This film analysis is on the film "Ned Kelly" in the subject Australian Studies, which is compulsory is Australia. It answers questions on themes etc.
(1) (i)
The movie "Ned Kelly" is telling the audience about Australian history and that Australia is not a perfect country, but struggles with criminals as well. It also conveys racism, not against blacks, but against the Irish. This is now dispelled as Ned Kelly is known as the 'Australian hero', not the 'Irish Migrant of Australia hero'. The Kelly family were always the target of the soldiers' fun. Friendship is portrayed as being vital, as the gang of outlaws would not have been able to achieve what they did if their bonds were not as strong. A barrier between classes was also evident in the movie, which is applicable to those times and even in modern times.
(ii)
The movie presents Ned Kelly as a hero more than being a murderous villain. For once, the audience believes that the police are the villains and hope that Ned Kelly can outrun them subsequently escaping to safety. Towards the end of the film during the final shoot-out, Kelly is especially viewed as a hero when he staggers out of the pub in his infamous armour and leaves himself open to the police's gunfire. He is seen fighting to his death and killing many men in the meantime. The audience is left feeling as though Ned Kelly is a hero.
(iii)
Ned Kelly is good history, as his story is different to other heroes such as Burke and Wills. Kelly was dangerous, bold and rebellious, which in a way is how Australians would want to see themselves if compared to a national hero. Even though many people suffered and died at the hands of Kelly, it was his persistence against all the odds. Most did not hold faith in Kelly's ability to succeed, but he did succeed by dying with honour.
(iv)
I was not aware of the finer details of Ned Kelly, so the movie left me with a different opinion of him than I felt prior to watching the film. Even though I knew that Kelly was seen as a hero, I felt that he was perhaps overrated. I am most certain that the movie played up the heroic view and perhaps downplayed and/or
The movie "Ned Kelly" is telling the audience about Australian history and that Australia is not a perfect country, but struggles with criminals as well. It also conveys racism, not against blacks, but against the Irish. This is now dispelled as Ned Kelly is known as the 'Australian hero', not the 'Irish Migrant of Australia hero'. The Kelly family were always the target of the soldiers' fun. Friendship is portrayed as being vital, as the gang of outlaws would not have been able to achieve what they did if their bonds were not as strong. A barrier between classes was also evident in the movie, which is applicable to those times and even in modern times.
(ii)
The movie presents Ned Kelly as a hero more than being a murderous villain. For once, the audience believes that the police are the villains and hope that Ned Kelly can outrun them subsequently escaping to safety. Towards the end of the film during the final shoot-out, Kelly is especially viewed as a hero when he staggers out of the pub in his infamous armour and leaves himself open to the police's gunfire. He is seen fighting to his death and killing many men in the meantime. The audience is left feeling as though Ned Kelly is a hero.
(iii)
Ned Kelly is good history, as his story is different to other heroes such as Burke and Wills. Kelly was dangerous, bold and rebellious, which in a way is how Australians would want to see themselves if compared to a national hero. Even though many people suffered and died at the hands of Kelly, it was his persistence against all the odds. Most did not hold faith in Kelly's ability to succeed, but he did succeed by dying with honour.
(iv)
I was not aware of the finer details of Ned Kelly, so the movie left me with a different opinion of him than I felt prior to watching the film. Even though I knew that Kelly was seen as a hero, I felt that he was perhaps overrated. I am most certain that the movie played up the heroic view and perhaps downplayed and/or
Bibliography: The following websites are where information was received for (4) (iii). http://www.nedkellythemovie.com/legend.htm http://www.nedkellythemovie.com/about.htm The following websites were where information was obtained for (5). http://www.ironoutlaw.com/html/writings_montague.html http://www.ehistory.com/world/amit/display.cfm?amit_id=2276