excellent on all counts

Rating: 10/10 (25 May 2001)

This review may contain what people call spoilers. Though I wouldn't be wary, they're not major.

- - - 'Spectacular! Spectacular!' is the name of the theatrical production the team of Moulin Rouge are trying to make in the movie. And boy, is it ever! I think I can quite clearly say that Moulin Rouge is my favourite movie... indeed.

Everything from the wonderfully directed opening 30 minutes (diamond's that smell like lady marmalade are a can-can girls best friend) to the tragically sad ending (yes, I am not ashamed to say that I cried!)
The songs are brilliant, colourful and everything you'd expect from a Baz Luhrmann movie. Ewan and Nicole are really good singers. And the scene where Jim Broadbent & Richard Roxburgh sing "Like A Virgin" to each other is a crack up!
I have never been to a movie where the audience clapped. I can now say I have. Everyone in the cinema (about 300) clapped after the 'spectacular! spectacular!' pitch (which is hilarious,) after the elephant love medley, after the "Like A Virgin" scene and after the finale song. And then after the song everyone cried because of the ending.
But damn, is this movie funny. John Leguizamo (sp?) as the dwarfed man dressed like nun (you'll get that once you've seen the movie)
The special effects are great, to show the bohemian absinth (sp?) soaked Monmatre in 1899.
Oh, another highlight! Kylie Minogue as the green fairy singing "The Hills Are Alive With The Sound Of Music" she appears as a drunken halucination from a bottle of tequila... and it is funny as hell.
Mouling Rouge deserves at least 4 oscars. Best actress (for the fabulour Nicole, of coarse,) Best Costume Design, Best Cinematography and best set design. And a nod to best song. I think there was an original one in there somewhere.
See this movie, you [probably] wont regret it.
A+ / 10/10
Now, obviously this isn't going to appeal to everyone, but... see it, it truly is like nothing you have ever seen before!