20th century answer to the popular opera

Rating: 10/10 (22 June 2001)

I keep seeing occasional comments about this film where some under-educated, action film addicted, toxic, cultural cretin thinks this is the worst movie ever. Ooooh...that just irritates me. Bless their pea-pickin' hearts, they just don't get it.
Open your mind. Educate yourself. I think this is a superior film. I won't call it a musical.. it is more of the 20th century answer to the popular opera (as in popular drama) of the 18th & 19th centuries before Opera became the exclusive desmesne of the elite. All my students will be writing essays about this film describing how early modern theatrical movements like Futurism, Dada, Symbolisme, Surrealism, Theatre of Cruelty, and Brecht are used and fused with 20th century popular culture enthythematic contructs to create a coherent and effective whole. I can't wait! Although, I'm sure they will groan. Too bad.
I've seen it twice now and I found it even more thrilling the second time around. The only thing I HATE is that the "soundtrack" is NOT a soundtrack at all. Many songs are missing or in totally different forms than they are in the film. Small background pieces are brought to the forefront and central pieces are left out altogether. The sale of the soundtrack as a soundtrack is a fraud...it's still good but it's not a soundtrack!