Australian accent movies?

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C.C

Fantastic collection of Aussie movies, but take into account most of them are fictional. They should suit your purpose well enough. I hope you have allot of time to sit on your .... couch to watch them. You could probably leave out picnic at hanging rock. It is a movie about one event that happened years ago that no one really gives a poop about. Mad Max is not really about Aus either but its a good movie with Mel Gibson in it. He is an Aussie but does not count himself as one these days. Gallipoli is a war movie but it is a very good one with a real Australian perspective. Its a bit slow in places. Wolf Creek is based on the back packer murder of peter Antonio and its just a B grade horror flick. Got some good scenery in it.
I am not going to go into all of them for you, but you will love Australia by the end of them. That or be tottally confused, one or the other. Have fun and give us heaps of Questions before you come.

Elizabeth

You have chosen a wide range of movies.
All of which are good movies in their own way.
(One of my favourites is Malcolm, it's a great little movie.)

I doubt that you'll learn our accent, but you may be able to learn what exactly we're talking about.
You could have trouble understanding some of the terminology used in the films.
If you find you hear something you don't understand try going to the Australian Slang website at -
http://www.koalanet.com.au/australian-slang.html
Or ask here on Answers.

Note - The movie, Once Were Warriors, will be no use to you it's set in New Zealand and has no bearing on life in Australia.

zafir

You really shouldn't try to learn an Australian accent before you get here. It's difficult to pick up, unlike an American accent, and people who've live here for years have problems. I migrated here from England many years ago, and people still remark on my British accent which wasn't strong to start off with!

Most of the movies you've mentioned are great for entertainment value, but are not necessarily representative of current Australian speech. There are many migrants in Australia from non-English speaking backgrounds and they are accepted and respected just as they are. So when you get here just be yourself. People will understand you, but just be aware that Australians speak quite quickly, so you'll sometimes need to listen closely.

Ignore the suggestion about the movie 'Once Were Warriors'. This is a New Zealand movie and the accents are nothing like Australian accents.

oceangirl78

I admire you for wanting to learn the Aussie accent but it would be much better if you stick to your uniqueness.Even if you did master the accent you would not sound natural.People here would accept you for who you are.

Bingalee

Linda B, that movie was made in NZ about Maoris, so where does the Aussie accent come into it.

Schnoz

One which will give you a perspective of going to a football (Aussie Rules) match, for the first time, is a movies called "They're a Wierd Mob". It is about a migrant who comes to Australia (Sydney) in, I think, the sixties. It gives his impression of Aussie Rules football and of the Australians that he meets. There is also a book, which the film was based on - I think that the book is so much better, but that is my belief.

Another, which I would have a look at, is "A Town like Alice". The film is about a British woman who arrives in Alice Springs, in Central Australia (near Ayers Rock, but not within walking distance). It displays some of the early Australian traditions, such as females not being allowed in hotels' front bars (it is different now). It also displays, graphically, some of the hardships encountered by the British woman and by Aussies, in general, who venture in to the Outback and into Central Australia, during floods (not Alice Springs itself, but cattle stations), in the Northern Territory. "Sunday Too Far Away" is also a film about the outback, but both send different messages, except to say that it is tough, when out there.

I wouldn't worry about fictional movies such as Wolf Creek, as it relates to nothing directly - there is only a suggestion, that it was based on a backpacker's murder, because of some of the similarities, in the script and the fact that it was released soon after the disappearance, of that person.

I also wouldn't worry too much about "Once We were Warriors", as that film is about the Kiwis (New Zealanders). Some suggest that New Zealand become part of Australia, in the future.
That is their choice and personally, I wouldn't have any problem with it, but until that happens (if ever), New Zealand is not a part of Australia, and I think that the Kiwis would feel the same.

Other than that, you will have some insight into Australia, its regional areas and Australians, as well as helping you to get used to the Aussie lingo. It will also give you some talking points.

I hope that you enjoy Australia (and being Australian, if you decide to take up citizenship) and all that it offers.
I wouldn't be anywhere else!

p.s. I wouldn't, though, try to learn the Australian accent as there is outback Aussie and other Aussie (closer to English without the English Accent), as you will discover, when you watch any of those films.

Is it possible to rent or download, rather than buy, those films though? You would be spending, quite a good bit of money.

Kylie misses her sleep!

Hey there.
You really dont need to learn to speak with our accent.
Australia is a very multi-cultural destination, we have people from every country and every walk of life living here.. I hear a dozen or more different accents everyday.
As for our language.. well we speak English :) he he.
Believe it or not ALOT of people think that ''Australian' is its own language.. it is not. We use alot of slang which is can very annoying to a visitor because they have no idea what we are talking about.. as you will see (well hear rather) when you watch these movies.

Hell Raiser

Crackerjack is pretty good, very funny. Crocodile Dundee movies are alright. Very over the top but the accents are good. Ned Kelly with Heath Ledger and Orlando Bloom is very good. And yes, leave out Picnic at Haniging Rock unless you want to be bored to death. The Castle is a bloody ripper of a movie. Watch that one first. It is an older movie but still very popular.

molly

The Castle,Crackers and Two Hands another one not so well known is"The Big Steal" but you picked some great movies makes me want to go out and hire a few myself to to watch again.
Whatever you do don't go round saying "The dingos got my baby" from Evil Angels the worst Australian accent I ever heard.

POTC FAN!!!!!

wow, that's alot of movies. You must really want to learn. well have you seen Transformers? It has an Australian women in it. The blonde one. Besides Australia is a malty cultural country. As long as you know the language you don't have to worry about your accent.

Power Flower

That's an awesome list of movies to watch! I'd skip Romper Stomper though - that would scare the pants off anyone thinking of visiting the country. You would never run into people like that!

The list you've chosen will give you a really good insight into some of the history as well. I wouldn't worry too much about trying to copy the accent - there's people from everywhere here and obviously from your question you have a good understanding of English. You'll be fine!

Nicole M

Wow, you put a lot of thought into it! I havn't seen all the movies so just a rundown on the ones I have seen.

Wolf Creek - good
Rabit proof fence - was set back years ago so the accents are not really applicable
Muriels wedding - year but don't listen to the way Muriel speaks
Mad MAx - great
And you should watch the new one um...Rogue, it's prettty good.

miss schlonky

Best to stick with modern films. But you don't want to learn Australia's most broad, common and more working-class sounding accents - like what you'll hear in Muriel's Wedding, The Castle and The Nugget. Not that there's anything wrong with those accents. We love them. But if you try speaking that way, people will think you're some kind of confused wannabe bogan idiot LOL You know like when you mimic someone's funny accent to their face? Not a good idea ;)

To learn a neutral Australian accent that you would hear more in the cities, I suggest: Lantana, Japanese Story, Shine, Sirens and The Bank. Generally, the more "educated" sounding Australian accent has a slight British sound about it; not like the whiny or nasal drawl you'll hear more often in the suburbs and country areas. So it depends on where you plan to go and fit in.

If you're gay, you might like the accents in Priscilla :)

tora

good luck with that i got my accent just by talking to my bfs family ( they are all aussies)
try talking to some aussies u will pick it up faster!!

dark winged angel

crockodile dundee.

Kelly

There is another Australian movie you never mentioned is Bad Boy Bubby, it is a f*^%#@d in the head movie, but Australian.

Linda B

A really really good one would be "Once Were Warriors." Man, their accents are so thick. Get this one down and you should be able to understand anyone.

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