never been, never want to, but just clicked on a netflix series called secret city.

10 minutes in and the acting is atrocious, as well as the script. It has always struck me that whatever they attempt on TV or film, it comes across as amateurish. Everything seems like they haven't moved on from Skippy.
they have about 10 people living on a massive land mass, and it appears they want to come across as savvy and Americanised . it doesn't work. it all looks like desperation from a cliched pimple on the world's arse.

We've just finished watching a three part documentary by Simon Reeve on the iplayer about Australia. Very interesting stuff.

It was done back in 2013, or there abouts and looks into the fact that the government was essentially pillaging the Aboriginal homeland with coal, gold, silver and iron mines (and not giving them any of the money). All very interesting as this was before the more recent push for us to better look after the world.

I'd recommend a watch.

Australian tv and film is, with a handful of exceptions, pretty woeful pish.

The tv in particalar looks like its all been sponsored by the tourist board, trying to present this idealsed laid back world of beaches, barbies and tinnies ...and all populated by kylies and jasons.

The seamy side is usually hidden...no racists , wifebeaters, rapists, druggies, robbers or corruption. But Australian sh1t stinks every bit as bad as it does in Salford.

Hotel Coolgardie is Australia in a nutshell

Wile E Coyote wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 08, 2020 1:11 am

never been, never want to, but just clicked on a netflix series called secret city.

10 minutes in and the acting is atrocious, as well as the script. It has always struck me that whatever they attempt on TV or film, it comes across as amateurish. Everything seems like they haven't moved on from Skippy.
they have about 10 people living on a massive land mass, and it appears they want to come across as savvy and Americanised . it doesn't work. it all looks like desperation from a cliched pimple on the world's arse.

A bit harsh to call the whole country dull because of one TV programme.
Having lived there for 1-year I can tell you it's far from dull!
Just the wildlife alone makes it an exciting place.
The words of advice I was given by my work colleagues on day 1;
"Just work on the principle that all animals and insects are out to kill you, and you'll be fine"

Welcome to Australia I thought.

Australia has provided us with many brilliant memories whilst visiting (our daughter lives there) - 4 wd drive camping trip from Darwin to Adelaide, house boat on the Murray River, camping in an opal mine at Coober Peedy, Christmas on Kangaroo Island (pre fires), beaches, eating pasties underground in a gold mine, incredible wildlife including very close encounters with red backed spiders and snakes, watching a performance at the Sydney Opera House ; the list could go on. Yes there are dark sides to Australia - like most countries, but we found it anything but dull.

Wile E Coyote wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 08, 2020 1:11 am

they haven't moved on from Skippy

we have...but what a great claret!

The main issue is it is full of loud mouth annoying Aussies

Wile E Coyote wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 08, 2020 1:11 am

never been, never want to, but just clicked on a netflix series called secret city.

10 minutes in and the acting is atrocious, as well as the script. It has always struck me that whatever they attempt on TV or film, it comes across as amateurish. Everything seems like they haven't moved on from Skippy.
they have about 10 people living on a massive land mass, and it appears they want to come across as savvy and Americanised . it doesn't work. it all looks like desperation from a cliched pimple on the world's arse.

I can understand where you are coming from and yes the TV is poor. And as you can see from some of their sports people they have a certain arrogance, but are agreat sporting nation. But believe me there are many good things about Australia. Its great for young people. Many opportunities in life to create a higher standard of living than here and generally better weather!!! Its a balance. You can actch the best of British TV too.

Toured australia and without doubt the best country i have been to, now if you want dull try new zealand, beautiful on the north island but even in my 50s i found it boring.
No doubt if you are brought up there its great but i wondered how the young generation enjoyed themselves with mainly small village like community's with very little going on surrounded with admittedly some of the nicest scenery i have seen but if you want a bit of nightlife go elsewhere.

G'Day Wile E. I met the author of the book that Secret City is based on last year, he seemed like a decent bloke, I could let you have a signed copy, but the book isn't much more gripping than the tv series. Canberra in all fairness is probably the dullest place in Australia (possibly on Earth), there's nothing there apart from Government stuff, everywhere closes at about 7.00pm and the weather is crap, so you'd be well advised to skip Canberra, but the rest of the country is pretty good.

Covclaret wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 08, 2020 9:30 am

G'Day Wile E. I met the author of the book that Secret City is based on last year, he seemed like a decent bloke, I could let you have a signed copy, but the book isn't much more gripping than the tv series. Canberra in all fairness is probably the dullest place in Australia (possibly on Earth), there's nothing there apart from Government stuff, everywhere closes at about 7.00pm and the weather is crap, so you'd be well advised to skip Canberra, but the rest of the country is pretty good.

Canberra is a strange place but it isn't as dull as most people think. I lived there for a number of years and it is very different from the other cities. Melbourne and Sydney are very large cities and their cultural underbelly is readily available. Canberra is more like the size of Leicester. The tourist will pass through Canberra for a few days, take in the tourist sites, and then leave wondering why it is so boring/dull/sterile. It does have an interesting and vibrant cultural scene but you have to actively seek it out. It took me a couple of months before I found it but it is definitely there.

On the whole Australia is an interesting country with many positives but there are many negatives as well. Go with an open mind, protect yourself against the sun (seriously, the aussie sun will bite you badly), and avoid anything that crawls, swims, flies, or slithers.

Had the chance of living there full time many years ago , always wonder if i made the right choice .

Been to Australia twice and loved it. Always remember taking some verbals from a loud-mouthed local in a small bar in Cairns who claimed that Poms can't hold their beer. We drank him under the table, much to the amusement of the bar owner.

TV is very poor, no problems for most Ossies , as they are all outdoors having the time of their life.

Australia has never caught my imagination whatsoever. I’ve not seen/heard/hear much about it. Not like I have/do The States. I love old Americana, back roads, small towns, Diners all that great old stuff what’s still alive. I know Australia have it but you never see it. You hear about great road trips but never Australian road trips. I love 70’s photography but again I’ve never seen Australian equivalent to what street photographers were doing in The States. I think music culture also plays a major part of way I love The States, Australia just doesn’t have it.

Never been, but my daughter has lived there for 2 years and would stay forever given the chance.
She has basically covered every part and some of the pictures and stories are amazing.
Not sure how I would cope with some of the spiders though.

As my nan used to say, only boring people get bored. I'm sure everyone could find plenty of interest from a continent if they looked.

NottsClaret wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 08, 2020 11:44 am

As my nan used to say, only boring people get bored. I'm sure everyone could find plenty of interest from a continent if they looked.

Was your nan Zelda Fitzgerald?

"The seamy side is usually hidden - no racists, wifebeaters, druggies, robbers or corruption"

Not only does this series have some excellent reviews but it is also described as follows:

"Secret City is an Australian political drama based on Lies, Crimes, Coverups and Conspiracies"

Seemingly no wifebeaters though

Last Australian film I watched was called Last cab to Darwin.Excellent film.

kath & kim
let the blood run free
round the twist

all classic australian telly shows.

muriel's wedding
the castle
wolf creek
romper stomper
mad max

all classic australian film.

as for books i recommend the fatal shore by robert hughes. the story of australia as a british penal colony and it is fascinating.

One of the only countries I've never been to that I've love to visit one day.

Possibly China too, purely for the wall.

It's the opposite of yoghurt.....given time yogurt can develop culture

The Mystery Road TV series with an indigenous Australian cop is also well worth a watch.

There was also a spin off called Goldstone.

I was fortunate enough to visit Australia 4 times (1 Rugby World Cup tournament which we won, and 3 Ashes series) and now it will be far more difficult following Covid19 and with long-distance flights being discouraged. At the moment even short haul flights are discouraged.

Lot of family I have never seen in Melbourne plus a couple of other places, I did visit Perth on business early 2000's and found it clean but dull and small, great beaches and a couple of super BBQ's but no urge to go back for any reason. Only film I can think of beyond Mad Max is Ned Kelly and only because Mick Jagger was in it, never seen it though.

I keep being told Melbourne is the place to go but I very much doubt I will ever go.

FactualFrank wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 08, 2020 4:30 pm

One of the only countries I've never been to that I've love to visit one day.

Possibly China too, purely for the wall.

You’d probably go up the wall in Australia....it’s so dull...apparently. 2 birds with 1 stone and all that

Any place that gave us Bluey Hills and Paul Hogan can't be all bad

Had the pleasure of living in Sydney for 6 months, best place in the world, like Barley except with fantastic beaches and nightlife. O'Malleys on William St Kings Cross was far from dull i can assure you.

I will say their tv wasn't the best but State of the Origin Rugby League was a brilliant watch and atmosphere and i'm not the biggest RL fan.

If you've not visited Oz, i would thoroughly recommend the place.

Perth is fabulous, just saying

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 08, 2020 7:28 pm

Perth is fabulous, just saying

Perth is a wonderful City and so very British. Many street names derive from British towns.

Australia is not perfect but, from the cities that I visited, it is well worth a visit. Fremantle is somewhere I would want to live.

RalphCoatesComb wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 08, 2020 8:02 pm

Perth is a wonderful City and so very British. Many street names derive from British towns.

Australia is not perfect but, from the cities that I visited, it is well worth a visit. Fremantle is somewhere I would want to live.

and Cottesloe beach is there which is superb !! I loved Perth, felt the same about living there - wasn't so impressed with Sydney

If anybody lives in Oz and will put up with me for a few nights, give me a shout. Been thinking of a trek.

No comment.

Also it's not just the country what makes it good or bad but the people you meet along the way , now that's the main one for me .

Too dull for Covid 19 to hang around.

fatboy47 wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 08, 2020 7:44 am

Australian tv and film is, with a handful of exceptions, pretty woeful pish.

The tv in particalar looks like its all been sponsored by the tourist board, trying to present this idealsed laid back world of beaches, barbies and tinnies ...and all populated by kylies and jasons.

The seamy side is usually hidden...no racists , wifebeaters, rapists, druggies, robbers or corruption. But Australian sh1t stinks every bit as bad as it does in Salford.

I remember on the 25th anniversary of tv in Australia, Clive James saying that they hadn't so much had 25 years of television- more like the same year, 25 times.

So, OP watches 10 minutes of a tv series and starts a thread saying ‘Australia is dull’.

I’ve ever been but have good friends who live there and watch ‘Grand Designs Australia’ etc. It is a vibrant, exciting and innovative country.

I suggest the OP go visit.

Whenever someone migrates from the UK to Australia, the average IQ of both countries is lowered.

LoveCurryPies wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 09, 2020 11:49 pm

So, OP watches 10 minutes of a tv series and starts a thread saying ‘Australia is dull’.

I’ve ever been but have good friends who live there and watch ‘Grand Designs Australia’ etc. It is a vibrant, exciting and innovative country.

I suggest the OP go visit.

no, i watched Bluey as well

Stayingup wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 08, 2020 8:56 am

I can understand where you are coming from and yes the TV is poor. And as you can see from some of their sports people they have a certain arrogance, but are agreat sporting nation. But believe me there are many good things about Australia. Its great for young people. Many opportunities in life to create a higher standard of living than here and generally better weather!!! Its a balance. You can actch the best of British TV too.

I can attest to this.

I moved to Australia in 2007 when I was 19. I hadn't done my A Levels and had some basic college certificates. My parents moved first and I didn't want to go so I stayed in the UK. After a few months of them having left I decided to give Australia a go. Got a job within three weeks which I worked in for a few years before deciding I wanted to go to university. I got in through mature age entry into a law degree and am now a solicitor earning a decent salary. This would not have been possible in the UK as easily as it was here.

I live in Brisbane and think its a great place to live. The weather between April and October is perfect and compared to where I lived in the UK, its a really safe place with great cafes, restaurants, bars and parks.

Our TV shows do suck quite badly however there are some good shows that get made every now and then.

Lived in Sydney for a year in 2000 and travelled around.....loved it...

More recently I spent 5 years living in Perth and loved every minute of it. WA is a wonderful state, so diverse and loads to do!

Been three times and loved the place. Obviously, like anywhere else, it has is ****holes. If you want dull - go to New Zealand. There's are good reasons why over half a million Kiwis live in Australia.