Moulin Rouge will blow you away if you're willing to play along. (teeny spoilers)

Rating: Null/10 (15 August 2001)

This is a movie for anyone willing to give themselves over to the experience.
The first time I saw Moulin Rouge, I was literally speechless at the end. After two hours of intense color, sound, and emotion, I came out feeling a bit overwhelmed; very few films have ever had that effect on me.
Many of the negative comments I read regarding the film seem to miss the point I think Baz was trying to make. I've read that he based the movie on the opera "Orpheus in the Underworld," which is the actual origin of the "Can-Can" song. In the opera, a young protagonist tries to save his love from a tragic fate but is eventually unsuccessful. See the parallel? It's not supposed to be an original plot.
As for the songs, I believe the use of recognizable pop standards allows the audience to experience the Moulin Rouge as the true center of pop-culture that it was. I can't imagine today's audience getting fired up by some Offenbach.
Additionally, by beginning and ending the film with a curtain, he presents the film as a stage show or opera, thus allowing for the archetypal plot and familiar songs.
I personally loved this movie and would recommend it to anyone looking for something unique. It's not perfect, but it's got a lot of heart and has the nerve to be different. Kidman and McGregor give amazing performances. Love it or hate it, you won't soon forget it.