Chicago (DVD) > Reviews

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 ... Read review

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 ... Read review

Advantages: See Review
Disadvantages: See Review

...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 ... Read review

Advantages: Great acting, great music, excellent dance routines, glamour and something unique and magical.
Disadvantages: None!

...I saw the DVD of Chicago was available, I rented it from our local Blockbuster. So on Friday evening, I sat down to watch it with two of my daughters (aged 10 and 12). My husband was playing on the football game, but was half-watching, as was my son (11). I soon became engrossed, right from the first number. All That Jazz is the most famous song from the musical and the film begins with this song, juxtaposing Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones)’s ... Read review

Advantages: Sassy, Well Concieved, well Choreographed
Disadvantages: main Story Feels A tad Dated

Chicago is the story of Roxie Hart whom is sent to prison after shooting and killing a man. Roxie - a wannabe starlet - then meets Velma Kelly a once Jazz star who was sent to prison after murdering her sister and husband and Hart learns how to manipulate the media and turn her 'style' into a brand. But with the threat of a hanging looming over her head and the desperate need to be famous will she be able to survive the media machine? Chicago prances ... Read review

Advantages: Great songs, strong performances
Disadvantages: Richard Gere's voice

...Zeta-Jones), a singer on the Chicago stage. Instead she is trapped in a boring marriage to the reliable, but extremely dull Amos (John C Reilly). She embarks on an affair with a furniture salesman called Fred, but she shoots him after finding out he has lied to her about having connections in the world of showbiz. Roxie then finds herself in jail, alongside Velma Kelly, who is awaiting trial for murdering her husband and sister after catching them ... Read review

Advantages: Excellently entertaining
Disadvantages: Gere's dubious singing

Wanting to watch a couple of films at the pictures when we arrive, the final choice was down to my wife – and she picked Chicago. A musical staring: Renee Zellweger, Richard Gere, and Katherine Zeta Jones. The film surrounds the trial of Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger,), after she kills her lover – a furniture salesman who she is convinced is going to give her-her big break in show biz. Unfortunately for him-she shoots him several times after he tells ... Read review

Advantages: Strong cast, well-directed
Disadvantages: Not one for musical-haters

Roxi Hart is a wannabe vaudeville star who achieves fame when she kills her lying lover in a fit of pique. Velma Kelly is an established star who achieves infamy after killing her adulterous husband and sister. The two women both end up on Murderers’ Row, where they have to vie for the attention of the showman lawyer Billy Fynn, if they want any chance of escaping the hangman’s noose. And this being "Cicago" it’s all a literal song ... Read review

Advantages: The songs
Disadvantages: Not for non musical lovers

It’s the 1920’s in downtown Chicago where murder has almost become an art and so called crimes of passion result in celebrity status for many of the females currently occupying the city’s famed Murderess Row. Blonde bombshell Roxie Hart(Renee Zelleweger) is married to loyal and dependable mechanic Amos(John C. Reilly) who’d do anything to make her happy but her overwhelming desire to be famous causes her to stray. Temptation ... Read review

Advantages: easy to understand plot, er...
Disadvantages: songs, acting, characters, the list goes on

...people know by now that Chicago is based on the hit Broadway musical, but if that is the extent of your knowledge, here's a quick rundown of it (cheers to the official musical web site for the info). It started back in 1996 (May 2, to be precise) as a concert. Once its success was more assured, preview performances of the musical began on October 29, with the opening coming on November 14. The rest, up until this film, is history. The musical has ... Read review

Advantages: EXCELLENT , FUN, GREAT MUSIC
Disadvantages: NOTHING

...it. This film begins in Chicago in the 30's I think when we see Velma Kelly (CZJ) arrive for her performance, her act is the Kelly sisters but unfortunately as explained later her sister has died so she is a solo act. Before she gets ready to perform we see her trying to wash blood off her hands. She sings the famous 'All That Jazz' and makes a great performance, what a powerful voice. She steals the show and Roxie Hart (RZ) watches her but is ... Read review

Advantages: Shoe tapping, showstopping, murderously good time.
Disadvantages: Might not live up to the stage show.

...bandwagon. Rather than an original concept, Chicago is the film adaptation of the long-running stage musical. It stars Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta Jones, and Richard Gere. Queen Latifah, John C Reilly, Lucy Liu and the woman who plays Cybill’s friend in the TV show Cybill (Christine Baranski?) also feature. Because it’s a musical, people are inevitably going to make comparisons with Moulin Rouge. Chicago isn’t as stylish, ... Read review