Blu-Ray dvd movie review of Australia
March 25, 2009
Australia is a hard film to figure out. Is it a camp comedy like city slickers? Is it a romantic action film like Romancing the Stone? Is it a World War II epic like Pearl Harbor? It could be all of those or none. Baz Luhrmann crams in a lot of genres into one film. The film is certainly epic in nature but it seems to miss a coherent central theme or plot. For most parts, the film is entertaining due to Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.
The plot is about an English noblewoman who heads to Australia to take stock of her ranch, which is managed by her husband. Upon arriving, she finds her husband dead the ranch manager pressing her to sell the ranch to King Carney. Of course, she refuses and enlists help from “the drover” played by Hugh Jackman. There’s also the social commentary that goes with Nullah, a boy with mixed heritage that includes aborigine. Kidman’s character comes to care deeply for Nullah and wants to become a mother figure to him. She achieves this while taking the herd of cattle across the Australia for delivery. And, for no apparent reason, the movie turns into some sort of war movie.
The only reason movie works on any level is the two leading actors. To me, Nullah was annoying character that wouldn’t have been missed if he died. The story jumps from City Slickers, Romancing the Stone, to Pearl Harbor. It’s a pity because it was pretty solid for most part. The setting and the period could have been exploited further. Instead, we are left with a hodgepodge mix that doesn’t quite work.
What do you think about this movie? Please leave your thoughts below.
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Not a fan of this movie!
I rented this movie to watch with my husband. I ended up being embarassed by my poor choice. I’m a big fan of Moulin Rouge, by the same director, but this movie was disappointing.
First the good points. The little boy is charming and a good actor. Some of the scenery is beautiful, and Hugh Jackman’s character is pleasant to look at.
The bad points are numerous. The story is ridiculously melodramatic at numerous points, and since this is a long movie that gets old fast. Nicole Kidman’s acting is, well, what we are coming to expect of her recently, fake lips and all. The scenes in Darwin are cartoonishly fake, with skylines that look like those painted on ceilings they have in some of the casinos in Vegas. Not believable AT ALL. The story is confusing during the Darwin section as well. All in all I would only recommend this to someone who wants to have there heartstrings tugged for a very long time, all the while suspending disbelief. If you want a movie about Australia with a little realism and genuine emotion, may I suggest “Man From Snowy River”.
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WONDERFUL MOVIE
While the subject matter was a tough one, tho true, I still loved the movie. I really fell in love with the little boy played by Brandon Walters. I do hope to see him in more movies in the future. What a charmer he is!
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An Old Fashioned Saga Spiced Up With Hugh Jackman
Thoroughly enjoyed this film. It has adventure, romance, intrigue, amazing scenery and the very best of all, Hugh Jackman. For a good old time rousing adventure this film can’t be beat.
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Great Emotional Feel Good Fest!
I’ve read segments of quite a few of the comments here and I didn’t see not one mention that this film is a “Tear Jerker” dujour. I was mesmerized and filled with open-eyed excitement as I watched this movie. I didn’t know that it was welling me up for the downpour of tears to come later. I LOVE THIS MOVIE! I love any type of foreign movie with accents and good storylines anyway, 10 times better than American movies. I had wanted to see this movie at the theater, but couldn’t get to see it while it played. I finally rented it a couple of weeks ago and watched it late at night (a.m. hours). I didn’t blink an eye towards falling asleep during the whole thing. I was truly satisfied and now I plan to buy it for whenever I can use a good cry and get entertained at the same time.(LOL) I also didn’t read or missed reading comments here about anything concerning the “little guy” in this film. He was PHENOMENAL! His role/character made this movie for me. Without him, I don’t think I would have loved it as much. For those who say they hated this movie, all I can say is, “You just didn’t get it.” I supposed that can happen sometimes. For those who loved it…I’ll say, “Good on ‘ya”.
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For ladies.
This in to me is a ladies pic. Draged on to long for this old guy.
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