The story of Ned Kelly is a story which Australian audiences have returned to over and over again since the first feature film in 1906 and have kept revisiting right up until now, when in 2002 movie director Gregor Jordan created the blockbuster hit "Ned Kelly" starring Australian actors Heath Ledger, Naomi Watts and Geoffrey Rush, also starring Orlando Bloom and Joel Edgerton. The movie is based upon the novel Our Sunshine written by Robert Drewe. .
The movie has created mixed opinions since it's opening, having people question weather the movie shows a true representation of Ned Kelly and what really happened, but all opinions aside, the movie has proved an outstanding success within Australia and parts of the World. .
Well, I guess I should start by telling you what the film is all about. The main characters in the film are: Ned Kelly, played by Heath Ledger, Joe Byrne played by Orlando Bloom, Julia Cook played by Heath's off-screen girlfriend Naomi Watts and Superintendent Hare played by Geoffrey Rush. .
The movie is set in Victoria Australia in the 1800's; and has Heath Ledger doing background narrating, speaking Ned's thoughts and emotions, which made me automatically sympathize with him. Ned comes from an Irish background, although he himself was born in Australia. In the beginning Ned is falsely accused of stealing a horse and ends up in prison. Within the first few scenes it is easy to see that Ned is being portrayed as the Sympathetic (Good guy) character and the Victorian police are being portrayed as the opposite, the unsympathetic characters or the bad guys. You are able to recognise that Ned is a well groomed, loving and caring character by the way he talks with the horse and reminisces about what his father called him (sunshine) when he was younger. I also picked up that Ned is a man that won't back down, and will stand up to those who are against him. I was able to recognise this during the scene in the beginning when he argues with the police officer.
Ned Kelly is much prized by Australians. ... Here the legend of Ned Kelly was played out. ... Why Ned Kelly was widely loved? ... It is on display along with other Ned Kelly paraphernalia. ... The lengthy letter of about 8,000 words has been described as Ned Kelly's manifesto'. ...
For others Ned Kelly was a hero. ... Ned Kelly was a villain. ... Indeed, Ned Kelly told us his version of the story. ... We should not forget that at that time, Ned Kelly and his gang, for most people, were heroes. ... Both texts are very important for the understanding of the Ned Kelly's topic. ...
Ned Kelly and his gang are portrayed in two very different ways by two very different documents. "The Jerilderie Letter" , as dictated by Ned Kelly, is an autobiographical "statement of fact and self justification". ... "The Jerilderie Letter" invokes a view of Ned Kelly that is a combination of sympathy, admiration and chivalry. ... It is interesting that Ned Kelly does not refer to a "gang" at any time. ... Upon reading "The Jerilderie Letter" and the article "Capture of The Kelly Gang", one is assailed with many conflicting views of Ned Kelly and his gang. ...
Scott Turner Peter Carey's Creation of the Oedipal Complex Peter Carey has often been known for weaving intricate patterns of literary devices into his novels but he truly outdoes himself in his award winning novel, True History of the Kelly Gang. ... Carey ingeniously incorporates a classic case of the oedipal complex into the life of famous bushranger Ned Kelly. The life choices of Ned Kelly from boy to outlaw explain themselves solely through Ned's relationship with his mother and his own oedipal complex. ... Ned and his siblings often hear late night intimate conversations...
Ned Kelly is perceived by many Australians as one of Australia's greatest outlaws or even heroes but would this perception be challenged if audiences viewed the documentary "Outlawed - The Real Ned Kelly?" ... He/she tried to convince using subtle justification, which can twist the way we, the audience, interpret Ned Kelly. ... Ned Kelly was portrayed as a hero by including interviews with people who felt so honoured to have been a part of the Ned Kelly story. These people may simply have had a piece of scarf or a gold watch belonging to Ned Kelly. ... The inclusion of these in...
How Does Robert Drewe Show Both Sides of Ned Kelly? ... Robert Drewe wrote "Our Sunshine" to convey his feelings about Ned Kelly. ... Even now in the 21st century Kelly, who we should really see has the villain seems to be a hero to us and no matter how bad a new story is released about Ned Kelly we still love him. ... One of the things Ned Kelly did during his life that has contributes largely in condemning Ned as a hero to us was saving a life. ... Having the two sides of Ned Kelly presented to us by Robert Drewe give us the reader the ability to make our own conclusions about Ned being a...
In 1946 Nolan decided to begin work on his series of paintings about the famous Australian bushranger Ned Kelly, and later produced personal interpretations of historical and legendary figures such as Eliza Fraser and Burk and Wills, in which his focus was on conveying the feeling of the country and the timelessness of the myths. ...
Early Australian literature has played a significant part in developing several beliefs and values that Australians consider important today. Poetry and ballads written by Banjo Patterson and Henry Lawson focus a great deal on the bush, which is now an iconic Australian trait. Australians believe in...