Although one of the most requested films to be released on video, Nicolas Roeg's "masterpiece" has not aged well since its initial 1971 release. The story of an English sister (Jenny Agutter) and brother who are abandoned in the Australian outback until they are "saved" and befriended by an Aborigine youth (David Gulpilil) on a "walkabout" (a tribal initiation), Roeg's film today comes across as a heavy-handed pastiche of tired anti-colonialism lecturing and flower child naiveté. The gorgeous cinematography can't quite compensate for the lumbering preachiness of Walkabout (especially today when cinematic eye candy is good n' plenty, so to speak). For purists, this restored version features extra footage of Jenny Agutter swimming naked in a blue lagoon (bringing to mind a similar if much lesser effort). Not without its strengths, this is, nevertheless, an optional purchase for most. (R. Pitman)[DVD/Blu-ray Review—May 11, 2010—Criterion, 100 min., not rated, $39.95—Making its second appearance on DVD and first on Blu-ray, 1971's Walkabout features a great transfer and Dolby Digital Mono sound. DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary with director Nicolas Roeg and star Jenny Agutter, a “Gulpilil—One Red Blood” documentary on the life and career of costar David Gulpilil (56 min.), interviews with Agutter (20 min.) and costar Luc Roeg (21 min.), trailers, and a booklet featuring an essay by author Paul Ryan. Bottom line: an excellent extras package for a beautiful-looking if somewhat overrated film.]
Walkabout
(Home Vision, 100 min., not rated, avail. Apr. 1) Vol. 12, Issue 2
Walkabout
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
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