This is like arguing about football players from different eras, only you're arguing about QBs the 90's and the first QB to play when the forward pass was allowed. Some Einstein vs Hawking type stuff.
Steven Erikson is right up there with those two.
@Tano of you haven't read The Malazan Book of the Fallen series, I highly recommend it. Book one was cool. Either 3 or 4 drags a bit, but every time a make it to the end of a tough part he gives a payoff that makes up for it 10 fold. Plus there's some genuinely hilarious parts in it, although the subject matter is very serious.
Tolkien I think built a lot more world in greater depth, but a lot of it wasn't necessary and combined with his writing style made a story that dragged a lot when it didn't need to. Jordan (Wheel of Time) built a really robust world, writes in a more modern style, and included only those parts that pushed the story along. Brandon Sanderson finished that series and is also a phenomenal world builder.
Back on topic, Moulin Rouge and Chicago both suck. To be fair, musicals aren't usually my style but I did really enjoy Hamilton so I think those might just be awful.