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The Adventures Of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert

Director: Stephan Elliott
Actors: Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce, Bill Hunter
Studio: MGM Entertainment
Category: DVD

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Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars

14 reviews
Sales Rank: 505

Format: Anamorphic, Dubbed, Pal, Special Edition
Languages: Danish (Subtitled), Dutch (Subtitled), Finnish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Norwegian (Subtitled), Swedish (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Dubbed), German (Dubbed)
Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 99
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.6

EAN: 5050070028218
ASIN: B000803PX6

Release Date: June 13, 2005
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours

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•	The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Customer Reviews: Read 9 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

"How long have we been on the road?" November 1, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

This is a roadtrip film in the truest sense of the word. Three drag queens are driving across the Australian desert in a bus, to a gig in Alice Springs. All are gay - but some more `gay' than others. Mitzi is the most macho of three, with a secret wife and an even more secret child, Felicia is young, camp, and outrageous. And Bernadette? She's the straight laced ex-famous show-girl.

No doubt it has been said before, but this is a voyage of discovery for our three camp friends. The dynamic between them provides the energy for the film. With Felicia rubbing Bernadette up the wrong way, and Mitzi struggling with his inner demons - you can't help but watch to see what happens.

Along the journey they meet several people, some hostile, and some heart warmingly friendly. This isn't a constantly laugh out loud comedy, but some scenes are hilarious - such as Bob's Thai wife firing out ping pong balls, and Bernadette's swapping of Christmas presents as a young boy. As with all good humorous films - there are tinges of sadness. The scene depicting Felicia's sexual abuse as a young boy is done in a humorous way, but leaves you in no doubt that his childhood was marred.

Although the film reveals things such as the above mentioned sexual abuse, the film only ever touches on delicate matters rather than going too deep into them, presumably to maintain a light hearted pace. There is a potentially very scary scene when a drugged up Felicia taunts a group of macho mine workers - again, this is ended in a warm and light hearted way. I'm not criticising the film for not dealing with the more serious issues in depth - the film does still introduce the issues, and aspects such as the graffiti on the bus really do show the prejudice and small minded hatred that the three characters have had to endure.

Guy Pierce manages to pull off a fantastically camp performance as Felicia - my wife was convinced he must be gay (she had to Google him after I advised he wasn't!). Hugo Weaving portrays the inner turmoil of Mitzy well, and the final scenes where he is nervous about the anticipated rejection by his son are the best in the film. Terrence Stamp was a surprise for everyone I think! I always think of him as `The Limey' or as General Zod from `Superman', but he was brilliant as the transvestite Bernadette. His dancing in the closing scenes seemed a bit clumsy and true to the characters history as a showgirl, but you've got to salute him for trying. He often came across as uncomfortable, but this added to the character of someone who always tried to remain dignified in the face of social adversion. His touching performances with Bob the mechanic were moving and genuinely magnetic to watch.

All this and the fantastic Australian scenery exploited to max to give a beautiful and colourful look to the film. There are scenes where the skies are nearly as colourful as the Oscar winning dresses!

5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful! September 26, 2007
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

I must have watched this film at least 10 times and it gets better with age. This film has helped me through a few dark moments and whenever life is not going well (even during a time of bereavement) this is the first film I pull from the shelf.

It's essentially a celebration of life, accepting oneself for what we are, and a testament to family - both the families we're born into and those we create for ourselves as we go through life.

All of the above is communicated through one long and evenful road trip and while it doesn't shy away from the general problems and insecurities faced by all human beings (and the very particular issues faced by the three main characters), at its heart, it celebrates the human race in all its shapes and forms. But though it is a little sentimental in places, it never becomes sickly.

All three main stars give genuinely revelatory performances, but I have a particular soft spot for Guy Pearce's masterly turn as a very bitchy but also very hurt and damaged character who (without giving any of the plot away) finally comes to learn the meaning of love and generosity in one very brief, simple yet very powerful scene very near the end of the film.

Laugh out loud funny in places, it will make you genuinely glad to be part of this weird but wonderful world!

4 out of 5 stars

A bus they name Priscilla June 23, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

There was a real trend in the mid nineties with films like "The Birdcage," "Too Wong Foo," "Its my Party," and "Love! Valor! Compassion!" exploding onto the screen as America began to feel more at ease with its gay brothers and sisters. And as we watched these movies, a whole `Gay Comic Genre' was really born. Also we can't forget about the popularity of gay stand up at that same time.

"Priscilla" did indeed avail itself of this trend, and every gay humor trick in the book. It also managed to slip us some really amazing visual, comic and compassionate moments. Except for rabid, card-carrying homophobes, this Australian road-movie-with-a-difference is a charmer. The three are: aging transsexual Bernadette (Terence Stamp), youngish occasional bisexual Tick or Mitzi (Hugo Weaving) and gay-all-the way Adam or Felicia (Guy Pearce), the youngest.

The trio's specialty is to appear on-stage dressed in the most outrageous, garish, feathery female outfits, undulate and sort of dance while lip-synching to 1970s disco songs, from ABBA to whatever comes close to Z. They do their lavish karaoke excellently, and the musical selections are a constant treat. Bernadette is the wisest and quietest of the three, and most serious --she hardly ever cracks a smile. Mitzi is a bit mercurial, sometimes solemn, and sometimes buoyant. Felicia, the wildest of the bunch, is full of animal spirits, a prankster who gets often on the others' nerves. But still, there is essential harmony among those divergent types.

Remarkably, their characters, with all the flamboyance, misadventures, mean hearted blokes, and desert creatures (not to mention some very musical Aborigine) kept them admirably cool, show quiet tenacity and retain their sense of humor, so that no matter what the circumstances, there is never panic or hysteria. In a peculiar way, this steadiness blends in well with the beautiful, barren landscapes which often take on a surreal look. This is an entertaining and touching movie. Recommended to anyone with a great sense of humor!

5 out of 5 stars

Amazing May 22, 2007
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

I just adore this film. It's definately a film to see before you die.

On the surface it just seems like a comedy- 3 drag queens travel across Australia in a bus meeting all kinds of people on the way- and although it is very funny with a great script and excellent comedic performances you soon discover that this film is deeper than it makes out. It deals with real issues such as acceptance, love, abuse and individuality.

The three leads- Hugo Weaving, Guy Pierce and Terence Stamp- are absolutely superb as the three drag queens. The performances are funny and touching all at the same time.

If you don't fall in love with these characters and the film itself you must have a heart of stone!

5 out of 5 stars

Mama mia What can I say? December 31, 2006
3 out of 4 found this review helpful

One of the funniest, campest, instant fell good pick-me-up movie ever made. Guy Pearse and Agent Smith as drag who would have thought!? And you can't help but fall in love with all of them.
I love it so much that I'm so planning to get my bf to take me n see one of those show when we got to Sydney in Mars! Buy it, rent it, steal it if you must but you have to , HAVE to see this movie!