Australia [Blu-ray] | ![Australia [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51sYz85OxiL._SL500_.jpg) | Director: Baz Luhrmann
Actors: Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Jack Thompson, Bryan Brown, David Wenham
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.99
Buy Used: $8.88
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Rating:  324 reviews
Sales Rank: 4260
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: Blu-ray
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 165 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 6.7 x 5.3 x 0.5
MPN: FOXBR2256385
UPC: 024543563853
EAN: 0024543563853
ASIN: B001PPGAIK
Theatrical Release Date: 2008
Release Date: March 3, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG13
Release Date: 3-MAR-2009
Media Type: Blu-Ray
Amazon.com
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)
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 324
 Want to waste 2 hours and 45 minutes of your life? February 4, 2010
Joseph_ (Cincinnati, OH USA)
Then watch this movie.
I saw trailers for it, and it looked pretty good, so I decided to rent it. And wow. Just... wow.
I generally like Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman movies, but this one was a screw up, and I don't say that a lot about movies. It begins in a confusing swirl, with a cliche, overly-done beginning and the strange story of the mixed boy narrating it. The movies looks like a romance slash thriller, but it feels like the director was so ambitious to mix everything together, it just came out as a garbled mess. There's too many characters, and too many storylines, weaving in and out of it.
The story feels confusing, and unrealistic from the start. The "bad guys" are weird, petty little men who just get caught up in this sad excuse for a movie; the lead roles are boring and their accents made me crazy. Everything feels as brittle and cheap as its CGI. Let me say, the stabs the director and writers made at drama (such as the cow-stampede scene, and the part where the fat man gets trampled... wow, that made me laugh my butt off), romance (Nicole and Hugh's characters are drunk when they first kiss... true romance? NOT), humor (What beautiful creatures... CRACK... dead kangaroo), and suspense (when all the mixed children survived the Jap shooting, I was like, REALLY?) ... well, let's just say it came off badly. Not to mention to bizarre story including the mixed boy's grandpa, who pops up and follows everyone like a little creepy stalker... he never really talks, and he kinda reminded me of Rafiki from the Lion King, you know?
And it goes on for way too long, with what feels like multiple endings. Each character flits in and out of the story without much presence, and I found myself willing at least one character to be killed off so the movie would end. It literally feels endless, like the director had so many ideas he got carried away.
I could go on and on, but you get the idea. It's so full of cliche, cheesy, sickeningly flimsy, stupid parts that... honestly, if this was to be a good movie, you'd have to trim it down so that only fifteen minutes were left. I am dead serious, it was a waste of my time. My eyes still kinda hurt from watching it for so long.
So if you're bored and really are wondering what this movie is about? Watch it. But don't even dream of spending twenty bucks on this movie, it's quite a failure. A big disappointment, by my standards, because it had so much potential, and I wanted to like it... but my feelings are mixed, and really, I just can't say I enjoyed spitting away nearly three hours on this movie.
 Good Movie February 1, 2010
Samantha Bengtson (Turlock, CA USA)
This film is very entertaining. There is a scene where a house and a child come out of the water and it is just a brillant moment in cinemotography. Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman are amazing in this movie.
Aus for Two January 27, 2010
LeTU MBA (Midwest Region, USA)
Having been to Darwin, this looks like it was filmed there right on the pier.
Good story and good acting.
dont forget how Baz makes his movies January 13, 2010
Jeffrey A. Rogers (Sydney, Australia)
I didnt get to see the movie at the cinema, however I bought the DVD in December 09 , when I first started playing the movie I wasnt in the mood and didnt initially get what Baz wanted to do with this project and his particular interpretation of the story. After 20 minutes I turned it of (that December night) and revisited the movie again last night. My wife wasnt keen to try and watch it again however I mentioned to her (and reminded myself) dont forget how Baz makes his movies. Afterall his style is unique and sets him apart from many other filmmakers.
I loved Moulin Rouge (infact I've probably watched it more than any movie I've ever seen), so to the review, the love epic that is 'Australia' has it all, a great opening, spectacular scenery, fantastic actors, an enjoyable story line, engaging chemistry between the two leads, and a whole lot more.
The critics were very unkind to this movie, disgraceful infact that it was so pilloried by so many. Why should relationships between people be depicted as perfect in any movie, afterall the notion of a perfect relationship is ridiculous, some gentle escapism, entertainment on a grand scale, love, pathos, action and some emotional spikes
are all aspects of another Baz Luhrmann movie success. I hope he continues to create movies in his style, he doesnt need any tall poppy criticism, just support and love for his craft.
 "This land has a strange power" December 31, 2009
Phip (New York)
I'm a sucker for sweeping epic, romantic, drama-ridden, war movies. This makes me easy prey for the seduction of "Australia". Set amid the dramatic backdrop of the world's largest island, the movie centers around Lady Sarah Ashley (played by Nicole Kidman whom I have a special attatchment to for thanks to her husband) and her cattle herder known as "The Drover" (played by the masculine Hugh Jackman). As Sarah tries to take over her dead husband's ranch in the outback, she is met with numerous obstacles including a corrupt cattle king who is seeking to monopolize the cattle industry, and her ranch manager who is secretly working for her opponent. I must say that David Wenham, who plays her traitor manager, does very poorly at his role. He's just too apparantely evil and sniveling. He was much better in 300. But anyways, Sarah must enlist the help of the Drover if her ranch is ever to survive and soon an improbable romance is ignited. But the gem that really sparkles in this film is the little aboriginal boy that Sarah decides to adopt in order to keep him safe from the government who exports the "half cast" children. But when the Japanese who bombed Pearl Harbor stage an air raid on Darwin, their worlds are all torn apart. I won't say any more because I don't want to ruin it for you. The ending is a little cliche but overall it was a good story. The two leads do a fantastic job together. I was especially impressed with Kidman who lended both humour and pathos to her role. The score was very good, using Over the Rainbow as one of its themes. The cinematography was stunning and effective. Even though it runs almost three hours long, I would encourage you to see it to form an opinion for yourself. You may not be blown away like I was. But then again, with its sweeping beauty, thrill, and emotion...well you just might be.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 324
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