What I cant figure out is why the producers of this film called it “Australia”. Should have called it “Cattle Droving in the Dusty Desert”…or similar. Because that film sure does not represent Australia!!!

On Monday I sat through a long session at the local cinema to watch the much raved about movie “Australia”. Prior to seeing the movie I read “rave” reviews in the newspapers. I have to report that I think many of those movie critics were way over the top in their praise! I hasten to add that this blog is not intended as a movie review critic.

However, as the movie is hugely directed towards boosting tourism to Australia, & as West Aussie is part of that land mass, I feel a need to make my comments about the movie “Australia”.

Now, many people, particularly ladies,  are about to howl me down as a bumptious, nasty, over critical male. My Wife enjoyed the movie…whereas I could not wait for the show to finally finish. Just prior to the finish, I had a dreadful sensation that Nicole & Hugh were going to set off, yet once again on another trek, back across the desert (?) to the “Ranch”, & I would have to endure yet another trek with them. Honestly, if I had been by myself I would have walked out after the first hour.

I was greatly disappointed with the scenery that was portrayed, as that mainly consisted of a barren large hill surrounded by swirling dust on Nicole’s cattle property! Or of scenes of wild cattle tearing across a dry, dusty landscape, hugely reminiscent of a cowboy film from long ago.

Fortunately, some superb scenery was occasionally visible. However not enough to live up to the hugely built up expectations…very disappointing. The trailers of the movie both on TV & at the cinemas seem to have concentrated the brief, spectacular, but too brief takes of some of the gorgeous scenery available in North Western Australia & the Northern Territory.

Darwin was no doubt well portrayed as it looked way back in the 1940’s. I found the story line to be a copy cat of so many older “epic” style movies. However, this movie turned out to be no epic…well not to me anyway. The actors by & large were ok…not great. The bombing scenes of poor old Darwin were well done.

However, the rest of the “long” movie consisted  of trekking backwards & forwards across deserts(?) from the ranch (?) house, several days travel from Darwin (?), trying to outwit a nasty rich land owner who wanted Nicole’s ranch for himself. A plot so simplistic I was stunned that they had the audacity to use it once again.

How many movies have I seen over the years based on that simple premise of a bad criminal type wanting everyone else’s land for his own. Come on Directors of Australia…you could have done much better than using that worn out old theme yet again!!

Anyway, before the lovers of the movie flame me, I just wanted overseas folk who have never visited Australia to know that Ozz has far, far more to offer than you will ever see in the film Australia.

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