This evening I caught an airing of Moulin Rouge and it had been about a year since I had seen it last. It struck me that there was much of this film that I enjoyed (read: the lavishness and flash and glitz of it) and many things I did not (read: the lavishness and flash and glitz of it).

I found myself torn between liking and disliking similar things about the film. The ever-present cheese factor in certain scenes and over the top acting, as well, became much more noticeable on this viewing. Kidman, I think, is great in it but the other performances are lukewarm most of the time.

Yet I am continuously drawn into the world Baz has created and there so much to look at you catch new things in repeat viewings. Yet, is this a case of the cover being MUCH better then the book?

What are your thoughts on this film?

I think it's a wonderful film. It's a frantic, theatrical movie. It in no way tries to be realistic or grounded, and I think it's wonderfully successful in creating a unique musical world. Some of the performances are over the top and cheesy at times, but it's spot on for the hyper realized fantastic world Luhrman is trying to create. Very different, very unique, and wonderfully successful. It's a simple story, and it's the music, style and emotion of the actors that makes it great. Though, it took me a couple viewings to get to that opinion and I'm sure its a film that will turn some people off with it's flashy design and incorporation of pop music. But hey, I loved that stuff.

Once I got past the hectic opening half, I began to enjoy it. Same with Romeo + Juliet.

Great DVD, btw.

imo the most overrated and one of the stupidest films of 2001.

It was as if no one had ever seen a friggin' rock opera in their life EVER.

Yeah, to quote MST3K, at times I felt like Baz placed a bunch of films in a blender and hit the mix button.

I personally loved this film and it is definitely my favorite of 2001. Kidman stole the show and was best part of this "hyper reality" of film.

I agree but, IHO, Ewan stole the show

Love this movie. While I feel that Kidman had the best acting performance in the show, Ewan's singing stole it for me. I had no idea he had such pipes. Good stuff!

X

I like it more every time I see it. A great film.

I guess there is balance in the universe ..... I like it less every time I see it.

I almost turned it off within five minutes due to the seizure-inducing camera work. I'm glad I didn't, truly an excellent film. The music, the action, the direction, all top-notch.

My wife and I rented it when it was first released to DVD. We were looking at each other and raising our eyebrows during the first several frenetic minutes but grew to like it quite a bit as the movie went on. I went out and bought the DVD the day after we saw it.

Loved it the first time I saw it. Love it even more with each subsequent viewing.

das

nicole kidman was in it, i was happy.

Didn't like it much the first time I saw it, yet something drew me back to the theater to see it again (and I rarely go to the theater even once for a film). After that second viewing I was hooked. Great experimental art film posing as a mainstream movie.

I loved it. I think it's a very modern musical. I also like McGregor and Jim Broadbent.

Thought it was great. I'm not into musicals but this one I really enjoyed.
I thought I'd like Chicago, but it didn't live up to what MR was.

Loved it. When it ended, I had to take some deep breaths. I remember that Brazil made me feel the same way.

Love it. Love the music and the visuals.

After MR, Chicago let me down, too.

I loved MOULIN ROUGE. Great story, great acting. The only thing I didn't like were the songs. If they took out all the songs, it would be the perfect film.

I bought the dvd since my daughter loves it, but I try to be out of the room if she's watching.

I think I suffered a stroke when I tried to watch this annoying crapfest.

fell asleep on it the first time i watched it. G/F lists it as a fave, so i need to give it another shot.

I second this comment.