Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17086 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-05-08
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 105 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Making no pretence to be factually accurate, Ned Kelly is at least an engaging action film with its heart in the right place. You don't need to be a student of Australian history to know that a picture detailing the life of the notorious folk hero and outlaw is not going to be a light-hearted romp through the outback. Injustice, persecution and unlawful imprisonment are the meat of his story, all presented here with not too much of a rose-tinted perspective amid generous doses of obligatory action.

Rebellious teenager Ned Kelly (Heath Ledger) is wrongfully imprisoned for stealing a horse and, when he returns to the bosom of his large Irish family, finds that the police won't let him go straight. After being accused of a crime he didn't commit, Kelly is left with no option but to go on the run. Accompanied by his gang (among them Orlando Bloom) he robs banks to survive and also to try and get the money together to free his family from prison. There is some considerable romanticising of the story and the man himself, due in part to Ledger's affable Robin Hood-esque working-class hero portrayal. Bloom is wide-eyed and daring as Kelly's main man, and Naomi Watts as his married mistress has the thankless task of breaking up some great action sequences to play the unnecessary love interest. --Kristen Bowditch

DVD Description
You can kill a man. But not a legend.

From the producers of Elizabeth and About A Boy comes the true story of one of the most notorious outlaws of all time … Ned Kelly. Persecuted by the police and hunted by an empire, Ned Kelly had the largest reward in the world on his head. Forced into hiding whilst his friends and family were unlawfully imprisoned, Ned and his gang soon became folklore. Featuring Heath Ledger (A Knight’s Tale, Monsters’ Ball), Orlando Bloom (Pirates of the Caribbean, Lord of the Rings) and Academy Award-winning Geoffrey Rush (Pirates of the Caribbean, Shine, Elizabeth) in a dramatic and exciting story of one of Australia’s most famous legends.

Special Features

• Ned Kelly background piece
  
• Premiere filming
  
• Kelly Gang gallery
  
• Artist conceptions to final features
  
• Theatrical posters

DVD Technical Information:

• Running Time: 1 hour 45 minutes approx.
  
• Colour

Customer Reviews

The best drama we've seen in a while!
Not as average as people make out! Its just that people dont appreciate real drama as they are so used to being blinded by special effects. Heath Ledger conveys the character of Ned with real conviction and there are some very moving scenes. Orlando Bloom brings comical relief to the movie (and smouldering good looks) as Joe Byrne, Ned's womanising best friend. Naomi Watts' character was slightly unnecessary but portrays just how alone the Kelly gang were when facing the discriminating and frankly the bullying of the Victorian police in Australia. Geoffrey Rush appeares unfrequently in the movie, but he plays his character very well if not quite similar to the character of Captain Barbossa in Pirates-we fear he has been type casted!!! Overall, an alternative movie to the usual mainstream action adventure movie but a must see that leaves you thinking and quite sombre.
Ignore some of these reviews-the eye candy isnt the only thing going for this movie-it merely draws you in!

Visually stunning
The latest of many cinematic portrayals of the Kelly Gang, this film has perhaps been underrated by critics and moviegoers following its limited theatrical release.

Although at times the film strays from historical fact, most notably with Ned Kelly's love interest (played by Naomi Watts), the changes - even if not entirely necessary - do work, and the film has much to offer with its stunning cinematography and cast performances.

Heath Ledger's performance as Ned Kelly is to his credit, Orlando Bloom shines as Joe Byrne, and actors Laurence Kinlan and Phil Barantini both deliver extremely promising performances as Dan Kelly and Steve Hart respectively.

Combined, the acting and cinematography contribute to make this an extremely moving and beautifully done film, and it therefore comes highly recommended.

The DVD extras consist of a short documentary on Ned Kelly, with particular focus on the various cinematic portrayals of the Kelly Gang, along with some photos which include artist conceptions, theatrical posters and a Kelly Gang gallery. There's no doubt that more extras - such as cast interviews, audio commentaries and/or a 'making of' featurette - would have been a worthy addition, but what has been included, although limited, is still of great interest.

Better than some people think.
When it comes to films, music, books e.t.c peoples opinions differ. Some people don't have the same tastes as others and some non at all. People who have given this film bad press are mainly the girls (girls not ladies) as no doubt they were expecting a film with a love story and 'hunky' guys in. This was not the case as the guys had long hair and long beards, they looked scruffy, dirty, sweaty and smelly. I liked this because living in the conditions the film was depicting thats how they would look and smell. This film was not out to please anyone and someone elses comment of when they resort to eating a horse that it was the directors 'oscar' moment was in my eyes a silly comment. The film is depicting the main events in Ned Kelly's life, being an Irishman in Australia and somewhat of a famous character/legend. To some he was a hero to others a villain. In this film he is shown as a man with pride who will not bow down to the selfish and demanding will of others, even the law. This leads Ned getting into trouble and becoming an outlaw in his own country, his younger brothers all stick up for him and go into hiding with him. The film deals heavily with the discrimination against the Irish and the general evil nature of some people. Obviously the film has to come to a head and does so rather climatically and famously as some may know Ned confronts the law in an iron suit shoot out. The film is not the best ever however I did enjoy it. The acting was up to scratch the accents were bearable and overall I think it's a pretty decent film, and it's not pretending to be something it's not.