The Classic Aussie Movie Collection

[Peter Barton]

For those who are interested, the "Classic Aussie Movie Collection" DVD that was in my local newsagent this week was "Mad Max". I opened it up (after buying it first of course), and it is the original standard Roadshow DVD (even has the same screen printing on the disc). Given that you can pretty much buy the same DVD in JB HiFi for around $12 most days of the week, not much value to be had here - the newsagent collection is $20.

The only other item of note is the booklet that is packaged with the DVD, I didn't feel it contained anything groundbreaking, but it did at least contain some properly compiled research, which hadn't just been ripped straight from certain web sites (unlike some of the content on the DVD itself, some of which is also wildly wrong). So if you're a completist, feel free to buy it, but if you've already got the Roadshow DVD, I doubt the booklet makes this one worth another $20.

On another note, I failed to find Chain Reaction in JB HiFi as mentioned on here, but did manage to find it online at both Ezy DVD (www.ezydvd.com.au) and DVD Orchard. So it is around. A few of the other 70's & 80's flicks from the same genre can be had as well, Midnite Spares, Running on Empty, and most likely some others I am forgetting. I think the only one I've been looking for but haven't yet seen on DVD now is Running From The Guns.

[PacificMuscle]

Another recent rerelease on DVD is "Freedom".

This was Scott Hicks (Shine etc) first feature. Staring Jon Blake (Lighthorsemen) and Jad Capelja (Puberty Blues) with Blake as the disaffected factory worker who goes on the lam with Capelja the single mum on the run. Blake steals a porsche turbo and the rest is history.

Notable appearances from a Max Van like panelvan, a Mercedes gullwing and a mock Ford Cobra ... actually a tarted up XB Coupe.

Great music by Don Walker from Cold Chisel without Barnsie ... with Michael Hutchence from INXS on vocals.

Not a landmark film but well worth a watch and worth owning.

I'm also awaiting Running from the Guns as all I have is a crapy VHS copy.

[zboy again]

Never heard of freedom, so I'll make that a must buy if I see it. I've also been looking for a dvd version of running from the guns with no luck. I still have the vhs version I bought off the local video shop in the late 80's & it's about knackered...