Moulin Rouge (Special Edition) (DVD)

Review of

Moulin Rouge (Special Edition) (DVD)

Overall rating (134): Overall user rating Moulin Rouge (Special Edition) (DVD)

3 offers from £2.82 to £6.48  

All Moulin Rouge (Special Edition) (DVD) reviews

 Write your own review


 


 


Like sex on a cold day

5 Sep 7th, 2001

Advantages:
fantastic film

Disadvantages:
none

Recommendable: Yes 

Detailed rating:

Did you enjoy it?

Characters / Performances

Soundtrack

How does it compare to similar films?

more


johnnyg4

About me:

Member since:03.03.2001

Reviews:18

Members who trust:7

Review rated by 5 Ciao members on average: very helpful




I have been staring at my computer screen for at least an hour now. I have the soundtrack of the film playing quite loud and I cannot think of a lead in to tell you how utterly surprised and moved I was in seeing this film. So, how do I open this? If you want to go and see a film that will feed your eyes as well as renew your faith in musicals, this would be it. Or, when was the last time you allowed yourself to be seduced by a film? Funny, sexy, bawdy, an absolute feast for the eyes as well as the ears. Nothing I can say, nothing you will read about this film can, nor will, prepare you for the delirious thrill that is Moulin Rouge. This is all, of course, in my humble opinion …

At the heart of it Moulin Rouge is a love story. In turn of the century Paris, an aspiring poet Christian (Ewan McGregor from The Phantom Menace) arrives in the bohemian Montmartre, known for the famous Moulin Rouge (a nightclub, a dancehall, and a bordello), and run by Harold Zidler (Jim Broadbent from Topsy-Turvy). Looking to be inspire and write to his heart’s content.

A freakish accident opens him up to a friendship with painter Henri Toulouse-Lautrec (John Leguizamo from Spawn, Pest), eventually leading Christian into a writing gig of "Spectacular Spectacular", a play to be performed at the Moulin Rouge. The star of the play? Paris’ most famous courtesan, Satine (Nicole Kidman from Eyes Wide Shut, Days of Thunder, Dead Calm).

And the love story - Christian and Satine, through a series of mishaps, end up falling in love only to have their happiness thwarted by The Duke of Worcester (played wonderfully by Richard Roxburgh from Mission: Impossible 2), who is not only financially supporting this new play but also funding the building of a theatre at Moulin Rouge. So, is he doing all of this out of the kindness of his heart or maybe because he is a true theatre patron? Oh no neither, he has a much better reason, his participation in this funding is solely conditional on his exclusive access to Satine.

Ewan McGregor manages to give a grounded performance surrounding a very likable character for which all of the films’ antics revolve. And, something you might not have known, that boy can really sing. Yes, he played an Iggy Pop wanna-be rock star in Velvet Goldmine but, considering the range of styles brought forth here, I was more than pleasantly surprised.

Nicole Kidman does an equally wonderful job as the diva who wants to be a serious actress, torn between love and all the spoils that can come with money.

Baz Luhrmann directed and, as in his earlier film Strictly Ballroom, the lovers in Moulin Rouge are more realistic characters than their surrounding supports. Possibly allowing for the film to be a bit more realistic in the middle of all of the can-can fantasy.

Yeah, I am one of those freaky people that loved What Dreams May Come, both for the love story (it’s a powerful thing to see something that dark and deep and then think to yourself "hell yes I would do that for my lover, no questions") and for the colors, the visions that were put before my eyes. I am in no way comparing Moulin Rouge to What Dreams May Come but what I am saying is that, for me, when you get a film that has a good story (whether it is completely developed to your satisfaction or not) and then you add to it so many visions, colors, music, incredible sets, etc. that the whole film, in the end, becomes complete. For all the faults you may or may not have seen yourself, in the end it all comes together enough so that you have cried, cheered, laughed, and even more so realized that you have been moved more than a film recently has moved you - that is why I keep coming back to the movies. On that one chance that I will be amazed, dazzled even, but ultimately … moved.

So, can a film make your heart sing? If you are willing to allow yourself to be seduced for a little over two hours and it’s been awhile since your eyes last feasted to your heart’s content, take a chance and watch Moulin Rouge. From the very beginning as Christian recalls the events of the film, the signature song introducing us to the Paris of 1900, it’s broken-hearted lyrics cascading off of the screen, quietly leading us into the story of a "strange, enchanted, lonely boy, who wandered very far, who discovered that the greatest thing, was just to love, and be loved in return," then this is most definitely the film for you.


 
Evaluate this review

How helpful would this review be to someone making a buying decision?

Rating guidelines

Comments about this review
jayne78

jayne78

24.09.2002 01:30

An excellant opinion of an excellant film.

BadBoy

BadBoy

05.03.2002 17:36

great op! well done , see you around . jmk1

seagulls-lost-horizon

seagulls-lost-horizon

07.09.2001 20:31

a very helpfull op, I'd like to see it

Add your comment

max. 2000 characters

  Post comment
Compare Prices sorted by Price
Moulin Rouge -- Two-Disc Set [DVD] [2001]

Moulin Rouge -​-​ Two-​Disc Set [DVD] [2001]

Watching Baz Luhrmann's award-winningMoulin Rougeis a lot like falling in love. ...

more

£ 2.82 amazon dvd 719 Ratings

Postage & Packaging: £1.​21

Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-​2 business days.​.​.

     Visit Shop  

amazon dvd

Moulin Rouge! [Special Edition] (2001)-CD

Moulin Rouge! [Special Edition] ​(2001)​-​CD

...

£ 4.43 thehut.com 25 Ratings

Postage & Packaging: £0.​00

Availability: In stock -​ Usually dispatched within 24 hours.​.​.

     Visit Shop  

thehut.​com

Moulin Rouge -- Two-Disc Set [DVD] [2001]

Moulin Rouge -​-​ Two-​Disc Set [DVD] [2001]

Watching Baz Luhrmann's award-winningMoulin Rougeis a lot like falling in love. ...

more

£ 6.48 amazon marketplace dvd 94 Ratings

Postage & Packaging: Free!

Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours.​.​.

     Visit Shop  

amazon marketplace dvd



Compare prices
Moulin Rouge -- Two-Disc Set [DVD] [2001] Moulin Rouge! [Special Edition] (2001)-CD Moulin Rouge -- Two-Disc Set [DVD] [2001]
Moulin Rouge -​-​ Two-​Disc Set [DVD] [2001] Moulin Rouge! [Special Edition] ​(2001)​-​CD Moulin Rouge -​-​ Two-​Disc Set [DVD] [2001]
amazon dvd thehut.com amazon marketplace dvd
£ 2.82 £ 4.43 £ 6.48
Postage & Packaging: £1.​21
more
Postage & Packaging: £0.​00
more
Postage & Packaging: Free!
more
 Visit Shop  Visit Shop  Visit Shop
amazon dvd thehut.​com amazon marketplace dvd
Similar offers
Moulin Rouge Moulin Rouge (Detail) Generic Poster Moulin Rouge - Various
Moulin Rouge Moulin Rouge ​(Detail)​ Generic Poster Moulin Rouge -​ Various
amazon kitchen amazon kitchen amazon.co.uk
£ 3.99 £ 3.99 £ 17.09
Postage & Packaging: Check Site.
more
Postage & Packaging: 2.​50
more
Postage & Packaging: Free!
more
 Visit Shop  Visit Shop  Visit Shop
amazon kitchen amazon kitchen amazon.​co.​uk
Review Ratings
This review of Moulin Rouge (Special Edition) (DVD) has been rated:

"very helpful" by (100%):
  1. jayne78
  2. BadBoy
  3. so3003
and 2 other members

The overall rating of a review is different from a simple average of all individual ratings.
Products you might be interested in
Funny Girl/Funny Lady (DVD) Funny Girl/Funny Lady (DVD)
(+) Barbara's amazing voice, very funny!
(-) The sequel not quite as good as the original
1 review
Buy now for only £ 3.51
The Rocky Horror Picture Show / Shock Treatment (DVD) The Rocky Horror Picture Show / Shock Treatment (DVD)
(+) rocky horror - Very original, funny, good soundtrack.
(-) Shock treatment = v poor in comparison to rocky horror. just weird.
4 reviews
Buy Now
Gilbert And Sullivan (Box Set) (DVD) Gilbert And Sullivan (Box Set) (DVD)
Music / Performing Arts - Original Language: English - Classification: Exempt - Starring: London Symphony Orchestra
This product has not yet been reviewed. Rate it now
Buy now for only £ 29.85
Related products on eBay