Saw it last night, totally engrossed from start to finish - it even made the two women behind me shut up, and they'd been chattering like monkeys right from the moment they sat down and all throught the adverts and opening credits!

I must admit, I went to see it for Hugh Jackman with no clothes on (anyone else get hot and bothered at the 'Mr Universe' pose with the water bucket? No? Just me then....), but was blown away by the sheer magnificence of the scenery and photography.

The opening credits made it clear that this was a story about the 'Lost Generations' but that pretty soon seemed to vanish under the thundering love story between Hugh and Nicole's characters (I got so carried away that when she tells him not to come back I yelled 'stupid cow' at the screen... ). This part was as predictable as all getout, you could almost quote the dialogue before it happened and you knew what was going to happen... with the addition of a delightfully nasty-as-hell weasel Fletcher (David Wenham, last seen with Jackman being a timid friar in 'Van Helsing' - what a contrast!) throwing spanners in the works. The only surprise involved in this part of the plot involved a chin. I'm not saying anymore, but it did elicit another audible expression - one I may say that was echoed around the theatre!

The other story - that of the mixed race children - is really swamped by this love affair in places, but is closely woven into it. Their plight is not romanticised, but, I suspect, neither is it told fully and truthfully. However, the film does bring it to the attention of a wider audience and the end titles, where it gives the dates of the end of this policy and the official apology (1973 and 2008 respectively) elicited further shock and monkey-chattering from the pair behind me... So much so that I could hardly hear the end music which was fantastic!

It sounded a lot like Kate Rusby (but probably wasn't) and the other familiar voice singing what felt like a traditional Aussie folk song was none other than Elton John!! Yes, the big Queen has written a folk song! The credits - in the manner of credits these days, went so fast and were so blurred by the big screen that I couldn't read them well, so I can't credit the music but I did see a choir mentioned - I want to say 'Goonawarra' but I'm not sure that's right - whoever they were, they were stunning. I'm pretty sure there was a little bit of Rolf Harris' pseudo-aboriginal music in there somewhere, which brought a smile to my face and fear to my heart....

Overall, I went for Hugh Jackman, and stayed for the incredible scenery. The stories were well told, in a sympathetic and informative manner. There were odd bits that might need explaining to those whose experience of Australian culture is 'Neighbours' and 'Kath and Kim', but mostly, the plot device of 'explaining to the stuck up English Lady' worked well enough.

I can't in all honesty say that it has awoken in me a burning desire to go walkabout in the bush or storm the gates of Canberra demanding reparation for the Aboriginal Peoples of Australia, but I do feel that we should now resign the word 'boong' to the depths along with 'nigger', 'wog' and 'paki' and treat all peoples, no matter what their parentage or history, with respect.

LTS