I saw Australia with my Dad yesterday. I’ve been looking forward to this movie since I saw the first preview for it early this year, and I have to say I was not disappointed in the least. It was everything I wanted it to be: epic, romantic, action-packed, I was totally swept away. I just loved it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a movie set in Australia before (believe it or not Kangaroo Jack was never high on my to-see list), especially not set in this time period, so I loved to see what that world was like. Maybe I should go see it first hand? That would be fun. And yes, it was occasionally mushy, over-the-top, and riddled with cliches, but with a movie like this it just totally works. The beginning was a bit off, and hard to follow, but by the 45 minute mark (it’s a long movie that clocks in at 2 hours 45 minutes) I was completely engaged. I highly recommend this!
You’ve never seen “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”? An incomplete gay education!
I know, right? I’m a terrible gay. It’s on my Netflix queue though!
Well you’ve convinced me. The husband wants to go see this and I was on the fence about it, especially with the 2 hour 45 minute run time but I suppose it could be worth it. And about “Priscilla”? Move it up in your queue. It’s a terrific, campy feel good sorta movie for all gay men….that and I’m pretty sure that the Gay Police can come and take away your card AND your toaster oven if you’ve never seen it! Just sayin’….
Hm so maybe I’ll give Australia a chance then. I loved Moulin Rouge and Romeo+Juliet for its frenetic camera work and stuff but it doesn’t look like Australia has that style. And while I love Nicole Kidman, her botoxed face has made her acting skills quite awful.
Isn’t Priscella one of them cult movies where the people dress up to see it, ala Rocky horror?
Great Lady Bunny, Craiggers, how can any self respecting gay man of your age not OWN Priscilla, much less not have seen it? *SIGH* Gay youth….
But you’ve never seen any of the Mad Max movies? They take place in Australia.
HUGS…
I have been living with my “thrifty” husband for so long that his ways have rubbed off on me and I refuse to pay $8.50 for a movie in the theater, but I may make an exception for this one. I love Hugh Jackman. I am not a huge Nicole fan, but she’s definitely moved up in my book since dumping Tom.
Wasn’t it amazing!?! I watched it the day it came out (Wednesday) and loved it so much went right back in and watched it again. Watching it twice over was more than bearable… the fact that the theater has a bar inside and might have helped a little, I think I was verging on drunk by the time I went home.
Baz Luhrmann is my hero. Moulin Rouge and Romeo and Juliet are my faves, and now Australia. If you’re an Australia/Baz junkie like me, iTunes has this really cool series of video podcasts with more details about the movie and the director at www(dot)apple(dot)com/education/settoscreen/.
Yes, you should go to Australia and check out the real thing. That means not just Sydney, Uluru and the Barrier Reef (though those are all great).
Try wine tasting in the Barossa and Adelaide’s Southern Vales. Stay in the lighthouse on Kangaroo Island. Do the Ghost Tour in Port Arthur. Do the Great Ocean Road-Grampians-Great Western triangle.
Hit the beach in the summer, and you’ll see guys that make Hugh Jackman look comparatively ugly.
Should you make it over, which you should, I will of course be on hand to show you around. And by show you around, I mean drink.