Australia is taking the right step to a movie that stole its name. This is what those people in Batman, Turkey should have done instead! Wait.. there is nothing in Batman, Turkey. Nevermind.
Anyways, it looks like the land down under is going to be spending a whole metric pantload of money to tie in a publicity campaign for tourism alongside Baz Luhrmann’s Australia.
Tourism Australia, the national tourism board, has launched a $26 million international advertising campaign based on the movie, highlighting the wilderness of Western Australia state and encouraging tourists to refresh themselves by getting away from bustling cities and their busy daily lives.
Its as good an idea as any to latch on to the popularity of a movie to promote something related. Its called product placement. And what better product placement is there than a country. Its in every shot!!
But will a movie about the way Australia WAS in WWII going to really promote you to go visit this place? After watching the Man in the Iron Mask I was not encouraged to go to Paris, while National Treasure did make me want to visit historical monuments.
I think it is a little excessive to spend $26million on an advertising campaign, but it is for an entire country, so its not like a single attraction is spilling this many beans to generate buzz, so it might be worth it.
Have you ever been encouraged to visit somewhere just because you saw it in a movie??
Trivia fact: I had a Honeymoon in Niagara Falls because it was featured in Whole Nine Yards.
EDIT: RowThree has the Baz Luhrmann filmed ad campaign clips up on their site and they are beautiful. Thanks for the tip!
I totally agree with what Andrew saying….don’t try to give negative comments since you don’t even have the talent in it. sorry to say
I saw the film and liked it. I think the ad campaign does well to out the largely unknown visual splendour of the Kimberley and Territory. Someting one appreciats if one has seen it. PreferabIy more than once, since it grows on you. Thus the theme of getting out of the city and finding yourself.
I suspect all the crticising done by the would be critics is more about trying to illustrate their mental superiority. Could it be that self concerned sophisticates are pre-disposed to being challenged by what is best about the film. A lack of intelectualism, with no plot that twists and turns so it is a trial to follow.
Like Creamy, Kidman and Jackman the film contained several simple delights.
I saw Australia on its opening day this Wednesday and although I have loved Baz’s previous films for their theatricality and eccentricity – this movie was cringeworthy bad. The only saving graces were the aboriginal cast and David Wenham and Ben Mendelsohn’s performances. I’m Australian but my husband is not, so he was a lot more forgiving of the film, although he did point out that Nicole’s immovable upper lip looked wierd in the kissing scenes (plus it’s fluctuating size indicating the timing of the reshoots!). Catherine Martin did well with the costumes and sets.
The scenery shots were OK and will do well for the NT’s tourism, but for all the money in their budget, why so much blue screen and CGI used in so many of the scenes. Croc Dundee did better filming and overall impact of Oz landscapes for a lot less money. This would have made a better musical on the stage than a movie. You can’t be both – as in wanting to be perceived as an epic while being campy/cheesy at the same time.
Overseas audiences may lap it up, but I was disappointed in it.
“Orstralia! Orstralia! Land of the Waratah & Dahlia!” Oops, this particular cliché didn’t make it into the movie “Orstralia” but it may have well have. Baz seems to have pulled out all stops on the double-barrel cliché bazookas in the hope that if enough cinematic chestnuts are sprayed around for long enough (and 165 minutes is a long time!) that some at least will hit their mark. Luhrman is a sometimes masterful theatrical film maker, & always masterful self-promoter & showman. This means that there is always the terrible risk that he/we will believe the exaggeration when in fact the fat-bearded-lady in the circus tent can’t hold a tune. In this case he seems to have convinced himself that skills honed flogging Chanel #5 by drenching Kidman in the stuff could also be put to good use selling an entire continent. Certainly Tourism Australia seems to have swallowed the hyperbole. Unfortunately it was never likely that Middle America was going to rush out on Thanksgiving for an overblown history lesson on a country that most consider is dimly relevant to them. And frankly this isn’t the film that either could or should make them. While Baz may have thought he was serving up a sugary, syrupy, satisfying plum-pudding after Thanksgiving dinner, this movie looks set to be a more likely substitute for the turkey. Rating: Two-and-a-half ‘Strewths!”
Loved the film. Hated the costumes. Lady Ashley looked so stitched up all the time….and she was. Such tight fitting clothes lacked feminity , which she has in buckets. The Drover could have knocked everyone’s eyes out at the Darwin Dance…. instead he appears in an oversized white jacket with who knows what underneath….remember Daniel Craig when he turned up in his formal gear in Casino Rayale? Could have been just as major. Would love to see a film of just the cuttings. Obviously so much had to be cut for the final version, but it was obvious that so much more had been filmed.
I just sore the Movie. It was absolutely moving and inspiring.
The acting by Nicole Kidman was shonky at times but all over it was great. Baz Lurhman take on the movie was like a theatrical style with dramatic backgrounds and over th top warbrobe.
What i was surprised is when at a Australian dance in the 1939 in the movie there was a theme of Asian culture, i was surprised at this because at that time the threat to Australia was the Japanese Imperial Army.
Overall i would give the film 9.0 out of 10. Highly recomended
Product placement? Don’t you mean synergy?
The Lord of the Rings trilogy made me want to go the New Zealand. However, I don’t have that kind of doe to drop. You mentioned that you wanted to see more historical sights from National Treasure. I was able to go to Custer State Park in SD where they filmed the part of him sticking his hand in the rock. It was really cool being able to climb all other that rock (no I did not find the crack in the rock) and also being able to watch the movie and see the spots that I was actually in. If anyone has time while going through SD in the summer stop by Custer State Park and go to Slyven Lake resort, that is where that rock is and there is a lot of fun stuff to do there.
When I was a kid my family moved to Australia under their assisted passages scheme. This program paid for the travel and moving expenses of those willing to migrate “down under” as a means of increasing the country’s population. We lived in Sydney from ’72 to ’73, and it was truly one of the best times in my life. I’m sure the new film and the tourism campaign will create a lot of interest.
I live in Australia. It’s Rad.
They’ve actually had Baz Luhrmann create a few television ads for the country. They are pretty stunning.
We’ve had them up for a while at:
http://www.rowthree.com/2008/10/16/baz-luhrmanns-austraila-campaign/
I have not seen the film but I have heard that it is a very good film.