I watched Moulin Rouge! for the first time this weekend, and it was bloody brilliant.

I'd had my doubts. I love the director's previous flick, Romeo+Juliet, but, judging from the trailers and the reviews, I wasn't too sure about Moulin Rouge!. I'm a big fan of musicals, but using pop songs as a basis for musical numbers didn't sound like the greatest idea in the world. And the setting seemed somewhat trite.

I was wrong. The movie worked. Extremely well.

Visually and aurally, Moulin Rouge! is totally unique. It is, to use an awful cliché, a "feast for the eyes and the ears". Most of the songs were completely reworked from the original material, and perfectly suited to the story and the setting: my favourite numbers were a medley of love-songs performed by Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman on top of an elephant (you just have to see it); "Like a Virgin" sung by the great British character-actor Jim Broadbent and a slimy Richard Roxburgh; and a tango-version of Roxanne.

I realise that this is a movie you either love or hate -- it's too loud, extreme, and bombastic for any moderate opinions -- but if you're a fan of musicals, if you liked Baz Luhrmann's previous movies, and you're willing to keep an open mind...then see it. Now. In the cinema, or on DVD and a big TV. With surround sound. And the volume way up. Screw the neighbours. Better yet, invite them over. Films are more fun with other people. No...really.  ¶ 11:38