It is clear that the creators of the movie were hoping to create an epic tale of a strong-willed woman standing up against the horrors of the world to protect her land and the people she loves. You know, something like Gone with the Wind.

The Lady Sarah Ashley is off to Australia to join her husband who has taken on ownership of a cattle ranch. He is hoping to sell the plantation and return with her to England. Upon her arrival, things quickly fall apart when she learns that her husband has recently died.

Now she is in control of the ranch and needs to find a way to drive her cattle into Darwin, the local city, in order to make a profit. There is some question as to how she is going to do this since there are almost no employees and the local cattle bigwig has decided to do everything in his power to stop her from successfully doing so.

Fortunately, she is able to find a hand who can step in and help with the drive. He is also the uncouth man who drove her from the airport to the ranch so she is not sure she is thrilled with the situation, but she is left with no choice. Predictably, they fall in love and take on their troubles together.

There is a really interesting back story about a boy who lives on the ranch. He is half-aborigine, a group that the Australian government is taking into custody with the hopes of educating the "wild ways" out of them. Lady Sarah quickly takes a liking to him and does everything she can to protect him, particularly considering his parentage.

Things peak as the Japanese attack Darwin in a way that does everything but destroy the city.

The movie was pretty good. The stories were really interesting, and I loved the way the film was presented in a visual manner that tried to capture the time period. I did have a bit of trouble with the transition of Lady Sarah during the course of the movie. She starts off as being quite flighty (the stereotypical noblewoman), who interacts with the man who will become the love of her life. He is totally crass and annoying. Within a short period of time, they have both adapted to the people they need to be to get through their troubles.

The adjustment is just too fast. In a way, "too" is a good word for the movie. I loved it, but I just felt like it was trying to hard to do certain things. While it accomplishes those things (highlighting the treatment of aborigines during the time, highlighting the cattle barons mistreatment of others, presenting a different perspective on World War II, and setting a love story between two unlikely people in the minute), it struggles to be as good as it could have been because it doesn't just let the story flow.

I don't think it was the acting that was the problem at all. I found myself almost groaning at some of the lines and situation, particularly during the early scenes. As the film settles into the story, I found that happening less often, and I was able to sit back and enjoy the show.

It is worth watching, but don't expect great. It is enjoyable, but not a must see. I was glad I waited to see it with a free copy I was able to check out at my library.