Just perfect...

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

A coming of age movie that is male enough to keep (especially teen) male viewers and sweet enough to keep female viewers, just naughty enough for them to feel as if they're watching a "grown up" movie and just sweet enough that it's not too adult. As someone else mentioned, it is the nearly perfect confluence of great acting, writing, and directing. The few points I deducted were for a few spots (such as the horse and the dying cancer victim) that seemed to try too hard to lay other, deeper layers on. Lots of nice, unexpected surprises and, thankfully, when you think you will be cheated by some "clever" turn in the script (as other movies are wont to do) you're not and come away feeling fully satisfied that it ends as it should.Altogether a very nice film though parents (especially non-Catholic parents) may have some 'splaining to do about some of the Catholic elements. And the PG-13 rating is appropriate.

Most of the movie takes place on small beach of vacation cabins on the South Australia coast, but it begins in the vast, featureless spaces of the Australian Outback, the location of this boys town run by nuns. One feature of the way the orphanage operates, boys are recognized as a group during the month of their birthday, so these 4 boys are known as the "December Boys." This December they get a special treat because a donation has been made, and the 4 of them are being sent "on holiday" to stay with a family during the Christmas break on this tidy little beach community. (Remember Christmas in Australia is summertime.) Having mostly experienced life in the Outback ("when it rains a lot and floods we can go fishing.") these 4 boys are confronted with all kinds of surprises in the small coastal community. There is the childless married lady who comes out of the water, topless, to greet the boys. (One of them faints.) There is the precocious teenage girl who has a secret hideaway among the rocks that she calls her Stonehenge, and hints that aliens may have constructed it, although it looks like centuries of Ocean sculpting. And there is the old fisherman fishing for Henry ("Is that a person, or a type of fish?"), the old, large fish that visits the bay.The movie is narrated in modern time by the adult character we come to know as Misty. Jusdging from Misty's current age, the story must have been set in the late 1950s or the 1960s. Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter fame is Maps, because he has birthmarks on his chest that looks like maps. Lee Cormie is Misty who appears to be about 12 in the movie. Christian Byers is Sparks, and James Fraser is Spit because his dad flew a Spitfire. The teenage girl is cute Teresa Palmer as Lucy. Sullivan Stapleton is Fearless, married to Victoria Hill as Teresa. They can't have children so begin talking about adopting one of the 4 boys. Misty overhears this and much of the last half of the movie has the boys in silent competition to see who might be chosen. This is a very big deal because it was very hard for any of these boys to be adopted.A very nice, little movie, it has a realistic feel and is a coming of age experience for the 4 boys.SPOILERS: Maps is the oldest of the boys, and often takes a "big brother" role. He is very naive in the ways of the world, and especially with girls. Lucy recognizes that and becomes his "teacher", since she has affection for him. She becomes his "first" in her hideaway. Towards the end of the movie, the childless couple announce they have chosen Misty to adopt, and the three of them watch as the other 3 boys wander away. Misty realizes that his family really is the group of 4 December Boys, and he affectionately tells the young couple thanks for choosing him, but he really belongs with the family he already has.The movie ends in modern time, and we see Max Cullen as the Narrator and the Adult Misty. We learn that Maps, after his experience with Lucy, and having a vision underwater while saving Misty, actually became a Priest. All 3 surviving December Boys met at the seaside getaway with Maps' ashes, so they could be scattered on that hillside where the 4 of them had the bonding experience years earlier. (Note: It is not consistent with Roman Catholic practice to scatter ashes, especially for a Priest.)

They say the best place to start is at the beginning, which is where our four main characters are introduced; Maps, Misty, Spit and Spark, otherwise known as the December Boys. The opening scenes take us to the boys home, an orphanage run by nuns in the Australian outback. Some might say this is a place of little excitement, so you can imagine their joy when being told they are to spend the summer in Ladystar Cove. Based on the edge of a seaside town noted for fairgrounds and fireworks, the cove provides the ideal backdrop for an emotional journey they will always remember.The theme of love, romance, family, and friendship all play a role as the December Boys deal with the notion that one of them may be adopted, by a childless couple living in the cove. However, despite the inclusion of several co-stars, the writing focuses more on the boys who are superbly convincing. The cinematography is beautiful throughout with delightful scenic shots and close ups that capture the wonder of childhood.I assumed the film was based in the 60's but there is no given time line and the chosen score is too post modern and does nothing to encapsulate that era. However, despite these flaws December boys contains plenty of small joys and touching scenes, with timely voice overs and good direction, this is a film deserving to be seen.

Boring, bland plot. Undeveloped characters. Not well written. I have not read original novel. So I am hoping, it has all the ingredients of a memorable coming of age tale. The fault may be in the screen adaptation. Overall a really thin, predictable plot. More so an advertising campaign for the South Australian tourism board than anything. Nice photography. But the whole thing didn't 'have it'. It confused me, it could of been passed off as a children's film, as it was such a simple, predictable plot. But, the nudity (which I am fine with) says that it was not produced for the children's film market. I think if this had been produced and sold as a children's movie, it would of cut it. But, it is clearly designed for a young adult/adult market. Unfortunately it is 'laugh out loud' bad, trying to watch this film seriously as an adult. Sorry filmmakers, you blew your chance at making a good film. Go back to film school. Really awful, in fact embarrassingly awful.