Noutions
Good movie, but best of all time? Hardly . . .
Robert Joyner
The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one
Marva
It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,
Bob
This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.
Tim Kerr-Thomson
Ned Kelly in reality was a thief and a murderer. Populist tripe has tried to turn him into some type of folk hero. Unfortunately this movie perpetuates this fantasy and romanticises a killer and thief.
SnoopyStyle
A young Ned Kelly saved a boy from drowning. In 1871, Ned (Heath Ledger) finds a horse and rides it into town. He is accused of stealing the horse against incompetent corrupt cops. After 18 months in prison, he's released trying to live the straight and narrow. He is taken with married English lady Julia Cook (Naomi Watts). His sister Kate is harassed by Constable Fitzpatrick and their horses are stolen by the jealous police. Ned steals them back. Soon things get out of hand. Ned is accused of attempted murder and goes on the run with his brother Dan, friends Joe Byrne (Orlando Bloom) and Steve Hart. Superintendent Francis Hare (Geoffrey Rush) is brought in to hunt the gang down.Everything is just so over-the-top melodramatic. The Kellys are the angels of the earth. The police are all drunken Keystone Cops. Even the music is overwrought. He's such a great guy that he lets the cops fire the first shot even though he pointing the gun right at them. It wears me down until I don't care if the Kellys are the good guys. The characters are too simplistic. And somebody turn down the music.
Steph3008
Fantastic movie. One to excite all 5 senses. Is not a true historical report and not all information is to be taken as factual information. True Hollywood conventions used, like playing A list and VERY attractive actors as the 'heroes', such as Naomi Watts (Julia Cook - Ned Kelly's lover), Heath Ledger (Ned) and Orlando Bloom (Joe Byrne - Ned's right hand man), and unattractive (sorry Geoffrey Rush) actors play the drunken and corrupt Victorian Police Force. This also instills a very unreliable love story into the mix between Ned (Ledger) and Julia Cook (Watts) to entice all the romantics, females being especially susceptible. Even from the first scene, when Ned saves the fat youth from drowning and his dad calls him "sunshine" and had a "glint in his eye as he looked down at me, his hand on me shoulder," it is very romanticized and persuades viewers to side with Ned Kelly, the underdog. Besides, don't all Aussies love an underdog?
insomniac_rod
I watched this on the movies with my girlfriend at the time and I can say that I didn't have the best time mainly because I didn't know about Ned Kelly or his story.But since this is a biopic, it's important to at least know what to expect from the character.I don't know if the manner the events are told are true, or if it everything is fictional. But the way Ned Kelly is portrayed as a hero and a fighter for justice really makes me want to believe everything is true. I don't think he's portrayed as a redneck criminal or thief, but that's just my opinion.This is a solid Western-type movie for everybody's tastes. Heath Ledger is great as always and the sexy Naomi Watts charms the screen.Give this movie a chance if it airs on cable. Otherwise, I don't think I could recommend it.
