at times it was quite dark and just wished we could have seen more of the film shot in the daytime.
The DVD which I have does have some bonus features which include:-
Feature Commentary with Director and Screenwriter From stage to screen ; The History of Making Chicago Deleted Musical Number Class
I am not a fan of bonus features so have not taken the time to watch these so I am unable to make comment on them. The running time of the film is 109 minutes and I found this to be a great length and loved the whole thing. The certificate is a 12 as there are some mild sex reference and violence and I do have to agree with this. I managed to pick this DVD up for just £3 in Tesco which I felt to be another great purchase.
Overall I do recommend this to everyone who has not yet watched it as it has a great storyline, excellent songs and dance routines and Richard Gere is excellent and sexy!
Advantages: Stylish, sexy, great songs, big stars- what more could you want? Disadvantages: Violent in places
...our hearts…
---Plot---
Chicago in the early 1930s. A city where killing is a form of entertainment and where, if you’re lucky, you can get away with murder. Chicago tells the story of Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger), a woman who killed her lover and is sent to prison facing the death penalty. But Roxie’s biggest ambition is to be famous and have her own vaudeville act, and she soon discovers that, with a little bending of the truth ... ...was alive today, living in Chicago and had $5000 things might have turned out a little differently”. In prison Roxie meets Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones), a vaudeville star who shot her husband and sister after catching them in bed together. Cue intense rivalry between Roxie and Velma as they each battle for their place in the spotlight.
---Background information---
Chicago was written by John Kander and Fred Ebb (the same people who ...
bubblegum_princess 23.01.2003 (24.01.2003)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Chicago (DVD)
Advantages: Fantastic acting, brilliant soundtrack Disadvantages: May turn you in to a husband murderer
Chicago, renound for its slightly murky past. Murder, gangsters, jazz, and liquor are the main contributors to the tasty plot in this film. Topping the bill is Reneé Zellweger, playing the main character Roxie. Most famously known for the film Bridget Jones’ diary, I was a little skeptical as to whether or not she could dance or sing, but I was willing to give her a chance. Next up is Catherine Zeta Jones, the Welsh lassie famous for her marriage ... ...of her abilities in anything other than acting. Then comes the king of charm; Richard Gere, an extremely experienced actor, well known throughout the business.
The film, set in the 1920’s, begins in a jazz bar, where Velma Kelly (Zeta Jones) and her sister Veronica are topping them bill. The problem is, only Velma turns up, and questions are asked of the whereabouts of Veronica. Watching from the audience, Roxie (Zellweger) looks up at her and longs ...
peekaboo123 09.02.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Chicago (DVD)
Advantages: Entertaining, great musical numbers, very enjoyable Disadvantages: None
Chicago is one of my newest favourite films; right up there with Billy Elliot and Forrest Gump. I wouldn't have thought it was my type of film, but I decided to buy it on Amazon after winning a gift voucher from another opinionating site. I was wary, but I'm glad I did!
It did very well, winning numerous Oscars, and cementing Catherine Zeta Jones' and Renee Zellweger's places at the top of the A-list; and deservedly so, too! It's hugely entertaining ... ...of singing on stage in Chicago and divorcing her boring husband, Amos. She meets a man, Fred, who promises to make her a star, but after he unceremoniously dumps her and reveals he has no more connections to the business than desperate Roxie, she shoots him in a fit of rage.
In prison, awaiting trial, she meets the famous Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta Jones), a successful stage star who shot her husband and sister after finding them in a compromising ...
JessL 24.09.2003 (30.11.2003)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Chicago (DVD)
Advantages: great acting, wonderful songs, the costumes Disadvantages: not for children, songs missed out from the original score
...progressed and reinvented itself with Chicago the multiple Oscar winning Bob Fossey musical that stars Renée Zellweger. Catherine Zeta Jones and Richard Gere. The sexy, seductive feel to Chicago makes it one of my favourite musicals having seen the film, stage production, bought the soundtrack album and the DVD. Yes I like it that much. So why do I like it??
Chicago is set surprisingly enough in Chicago Illinois in the late 1920s. The era is one ... ...actually had never heard of Chicago until recently when one of my favourites Marti Pellow took the role of Billy Flynn in London’s West End (It was for this reason I bought the tickets to see it when it came to Manchester) so I was surprised to hear that it was based on a 1927 movie of the same name and that was based on a true story. Roxie Hart’s story has had a number of revivals since that first black and white film. Did you know Ginger Rogers ...
duskmaiden 01.02.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Chicago (DVD)
...see what it is. Because Chicago isn’t a film with some elements that are good, and others that are weak. Chicago is a film anyone, of any age, can enjoy. There’s something there for everyone, and whether you like musicals or not, you’ll really enjoy it. In fact, you probably won’t just enjoy it; you’ll love it! Chicago was a stage musical for many years. In the last couple of years, female’s stars have battled ... ...legs up in the air. Chicago is the musical to star in to prove that you have the talent, and many actresses/singers have gone on from doing the musical to very big things. So, when it was made into a film, there was talk about who would get the main parts. Would it be Madonna? Britney? No, thankfully, the casting directors went with people who could sing a note or two, and it worked really well. The three main were, to be, Catherine Zeta- Jones (C-Z-J), ...
Mattroberts 20.11.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Chicago (DVD)
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Advantages: It's all Shania - sound and pics Disadvantages: Film of all the crowds
I have not completed my PhD dissertation on the psychology of music DVDs.
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THE SONGS
=
If it is really just the songs you want, they are basically the same as on the CD called 'Up ...
Advantages: A unique musical. Disadvantages: None.
The stage is dimly lit and the band begins to play, a figure appears and the spotlight falls on her, her cue begins and she starts to sing.
Yes you've guessed right, this is a musical. A jazz musical.
In Chicago two women, Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger) are arrested for murder, Roxie for the man she's been having a fling with, desperately trying to get into stardom and stage sensation Velma for her husband and sister double murder.
Now in prison the two try to gain Billy Flynn's (Richard Gere) attention so he will try and get them out of jail. While Roxie spends time in jail, she starts to see everything like a musical....
Bonus features: Disk 1:
A delightfull movie commentary with a deleted song 'The class' A duet featuring Velma and the warden - Mama Morten.
Disk 2:
The history of Chicago ...
Advantages: Fantastic quality live show. Disadvantages: Could feature more insight.
.
The concert DVD contains footage from both the May 9th and 10th Chicago shows at the United Center directed by Hamish Hamilton, who previously worked with the band directing "Elevation 2001/Live From Boston" and "U2 Go Home - Live from Slane Castle." While the feel of "Vertigo 2005//U2 Live From Chicago" is very much in the same vein as the Elevation DVDs there are some notable differences. Having attended both of these shows in person I can attest that very little was has been dropped from the show itself, with the major exception of "Party Girl," a song that was performed both nights. In essence this is as close to actually being at a typical U2 show on the first leg of the Vertigo Tour as a fan can be without attending the show itself.
The songs themselves get center stage in this concert DVD and while the audience's presence is all ...
Musicals & Music Films - Musicals & Other Music Films
Classification
12 years and over
Production Year
2002
Running Time
1 hour 49 minutes
Country Of Origin
United States of America
Plot
A film adaptation of the Broadway musical set in 1920's Chicago. This is the story of Velma Kelly, a Vaudeville star, who gains infamy after she shoots her husband dead in a cold blooded attack. Velma finds herself in prison with Roxie Hart, a chorus dancer who is also accused of murder and the two would be stars fight it out to see who can win greater fame through newspaper headlines...
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINM; TECHNICOLOR DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
Audio Commentary, Deleted Scene, Behind The Scenes Footage
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 English Dolby Digital 2.0 English
Award information
BAFTA
Best Supporting Actress 2002 (Catherine Zeta Jones)
OSCAR
Best Actress In A Supporting Role 2002 (Catherine Zeta Jones)
Professional reviews
Review
"...Fresh and daring....Queen Latifah and John C. Reilly are the surprise standouts..." (Box Office, p.59, 01/03/2003)
"...Zeta-Jones, all legs and growls, has found her calling card..." (Film Comment, p.73, 01/01/2003)
"...It's Zeta-Jones who keeps you watching from start to finish....She refuses to let you go....If musicals are dreams, she is their greatest dreamer..." (Los Angeles Times, p.C8, 27/12/2002)
"...[The actors] deliver sizzling performances....This tawdry, hard-as-nails carnival of ghouls generates plenty of fireworks..." (Movieline, p.62, 01/02/2003)
"...It's the raw expenditure of energy and the canniness of the staging that should pull audiences in and keep them rooted..." (New York Times, p.E1, 27/12/2002)
"...Zellweger wins our hearts. That's what makes her dangerous. Just like the movie....Dynamite..." (Rolling Stone, p.76, 23/01/2003)
"...[Jones] makes nightclub singer Velma a droll fishnet virtuoso..." (Sight and Sound, p.41-2, 01/02/2003)
"...CHICAGO shows how much the element of surprise is missing from today's movies....It's part of the basic Zeta-Jones bio that she can really sing, and, wow, can she..." (USA Today, p.7D, 27/12/2002)
DVD Description
This Hollywood adaptation of the classic Broadway musical sparkles with glamour and reverberates with the energy of good, old-fashioned song and dance. As the film leaps into its first riveting act, Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones), one half of the famous number she performs with her sister, arrives at the night club late, dishevelled, and with blood on her hands. Nonetheless, she goes onstage unhindered and wows the crowd with her shimmying rendition of "All That Jazz." Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger) a young blond who dreams of someday being famous like Velma, watches from the audience with eyes full of envy. Later, as the cops pick up Velma for the murder of her sister, sending her fame to all-time heights as she becomes a tabloid sensation, Roxie also commits a crime of passion--shooting a lover who falsely promised to secure her cabaret debut. The girls wind up together in jail, where Mama Morton (Queen Latifah), a compassionate guard, is their only hope of redemption; and Billy Flynn (Richard Gere) is the lawyer who can get them out. There, through wonderfully familiar songs like "Razzle Dazzle," "Cell-Block Tango," and "Cellophane Man" Roxie and Velma tell their story of competing for bad-girl celebrity. Director Rob Marshall presents a loveable CHICAGO that shares all the grit and grime of the Bob Fosse Broadway original with phenomenal performances by this grouping of Hollywood stars. The dizzying camerawork and dazzling sets make an easy transition from stage to film.
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