Not as good, or as bad as everyone says...

Rating: 6/10 (9 December 2005)

Moulin Rouge! The only movie I can ever remember seeing with an exclamation point in the title! But that's about the only originality you'll find in this film.
Does Moulin Rouge have great musical numbers? Of course! But are they original? Moulin Rouge samples, "The Sound of Music", "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend," "Smells Like Teen Spirit", "Lady Marmelade", "I Will Always Love You" and "Like a Virgin". The list goes on and on. It's more like a Puff Daddy Remix Album than an original motion picture soundtrack.
How about the plot? A struggling writer competes with a wealthy man for the love of a beautiful girl. Nothing too original there.
So surely it must be the dialog. Yet thinking back, the only phrase that's still ringing in my ears is "The show must go on!" A great phrase, but nothing Moulin Rouge can claim to have coined.
Is Moulin Rouge a bad movie? Not at all. The chemistry between Nicole Kidman and Ewan Mcgregor is excellent, especially when they're singing duets. And while a little neurotic at times, the movie never lags or leaves the viewer bored. Despite all my complaints, the movie was over before I knew it. So while I didn't like it, I can easily see how someone else might. My biggest suggestion here is to RENT IT before you buy it. Because, while it's not a bad movie, it's also not as good as everyone says.