Australia, the movie

[_marg]

Roger Ebert does a good review http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081125/REVIEWS/811259991

I agree with his negative critique regarding the "aboriginal mystical powers" detracting from the film. The only thing good about the "magic" was that by invoking it the good guys were either saved frm or beat out the evil guys, except one good guy the audience gets to know doesn't make it.

I found the movie draggy, but overall it's better than many movies I've seen recently, since I go at least once a week. Now 4 Christmases I really liked but most critics didn't. by the way the Bond movie was the pits.

[_harmony]

Roger Ebert does a good review http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081125/REVIEWS/811259991

I agree with his negative critique regarding the "aboriginal mystical powers" detracting from the film. The only thing good about the "magic" was that by invoking it the good guys were either saved frm or beat out the evil guys, except one good guy the audience gets to know doesn't make it.

I didn't think it detracted. Rather, it was a part of their culture, so it was legit to include it.

I found the movie draggy, but overall it's better than many movies I've seen recently, since I go at least once a week.

I thought it was long, but not draggy. What I thought was weird was that the drover was named Drover, as if he had no other name. But dang, that man looks good in a tux!

Now 4 Christmases I really liked but most critics didn't. by the way the Bond movie was the pits.

I'm not a fan of Christmas movies. Most are just too sugary for me. The last Christmas movie I liked was White Christmas. Nobody sang like Bing!

I thought about seeing the new Bond, but Sweet Pickle hasn't liked a Bond since they got the newest Bond.

[_Ray A]

Roger Ebert does a good review http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081125/REVIEWS/811259991

I thought that was a fair and critical review, but some parts I can't assess until I have seen the movie.

Ebert notes:

The Australians, having for decades treated their native people as subhuman, now politely endow them with godlike qualities. I am not sure that is a compliment. What they suffered, how they survived, how they prevailed and what they have accomplished, they have done as human beings, just as we all must.

There is a kind of remnant collective guilt still present. And as Nick Hartgerink noted in his review which I posted above, racism still exists, no need to kid anyone about that. He wouldn't be calling for more "enlightenment" if it didn't. It's not all one-way either. Australian Aboriginals have had severe "integration" problems because their culture is different to the "white man's", even without the racism. I should note here that I have two part Aboriginal grandchildren. They look totally Caucasian. Both of my sons are in relationships where their partners have mixed marriaged grandparents, Aboriginal/white, with one of the grandparents being "full" Aborignal. That's the other thing about "Aboriginal culture", you may look Anglo-Celtic, but still identify as Aboriginal, which means, in essence, be careful about running down Aborigines when you think you're talking to a white man/woman, because he/she may in fact be of Aboriginal descent. And incidentally, in that regard, some Aboriginals can be their own most severe critics. See Noel Pearson, for example. That will give you a clue to some of the problems not discussed in the film.

But it seems in the end Ebert has a high opinion of the movie itself:

Still, what a gorgeous film, what strong performances, what exhilarating images and -- yes, what sweeping romantic melodrama. The kind of movie that is a movie, with all that the word promises and implies.

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[_Jason Bourne]

Ray? Jason? Liz? Have you seen it yet?

Maybe this weekend. I have just been overwhelmed with some HUGE work problems and have been living at the office lately.

[_Jason Bourne]

Hey Harm

Just got back from seeing the movie with my wife. We both loved it. I panoramic epic type movie. Great story, great cinematic effects and I very much enjoyed it.

[_Ray A]

I'm going to disappoint harmony here, but I've decided to wait for the DVD. I have a wide LCD anyway, so I'll turn up the volume, grab a beer, and watch Nicole (that's all the scenery I need).

Going to the cinema alone sucks. Everyone's eating popcorn and drinking coke, and cafeine just doesn't do the trick.

[_harmony]

Hey Harm

Just got back from seeing the movie with my wife. We both loved it. I panoramic epic type movie. Great story, great cinematic effects and I very much enjoyed it.

Yah! I'm so glad you enjoyed it as much as we did.

Did you think the race stuff was overdone? Or, as marg said, the magic stuff didn't fit? What did you think of the apology at the end?

[_harmony]

I'm going to disappoint harmony here, but I've decided to wait for the DVD. I have a wide LCD anyway, so I'll turn up the volume, grab a beer, and watch Nicole (that's all the scenery I need).

Going to the cinema alone sucks. Everyone's eating popcorn and drinking coke, and cafeine just doesn't do the trick.

Don't you have a lady friend you could ask, Ray? It really does need a big screen.

[_Ray A]

Don't you have a lady friend you could ask, Ray? It really does need a big screen.

If I can dig one up somewhere before the big screen ends, I'll go. But I don't have the motivation to go on my own.