Moulin Rouge!

Ewan McGregor, Nicole Kidman, Jim Broadbent, Richard Roxburgh

Directed by Baz Luhrmann

Rating: 5 stars

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return."

Though Moulin Rouge! is a tragic love story between a prostitute and a penniless writer, don't write this story off just yet. When Christian (Ewan McGregor) meets Satine (Nicole Kidman), their love is doomed from the start. By accident, Christian becomes the writer for a play, "Spectacular Spectacular". While Satine plays the lead, she is promised by her boss, Harold Zidler (Jim Broadbent), to sleep with the Duke (Richard Roxburgh) on opening night. However, Christian and Satine fall in love and try to keep their relationship a secret. Soon it becomes evident to everyone what's going on but the Duke remains oblivious and in the dark. The couple is forced to end their relationship before the Duke can find out. The Duke plays an important role since he is supplying the money to re-build the Moulin Rouge into a theater. This does not stop them and opening night arrives by the end of the movie, full of surprises.

I would give this movie five out of five stars. Though Moulin Rouge! may seem odd the first time you watch it, watch it enough times and you will love it too. Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman each have amazing voices and sing their songs quite astonishingly well. Who knew they could sing? This just makes you fall head over heels for these characters. It's hard not to fall in love with them, singing along to Ewan McGregor's "Your Song" as well as the duo's "Come What May". Baz Luhrmann did a great job with this film.

This is one of my favorite movies of all time. I can watch this movie over and over again. I watch this movie so many times a year; whether I'm feeling sad or happy, this beautiful movie brings the characters to life. The soundtrack is on my iPod, it's a great way to listen to "Elephant Love Medley", as well as the other songs, without having to watch the whole movie all over again. Especially if you're out of the house and have a craving for some Moulin Rouge! You can play the soundtrack and follow the movie in your head with each song.

Give Moulin Rouge! a chance. Personally, I'm not into musicals but Moulin Rouge! is a great exception. The songs they sing are a variety of tracks from Elton John to Madonna to U2 to the Beatles as well as many other famous artists. This is a movie you have to see at least once in your life. One unforgettable quote from this movie I want to leave you with that is so true when it comes to real life, "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return."