Search - Australia on DVD

David Gulpilil - King George
Brandon Walters - Nullah
David Ngoombujarra - Magarri
Ben Mendelsohn - Captain Dutton
Barry Otto - Administrator Allsop
Kerry Walker - Myrtle Allsop
Sandy Gore - Gloria Carney
Urshula Yovich - Daisy
Lillian Crombie - Bandy Legs
Yuen Wah - Sing Song
Angus Pilakui - Goolaj
Jacek Koman - Ivan
Tony Barry - Sergeant Callahan
Roy Barrett - Administrator Allsop
Max Cullen - Old Drunk
Shea Adams - Carney boy 3
Eddie Baroo - Bull

This is a beautiful movie. Very moving and not just a chick flick.

Very long film, a little bit comic-book-ish, very romantic toward the second half. I liked it, though, for the costumes and the gorgeous setting.

Not really what I expected at all...an enjoyable romance...but thoroughly enjoyed what it was - definitely epic! I often find movies made around historical violence and racism to be too painful & haunting to watch; this was well done AND it was a pleasure to watch. I appreciated the humor as well as the drama. Hugh, and yeah (begrudgingly) Nicole, were hilarious to watch. Great sparks and acting. But without a doubt, Nullah stole my heart!
I lived in Australia in the 80s. So, I understood some of what had happened. I didn't realize how recently the government had apologized...it was still on everyone's minds; they wanted to repent and recompense better than the USA has with it's 'native population.' Still 40 years of wrong-doing and 30 years to apologize...damn! And?!
Well, obviously, I recommend the movie. At about 2 hours you'll think, why isn't this over? Because there was the happy ending...and it kept going. But the best of the drama was in the last 1/2 hour. It was almost like watching the sequel immediately afterwards! So be prepared for a long one.

Having read all the bad reviews this movie's been getting, I went in with low expectations and was pleasantly surprised. From seeing Baz Luhrmann's Red Curtain trilogy (Strictly Ballroom, Romeo+Juliet and Moulin Rouge) I knew what to expect as far as visuals, but had no idea what the tone of the story would be.

Luhrmann's Australia was, to me, closer to the romantic adventures of old Hollywood- Red Dust, Mogambo, the African Queen, Lawrence of Arabia, Gone With the Wind- than to his previous works. And that's a good thing. I love the fantastical trippyness of his earlier stuff, but its great to see a director surprise you by breaking out something you didn't know they were capable of.

Yes the main characters are a tad cardboard, but that tends to go with the territory of epic melodrama. And it says something for the acting of Kidman and Jackman, as well as the young child actor, that I cared about their characters despite their cliches.

The film also fleshes out its romantic escapism with the real tragedy of war and racism, and manages to do so without making either element seem out of place. It tells the story of one child of Australia's Stolen Generations and weaves it seamlessly in with the history of war and the fictional story of family, redemption and hope.

The visuals are stunning, and the story is sweeping and stirring. Australia is a movie in love with romance, drama, nostalgia, grandeur, tragedy, joy and life itself.

What a fantastic movie. A great plot, powerful story. Hugh Jackman has never been sexier and Nicole Kidman was wonderful. I personally feel this movie will go down as one of the all time greats. I highly recommend it. I gave it a full five stars. WOW!!!