(23 May 2012)

Burlesque

This review is from: Burlesque (DVD) Great movie! Christina Aguilera was awesome!! I can watch it over and over again. The music and dancing was magnificent.

Alistair Harkness (23 May 2012)

Collapses under a heap of boring love triangles, tame backstage rivalries, ear-splitting musical numbers and hyperactively edited routines.

(19 May 2012)

NO DIGITAL COPY!

This review is from: Burlesque (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (Blu-ray) I received two of these and amazon wanted to send out another one....they advertise that this has a digital copy and neither one of mine did! The movie is wonderful. However, I am disappointed. I wanted the digital copy and that's why I purchased this rather then in the store. I didn't find one in the stores that had a digital copy!

(19 May 2012)

cher

This review is from: Burlesque (DVD) This is a must have DVD. You like show girl/musical this it the one. You know Cherretired at Ceasar's Palace. what an awesome show that was. She was talking about and went to see it in the movies, know i have it. I can watch it any time i want.Got to get it.

Liam Lacey (16 May 2012)

Falling in the pillowy cleavage between mildly awful and slightly entertaining, Burlesque is a clichéd rags-to-diva story that culminates in a series of Christina Aguilera videos.

(16 May 2012)

Ok, here's my theory

A movie like Burlesque is so utterly and predictably bad that only those who are really predisposed to tolerate (and perhaps enjoy) this kind of thing will even bother to see it. So you get the kind of ratings pattern you'd expect for a true classic. Tons of five star reviews, with but a few discouraging words. We saw it for laughs, thinking it would be good camp fun...not really. But it was somewhat better than I expected, perhaps because I had seen the true crap-fest known as Country Strong only a week earlier. Burlesque isn't that bad, mainly because it has no illusions about being anything but a homage to vastly better films. But, jeesh, an average rating near 5...people, see some real movies.

(16 May 2012)

Great movie

Loved this movie. Some of the story was predictable but never the less, it was fun. The numbers are really great - costumes and performances by all are amazing. I rented it first on Netflix and watched it several times before returning it. Then I purchased the DVD. If you love musicals as I do, you will enjoy this movie. I also enjoyed Moulin Rouge and Chicago (for comparison).

smatson123 (15 May 2012)

Diamonds sparkling in a muddy bog

Imagine, if you will, Judy Garland getting the chance to come back tolife (a.k.a. "Our Town") to live one day - one day in which toexperience the thrill of being at her best - reprising, at age 21 - ina movie showcasing her talents. It's a busy day in heaven, so Godarbitrarily assigns her to play Andy Sachs, the popular heroine of TheDevil Wears Prada, forgetting that Garland's voice is, after all, hergreatest asset. She complains; He says, "fine - let's try somethingelse - bring along the same characters, the ingénue, the difficult bosswith a uber-loyal sidekick manager and an impossibly bitchy colleague:but to add the music you say you want, let's set the story in ..in."and now He's stumped, because 2010 is a far cry from Garland's prime,the 30s and 40s. "A cabaret?" she suggests, helpfully. "Well, alongthose lines, but this is America, so, not exactly.""Right," she nods, "so, say, L.A., and 2010, so the sexuality has to bekicked up a notch..so can I tart it up a little? And throw in a few gayreferences?" "Well..." He responds reluctantly. "A promise is apromise. Just keep your clothes on but anything else goes. Got it," heagrees, scribbling the script on a cloud and kicking the story intoaction.Welcome to "Burlesque." Derivative? Totally. A strong talent base?Absolutely. Christina Aquilera channels Garland, or least matches herconsiderable talents, both vocal and dramatic,as the ingénue. Cher isthe seemingly ageless, club-owning boss, who confidently owns the stagein a big opening number with the same title as the film. Rounding out astellar cast are Stanley Tucci, the AC-DC right-hand friend andmanager; Kristen Bell as the impossibly wicked fellow dancer; CamGigandet as the low-key love interest for the heroine; and Eric Danes,the too-good-to-be-true wealthy would-be lover pushing for a chancewith the New Little Dancer with the Big Hidden Talent. The problem is that the talent deserves a fitting forum, but the plotis so full of holes that it ranges from being merely tedious to beingludicrous. In a strip-joint setting where willingness to show skin andlynchsync is the only required skill for dancers, and in an industrywhere the women are a dime a dozen, Our Plucky Gal Ali can't seem tobeg her way out of waitressing and onto the stage. Later she gets thechance only when Rival Nikkie(Bell)is sent away, drunk; Nikkie thensabotages Ali's big musical number by cutting off the sound, out ofsheer jealousy. Despite all this, the venom-spouting Nikkie gets tokeep her job with not a single eyebrow raised. And then there's clubowner Tessa (Cher), who has supposedly has been savvy enough to run theclub for decade, yet seems clueless as to why she is in debt or what todo about it. Jack (Gigandet) finally beds Nikki after her extendedresistance, without mentioning he hasn't really broken off with hisfiancé after all. Said fiancé storms into the apartment and Nikkie isdisgraced and thrown out in the middle of the night with Jack's consent- but after an attempt at apology from Jack a few days later, no prob,all is well and happily after after. There's more, but you get thepicture. So--film potential, a thousand percent; realization, not somuch.If you're all about the music and dancing, go for it - this is a movieyou'll love. Aquilera fans - yes, this movie shows her in top form.Cher lovers - yes, she's still got what it takes - although she seemsto have had so much "work" that one struggles to remember her originallips and eyes. The other actors work hard to pull it all together. Butfor those wanting the whole nine yards - the kind of movie musical thatmade Judy Garland the darling of her day and revered throughout America- this ain't it. This is a muddy bog of a story, sprinkled only at oddintervals with all too brief glimpses of talent. Garland, in looking atthe big picture, might even have taken a pass - and gone back to heavento savor memories of "A Star is Born." It's a shame that, in trying tobe that movie - and "Prada," and "Cabaret," and "Fosse" that"Burlesque" has yet to find an identity of its own.

(15 May 2012)

AN AMAZING MOVIE AND ONE OF CHER'S BEST!!!

I watched this the other day and all I can say is it was amazing! The movie tells the story of Alice Marilyn "Ali" Rose (played by Christina Aguilera), a small town girl from Iowa, who dreams of a better life as a singer in Los Angles. After getting settled in she hits the town and finds the club known as Burlesque. She enters the club as the co-owner of the club named Tess (played by Cher) sings the club's theme song "Welcome to Burlesque". As Alice watches Tess perform she realizes this is the hope she'd been looking for. While at the bar Alice meets and makes friends with the bartender, Jack (played by Cam Gigandet), whom she assumes to be gay due to his outward appearance, who tells her to let Tess know he sent her, so as she goes to pursue this, Tess and her long-time friend, Sean (played by Stanley Tucci) shoot her down and she begins to wait tables, without anyone but Jack's knowledge until Tess catches her and to Alice's luck Jack comes to her rescue claiming he hired her, but Tess knows better but allows it anyway with a warning to "Never pull that again". Soon after she starts going under the name Ali. As time goes by Ali watches the dancers and memorizing their routines in her mind. She soon starts to try and press her opinions on Tess to help raise money for the club by allowing the girl dancers to sing live instead of lip-syncing since the audience has seen the acts and the girls do it several times and the routine is running old but Tess, stubborn as she is, refuses to listen and has Ali brushed back to wait tables. Not too long after that Ali returns home to find her apartment broken into, with no where to go or anyone one else to turn to she runs to Jack, who allows her to stay with him until she can find a new place. The next day Ali finds out that Jack is not gay, but that he's engaged and tries to leave but Jack won't let her cause the weather is horrible. The story goes on pretty much the same with the exception that I forgot to mention that Tess' ex-husband, Vincent (played by Peter Gallagher), who is the other co-owner of Burlesque is trying to get Tess' half of the money for the club but soon gives up and starts trying to convince her to let them sell to Marcus (played by Eric Dane), a greedy and money hungry man who will do what every he can to get what he wants. In the end its Ali, who eventually ends up a dancer, who saves Burlesque twice, once by singing live due to Nikki (played by Kristen Bell) trying to sabotage her cause Tess sent Nikki home early due to her being drunk and sent Ali out in her place and once again towards the end of the film.These musical sequences are featured in the film:# "Something's Got a Hold on Me (Christina Aguilera)" - Ali# "Welcome to Burlesque (instrumental)" - The Burlesque Lounge Girls# "Welcome to Burlesque (Cher)" - Tess and the Burlesque Lounge Girls# "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend (Marilyn Monroe & Jane Russel)" - Nikki, Georgia and the Burlesque Lounge Girls# "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend (outro by Christina Aguilera)" - Ali# "Long John Blues (Megan Mullally)" - Nikki# "Wagon Wheel Watusi (Elmer Bernstein)" - Ali# "Ray of Light (Madonna)" - Ali and the Burlesque Lounge Girls# "Tough Lover (Etta James)" - Ali and two Burlesque Lounge Girls# "Tough Lover (Christina Aguilera)" - Ali and two Burlesque Lounge Girls# "But I Am a Good Girl (Christina Aguilera)" - Ali# "Guy What Takes His Time (Christina Aguilera)" - Ali# "Express (Christina Aguilera)" - Ali and the Burlesque Lounge Girls# "Jungle Berlin (instrumental)" - Alexis and the contorsionists# "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me (Cher)" - Tess# "Bound To You (Christina Aguilera)" - Ali# "Show Me How You Burlesque (Christina Aguilera)" - Ali and the Burlesque Lounge DancersThis movie is great and a must have if you are a fan of Cher's or Christina Aguilera's or even musicals in general. You won't be disappointed. Guess the song is true too by the way, "we haven't seen the last of Cher".

(15 May 2012)

HOT HOT HOT

Great movie! Worth the ticket price. Pretty good storyline and the music makes you want to get up out of your seat and dance. Good thing I maintained composure. The people sitting behind me were grateful, I'm sure. Can't wait for the DVD. I'm adding this one to my collection.

Jeffrey Roegner (13 May 2012)

Flashy, Sassy, and Sexy

Musicals are a dying art that have had a small comeback in recent yearsand "Burlesque" is the musical's comeback at it's height. Boasting animpressive cast including Christina Aguilera in her film debut, Cher,Stanley Tucci, Cam Gigandet, and Kristen Bell, "Burlesque" is a flashy,sassy, and sexy treat from start to finish. The plot line followssmall-town Iowa girl Ali (the marvelous Aguilera) as she moves to LAwith dreams of becoming a star and stumbles upon The Burlesque Lounge,a flailing old fashioned style dance club, operated by statuesque Tess(Cher). With her killer vocals and sassy dance moves, Ali restoresBurlesque to its former glory, falls in love (Gigandet), and makes anenemy (Bell). The moment Christina Aguilera steps on the screen shewows you---she almost doesn't have to do anything. As known from hermusic career, Ms Aguilera can sing her heart out, and incidentally shecan act a bit too. I wasn't too worried that she couldn't, but wonderedif she could carry the movie. Not only did she carry it, "Burlesque" isHER movie. It also helps to have an awesome supporting cast featuringaforementioned names such as Stanley Tucci, Cam Gigandet, and KristenBell, and also including Alan Cumming and Julianne Hough. Eric Danealso has a part as a greedy, womanizing rich guy. and then there'sCher. Cher is amazing as Tess and seeing her on the screen at 64looking at least 10 or 20 years younger should be illegal. Tess is thefirst thing we as viewers and Ali see of The Burlesque Lounge and likeAli, we are captivated by her and immediately want in on it."Burlesque" is an excellent movie musical with flashy dance numbers,sassy girls, and is sexy all the way through. I highly recommend seeingit.

(13 May 2012)

Burlesque

This review is from: Burlesque (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (Blu-ray) I would not be afraid to take a 12 year old girl to see this, as there are some lessons hereand it is not a movie about being baudy. The music, dynamic singing and star-powered energy give this movie an A+++ in my book!The cast is CONTINUALLY & PERPETUALLY UNSTOPPABLE.

rajah524-3 (11 May 2012)

Made "Showgirls" Seem Relatively Intriguing

I usually abide by that Beverly Hills Player maxim, "Reward or ignore;never punish." But sometimes I just =have= to vomit. So shoot me. Can we say "erratic?" Can we say "histrionic?" Dare we say "gay?" And I'm not even talking about the movie yet. The movie, at least,actually has some moments, mostly when Cher is actually allowed to=be=... like Cher, as well as when Stanley Tucci is on screen.But some of the reviews here (as is often the case with "diva flicks"like this) are what I'd call "hopefully projective" (of circumstancesthat don't actually exist), "delusionally enthusiastic," or maybe justconfused and commenting on the wrong film. Aguilera is still in Disneyland. She =is= a fine (if over-reaching,even over-killing) vocal technician and stage performer, but willfulreality suspension will be required to buy her characterization. Whichis probably the director's fault, as much as her acting coach's. (Ihear Stella Adler barking, "Stop ACTING!")The same director wrote the script (and evidently liked his own work),so I get why it's as cheesy as it is. This movie actually =did= make "Showgirls" look intriguing by contrast.(I would never have watched this and did manage to get a few otherthings done while cutie pie had it on. Even she looked perplexed at theend.)I do appreciate how valuable the premium channels are now. We get tosee that we are not the only people who bat about .250 in life.

Jackson Booth-Millard (11 May 2012)

Burlesque

When I saw the trailer I liked the look of it, it looked like some kindof near copycat version of Chicago, not necessarily as musical, and Iwas very keen to see the singer with the powerful voice in her firstfilm role. Basically Iowa waitress Alice Marilyn 'Ali' Rose (ChristinaAguilera) quits her job and take the money she needs from the till totravel to Los Angeles for a new and more exciting career in singing anddancing. After trying a few places in the newspaper she finds a placeon Sunset Boulevard called "Burlesque", a bar and club where people dowell choreographed dancing, but mime to all the great artists ratherthan sing themselves. She meets bartender Jack (Cam Gigandet) whopoints her to the manager of the struggling club, retired dancer butstill singer Tess (Cher), she isn't persuaded to give her an auditionto be part of the team on stage, but Ali does get a job as waitress.After a while of working there a few people notice Ali around, and soonenough Tess and her ex-husband Sean (Stanley Tucci) are holdingauditions for new talent, and she manages to sneak on to try, andeventually the owner gives in and allows her to be a dancer. Afterbeing robbed Ali shows up at Jack's apartment asking to stay with him,he accepts, and he proves he may have hidden talent as well as he is atalented musician, but he also has a fiancée. Tess and Sean are tryingto sort the financial difficulties, and they are not giving into theoffers from Marcus Gerber (Eric Dane) who wants to buy, but Vince(Peter Gallagher) doesn't think they can last much longer. One nightwhen performer Nikki (Forgetting Sarah Marshall's Kristen Bell) turnsup drunk and is refused to go on stage, she stops the music that Ali ismiming to, and just when Tess starts bringing down the curtain shesings acapella to high appraise. Tess didn't realise how well Ali couldsing, and she instantly becomes the star of the new show they willcreate, and slowly the club gains many more high rolling customers.Despite offering money to buy Burlesque, she starts going out withMarcus, but her true feelings are of course going towards Jack, theyhave a slightly heated relationship, but they end up in bed together.His fiancée Natalie (Dianna Agron) turns up and catches them, and whileparted from him Ali goes to the apartment of Marcus, where she sees aminiature model of a high rise set on what is the location of theBurlesque. Knowing they only have a day and a few hours to save theclub, Ali and Tess come up with a way to stop anyone buying the cluband them losing it, by telling the owner of large apartment buildingsthat he will lose his view if he doesn't help fund the club, so he doesand the money goes to Vince to buy him out, and Ali and Jack kiss andmake up before a final performance. Also starring Julianne Hough asGeorgia and Alan Cumming as Alexis. Cher hasn't had a good role sinceTea with Mussolini, look at Stuck on You, so a good return, andAguilera with her brilliant voice and dancing talent makes a fantasticdebut, and the supporting members of cast, especially Tucci are goodtoo. A critic described this as Showgirls, without the constant removalof clothes of course, but this is much better than that, with greatsongs, including the title song from Aguilera, performed on The XFactor, and power ballad "You Haven't Seen The Last Of Me", a goodmusical drama. It is nominated the Golden Globes for Best MotionPicture - Musical or Comedy, Best Original Song for "Bound to You" andBest Original Song for "You Haven't Seen The Last of Me". Worthwatching!

M. O. (08 May 2012)

Just watch it before bed...

Burlesque is for Christina what Glitter (2001) wasn't for poor Mariah.The movie is just OK... there's not much to say about it as it's apiece of Moulin Rouge, Chicago and Nine, the trilogy of new modernmusicals that popped theaters and now are becoming a tired formula.It's a linear easy going movie to catch all ages and people, mainlythose ones who are Christina fans because the whole movie is all abouther.As an actress, she's just playing her part well, thinking that this isher first big role and also her debut. As a singer there's not much toprove either because all that she sings there she already did with her2007's Back To Basics album and this music style is almost stereotypingher career when the movie was much more successful than her new album -which got a totally different direction and was a complete commercialfailure.The movie is not entirely a musical... it has a lame background storyand other parallel ones that doesn't add anything interesting. Cher isokay and her acting level is equivalent to the facial expressions she'sable to do, that's why she isn't making so much movies lately...Stanley Tucci is okay, being the example of people that sometimes doamazing movies and sometimes don't... Alan Cumming in asuper-supporting role isn't okay. That's almost an offense as much aswatching Michael Caine appearing for just 2 minutes in 'Inception'(2010).It's what a regular musical is supposed to be, even when sometimes Ijust used the FF button because all Christina's burlesque vocalperformances were making me dizzy.Just watch it before bed.

John Wirt (08 May 2012)

It's two movies in one, one of which achieves Showgirls-level badness. Burlesque's soundtrack is a much better investment than a movie ticket.

(07 May 2012)

A FABULOUS FEEL GOOD MOVIE

I HAVE SEEN THIS MOVIE 7 TIMES AND WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT AGAIN RIGHT NOW.. AND SOOOO LOOK FORWARD TO IT COMING OUT ON DVD...IT IS THE MOST WONDERFUL FEEL GOOD MOVIE OF THE LAST 10 YEARS...OMG I AM ADDICTED TO THIS MOVIE...A MUST SEE BY EVERYONE..

jennifer511567 (06 May 2012)

Burlesque

What I love most in this movie is its dancing and singing. The twosongs-"I am a good girl" and "Express" that Christina performed reallygave me a big shock. I think it is worthy to watch for its songs anddancing. I also love its costumes and luxurious settings which made mefeel exciting. All in all, I think this movie is a great choice to killtime. I think as the first time for a singer to try acting, Christinahas already tried her best to use her talent on singing and dancing tomake the film better; though it still needs a lot of improve on heracting, I think she chose the right film which can show her merits andit is more easier for her to play the role of Ali who is similar to herprofession.

rickrehoboth (02 May 2012)

Even the guys liked it

Went with friends, expecting nothing, but came out of the theaterwishing I could replay it immediately. I even sat through the lengthycredits. The story moves FAST. Its country girl goes to L A - BUT theplot is not tired at the breakneck speed of the music and fabulousediting. It is visually stunning and visually interesting. The club setis a masterpiece with lighting highlighting the dance routines. For itsgenre this movie is a prize. And p.s., Christina Aguilera hit everysong out of the ballpark as Cher did with the title song. Plus you getStanley Tucci. The down side - Cher has a second number that is clearly stuck in thereto give her a second number. I thought it the weakest song in themovie. The movie is PG 13. I think that is a fair guideline.Lastly, the CD contains only 10 of the vocals.

(02 May 2012)

Burlesque

I rented this particular movie before purchasing it, and I did enjoy the amazing choreography, the music, and the costumes. As for the plot? You would do better to watch this movie on mute until the musical scenes are playing. You'd be doing yourself a favor. Still, I did end up purchasing it, and I gave it 4 stars because of the music, choreography, etc.