The Film
Set in distant and exotic land where two very different people, from very different backgrounds find love and deal with the consequences of war could describe a few films, notably the Oscar winner The English Patient. That one likely fooled you into thinking it was really a love story in the time of war, and caught you believing you'd get at least one good battle sequence - but don't be fooled again. Australia from director Baz Luhrmann is no more a war film, and instead it tries too hard to be a romantic epic mixed with a lighthearted can do tale, and just a bit of a stranger in a strange land. While visually impressive the story is flatter than the outback of Oz.
Need a second opinion? Check out Joe Lozito's review of the theatrical release of Australia.
The Picture
Luhrmann once again creates a world that transforms the interesting into the truly astonishing. And while the Australian Outback might only normally sound really inviting as a steakhouse, the movie makes it actually inviting and wondrous. The 2.35:1 presentation on the Blu-ray captures this in every detail, from the sweeping cattle drive to the short, but no less impressive battle sequence that sees the Japanese attack on the city of Darwin. While the film's pacing drags down the whole thing, at least there is plenty of eye candy, which the Blu-ray manages to bring out.
The Sound
If the picture succeeds in making the lackluster story at least interesting to watch the sound makes this one to remember. Luhrmann uses the musical score, as well as the chants and songs of the native characters to help bring out the wonders of the land down under, and from the ambient sounds of Oz to the pounding of the cattle drive there is no BS with the 5.1-channel DTS-HD Master Audio track.
The Extras
The bonus features, which include behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film, along with a featurette on location are interesting, but because the film is so much of a dud it is a little hard to find these all that compelling. At least the makers cared enough to provide these inside looks, even if there really isn't that much to see.
Final Thoughts
Australia was one of those highly anticipated films that probably suffered from too much build up. But even if you missed the hype, the final result is a mash-up of just too many things we've seen before. An epic shouldn't remind you of City Slickers and Crocodile Dundee; and the fact that quasi-Oz-native Nicole Kidman plays an English lady transplanted down under just says it all.
Where to Buy
Australia on Blu-ray Disc (Amazon.com)
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