Moulin Rouge!

You can expect many things from this film, but you’ll get something different. First of all, it’s worth mentioning the beautiful songs and the amazing performances; I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many likeable actors together. The opening part, playing on a very bold and fun note, blew me away, with its unique costumes, sets, choreographies, and then Nirvana's “Smeels Like Teen Spirit” kicks in – just a blast. The rest of the film is also conducted in the most original spirit and is a feast for the eyes and ears, but I didn't like the more romantic, sometimes a bit depressing part so much. It was still an enjoyable show, but the crazy beginning made a stronger impression. 80% (02/28/2012)

A musical fairy tale about paying homage to the film century. The experience is, of course, deeper if one consciously perceives all the sources of inspiration. Viewers who only suspect something will only grope on the surface. The film features everything from de Toulouse-Lautrec, Méliès, Violetta, Monroe, Madonna, and Queen. Thank you, absinthe fairy. (02/04/2009)

Sometimes I tell myself that it's hardly possible for there to exist such a precisely balanced border between deafening noise and indescribable beauty. A highly romantic affair, in which a tremendous amount of tension lies hidden, led by my favorite film scene of all time: The hiding of the main couple, ingeniously built up to the perfect Because she doesn't love you! moment. The pinnacle of cinematography and the most emotionally captivating affair. Thank you, Mr. Luhrmann, for the best film I have ever seen. (12/23/2004)

Kitschy, over-stylized, zany, and wildly postmodern — Moulin Rouge! is a rollercoaster you can't help but love. Right from the start, it doesn't let up. The rapid-fire editing takes some getting used to, and the humor might seem dumb at first, but stick with it and keep an open mind, and you'll likely find yourself completely swept up in it, just like I did. The mix of humor, romance, and drama can feel a bit over-the-top and uneven, but it worked for me. Plus, what starts as a comedy transforms into a powerful and intense drama in the second half, solidifying the film's uniqueness. The romantic storyline isn't groundbreaking, but it's executed so well that you forgive the clichés and just enjoy the ride. The musical highlights for me are definitely "Your Song" and "Elephant Love Medley." The chemistry between Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor is perfect and feels completely natural. My only real gripe is that the film's resolution is revealed right from the beginning. While the ending is still strong, it might have hit even harder if we didn't know what was coming. All in all, it's a magical film I'll watch many times over. (10/08/2017)

Baz Luhrmann has an amazing ability to turn Moulin Rouge into an unusually intense, emotional, "original", (non-)kitsch spectacle that is just very hard not to succumb to. And I loved the grace with which Moulin Rouge teeters on the edge between total kitsch and riveting emotional spectacle. The choreography, the sets, the costumes, the music, the boldness and inventiveness of the direction, the hauntingly beautiful Nicole Kidman... plainly and simply the prototype of a film that can provide an intense emotional experience from beginning to end. A year earlier, Lars von Trier also made a wannabe musical "his own way", which I coincidentally also gave full marks. The difference is that I was still quite nauseous for a few days after Dancer in the Dark and to this day I have no desire for a second viewing. With this film, I know I will want to watch it again very soon and I definitely won't be nauseous in the "Trier" sense :-) (08/08/2013)