OT: Ping our Aussie contingent RE: Ned Kelly

HornedFrog Purple · 08-31-2004, 11:02 AM

I was just curious after watching the movie "Ned Kelly" with Heath Ledger how Ned Kelly fits in with Australian culture. Is he an icon comparable to our American ones such as George Washington or Davy Crockett? How much of his story is truth and how much is legend?

If you would please elaborate on Ned Kelly, he fascinates me. Thanks!

MrBug708 · 08-31-2004, 11:20 AM

Had this movie ever come out in the Theatre's? I thought it was pretty cool when I rented it, but had never herd of the movie nor the character

HornedFrog Purple · 08-31-2004, 11:33 AM

I don't know about the theatres but I don't even know what is in theatres now.

Ned Kelly was a real person and I had heard of the Kelly Gang before. The only parts I have been able to confirm was Ned Kelly was an outlaw, had the highest bounty offered by Victorian England, was of Irish descent and was executed at the age of 25.

The rest of it is the fuzzy part. Whether his mother was imprisoned etc. Kind of like the Billy the Kid legend.

JeeberD · 08-31-2004, 08:36 PM

Just got that movie in the mail today from Netflix. Only reason we picked it was because the girlfriend is infatuated with Heath Ledger.

Glad to hear that it's a good flick...

Mac Howard · 08-31-2004, 09:04 PM

Billy the Kid is probably as close as you're going to get to Ned Kelly. He was real and was probably a cop-killing thief but as a man who reacted reasonably successfully against government authority in his time he is romanticised by some Australians as a epitome of the Australian larrikin. Sometimes he's likened to Robin Hood but there's no evidence at all that he ever gave anything away to anyone at all (not that there's much evidence Robin Hood did if he existed

)

mattwakeman · 09-01-2004, 02:30 AM

Speaking from a British perspective the man was nothing short of a crim. I shall go no further for I fear the wrath of Aussies since they are everywhere

Glengoyne · 09-01-2004, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattwakeman

Speaking from a British perspective ...

I stopped reading right there. I mean when a guy gets unreasonable right in the first sentence.

My apologies if you hadn't read the Garrison Keillor thread the other day.

Mac Howard · 09-05-2004, 06:47 AM

Just watching the film as I write. It's a reasonable "western". I'm not at all sure how real the background is but the film would not be convincing without it. I suspect (even as a Brit) that there's a ring of truth in it.

Also you must remember that the British were as hated then as Americans are now, probably for the same reasons.

08-31-2004, 11:33 AM	#3
HornedFrog Purple Hattrick Moderator Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Fort Worthless, Tx	I don't know about the theatres but I don't even know what is in theatres now. Ned Kelly was a real person and I had heard of the Kelly Gang before. The only parts I have been able to confirm was Ned Kelly was an outlaw, had the highest bounty offered by Victorian England, was of Irish descent and was executed at the age of 25. The rest of it is the fuzzy part. Whether his mother was imprisoned etc. Kind of like the Billy the Kid legend. __________________ King of All FOFC Media!!! IHOF: Fort Worthless Fury- 2004 AOC Deep South Champions (not acknowledged via conspiracy) Last edited by HornedFrog Purple : 08-31-2004 at 11:34 AM.

08-31-2004, 08:36 PM	#4
JeeberD General Manager Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Town of Flower Mound	Just got that movie in the mail today from Netflix. Only reason we picked it was because the girlfriend is infatuated with Heath Ledger. Glad to hear that it's a good flick... __________________ UTEP Miners!!! I solemnly swear to never cheer for TO

08-31-2004, 09:04 PM	#5
Mac Howard Sick as a Parrot Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Surfers Paradise, Australia	Billy the Kid is probably as close as you're going to get to Ned Kelly. He was real and was probably a cop-killing thief but as a man who reacted reasonably successfully against government authority in his time he is romanticised by some Australians as a epitome of the Australian larrikin. Sometimes he's likened to Robin Hood but there's no evidence at all that he ever gave anything away to anyone at all (not that there's much evidence Robin Hood did if he existed ) __________________ Mac Howard - a Pom in Paradise Last edited by Mac Howard : 08-31-2004 at 09:11 PM.

09-01-2004, 02:30 AM	#6
mattwakeman Mascot Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Cold, old England	Speaking from a British perspective the man was nothing short of a crim. I shall go no further for I fear the wrath of Aussies since they are everywhere __________________ Carpe Diem

09-05-2004, 06:47 AM	#8
Mac Howard Sick as a Parrot Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Surfers Paradise, Australia	Just watching the film as I write. It's a reasonable "western". I'm not at all sure how real the background is but the film would not be convincing without it. I suspect (even as a Brit) that there's a ring of truth in it. Also you must remember that the British were as hated then as Americans are now, probably for the same reasons. __________________ Mac Howard - a Pom in Paradise

08-31-2004, 11:20 AM	#2
MrBug708 Head Coach Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Whittier	Had this movie ever come out in the Theatre's? I thought it was pretty cool when I rented it, but had never herd of the movie nor the character

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