The Exorcist

The Exorcist
Released: December 26, 1973

• Director: William Friedkin
• Leading Characters: Linda Blair-Regan, Ellen Bustyn-Chris MacNeil, Jason Miller-Father Damien Karras
• Horror/Thriller
• Rated R: strong language and disturbing images
• #571 on list

When movie actress Chris MacNeil begins to suspect that an evil spirit is possessing her young daughter, Regan she calls in two priests to try and exorcise the demon against frightening and formidable odds.
*Taken from Netflix

The first major blockbuster in horror movie history, this film had a exerted a powerful influence on the subsequent development of the genre. Never before had a horror film been the subject of so much pre-release hype, so much gossip about post-production strife, so much speculation as to why people of all ages would stand in line for hours to watch something reputed to induce fits of vomiting, fainting, even temporary psychosis. The cultural impact of The Exorcist can hardly be overestimated. It challenged existing regulations specifying what was acceptable the show on the big screen. The film stole U.S. newspaper headlines away from the ongoing Watergate scandal, at least for a while, lead to a detectable increase in a number of "real life" spiritual possessions reported, and, as one critic wrote, "established...disgust as mas entertainment for a large audience." *taken from 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die - 5th Anniversary Edition by Steven Jay Schneider 

The movie was good, not great. I don't quite understand where all the hype over the film came from. Maybe I am just biased because I am so used to today's typical horror film with crazy special effects and very realistic make-up, the photo we are all so used to seeing of the young demon possessed girl with sickly green skin and sores all over her face, to me, almost seemed comical. The story was good with the mother trying all she can to find out what's wrong with her daughter, going from doctors to shrinks to priest who tell her to go back to the doctors. All the while there is the police lieutenant constantly in the back ground. Over all definitely worth watching for all those horror film fans, though I doubt you'll be scared. 3 out of 5 stars.
*Written by John

The Birds

The Birds
Released: May 30, 1963

• Director: Alfred Hitchcock
• Leading Characters: Tippi Hendren - Melanie Daniels, Rod Taylor - Mitch Brenner, Jessica Tandy - Lydia Brenner, Veronica Cartwright - Cathy Brenner
• Horror/Thriller
• PG-13 for violence, gore and frightening/intense scense
• #396 on list

 Chic socialite Melanie Daniels enjoys a passing flirtation with an eligible attorney in a San Francisco pet shop and, on an impulse, follows him to his hometown bearing a gift of lovebirds. But upon her arrival, the bird population runs amok. Suddenly, the townsfolk face a massive avian onslaught, with the feathered fiends inexplicably attacking people all over Bodega Bay. *taken from Netflix


As horror movies go I did not find this a horror, but maybe back in the day this was scary stuff! Even though I wasn't quivering in fear, I did find it a good movie.
There are some slow parts and some overkill acting but that is made up for by some great scenes. One of our favorite scenes is when Melanie is waiting outside Cathy's school. She sits down on a bench with the jungle gym behind her. A grow lands on the gym as the camera pans back to Melanie, after a few seconds it pans back to the gym and you see a few more birds have landed. Back and forth this panning goes until the camera rests on Melanie for an incredibly long amount of time, so long that you're dying to see that blasted jungle gym. Once the camera makes it back to the gym you think, "hmmm, maybe I didn't want to see that gym..." when you see that the whole thing is covered by crows .
Another great scene is showing the town from above after a small fire, then the birds start coming back. This scene was made by the makers marking out on the ground of the stage where the cast could walk. All the places outside of the tape where then blacked out after filming and the town was painted in place. It looked so real that John and I didn't know that it was painted until we watched the special features after the movie. 

Some interesting fact about the movie:
There is no musical score for the movie, fearing that the music would be too much with the mixture of bird calls and screams.
The climatic scene was so physically and emotionally tolling for Tippi Herdren that it put her in the hospital for a week and some of her scenes were filmed by her double.
The Birds is voted the 7th scariest film of all time by Channel 5 and The Times in 2006.


I do have to say that we didn't like how the movie ended. I thought there was going to be at least another 30 minutes when the scene blacked out and the ending titles started to roll. You never find out why the birds attached or how they all ended up in such a small town. 
But all in all we rate it 3.5 stars out of 5.

sorry....

As you can see I got bored of this. Okay, bored isn't the right word...I do want to share all the cool things about the movies we've seen but I haven't had enough motivation to do it.
We have watched a couple movies on the list - Psycho and The Third Man. Maybe one day soon I'll share all the juicy tid bits I've learned with the class. I need to do it soon before all the knowledge (and plot) leaves me head for good, I can already feel it slipping away.

Brokeback Mountain

Brokeback Mountain

Released: December 16 2005

• Director: Ang Lee
• Leading characters: Heath Ledger - Ennis Del Mar, Jake Gyllenhaal - Jack Twist
• Drama
• Rated R for sexuality, nudity, language and some violence
• #1034 on list

While working together near Wyoming's Brokeback Mountain in 1963, sheepherders Jack Twist  and Ennis Del Mar begin an increasingly passionate affair. But keeping their relationship a secret from their wives proves agonizing and all-consuming. *taken from Netflix

Everyone knows this movie, the movie that Larry H. Miller refused to play in his Utah theatres claiming that the film represented a danger to family values. The movie that shook the nation and the world. It was also banned in China because of the homosexual nature of the film.
A movie that John nor I wanted to see, not because of the content though. As many know I'm pro-gay so I wasn't offended by that, I just didn't have any desire to see it.
Well there it sat on the list, we had no choice, we had to watch it. So I added it to our Netflix instant play list and waited for John to consent to watching it.

While waiting I decided to expand my knowledge of the film, I read the plot so I could really know what it was about instead of going on what I've heard from friends, friends who had never even seen the film.
The plot made my interests grow so I started reading some trivial facts which finally cemented my curiosity and I was actually excited to see it.
This isn't the first gay movie to hit theatres like most seem to think, in fact the list of gay movies is huge. Remember The Birdcage with Robin Williams & Nathan Lane? Fabulous, but back to the movie at hand.

We watched Brokeback last weekend and I wouldn't say it's one I'd own but it really wasn't half bad.
It's based on the short story by Annie Proulx that was published in The New Yorker in 1997 and is said to be one of Heath Ledger's greatest works.
There are some violent love scenes which left me confused and disoriented but I just decided that they're manly men and that's how manly men like to be loved. Other than that the story is very good, it goes through both men's lives and how they're trying to live the way they want but also the way the world wants.

During is first weekend release where it only played in 5 U.S. theatres it set the records highest pre-screen gross of any non-animated  film in history, it also cost so little to make that it recouped its cost during the first week it was released.
The movie was expected to win 2005's Best Film and the Academy Awards and the crowd was shocked when Crash came out on top.

The trivia on this movie alone is reason to watch it, but don't come crying to me if you get offended. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

The Jerk

The Jerk
released: December 14 1979

• Director: Carl Reiner
• Leading characters: Steve Martin - Navin R. Johnson, Bernadette Peters - Marie Kimble
• Comedy
• Rated R for sexual suggestion and language
• #654 on list

After discovering he's not really black like the rest of his family, likable dimwit Navin Johnson runs off on a hilarious misadventure in this comedy classic that takes him from rags to riches and back to rags again. The slaphappy jerk strikes it rich, but life in the fast lane isn't all it's cracked up to be and, in the end, all that really matters to Johnson is his true love. *taken from Netflix

John's first reaction to seeing this movie in our Netflix playlist was, "I dont want to watch that! I've seen it before and it was stupid!" Turns out, he confused this movie with another one they played during one of my art class work shops, he had never actually seen The Jerk.

This movie will have John and I quoteing it for years to come.
Steve Martin is a hoot, this is his first starring role and praised not only as Martin's best comdeic efforts, but also one of the funniest motion pictures of all time. Now I wouldn't say funniest just because I think The Hangover takes that title, but I'd have to say it's up there.

He names his dog Shithead and John and I were rolling on the floor laughing when Navin tells his sweetheart to jump in the tub with him, Shithead jumps in and Martin yells, "Not you Shithead!!" In fact I'm chuckling about it as I type this. I think it's just the name that gets to us. This is now John's new nickname for the dogs, he thinks he's a riot.
Another scene Navin is leaving saying he doesn't need anything to make him happy, but then stumbles upon silly things and then he decides he does need it. "I dont need anything but my paddle ball game, my lamp,and  my ash tray and that's it! I dont need anything else...except for this chair, I need this chair..." This scene, in fact, is the cover of the movie case.

So John liked the movie after figuring out he'd never seen it :) we'd give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire

Release: January 23 2009

• Director: Danny Boyle
• Leading characters: Dev Patel - Jamal Malik, Freida Pinto - Latika
• Drama
• Rated R for some violence, disturbing images and language
• #1068 on list

After coming within one question of winning it all on the Indian version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?," 18-year-old Mumbai "slumdog" Jamal Malik is arrested on suspicion that he cheated his way to the top. While in custody, he regales a jaded inspector with remarkable tales of his life on the streets and the story of the woman he loved and lost. *taken from Netflix

This isn't a movie I really cared to see when it came out and truthfully I cant remember why. I'm glad it was on the list so I was forced to watch it.

I love how the story is told, very original and pulls you in. The police have the older Jamal in questioning about the game show, they'll show him a clip of the show on a little TV which will then move us to the time he was being asked the question on the game show, then it'll show how Jamal knew the answers by showing us the clip of his life. I couldn't get enough of this shooting, I loved how they did it and the movie wouldn't have been as good done any other way.

The different camera views and color portrayal in the movie really add to its greatness, the director of photography really knew the shots to capture your attention.

The actors are amazing, they really play their roles well. You love, hate and admire the characters they play.

A few interesting tid bits about the movie are that Mercedes-Benz asked that all of its logos be removed when scenes were taking place in the slums. They thought that being associated to the poverty-stricken slums would ruin its image.
 Also it's the first film since Schindler's List (we haven't seen that one yet) to win Best Picture, Director and Screenplay at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs and the Oscars.
I think the story telling of this movie is good enough reason alone to watch it. I would give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Not on the list

Last night we saw Knight and Day, it's not on the 1001 list but our A/C is on the fritz and we had to leave our 90 degree house for a few hours. It's really funny, full of action and not full of filth.

Plus Riley from Buffy the Vampire Slayer is in it. He looks kinda dweeby with the mustache he has, but still it's Riley! Every time he came on screen I'd lean over and whisper to John, "It's Riley!!!" and he'd look at me funny and say, "I don't know who that is." He's so uncultured.

Even with not being a huge fan of Tom Cruise I really liked him in it, he was almost dreamy even and as always Cameron Diaz was awesome.

It's definitely one I'm going to buy when it comes out. Go see it, you'll thank me.

Alice

Alice

Released: March 26 1988

• Director: Jan Svankmajer
• Leading Characters: Alice - Kristyna Kohoutova
• Fantasy
• Not Rated
• #795 on list

After her stuffed rabbit opens a portal inside her dresser, Alice crosses over into a world of puppets and dead animals in Czech director Jan Svankmajer's bizarre adaptation of Lewis Carroll's children's book, considered a classic of surreal cinema. Svankmajer gives the Caterpillar, the Mad Hatter and the Cheshire Cat equally warped makeovers via stop-motion animation and stark cinematography. *taken from Netflix

Watching this was like being on an acid trip, in fact I'm pretty sure the director was on acid when he made this movie.

It's a Czech film dubbed in English and suppose to be a children's movie but is probably too scary for children. The white rabbit is a taxidermy specimen that comes to life, he's always leaking saw dust through the hole in his chest and has scary long teeth and beady glass eyes.

And it only gets worse. The flowers in the Disney version are replaced with animals that are half skeleton half stuffed with creepy glass eyes, the Caterpillar is a sock that has his eyes sewn shut when he's done talking to Alice, weird assorted foods that come to life, the list goes on and on.

Alice would narrate anything anyone said by an up close shot of her mouth with spit clinging to her teeth. There was an over fascination with drawers, it felt like there was one in every scene. Alice would pull the knob, it would fall off and then she'd have to pry to drawer open only to find a weird assortment of household objects in them. In fact the Rabbit hole happens to be a drawer that she crawls in...so weird.

One thing I did find interesting was how the director shrunk Alice. She would turn into a little doll that looked just like her, I really enjoyed those scenes.

I couldn't find any real facts on this movie so I'm not sure why it's on the list, I have to wait for my 1001 movies book to come in the mail and maybe it will tell me. I do have to say that the stop action was done really well and went smoothly, too bad it was mostly with creepy characters that made you pull a face in disgust.

I'd only recommend this movie to someone so they could see the weirdness or I knew they'd be doing some kind of hallucinogen while watching it.

I give it 1 out of 5 stars.

Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer

Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer

Released: February 4 1994

• Director: Nick Broomfield
• Leading characters: Aileen Wuornos - herself, Arlene Pralle - herself, Nick Broomfield - himself, Steve Glazer - himself
• Documentary
• Rated R for for language and sexual references
• #852 on list

Filmmaker Nick Broomfield explores the troubled life and deadly end of female killer Aileen Wuornos. Filmed after Wuornos was imprisoned but before she was put to death, the documentary highlights the media blitz surrounding her case, culminating in interviews with Wuornos as well as her lawyer, her lover and her adoptive mother. * taken from Netflix

How do you review a documentary? You really cant since it's actual facts so I'll just describe Aileen's life and my feelings while watching the movie.

Aileen, also known as Lee, is said the be the first woman serial killer but really she's the first on record to kill by gun. Most women serial killers kill with poison (read this about one of the women who found poison as her method of choice) .
Lee had a hard life from the start, she was born to a mother who married at 15, divorced two years later and two months before Lee was born.
Lee never knew her father, he was a child molester and in prison at the time she was born and committed suicide when she was 13. When she was 4 her mother abandoned her and her brother, leaving then with her maternal grandparents who legally adopted them 2 months after her mother left.

Early on in her life Lee starting engaging in sexual acts with multiple partners, including her own brother. She became pregnant at 13, she claimed she was raped by an unknown man. She gave the boy up for adoption right after he was born.
Her grandmother died of liver failer when she was 15 and her grandfather kicked her out of his house. She then began supporting herself as a prostitute.

Throughout her life she was committing crimes and getting arrested. Just a small example of what she's done: She hit a 70-year-old man with his own cane, throwing a cue call at a bar tender's head, committed armed robbery, forged checks, and committed grand theft auto.

She was charged for murdering 7 men between 1989 to 1990. She claimed it was self defense but with her dark past I'm thinking she really did it.
While in prison Arlene Pralle, a born again christian, sprung up a friendship and then adopted the 31 year old. She said that she wanted her to be apart of her family and really cared for her but really I think she was in it for the money since the press were all over Lee's story. Arlene said that she wouldn't interview with Nick, the director, unless he pay her, her lawyer and Lee $10,000.
Steve the lawyer was just as shady. It would be a cold day in Hell before I let him be my lawyer. The first time we meet him in the movie he's sitting next to a creepy dummy that he made since he has imaginary friends, makes perfect sense doesn't it?
He's a failed musician and every chance he got he'd sing on camera, he never really cared how Lee was feeling, he just wanted to make sure he got his chunk of the money.

Arlene and Steve convinced Lee to confess to the murders to clear her soul for God. Lee did so thinking that if she did it wouldn't give the press any fuel for their movie wanting fires. It didn't matter since a movie was in the works anyway. Overkill: The Aileen Wuornos Story was put out in 1992.
The film ends with an interview with Lee trying to convince Nick to find the cops who were turning over their stories for movie rights. Nick later says that the cops Lee wanted him to see wont meet with him but they were all suspended from the force.

Curious to see what happened to Lee after the film I googled her story.  She petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for the right to fire her legal counsel and stop her appeals. She said, "I killed those men, robbed them as cold as ice. And I'd do it again, too. There's no chance in keeping me alive or anything, because I'd kill again. I have hate crawling through my system...I am so sick of hearing this 'she's crazy' stuff. I've been evaluated so many times. I'm competent, sane, and I'm trying to tell the truth. I'm one who seriously hates human life and would kill again." * wikipedia
In her last interview with Nick she claimed that her mind was being controlled by "sonic pressure" to make her seem crazy and said her coming death would be like being taken away be angels on a space ship.
Her last statement before her Lethal Injection on October 9 2002 was, "Yes, I would just like to say I'm sailing with the rock, and I'll be back, like Independence Day with Jesus. June 6, like the movie. Big mother ship and all, I'll be back, I'll be back." * wikipedia

There are a few books and movies out about Lee's life with the newest being the 2003 Movie Monster with Charlize Theron and Christina Ricci.

For review purposes I'd give the documentary 3 out of 5 star.

She Done Him Wrong

She Done Him Wrong

Released: February 9 1933

• Director: Lowell Sherman
• Leading characters: Mae West - Lady Lou, Cary Grant - Captain Cummings, Owen Moore - Chick Clark, Noah Beery - Gus Jordan
•  Classic Comedy
• Not Rated
• #74  on list

Saucy cabaret singer Lady Lou keeps plenty of men entertained but finds protection from a criminal ex-lover in the arms of a young Salvation Army captain. *taken from Netflix

The National Legion of Decency was formed in October of 1933 from the Roman Catholic Church to say what was or wasn't appropriate for motion pictures, this film played a big role for forming this organization. The Legion was much more conservative with ratings than the Production Code (which I have to say is pretty harsh compared to now) with ratings being:

A: Morally unobjectionable

B: Morally objectionable in part
C: Condemned by the Legion of Decency
The A rating was subsequently divided:
A-I: Suitable for all audiences
A-II: Suitable for adults — then, with the introduction of A-III — suitable for adults and adolescents
A-III: Suitable for adults only
A-IV: For adults with reservations
In 1978, the B and C ratings were combined into a new O rating for "morally offensive" films. *taken from Wikipedia
In my opinion the movie really wasn't that racy or bad, but I guess back in the day with its hinting at sex it was very risque.

This movie was only shot in 3 weeks and is the shortest movie, at 66 minutes, to receive an Academy Award nominated for Best Picture. It's the only movie Mae West received an Academy Award Nomination.

The movie's line "Why don't you come up sometime and see me?" was voted as the #26 movie quote by the American Film Institute, I love how Mae says the line in the movie. She's really over the top but does it so well that it just seems normal. She was sewn into most of her costumes and I wish it was in color so I could see all the beautiful fabric.

This was my favorite dress she wore, it was very sparkly the sleeves fascinated me. One of the catch phrases of the movie was " Love was only a pastime but diamonds were a career" this dress says just that!

This was Cary Grants break through role and he played it marvelously, you just swooned every time he came on camera.

I give this 3 out of 5 stars

Blackmail

Blackmail

Released: October 6 1929

• Director: Alfred Hitchcock
• Leading characters: Anny Ondra - Alice White, John Longden - Detective Frank Webber, Donald Calthrop - Blackmailer
• Crime/Thriller
• Not Rated
• #44 on list

After killing an artist in self-defense, Alice attempts to cover up her involvement. But with her detective fiancé investigating the case and a ruthless blackmailer harassing her, Alice realizes that getting away with murder won't be easy. *Taken from Netflix

John and I both really liked this movie. It's a black and white and about the first 5 min are silent picture style, but morphs into a talkie. It was Alfred Hitchcock's first venture into making films with sound and I think he did a good job.

Some interesting tidbits on the movie are that much of the film was shot silent style but some scenes were re-shot when sound became available. One problem though was that Anny Ondra (Alice) had a thick German accent and she was suppose to be British in the movie. To solve the problem they had Joan Berry stand just out of shot and read Anny's lines and she mouthed them on camera. This is now acknowledged as the first time an actor's voice was dubbed.

Also Alfred Hitchcock wanted to use the British Museum as his final chase scene but light was so bad it couldn't be filmed there so he used the Schufftan process. This is when still photos are shot of a location then reflected into mirrors with silver of the mirror scraped away where doorways/windows need to be so actors can be filmed like they're in location .

The plot in this movie was very good (Alfred Hitchcock didn't write it though, it was developed from a play) and really pulled you in. You just have to find out if Alice gets caught or not! Some of the acting is a little cheesy but back then if it wasn't full of cheese it wasn't good.

I'd give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers

I love the Lord of the Rings movies and everyone has seen them so no review will be written but there is one thing I need to throw out there.

When they Ents (tree people) are attacking I always play The Trees by RUSH in my head. Perfect fit.
Apparently someone else agrees and put that scene with the song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN6Ed8rBthU

Watch. Enjoy. Rock out.

The Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club

Released: February 15 1985

• Director: John Hughes
• Leading Characters: Esteves - Andrew Clark, Anthony Michael Hall - Brian Johnson, Judd Nelson - John Bender, Molly Ringwald - Clair Standish, Ally Sheedy - Allison Reynolds
• Dramatic Comedy
• Rated R for launguage, drug use and sexual content (all talking, no doing)
• #720 on list

I'm not sure why this movie is on the list, why it's called The Breakfast Club (I googled it after we watched it and IMDB said  its from the nickname invented by students and staff for detention at New Trier High School, the school attended by the son of one of John Hughes' friends. Thus, those who were sent to detention were designated members of "The Breakfast Club". Lame.)

Five Chicago high school kids (the athlete, the brain,the criminal, the princess and the basket case )are from different circles and stations in life are forced to spend a Saturday together in detention. The disparate group clashes at first but begin to bond as they reveal their feelings and find a common enemy in their bully principal. *Taken from Netflix

I had really high hopes with the movie since Don't You (Forget About Me) plays during the opening credits, but truthfully I don't get this movie.
I don't feel like it really has a plot and it really bounces from scene to scene (but maybe this is because that's how the kids are passing their time in detention). They took the kids characters to extremes and made them really over the top. Yeah I knew jocks, princesses and weirdos in school but none of them were that intense.

In one scene the kids are sitting in a circle talking about why they're in detention and life in general and it becomes so deep. The jock goes off about how his dad is too hard on him, wanting him to only win (while the camera circles around him really dramatically) and I guess you're suppose to feel bad for him but all I felt was lack of interest.
The nerd then says that he views them as friends now that they've spent all these hours together, really you're friends? All you do is yell at each other, put each other down and fight, do friends really do that?
After the princess Claire's very honest speech that they really cant be friends because of their social standings John blows up at her saying very hurtful things but then she's kissing him a few minutes later, I go around kissing people who call me names to, doesn't everyone?
The best scene is when the kids are hiding John under the desk because he's suppose to be locked up in another room. I was actually mildly entertained, then it ended and the boredom kicked in again.

I read some of the reviews trying to figure out why people are drawn to this movie and while reading I was wondering if they watched a different movie than I did. Don't get my wrong, I usually love 80's movies but this one was just too out there for me. Bad acting, bad script, bad plot, just not my cup of tea.

The music was really good though....

I'd give this 2 out of 5 stars.

The Big Lebowski

The Big Lebowski

Released: March 6 1998

• 
  
  
  Director: Joel Coen
• 
  
  
  Leading Characters:
• 
  
  
  Jeff Bridges - Jeffery Lebowski - The Dude
• 
  
  
  John Goodman - Walter Sobchak
• 
  
  
  Comedy
• 
  
  
  Rated R for pervasive strong language, drug content, sexuality and brief violence
• 
  
  
  #1006 on release year list

Slacker Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) gets involved in a gargantuan mess of events when he's mistaken for another man named Lebowski, whose wife has been kidnapped and is being held for ransom. All the while, Dude's friend, Walter (John Goodman), stirs the pot. *taken from Netflix
 
This movie was borrowed to us from a friend. My favorite types of movies to watch are ones that I've never heard of and are just given to me to watch, usually it ends well and I love the movie, this one didn't end that way.
 
I don't even really know what to say about this movie. It was so full of unneeded F words that it was hard to filter through to the story line and figure out what's going on. It was described as a comedy, but we rarely laughed. The funniest scene was where Lebowski is pouring out his friend's ashes over a cliff and they blow back into Water's face. Other than that we sat stone faced on the couch with maybe a little chuckle here and there.
Bridges does do a good job at portraying the lazy bum and he does make it interesting but not enough to really pull us in.
 
It's not a movie I would recommend to anyone but maybe I need to watch it again to actually get it...
 
I give it one out of five stars

Moulin Rouge!

Moulin Rouge!
Release date: June 1 2001

• Director: Baz Luhrmann
• Leading Characters:
• Nicole Kidman - Satine
• Ewan McGregor - Christian
• Musical
• Rated PG13 for sexual content
• #987 on release year list

Christian comes to Paris to become a Bohemian poet but finds himself swept up by some actors to write the musical they want shown at the Moulin Rouge. Christian then finds himself falling in love with the head courtesan, Satine, who someone already has claims on.
Satine is also hiding a deadly secret from everyone  so she can make it as a famous actor.

This is one of my favorite movies and I've own it for many years. The only song that is completely original in the whole movie is "Come What May" (even that wasn't written for this movie) most of the other songs are re-works of famous songs so they really pull you in.

This is a slightly odd movie and the first time I saw it it left me thinking, "huh?". It's all over the place and really quirky but after a few more views I fell in love.
It really isn't a movie for everyone, there are some sex scenes (butts are seen), drugs/alcohol and its set in a whore house after all.

I give it 5 out of 5 stars but I might be bias