# Moulin Rouge vs. Chicago **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 2, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-vs-chicago/199170 "2003-09-02T16:53:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-vs-chicago/199170/1 "2003-09-02T16:53:23Z")
I’m sure this has been done before, but I couldn’t find anything in a search so… Last night I finally rented andsaw _Chicago_. I difinitely enjoyed it and was impressed and the singing and dancing abilities of Catherine Zeta Jones and Renee Zelwegger. Beutifully choreographed. But… I don’t think it held a candle to _Moulin Rouge_. That was one amazingly innovative and original movie! I loved the way they gave new meaning to well known songs in a totally different context. I guess the singing and dancing were better in _Chicago_. But in my opinion _Moulin Rouge_ was an overall better / more enjoyable movie. What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-vs-chicago/199170/2 "2003-09-02T17:03:57Z")
Rent _Sweet Charity_ and _Cabaret_ first; I’d be interested to see your comparisons then. ---
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-vs-chicago/199170/3 "2003-09-02T17:11:41Z")
Or, in the case of Moulin Rogue: watch MTV for a day, then read the plot of Camille. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-vs-chicago/199170/4 "2003-09-02T17:14:24Z")
Well that’s hardly fair, Wump. In the first place it could be argued that Baz Luhrman, through his earlier films, such as _Romeo+Juliet_, is the source of MTV’s look, and not the other way around. IN the second place, _Moulin Rouge_ is quite explicitly based on _La Boheme._ ---
**Author:** ![MusicJunkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@MusicJunkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MusicJunkie)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-vs-chicago/199170/5 "2003-09-02T17:22:03Z")
Or La Traviata. Baz Luhrman also directed a great La Boheme for the Sydney Opera House. ---
**Author:** ![MusicJunkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@MusicJunkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MusicJunkie)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-vs-chicago/199170/6 "2003-09-02T17:22:03Z")
Or La Traviata. Baz Luhrman also directed a great La Boheme for the Sydney Opera House. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-vs-chicago/199170/7 "2003-09-02T18:59:56Z")
_Chicago_=Richard Gere. bleh. _Moulin Rouge_=Ewan McGregor. RRROOOWRRRR!!! [sub]to be fair, I haven’t seen Chicago, and I’ve only seen Moulin Rouge in parts.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-vs-chicago/199170/8 "2003-09-02T19:12:17Z")
I don’t want to rent other movies or watch more MTV, I just want to discuss these two recent, very popular and critically acclaimed musicals. Which do you prefer and why? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-vs-chicago/199170/9 "2003-09-02T19:18:29Z")
I would have to admit I agree with the OP. “Moulin Rouge!” was a superior film. “Chicago” was pretty good, but A) It’s not that good a musical to start with, and B) I didn’t think they used the art of cinema to the same effect as “Moulin Rouge!” I think “Chicago” was probably the worst Best Picture winner of the last thirty years, and maybe ever, if you give some of the older winners (“Around The World in 80 Days”) some slack. Yes, I really do think it wasn’t as good as “Titanic.” Not that it was a BAD film … it just wasn’t anything spectacular. “Moulin Rouge!” was, at times, quite spectacular. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-vs-chicago/199170/10 "2003-09-02T19:39:29Z")
I enjoyed Chicago. I _loved_ Moulin Rouge. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-vs-chicago/199170/11 "2003-09-02T20:00:17Z")
My response to your OP was elicited by your words “original” and “innovative.” Plus, if you enjoyed these two movies, then you’ll certainly enjoy the two I suggest; plus you’ll have a historical context for the Moulin Rouge and Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![greck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ab992/32.png) [@greck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greck)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-vs-chicago/199170/12 "2003-09-02T20:14:32Z")
I say moulin rouge is the better film, but if Chicago was directed by Ditka, and starred a certain team from a certain town known as… da bears… well, bears by 2 in overtime. ---
**Author:** ![JustPlainBryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@JustPlainBryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustPlainBryan)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-vs-chicago/199170/13 "2003-09-02T20:22:33Z")
For me, **Moulin Rouge** was a pretentious, stupid, overtly syrupy monstrosity. I hated that movie so much. I know, I may be the only one who feels this strongly. If it makes you feel better, I also hated **Titanic** and **Good Will Hunting**. I loved **Chicago**. The music was great, the plot was excellent and beautifully cynical, and I actually found new respect for Richard Gere, who I didn’t like as an actor before. My most favorite bit was the puppet scene, followed by the Queen Latifah musical number. Wow! ---
**Author:** ![Delly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Delly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delly)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-vs-chicago/199170/14 "2003-09-02T21:01:37Z")
I like both but preferred Moulin Rouge, preffered the music and the leads. I did like Chicago too tho, just not as much. ---
**Author:** ![Kaspar\_Hauser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@Kaspar\_Hauser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaspar_Hauser)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-vs-chicago/199170/15 "2003-09-02T21:47:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JustPlainBryan \* > \*\*For me, **Moulin Rouge** was a pretentious, stupid, overtly syrupy monstrosity. I hated that movie so much. I know, I may be the only one who feels this strongly. If it makes you feel better, I also hated **Titanic** and **Good Will Hunting**. \*\* Hey, are you me? ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-vs-chicago/199170/16 "2003-09-03T03:37:53Z")
I never could get through **Moulin Rouge**. It put me to sleep both times I tried to watch it. I just watched **Chicago** this evening, and loved it. ---
**Author:** ![JustPlainBryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@JustPlainBryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustPlainBryan)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-vs-chicago/199170/17 "2003-09-03T03:47:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kaspar Hauser \* > \*\*Hey, are you me? \*\* I knew it! I knew I wasn’t mentally ill! ---
**Author:** ![acrossthesea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@acrossthesea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/acrossthesea)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-vs-chicago/199170/18 "2003-09-03T04:02:00Z")
I loved Chicago, though I think they could have adapted it as a movie better than they did. It appeared to be, for the most part, a filmed version of a stage musical. Moulin Rouge I loved as well, and it might be because there is not an already existing stage play that it was taken from, but I view that one as being more original than the MOVIE Chicago was. The way it worked in the popular music was astounding. I think it completely realized the point Luhrman was trying to make with Romeo + Juliet. Take something old and set it in a way that people today can relate to better. (I liked Romeo + Juliet quite a bit but most people didnt seem to relate to it. ) ---
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-vs-chicago/199170/19 "2003-09-03T04:21:09Z")
Baz inspired the MTV look? Romeo + Juliet came out in _96_ for crying out loud. MTV was coming up on its sweet 16 by that point. Baz is a child of the MTV look, not its parent. As for Moulin Rogue being innovative, I just don’t see it. A mangled medley of middle-of-the-road hits? Some vague suggestion of naughtiness without any real sexual heat? Loud pronoucements of love without any real passion? Really bad comic relief bits with wacky dwarves? A lot of flashing lights to cover up the lack of an actual script? You can see all of that in any Las Vegas review. I’m not much of a fan of Moulin Rogue, in case you couldn’t tell. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Poonther](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Poonther](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poonther)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-vs-chicago/199170/20 "2003-09-03T04:55:06Z")
I’ve seen Moulin Rouge about ten times and I just watched Chicago for the first time last night. While I enjoyed Chicago, that will probably be the only time I watch it start to finish in one sitting…but I’m sure I’ll watch Moulin at least a dozen more times. Now if Chicago had Kylie as a green fairy in it, well then I’d certainly watch it at least 10 more times. 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moulin-rouge-vs-chicago/199170.md?page=2)