An endeavor of Spectacular! Spectacular! proportions.

Rating: 10/10 (2 June 2001)

I think it will be hard to find a person who having seen this Spectacular! Spectacular! film, is not entertained by it. Even if a movie-goer hated Baz Luhrmann's "Moulin Rouge", I fail to see how the film could be unentertaining for them...
Bombast is a quality too often unseen in modern American filmmaking. Aside from "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", there was not a film released in 2000 that was as imaginative and daring as "Moulin Rouge". The film, quite literally, is a visceral and aural feast, and with scenes like Satine's (Nicole Kidman) swingset descent from the rafters of the Moulin Rouge reminded me of being in the theater for "Phantom of the Opera" and seeing the chandelier fall. And while some critics decry that the film uses too many modern pop songs that seem inappropriate in a late 19th/early 20th century setting, I think the songs give the film a universal appeal rather than having it seem artsy-fartsy. Besides, music artists have sampled for years now and people praise it, so why knock Luhrmann for "sampling" pop songs in his musical.
I hope that lots of people go and see "Moulin Rouge." It is delightful and sumptuous, brazen and exhilirating, bold and creative. This return to the movie musical wears its heart on its sleeve and is not ashamed to see it. Movie audiences- (parents, take your children) see this film over souless corporate shill like "Pearl Harbor", "Mummy Returns" and "Shrek" (I don't care how cute or clever people say this film is- it is designed simply to sell dolls and Happy Meals). You will be rewarded with a Spectacular! Spectacluar! feast.