Australia (2008) Film Review - Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman

Plot Summary - Sweeping historical epic set in the Northern Outback country of Australia at the brink of WWII - a land of Aborigines, crocodiles, and cattle barons. Lady Ashley (Nicole Kidman) arrives from England to bring her husband home and sell their Australia cattle plantation, Faraway Downs, but instead finds her husband murdered. She fires the head rancher/bad man when she finds he has been stealing cattle, then hooks up with a rough and rugged - yet oh so handsome - man, The Drover (Hugh Jackman), to drive her cattle to Darwin to sell. They put together a rag-tag bunch to run the cattle - including prim, proper Lady Ashley herself - and a charming little Aborigine half-caste boy named Nullah who sort of came with the place and is at risk of being caught by police and sent to "Mission Island" to be assimilated - hmm. Troubles come at every turn with said bad man and his band of toughs who try to stop them. Soon WWII and the Japanese air-raids risk all their safely. And of course - a love match is inevitable between Lady Ashley and our hunk.

Review - Very entertaining and gorgeously photographed on location - a vista full of colors. The film includes a bit of humor in the form of a sort of Indiana Jones type story - - the love story here is strong. The young actor, Brandon Walters, who plays Nullah is very special - and what a beautiful face, his big eyes just fill the screen! This film got better as I got into the story - the nearly 3-hour length helped me get involved with the characters. I love epics like this, the film caught me. By the way, the Blu-ray looked great! Rating - 9.5/10 stars

Quo Vadis (1951) Film Review - Robert Taylor, Deborah Kerr

Plot Summary - Epic film set in Imperial Rome at the time of Nero, directed by Mervyn LeRoy. The story centers around handsome commander of the Roman Army, Marcus Vinicius (Robert Taylor) and his intense admiration and sometimes bumbled pursuit of the beautiful Christian girl Lygia (Deborah Kerr), a "hostage" who lives with loving, adoptive parents. Lygia is by law a ward of Nero, so Marcus arranges to have her delivered to Nero's "House of Women" to be presented to Marcus as a reward for his battles. Meanwhile, Nero sings, writes lyrics, and starts getting crazier and crazier ideas until finally deciding to burn down Rome and build it anew. But when the citizens of Rome form a mob, blaming Nero for ruining their city, he pins the blame on the Christians, has them all arrested and sent to be killed by the lions in the arena.

Review - A lavish spectacle from beginning to end, with edge of your seat storyline filmed in gorgeous Technicolor - I loved this! It's 3 hour length went by very quickly for me. Peter Ustinov gives a spectacular performance as Nero - another film wow! Rating - 10/10 stars