Oh yeah… big smug pile of elderly yak droppings, for sure.
Turned it off after the second rendition of “Your Song”… took it back to the video store and asked if I could rent something good instead.
If it makes you feel any better, I love the movie but hated that scene. I suspect it’s meant to be a reference to Being There, but that doesn’t really make things right. Luhrmann would have done well to reconsider that bit, because I think it’s turned more people off the movie than anything else.
Moulin Rouge! isn’t a movie served well by home viewing, because it takes a while for it to become clear what the contract with the audience is – what the game is that’s being played and what the rules are. I’ve heard of many, many people turning it off before things get going properly. My advice to anyone who wants to give the movie a fair chance is to hold out until the “Your Song” sequence, which takes place just after the unfortunate writhing scene. If you like what they do with “Your Song”, then this movie’s probably for you. If you don’t, you may want to go ahead and turn it off after all.
I agree with the others who have said they hated this particular scene but I loved the movie. Also have to agree it needed to be seen on the big screen to be appreciated.
Another here for disliking Pulp Fiction, and absolutely detested Chicago.
The OP is wrong. *Moulin Rouge * was a piece of crap. Chicago was a “big, fetid, etc.” No, make that a “HUGE piece, etc.”.
In fairness to Kidman, I don’t know if anyone could have made that scene (or the door-slamming bedrom farce sequence shortly afterwards) funny.
Loved Moulin Rouge. Loved Pulp Fiction. And just to turn the heat up another notch, loved The Blair Witch Project.
What he said. And I’ll add that although I’ve seen him in many things, before MR I never realized how insanely hot Ewan McGregor is. That is all.
Also – I break out into Hindi Sad Diamonds, like gobear.
Mrs. Evil Captor rented Moulin Rouge at a time when I had injured my back big time and had a lot of trouble just standing up for a week or so (all better now). After about fifteen minutes of watching, I got on my hands and knees and crawled out of the room.
“I take it you don’t like the film?” she asked.
“Sprinkle some broken glass on the floor in front of me and you’ll see how much I don’t like it,” I said.
And just what is your problem with Elton *one of the greatest and most talented musicians, singers and/or songwriters of the last 50 years * John?
The Marx Brothers?
Well, maybe, but I suspect Chico would have wound up the one wearing the black lace penoir, and I don’t know that I’m comfortable with that image.
Aw, that scene is hilarious! There’s a HUGE misunderstanding going on there. Christian thinks he’s supposed to try and convince Satine of his poetic/songwriting skills so she’ll talk Zigler into letting his write the play. Satine thinks Christian is The Duke, who might back the play financially, and that The Duke is gearing up to have sex with her. She’s a prostitute, and wants The Duke to think he turns her on. She didn’t understand what Christian was trying to do, and so was being over-the-top “sexy.” Christian is as confused as you obviously were and can’t figure out what the hell she’s doing writhing and panting.
They’re on different planets, until he starts singing, which surprises the hell out of Satine. All of a sudden, Satine quits being a prostitute/actress and looks at him as a human being. When he realizes the effect his song is having on her, he starts to write it FOR her, and sing it TO her. That’s when they start falling in love.
Ah, it’s not for everybody, obviously. There’s too much going on to catch in ten viewings, let alone one. I’ve watched it countless times and I see/realize new things with every viewing.
I love my husband so much. He adores Moulin Rouge as much as I do. We’re in total sync when we watch it. It’s a wonderful feeling.
Better than Chicago?
Scout1222 was the first unfortunate soul to email and claim her ‘prize.’ I will mail her the fsspoc today, since it certainly wasn’t doing any good nestling up against the likes of Das Boot, Kundun, American Beauty, and The Life of Brian et. al.
Thanks Scout!
I would have to agree…although when I saw it I was both depressed and drunk, so that may have impaired my ability to give it a fair judgement.
I couldn’t be bothered to watch this when it came out but my girlfriend owns it and loves it and after reading a thread here that absolutely sung it’s praises I decided to watch it. I found that the music really grated on me and that it seemed a bit to ‘flouncy’ but I didn’t hate it. Colour me indifferent.
But she was doing it very. badly. And remember, I love the movie and I love Nicole, but—I mean, picture how much better, say Claudette Colbert or Carole Lombard would have handled that scene.
leander, as noted in one of the other 175 threads on this topic, I hated Chicago for many reasons.
Another lovely thing about Moulin Rouge! is the delicious display of The Three Ages of Man: Ewan MacGregor, Jacek Koman and Jim Broadbent—each yummy in his own way.
And there’s nothing interesting, funny, believable, or original about this misunderstanding.
As Loopydude said, style over substance.
I hated the cliched (not even warmed over) plot. I myself am a romantic, but I just don’t want to see this particular fictional romantic cliche once again. The dialogue and acting seemed to be complete afterthoughts … indeed, mere MacGuffins for the ongoing, nonsensical spectacle.
I hated how it took good actors like Broadbent, MacGregor, and Leguizamo and forced them to mouth idiotic dialogue and give unconvincing performances. (Kidman is, of course, already one of the consistently worst actors on screen, so no big surprise there.)
And, hey, choreography? I can do without choreography in a movie. Nothing bores me more. The only time I’ve ever been anything but bored by choreography in a movie is the dance sequence in “Boogie Nights.”
Are you channelling me? :eek: I enjoyed TBWP as well and couldn’t understand why people would dump so much vitriol on what is nothing more than a student film that had a novel (at the time) marketing campaign.
Ummm, then I suggest you not go to musicals?