Australia
A romantic action-adventure epic set in Australia prior to World War II that centers on an English aristocrat (Nicole Kidman) who inherits a large ranch. When English cattle barons plot to take her land, she reluctantly joins forces with a rough-hewn cattle drover (Hugh Jackman) to protect her ranch. Together they experience four life-altering years, a love affair and the bombing of Darwin during World War II.
- Audio: English, French & Spanish: 5.1 Dolby Surround
- Language: Dubbed & Subtitled: English, French & Spanish
- Aspect Ratio: Widescreen: 2.35:1
Watching the early reels of Australia, there's certainly no doubt who's in charge: this could only be a film by Baz Luhrmann, that wacky purveyor of all things over-the-top. In this old-fashioned, 165-minute hymn to his native continent, Luhrmann travels back to the late 1930s/early '40s, for a scenario that would not have been out of place at MGM in that era. Straightlaced Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) journeys Down Under and is put under the protection of--crikey--a rugged cattle driver known only as the Drover (Hugh Jackman). When the two are forced to team up (along with a motley crew of misfits) to take a herd of cattle through the hostile landscape, their way is challenged by the dastardly plans of the local beef baron (Bryan Brown) and his elaborately evil lieutenant (David Wenham). At some point you realize that this film's main commodity is not cattle, but corn: Luhrmann piles on the melodrama and the old-school climaxes with his usual frantic glee. Employing "When You Wish Upon a Star" and the Japanese air force to make his case is not beyond Luhrmann, and he reaches big here. Those with a taste for un-ironic silliness might just go for this stuff, but even fans of the Baz will have their patience tested by the broad comedy and the absence of discernable chemistry between Kidman and Jackman. Australia does manage to skewer the culture's prejudices against the Aboriginal people, but in this context such a victory comes across as rather tinny. --Robert Horton
Stills from Australia (Click for larger image)
Australia Accessories
Australia Reviews
Great movie, long movie, but it had lots of great scenes that were funny, sexy, and kept me watching them over and over.
I must have watched this movie at least a dozen times in a row and still can't get enough. Every time I see Nicole Kidman in an interview, on tv, or in a movie I think of this film and then pop it into my dvd player. Personally I think it is her best film to date and will always love it. The characters in this film are so intense and realistically portrayed it's impossible not to get drawn into the movie yourself from start to finish. Love this film and I highly recommend it!
How can you go wrong with Hugh Jackman? Australia has the style of the old EPIC type movies...larger than life. It has something for everyone...Action...Adventure...Romance...Cattle rustling. And, to see this movie in HD BluRay is awesome. Now we can watch it anytime we want, at home.
This movie was good but I had a feeling that the story could have gone a little deeper. The actors do a great job with what they had. I love watching the actors and the scenery and I definitely bought it.
I was soooo looking forward to seeing this movie and was so dissapointed in it. The plot isn't the best, acting was good but not great and it was way too long for what it was...would recommend another movie.
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