Review of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) by Johnny T — 08 Jan 2012

Good ain't the half of it in this case - it's funny, it's endearing, it's strangely touching. The generosity and gorgeousness with which Aussie writer-director Stephan Elliott (and costume designers Lizzy Gardiner and Tim Chappel) turn this most unlikely road picture into something arresting - if a tad sentimental - in its naive vision of a perfectly tolerant world. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert presents a defiant culture clash in generous, warmly entertaining ways. A cheerfully vulgar and bitchy, but essentially warmhearted, road movie with a difference, which boasts an amazing star turn by Terence Stamp as a transsexual, Stephan Elliott's second feature is a lot of fun. On the whole, though, it is funny and compassionate, silly and sweet.

VERDICT: "High-Quality Stuff" - [Positive Reaction] This is a rating to a movie I view as very entertaining and well made, and definitely worth paying the full price at a theatre to see or own on DVD. It is not perfect, but it is definitely excellent. (Films that are rated 3.5 or 4 stars).