Australian Bushrangers

DVD

Ned Kelly

NED KELLY - Heath Ledger
JOE BYRNE - Orlando Bloom
FRANCIS HARE - Geoffrey Rush
JULIA COOK - Naomi Watts
DAN KELLY - Lawrence Kinlan
STEVE HART - Philip Barantini
AARON SHERRITT - Joel Edgerton
ALEX FITZPATRICK - Kiri Paramore
KATE KELLY - Kerry Condon
GRACE KELLY - Emily Browning
ELLEN KELLY - Kris McQuade
JANE JONES - Saskia Burmeister
THE GREAT ORLANDO - Jonathon Hardy
THOMAS LONIGAN - Peter Phelps

Directored By - Gregor Jordan

A tale of fictionalised nonsense now released on DVD.
Whatever was going through director Gregor Jordan's mind during the making of this movie was certainly not to make an accurate and historical account of the story of Ned Kelly, his Gang and their Families.

The crap in this movie is unbelievable...
The boy's so thirsty they kill a horse and drink it's blood... yea right! The Northeast was a virtual swamp with rain at the time
Naomi Watt's character (Julia Cook) never existed, I cringe everytime I see her in this Movie
"You there, will you hold my horses thing?"
...Someone whack her with it... Please!

The Gunfight at Glenrowan had Coppers (and circus animals) dropping like flies.
Only the cowardly Hare was shot in the wrist and he made a hasty retreat while Ned fought on with serious bullet wounds for at least 8 hours after the first Police volley.

For those hoping for a few choice 'special features' on the DVD... don't hold your breathe!
There's a pretty crappy documentary of sorts narrated by Bud Tingwell and 4 pictures of the 'Real Kelly Gang'
The only real standout performance in the movie is by Australian Actor Peter Phelps as the rough and ready Thomas Lonigan.
I also think Kris McQuade did an excellent job playing Ellen Kelly.

Congratulations Gregor Jordon... you blew it.

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This Australian classic mini-series made in 1980 will hopefully be released on DVD in the near future.
Kelly Historian Ian Jones was a script writer behind the 1970 movie Ned Kelly- starring Mick Jagger... He clears the slate with this mini-series!
If it was released on DVD, it would sell by the truckload, but It seems Channel 7 and the bullshit that is 'copyright' will keep it in red tape for quite some time yet. With Computer DVD burners becoming cheaper, I do know of a few copies floating around on DVD but the quality is pretty poor.
The Last Outlaw is historically 100% accurate and personally, a 2003 remake of The Last Outlaw would have crapped all over the Gregor Jordon movie.
John Jarret stars as Ned Kelly and Steve Bisley stars as Joe Byrne and although some scenes are a bit cringworthy, It's great to chuck in the VCR on a rainy day!

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Mad Dog Morgan

Dennis Hopper - Daniel Morgan
Jack Thompson - Detective Manwaring
David Gulpilil - Billy
Frank Thring - Superintendent Cobham
Michael Pate - Superintendent Winch
Wallas Eaton - Macpherson
Bill Hunter - Sgt. Smith
John Hargreaves - Baylis
Martin Harris - Wendlan
Robin Ramsay - Roget

Based on the book 'Morgan the Bold Bushranger' by Margaret Carnegie
Dennis Hopper plays the title character in this true story of a 19th-century Australian gold-digger who is pressed into a life of crime. A six-year stint in jail doesn't provide reform, but does introduce him to an Aboriginal partner-in-crime (David Gulpilil). The duo then proceed to terrorize the province of New South Wales with no lack of violence.
I found a copy on ebay for around $10, good movie!
Probably the highlight of the movie would be Aboriginal actor David Gulpilil as Billy, he also plays the didgeridoo for the soundtrack.
Aussie acting legend Jack Thompson is absolutely magnificent as Manwaring.

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Blue Murder

Tony Martin - Neddy Smith
Richard Roxborough - Det. Sgt Roger Rogerson
Peter Phelps - Graham 'Abo' Henry
Steve Bastoni - Det. Micheal Dury
Garry Sweet - Christopher Dale Flannery

In the 1980s, an extraordinary confluence of events brought together three vastly different men - drugs dealer Neddy Smith, corrupt police officer Roger Rogerson and honest cop Michael Drury, whose names still loom large in the public consciousness in relation to organised crime and police corruption. Banned in the A.C.T and New South Wales, The Director of Public Prosecutions finally cleared the way for the ABC to screen its award-winning mini-series Blue Murder in NSW, by no billing an indictment against Ned Smith, 56, for the murder of drug dealer Lewton Shu in 1983. This DVD is a must see for an insight into the corruption and dealings of NSW Police officers and Sydney underworld crime figures in the 70's and 80's in Australia.

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