Unlike anything you've ever seen.

Rating: 8/10 (14 March 2003)

The opening moments of this movie were a bit disorienting, as I was swept into a world and a film unlike any other I'd ever experienced. But I kept in mind that Baz Luhrman simply doesn't make normal movies (See other work 'Strictly Ballroom' and 'Romeo & Juliet'), but rather audio-visual extravaganzas.
The music is what carries the film as the quirky pop adaptations, although odd at first, work very well and mesh seamlessly with the equally high-caliber original music. In fact this is the rare film that, while nothing quite compares to a theatrical viewing, is as good on DVD. I attribute this to the music. Like listening to a favorite CD over and over, 'Moulin Rouge!' is an enjoyable two hours time and time again, and the music will stay with you for even longer.
But unlike many movie musicals, the music here advances the story along, rather than simply providing melodious entertainment. It also enhances the story by displaying a greater depth of emotion than most mere words are capable of expressing. As for the vocal qualities, I found it quite refreshing to listen to the actual singing voices of the cast. Kidman, McGregor, and others supplied their own vocals, which was a fantastic change from the typical pre-packaged pop or opera sounds.
Tough movie to describe, but in a sentence, it's a flashy, fast-cutting, moving-camera, music-drenched portrayal of a love story set within a modern turn of last century nightclub.
Bottom Line: Every year there are two or three movies that genuinely get me excited about what can be done with and through film. 'Moulin Rouge' was one of those in 2001. Top Five of the year. 8.5/10