Epic!

I missed all the hype that Australia received in the run up to its release so I didn't have any expectations of what the movie would offer me. I was delighted to find a mix of western adventure with (melo)drama, tragedy, comedy and romance that Baz Luhrmann excels at. The first 30 minutes of camp and borderline absurdity reminded me of his first film, Strictly Ballroom (which I loved). My only wish is that he could have maintained this tone throughout the movie. At mid-point, Australia becomes more dramatic, okay melodramatic, morphing into a Pearl Harbor/Gone With The Wind romance. I don't know if it managed it quite as well as Gone With the Wind, but Australia is certainly much better than Pearl Harbor.

The movie's theme, a running theme in Baz Luhrmann's films, is one of being true to yourself - "A life lived in fear is a life half lived" and also looks at the traditions and mysticism that steeps aboriginal culture.

Aside from Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman, the principal character in this movie is the landscape. The cinematography is beautiful - the vistas are grand and colorful.

My main criticism of the movie is that it is too long - 3 hours. There are a number of places where it could have ended satisfactorily, the one and half hour mark comes to mind, but the movie wasn't boring.

7/10