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Australia

(2008, Rated PG-13, Drama, Starring Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, David Wenham)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 14.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Messy but engrossing epic about race, love, and war.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–16

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The movie's historically accurate storyline -- in which half-aboriginal, half-white children are taken away from their homes and taught how to be domestic servants in white society -- is meant to teach an historical lesson about racism toward native cultures. Other messages include love triumphing against the odds and people finding family in unexpected places.
  • Role models:

    A woman is underestimated as not being brave or bold enough to run her own cattle farm in a dangerous territory, but she shows the men around her that she can hold her own. A couple from different social classes falls in love and further goes against the norms of the time by socializing with aboriginal people. Some characters are outright villains with no redeeming qualities.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Several scenes of disturbing violence, including two men being speared to death, one man getting thrown into crocodile-infested waters, a woman drowning, a man being trampled to death by a stampede of cows, a young boy being struck by an adult, World War II bombings/explosions, burned characters, and the death of a well-liked character. A few instances of violence are episodes of men sacrificing themselves to save other characters. A kangaroo is hunted, but the scene is played for laughs.
  • Sex:

    The film's stars have an electric chemistry that's accompanied by a lot of sexual tension. Jackman's character in particular is depicted as incredibly sexually attractive; there are several scenes of him shirtless. A scene in which a white man knocks on an aboriginal woman's door for sex (he's later shown buckling his belt, etc.) is somewhat disturbing. A couple passionately kisses several times and makes love on a bed, but there's no nudity. A woman takes a bath in front of a man (no camera shots below the shoulders). A boy is aware of sexual behavior and calls it "wrong-headed business."
  • Language:

    Lots of "crikey"; other language includes infrequent uses of words like "damn," "bloody," and "bastard." One use of "f--king." Several characters use disparaging terms to refer to aboriginal and half-aboriginal people, including "creamy."
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Australians are portrayed as hard drinking. Various adults drink hard liquor in and out of a pub. One man is known as a drunk and sneaks alcohol on most occasions.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Australia

Parents need to know that this historical melodrama stars popular Aussies Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, but even with that level of celebrity wattage, it's unlikely to attract tweens and younger teens. But older teens, especially mature girls, may be drawn to the romance that's played up in the advertising. The film deals with mature themes like racism, greed, war, class consciousness, and sexual politics. The violence is realistic and occasionally bloody -- characters are speared, shot, burned, drowned, and beaten. The characters' sexual chemistry and tension turns into several passionate kisses and a love-making scene in which bare shoulders, a man's chest, and a woman's underwear, back, and legs are all visible. The Northern Territory is portrayed as full of hard-drinking, aboriginal-hating men and demure, high-society couples. Mature teens who see the film are likely to learn about about Australia's role in World War II and how the country historically treated its indigenous people.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the film's big issues. What do your kids think about the way the film addresses race, and how do they think things have changed since the film's era?
  • How were World War II-era racial tensions in Australia similar to and different from those in America?
  • How accurate do you think the movie is in portraying Australia's history? What did you learn about the country that you didn't know before seeing the movie?

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Perfect for 12+

    Great Movie. One use of f*** and one love scene but oda than that, nuthing!

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Great film, not for under 10s

    Look, I watched this film when I was 9. I was slightly disturbed, though it is a great film. Things to look out for are probably the woman drowning and when the man gets hit by the cattle

  3. I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    13+

    I was 11 years when I first saw this movie. It has a couple of scenes like at the beginning a man got speared and another man got run over by cattle that I found quite disturbing. There was also a sad bit where a kangaroo was shot but that was quite funny. Me and my friend were either cying, laughing or just generally enjoying this movie. Just one negative, I thought it made Australia look like a bad country. I only saw the first half and found it rather disturbing, but a great movie, otherwise!

  4. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message

    Under 12s may find this film very disturbing!

    I was 11 years when I first saw this movie. It has a couple of scenes like at the beginning a man got speared and another man got run over by cattle that I found quite disturbing. There was also a sad bit where a kangaroo was shot but that was quite funny. Me and my friend were either cying, laughing or just generally enjoying this movie. Just one negative, I thought it made Australia look like a bad country.

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 5.0

    Truly spectacle

    LOVE THIS MOVIE!!! To paraphrase my thoughts...one sex scene which is a bit steamy, you see legs and a male's chest that's all doesn't show all that much and is very short. There's kissing but that shouldn't bother teens. The language is a bit more than moderate the f word is used once. Violence really didn't bother me but it did bother my friend, people get speared but it is not bloody except at the beginning and it wasn't all that bad. The most graphic scene is when the man gets run over which did the first time I saw it bother me a bit.

  6. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    fabulous movie, but not for younger kids

    I loved australia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it was one of the best movies i've seen in a long time. there is a sex scene, but you don't actually see anything too graphic. this movie had me crying and laughing and holding my breath... i loved it!

  7. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 5.0

    Rent it now!

    The best movie ever! I love this movie, it has everything: action, drama, romance, comedy. I just can't stress enough: if you have not seen this movie, RENT IT! Stick with it, it may be boring at the beggining, but it is very rewarding.

  8. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    Really beautiful in scenery and story.

    Due to some disturbing images/content this movie is for the 17+ crowd but I ABSOLUTELY loved it! Beautifully shot and smartly written, a wonderful surprise of a journey.

  9. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Wisconsin
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 1.0

    DON'T see this movie!

    The movie drags on and on and on. it gets boring and I didn't think the movie made any sense.

  10. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 4.0

    Take a trip to Australia!

    What a great family movie! It is not nearly as serious as it is billed to be. And there's a perfectly enchanting child at it's center. Yes, it is very long, but it is never boring. There's adventure, magic, romance, and music at every turn. Yes, there's a little gore (but much less than the Lord of the Rings films), a little skin (just fast forward when Sarah and Drover enter the Hotel), deaths (as with any tear-jerker) and fighting and drinking (no more than your average spaghetti western). Racism is a central issue in the film, yet it is never preachy. Besides, how could anyone possibly be prejudice towards the oh-so-adorable Nulla? Brave heros, remorseless villians, beautiful ladies, reformed drunks, a magic man, a trampling stampede, a fancy dress ball and The Wizard of Oz! Pop a huge bowl of popcorn and watch this one as a family (when you have 3 hours to spare).

  11. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 5.0

    It ended twice

    This movie is great and creative but very long and it feels like it ends multiple times. You do see very briefly while the camera moves past an open door, a man and woman having sex

  12. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0

    Visually Entertaining

    It was fantastic and was a big snub at the oscars.

  13. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 3.0

  14. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 3.0

    I laughed!

    I went to see this movie with my friend and her parents it was long but i found it enjoyable. There were some parts that went completely over our heads we laughed at some parts and there is some gore, bombing and a sexual scene. I would let a 12 year old see it.

  15. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 4.0

    long, campy, but very enjoyable

    Yes, it was too long. Yes, some of the lines were laughable. But I found that I could pay attention the whole time because it was so interesting, although I found some of the lines funny when they weren't supposed to be. Anyways, the cinematography was amazing and the movie overall was very emotional (I cried a lot). Nullah is absolutely adorable and I think it would be great if the kid who played him got an award. Despite its faults, the movie consistently stays interesting and, though I kept expecting it to end, when it actually did end I wanted to see it again.

  16. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 15 and give it 4.0

    Adopt Nullah!

    My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. We enjoy traveling to distant places and we enjoy Westerns. This movie offers both. We were both caught up in the story and were both moved emotionally at several points during the film. This film needs to be viewed in the theater!

  17. I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0

    I cried and laughed! Great movie!

    I would see this movie again. Although it is directed more towards mature audiences, I liked it. Though there were some swear words, I would let an eleven-year-old watch this, though there are some innuendos and one mildly sexual scene. One scene was a little gory, where a person is trampled to death by cattle. You may get teary-eyed at some of the heartfelt scenes. I thought this film was great, just like the acting and actors.

  18. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 1.0

  19. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 4.0

    Historic fiction worth seeing

    I thought there were too many story lines taking place in the movie though I guess you could say they did all finally come together in the end. Just when you thought the movie was over and everyone lives happily ever after something else happens... Even so, I enjoyed the movie and especially Hugh Jackman who I thought was very credible in his role. I thought the movie did a good job depicting the outback of WWII era Australia and did not tread lightly around the race issues. In regards to violence in the movie, it wasn't over the top and fit the storyline. The couples scenes are less than what you would see on t.v. at 9 pm. I would take a mature 12 year old to see this movie if they showed an interest.

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