Si I finally saw Moulin Rouge!

Flying Spaghetti Monster · February 20 2013, 06:15 PM

I was with a friend of mine and it was one of her favorite films ever, but I was really going on the recommendation of a certain well-known internet reviewer, Confused Matthew, who claimed this as not only his favorite film, but also said (in the epilogue of his review of the film) that the film had the most well-constructed screenplay of any film he'd ever seen. anyone who has seen one of his "reviews" knows that all he is really interested in is story and character, and doesn't talk about other aspects of film making all that much (I'm not saying that this is a bad thing,but I just wanted to point it out. Yeah.)

So my initial reaction:

Anyone who likes - or especially those who love this film - should also love Joel Schumaker's Batman and Robin. Both films have extremely thin stories (that in itself isn't a bad thing) and both are extremely over-produced. Yeah, you heard me. Search your feelings, you know it to be true.

Think about the fact that, with what looks like an edit nearly every second (or even more) that there must be a new camera set-up to get that angle, makes you realize that this film is nothing but an over-produced and yet ultimately hallow exercise, a plodding experience that is the ultimate of self-indulgence for the film-makers. I'd probably go easier on them if they just admitted it (after all, the band Rush admitted that their first recorded instrumental a little masterpiece of musicianship called La Villa Strangiato, was "an exercise in self-indulgence.")

Some aspects are not lost on me, like the value of the dual ending, - that the fantasy ending before the curtain closes is happy, and, as soon as it closes and we are now in "reality" is actually tragic, but the film seems so high on itself to constantly remind us that we are supposed to just surrender and give into it's spell, and I didn't buy it.

And one more thing about the editing: Jonathan Frakes said something very interesting during his First Contact commentary about editing. He said that all the people involved in the production tend to lean to faster editing, because their ayes and their brains already know what they have seen in a shot and they always have an idea of what they will see next and their brains have already done half the work as a scene plays out, but an audience has not seen it, and the brain needs a beat or so - a bit more time - to settle in on what it is seeing because because, to the audience, each shot is new. The filmmakers working on Moulin Rouge have not learned this lesson. I don't think Christopher Nolan truly learned this lesson either.

Vendikarr · February 20 2013, 07:12 PM

I hated the story.

I loved the music.

I never picked up the DVD, just the soundtrack.

IndyJones · February 21 2013, 04:22 AM

Flying Spaghetti Monster wrote:

Yeah, you heard me. Search your feelings, you know it to be true.

Naw.

I loved it. I thought it was gorgeous, and the music as a lot of fun.

Flying Spaghetti Monster · February 21 2013, 04:24 AM

IndyJones wrote:

Flying Spaghetti Monster wrote:

Yeah, you heard me. Search your feelings, you know it to be true.

Naw.

I loved it. I thought it was gorgeous, and the music as a lot of fun.

I don't think you got the gist of my comment.

First, I actually didn't mind some of the music, considering I am not a fan of musicals. The rendition of the Queen song The Show Must Go On was actually really good.

I was talking about the fact that the film was so over-produced, that like a rubber band it would snap at any moment.

Dale Sams · February 21 2013, 04:41 AM

That's just Baz's schtick I believe. I don't think he was trying to make some great art, but rather just a slick tragedy.

IndyJones · February 21 2013, 04:52 AM

Flying Spaghetti Monster wrote:

IndyJones wrote:

Flying Spaghetti Monster wrote:

Yeah, you heard me. Search your feelings, you know it to be true.

Naw.

I loved it. I thought it was gorgeous, and the music as a lot of fun.

I don't think you got the gist of my comment.

First, I actually didn't mind some of the music, considering I am not a fan of musicals. The rendition of the Queen song The Show Must Go On was actually really good.

I was talking about the fact that the film was so over-produced, that like a rubber band it would snap at any moment.

No, I got what you were saying. I responded, and in a new paragraph added my own thoughts on the film.

DonIago · February 21 2013, 05:28 AM

I rather enjoyed it myself, though my opinion of the songs ranges from "awesome" to "grating". I think it would be that I like the music sung in the film but I don't care so much for the "source music"...not sure I'm expressing that right.

Venardhi · February 21 2013, 06:03 AM

So you don't like "music video editing" or musicals is what you're saying.

That is fine, but if you don't eat meat you can't be expected to judge the flavor of a steak fairly. Nor should I take your opinion on the topic as having any value.

For my part, it is absolutely one of my favorite films. I can appreciate that it isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I personally have a weakness for slick editing, art direction and "right in the feels" writing though.

DonIago · February 21 2013, 06:10 AM

At first I thought you were replying to me.

SeerSGB · February 21 2013, 06:16 AM

IndyJones wrote:

Flying Spaghetti Monster wrote:

Yeah, you heard me. Search your feelings, you know it to be true.

Naw.

I loved it. I thought it was gorgeous, and the music as a lot of fun.

I watch it at least once a month. Odd as it seems, whenever I'm in a funk it makes for a great guilty-pleasure pick me up. Good music, lush visuals, and Nicole Kidman

IndyJones · February 21 2013, 06:32 AM

SeerSGB wrote:

I watch it at least once a month. Odd as it seems, whenever I'm in a funk it makes for a great guilty-pleasure pick me up. Good music, lush visuals, and Nicole Kidman

...Ewan McGregor.

teacake · February 21 2013, 07:18 AM

I have seen Moulin Rouge once, I absolutely hated it. I was so bored I had to force myself to finish it. I'll never watch it again. Mawkish and I completely agree with the over produced comment, though I think that was look was intended.

auntiehill · February 21 2013, 08:00 AM

I hated Moulin Rouge. I thought it was the stupidest thing ever. It had all those great actors and lavish sets and yet was nothing more than two hours of vacuous crap.

I don't understand its popularity at all.

SeerSGB · February 21 2013, 08:12 AM

auntiehill wrote:

I hated Moulin Rouge. I thought it was the stupidest thing ever. It had all those great actors and lavish sets and yet was nothing more than two hours of vacuous crap.

I don't understand its popularity at all.

Guilty pleasure, least for me. I just love the look and the feel of the world. I will grant ya' the story is a bit on the light side and doesn't take a lot of investment from the watcher.

A really funny and pretty dead on review by the Nostalgia Critic in regards to Moulin Rouge.

od0_ital · February 21 2013, 01:00 PM

My ex from a few years ago loved that movie, it was one of her favorites ever.

She tried to get me to watch it with her once, but turned it off about ten minutes into it because she said I looked like I was in pain watchin' it.

The theater had a quote/sing along for it this past month, but I missed it 'cause of my work schedule. I did think about goin', though...

February 20 2013, 06:15 PM	#1
Flying Spaghetti Monster Vice Admiral Location: Flying Spaghetti Western	Si I finally saw Moulin Rouge! I was with a friend of mine and it was one of her favorite films ever, but I was really going on the recommendation of a certain well-known internet reviewer, Confused Matthew, who claimed this as not only his favorite film, but also said (in the epilogue of his review of the film) that the film had the most well-constructed screenplay of any film he'd ever seen. anyone who has seen one of his "reviews" knows that all he is really interested in is story and character, and doesn't talk about other aspects of film making all that much (I'm not saying that this is a bad thing,but I just wanted to point it out. Yeah.) So my initial reaction: Anyone who likes - or especially those who love this film - should also love Joel Schumaker's Batman and Robin. Both films have extremely thin stories (that in itself isn't a bad thing) and both are extremely over-produced. Yeah, you heard me. Search your feelings, you know it to be true. Think about the fact that, with what looks like an edit nearly every second (or even more) that there must be a new camera set-up to get that angle, makes you realize that this film is nothing but an over-produced and yet ultimately hallow exercise, a plodding experience that is the ultimate of self-indulgence for the film-makers. I'd probably go easier on them if they just admitted it (after all, the band Rush admitted that their first recorded instrumental a little masterpiece of musicianship called La Villa Strangiato, was "an exercise in self-indulgence.") Some aspects are not lost on me, like the value of the dual ending, - that the fantasy ending before the curtain closes is happy, and, as soon as it closes and we are now in "reality" is actually tragic, but the film seems so high on itself to constantly remind us that we are supposed to just surrender and give into it's spell, and I didn't buy it. And one more thing about the editing: Jonathan Frakes said something very interesting during his *First Contact* commentary about editing. He said that all the people involved in the production tend to lean to faster editing, because their ayes and their brains already know what they have seen in a shot and they always have an idea of what they will see next and their brains have already done half the work as a scene plays out, but an audience has not seen it, and the brain needs a beat or so - a bit more time - to settle in on what it is seeing because because, to the audience, each shot is new. The filmmakers working on Moulin Rouge have not learned this lesson. I don't think Christopher Nolan truly learned this lesson either. __________________ Life of Pi is the most pleasant film I've ever not cared at all for.

February 20 2013, 07:12 PM	#2
Vendikarr Rear Admiral Location: Vendikarr	Re: Si I finally saw Moulin Rouge! I hated the story. I loved the music. I never picked up the DVD, just the soundtrack. __________________ "I can't profess to understand God's plan, but when Christ promised a resurrection of the dead, I just thought he had something a little different in mind." Herschel Green, The Walking Dead

February 21 2013, 04:41 AM	#5
Dale Sams Captain	Re: Si I finally saw Moulin Rouge! That's just Baz's schtick I believe. I don't think he was trying to make some great art, but rather just a slick tragedy.

February 21 2013, 05:28 AM	#7
DonIago Rear Admiral Location: Burlington, VT, USA	Re: Si I finally saw Moulin Rouge! I rather enjoyed it myself, though my opinion of the songs ranges from "awesome" to "grating". I think it would be that I like the music sung in the film but I don't care so much for the "source music"...not sure I'm expressing that right. __________________ --DonIago It was the best of Trek, it was the worst of Trek... "If I lean over, I leave myself open to wedgies, wet willies, or even the dreaded Rear Admiral!"

February 21 2013, 06:03 AM	#8
Venardhi Vice Admiral Location: Constant transit	Re: Si I finally saw Moulin Rouge! So you don't like "music video editing" or musicals is what you're saying. That is fine, but if you don't eat meat you can't be expected to judge the flavor of a steak fairly. Nor should I take your opinion on the topic as having any value. For my part, it is absolutely one of my favorite films. I can appreciate that it isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I personally have a weakness for slick editing, art direction and "right in the feels" writing though. __________________ "There is no reason why good cannot triumph as often as evil. The triumph of anything is a matter of organization. If there are such things as angels, I hope that they are organized along the lines of the Maffia." - Winston Niles Rumfoord.

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February 21 2013, 06:10 AM	#9
DonIago Rear Admiral Location: Burlington, VT, USA	Re: Si I finally saw Moulin Rouge! At first I thought you were replying to me. __________________ --DonIago It was the best of Trek, it was the worst of Trek... "If I lean over, I leave myself open to wedgies, wet willies, or even the dreaded Rear Admiral!"

February 21 2013, 07:18 AM	#12
teacake Admiral Location: Militant Janeway True Path Devotees Compound. With Sehlats.	Re: Si I finally saw Moulin Rouge! I have seen Moulin Rouge once, I absolutely hated it. I was so bored I had to force myself to finish it. I'll never watch it again. Mawkish and I completely agree with the over produced comment, though I think that was look was intended. __________________ Rider: I can't believe you'd kill me for a field of empty holes. J'onn: It's all I have. ■ ■ ■ Janeway does Melbourne

February 21 2013, 08:00 AM	#13
auntiehill Fleet Admiral Location: av by Chemahkuu	Re: Si I finally saw Moulin Rouge! I hated Moulin Rouge. I thought it was the stupidest thing ever. It had all those great actors and lavish sets and yet was nothing more than two hours of vacuous crap. I don't understand its popularity at all.

February 21 2013, 01:00 PM	#15
od0_ital Admiral Location: Austin, Texas	Re: Si I finally saw Moulin Rouge! My ex from a few years ago loved that movie, it was one of her favorites ever. She tried to get me to watch it with her once, but turned it off about ten minutes into it because she said I looked like I was in pain watchin' it. The theater had a quote/sing along for it this past month, but I missed it 'cause of my work schedule. I did think about goin', though... __________________ od0's bucket od0's facebook