Australia [DVD] [2008]

Love this fabulous 😍

I watched this movie after putting it off for a long time. I guess I was prepared to be disappointed in Baz Luhrman's ability to create a truly moving epic, and to be honest, prior to watching it, I had no idea what this was supposed to be all about.Well, watching it turned out to be one of the most moving movie experiences of my life. The acting by Jackman and Kidman was superb, in a plot so full of historical poignancy and heart-rending suspense that I couldn't help but be gripped from start to, very distant, end. The young Aboriginal boy was incredibly talented and brought a vivid realness, albeit tempered with mystique, to a screenplay potentially destined to be slightly cliche.David Wenham, a 'baddie' in the movie, is extraordinary in his screen presence. It was painful to watch the prejudice againt the indigenous population brought to life by his bitter struggle to profit from the land, and the people. If there was one criticism of this entire movie, it may be that his character was written in as being rather an exaggerated caracature of the white people, but by doing so, a point is made. And Baz Luhrman was not afraid to make that point.This movie is beautifully written and filmed. The land of Australia is portrayed through the eyes of those who love it, and Kidman who grows to love it, and is truly some of the most spectacular scenery to have ever come on to our screens. I cannot fault this and wish that it could have been acknowledged by having been handed several oscars. I now believe that Baz Luhrman can make anything, and although several scenes oozed his unique perspective similar to Romeo and Juliet or Moulin Rouge, it was the length of Australia away from his usual work.

The film is better than I thought it would be, the first 20mins are a bit daft, but once it gets going its a decent epic adventure film. Well worth watching.

Don't be put off by some of the negative reviews on here. Why can't people just say it's not for them instead of some long winded comments making out they actually know what they're talking about.I bought this DVD one Christmas and put it in a cupboard and forgot about it (like you do!) My 13 yr old was bored one Saturday afternoon so we sat and watched it together; me who never watches films or usually goes walkabout (Lol) and daughter who is never off Facebook. By the end the tears were streaming down our faces so guess what? we loved it........brilliant epic of a film. We never moved off the settee for the entire duration which is something of a feat for me and my daughter.Yes it is long (my husband rang to say he was leaving the NEC and we were still watching it when he got back to North Wales !!)Please don't be put off by the negative comments; it is a love story but not in the RomCom sense as there is so much more to this film; fabulous scenery, good story, horrible baddie, adorable boy and Hugh Jackman looks pretty fit without his top on; Enjoy !!

I am usually so hard to please and having read some of the reviews of this film, I was prepared to be disappointed. I was but not in the way you would think - I was disappointed because the poor reviews got this film so totally wrong!her ladyship (Nicole Kidman) travels to Australia to find out what is happening to her husband's (his lordship's) affairs. Talk about taking the lady out of England but you can't take England out of her ladyship! She arrives in Australia to find life a little more erm basic to the fine living and manners she experienced in England. The film is funny and provocotive. Kidman's character is so out of place in the brash Australian outback but she plays things to perfection. She meets up with the brash sheep drover who is her saviour, a young native australian who is delightful and the evil ranch owner who is trying to take over her Ranch.This film will make you laugh, cry and at the end feel totally uplifted. If you think of Gone with The Wind - it is of a similar genre. It is a really wonderful and enjoyable film which should be watched accompanied by a cup of Hot Chocolate.

Before I bought this DVD I was a bit doubtful as to whether I would like it or not as someone had said it was nothing more than an advert for Australia. It is nothing of the kind. It is a powerful drama of the country set in a time during WW 2, where the bad guys are trying to take land from the good guys, and hoping to become the sole supplier of cattle meat to the Australian government. There is intrigue, plotting, downright nastiness and a love interest. It is set against the backdrop of the Australian bush and cattle ranching is the name of the game. The main theme is about the efforts of a widowed lady unused, to the business, to achieve a cattle drive to the port before her competitors who use every trick in the book to prevent her. The bombing attacks of the Japanese on the port are a bit harrowing, but despite all the privations, love triumphs in the end. It's a good story.

Australia is a magnificent film. It is at the same time a comedy, a western, a romance, a period piece and a war movie, with the gorgeous Australian landscapes as backdrop.The film does justice to the history of Australia, which few people outside of the country know. I think the success of the movie in Australia is a testament to that.The actors are great in their roles. Hugh Jackman and the newcomer Brandon Walters are especially fantastic.And if all that isn't enough, just watch coz Hugh Jackman has never been sexier than in this movie. ;)However the extras on this DVD edition are very disappointing with only 2 deleted scenes. One can only hope a DVD edition packed with extras will be released at a later date.