Moulin Rouge (+CD) (DVD)

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Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge

A movie, like you have never seen before. This is a magnificent, heartrending, romantic musical, testing love to its maximum limits. The brand-spanking new Moulin Rouge is a fantastic depiction of love, presented by Fox Studios. Exclusive soundtracks accompanied by outstanding soprano and tenor vocals from Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor give a blast of excitement to this musical.

...found "Greece" and "Chicago" compelling, Moulin Rouge is an addition to this exquisite selection. With more exhilaration, thrills and twists, you could even say Luhrmann's movie is visually opulent, funny and the flawless cast without a doubt reinvent the ethnicity of blue époque Paris with magical realism.

Set in Paris 1899, the Moulin Rouge highlights the magic of summer love. A young, audacious, gifted writer ... more

Here's a review i wrote a while ago, i thought i'd upload it: Hope you like it!

Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge

A movie, like you have never seen before. This is a magnificent, heartrending, romantic musical, testing love to its maximum limits. The brand-spanking new Moulin Rouge is a fantastic depiction of love, presented by Fox Studios. Exclusive soundtracks accompanied by outstanding soprano and tenor vocals from Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor give a blast of excitement to this musical.

The Moulin Rouge is produced and directed by Baz Luhrmann, who is also the former director of the all - popular Shakespearian Romeo and Juliet. If Kidman dueting with McGregor isn't adequate - then how about the out of the blue cameo appearance of Kylie Minogue; singing as a green fairy? It's an all - tragic dramatic tale of romance that made me realise there are no limits to love. And even heartbreak ends up leading to an even stronger bond.

It is not quite reminiscent of a live Broadway musical, but if you found "Greece" and "Chicago" compelling, Moulin Rouge is an addition to this exquisite selection. With more exhilaration, thrills and twists, you could even say Luhrmann's movie is visually opulent, funny and the flawless cast without a doubt reinvent the ethnicity of blue époque Paris with magical realism.

Set in Paris 1899, the Moulin Rouge highlights the magic of summer love. A young, audacious, gifted writer called Christian (Ewan McGregor) departs for Montmarte, Paris wanting to write a story about love. Christian stumbles upon a group of Bohemian actors who want to put on a musical production, so dwarfish Toulouse-Latrec (John Leguizamo) asks Christian to write it. The most beautiful, ever-so-dazzling and famous star, Satine, is wanted to play the lead.

A high-kicking courtesan at the Moulin Rouge, glamorous Nicole Kidman plays the role of Satine. Whilst performing the classic "diamonds are a girls best friend," in the vivacious brothel-like nightclub, Satine inadvertently bumps into Christian, when in actual fact she was supposed to be impressing "the Duke" (Richard Roxburgh), or in other words seducing him. Mistaking Christian for the Duke, Satine consequently develops an aim to entice Christian. Christian finds Satine half-naked, in the bedroom, turning on her breath-taking, irresistible charm. Satine's erotic behaviour disrupts Christian's attempts to converse with her, and she stops arousing him as she pauses to listen. A spark between them kindles as Christian continues to speak, only to realise it is love.

A catastrophe occurs in which Satine collapses prior to the Duke's entry into the room, who is outraged to discover Christian on top of Satine. Luckily, their tracks are covered with the aid of Christian's Bohemian pal, Toulouse. With the false impression that they were rehearsing for the Bohemian musical, the story is narrated to the Duke, who is highly impressed with the new production entitled "Spectacular Spectacular." The Moulin Rouge is transformed from a notorious nightclub into a modern theatre.

Christian and Satine's love affair behind the Duke's back makes situations progressively more difficult. Satine's frequent collapses (which Christian is unaware of) and with the Duke's promotion as the financial backer for the new production were bound to stir up more problems eventually. But, selfishly wanting Satine all for himself, the Duke complicates matters further. How will Satine live on without her true love? Satine is torn between the two, but like a true actress, she knows the show must go on!

Compared to something like "Greece," the Moulin Rouge also seems to have actors singing whilst dancing on the streets - they are somehow the best features of the movie. A typical scene in the Moulin Rouge is where Ewan McGregor strolls through the empty, straight streets of Paris, alongside the elevated buildings covered in lights- almost, yet not quite, like a Las Vegas imitation: The lighting and setting Baz uses, constructs a stunning, romantic yet mysterious atmosphere.

The Moulin Rouge is obviously not for the golden oldies but is aimed at teens, due to the mild sexual content and some complex dialogue. That's not to say there aren't any amusing scenes in the screenplay. Unlike "Phantom of the Opera" which offered quirky, ghastly, gothic music combined with the overdramatic script, the Moulin Rouge provides amazing soundtracks sung by Nicole and Ewan themselves. One scene I found most entertaining was where Harold Zidler (Jim Broadbent) and the Duke were singing a duet in relation to Satine, by using Madonna's "like a virgin." I laughed excessively watching two grown men skip around in embarrassment, in their bewildering double act.

And there's my favourite character of all time: Henri- Toulouse- Latrec, acted by John Leguizamo who also starred in "King of the Jungle" as well as providing a character voice in the animated "Ice Age." Toulouse is a narcoleptic Argentinean with a dwarfish appearance; still, you can't forget his goatee. Toulouse forgets things fairly easily, for instance during the show "Spectacular Spectacular," he decides to crash down onto the set, consequently almost ruining the show, simply for forgetting his line: His only line throughout the entire script! Baz definitely uses Toulouse to bring some humour into this legendary movie. Also Toulouse singing on top of a rooftop is a great device for a time setting change prior to Ewan McGregor's monologue whilst on his old-fashioned typewriter.

What can I say? Speechless as I am, this high-kicking movie is worth watching. Fox Studios have presented a burlesque musical like no producer has ever created, also situated in the glamorous haven of sex, drugs and lies, is the Moulin Rouge - "no laws, no limits, one rule, never fall in love… "

Thanks for reading and please leave a rating and comment. Cheers

*mightyd* 

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