Thisisafilmthattriestobetoomanythingsandsucceedsinsomeaspects,whilefailinginothers.Theprosfirst.AswithamovieIsawrecently:Delhi-6,iftheintentionwasforthefilmtobeashowcaseforthecontinent,thenyes,it'safittingbrochureofsortsthatexpandsbeforeoureyes.Onecannothelpbutbeawestruckbytheframingandthescaleofit.MandyWalker(cinematography)andBazLuhrmann(director,producer,co-writer)haveproducedaricharrayofvisualsthatwillstickwithyouforawhileaftertheviewing.Thescore(DavidHirschfelder)complementsthevisualswell.Theleadcouple(NicoleKidmanandHughJackman)shareachemistrythatmakesportionsoftheromanceworthitswhile.Theperformancesthemselves,whileshortofthebestthatthetwoarecapableof,areearnest.Jackman'ssceneinthebarinvolvingblacksnotbeingallowedentryisarecommendationtothesame.DavidWenhamexpandsonhisrepertoirewithanoutrightvillainousturn.

　　Asmentioned,thebaneofthisfilmisinLuhrmann'sintentions.Itseekstomarkareturntothegoodoldmusicalswithadashofthewesternandtheepiccross-countryadventurefilms.Thereareattemptsatheavy-handedcommentaryonproselytization.Italsochampionsthecauseofleavingthingsthewaytheywereasopposedtowell-intentionedintervention.Whatailsthefilmisfinesserequiredtohandlecontentlikethis.ThisisDavidLeanorattheveryleastJohnHustonterritorywhichneednotnecessarilydetracttherestfromattemptingsuchmoviesbutwhiledoingso,itmustbehadinmindthatit'satightropewalk.

　　It'sworthawatchforthevisualappealalone.Don'tthinkit'sworthtreasuring.