Under pressure from Fox, Baz Luhrmann has altered the ending of Australia after “disastrous reviews” from test screenings.  Keep in mind, Baz Luhrmann is the critically acclaimed, Oscar-nominated director of Moulin Rouge and Fox is the movie studio responsible for The Happening, Babylon A.D., Meet Dave, X-Files 2, Mirrors, Space Chimps, Max Payne, Jumper, and The Rocker.

SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

Luhrmann’s initial cut – which ran for more than three hours – ended with Hugh Jackman’s character, The Drover, dying in the final scenes.

After disastrous reviews from test screenings, Twentieth Century Fox executives decided the film’s final moments should be more uplifting.

One test-screening audience member described the film as “an action-filled tragedy” and urged Luhrmann to change the ending.

“If they can tastefully tie this movie up into a solid story, with a nice pace, Baz will have a winner here,” one reviewer wrote. [i.e. "This will be a good movie if they make it do what good movies do." -Ed.] “And there is no reason to kill off Wolvie (Jackman) in this one – come on.” [News.com.au via RopeofSilicon]

I haven’t seen the movie, but focus groups are the worst f-cking invention in the history of the world.  It’s basically saying, “I’ve been a cowardly yes man for so long that I couldn’t possibly render an independent judgment on something, so instead I’m going to lure this herd of half-retarded seals to the theater with a herring and hope they’ll make my decision for me.”

Again, I haven’t seen it, but common sense would seem to dictate that the guy who made $177 million on his last movie’s opinion counts for more than a guy who refers to Hugh Jackman as “Wolvie”.  This is why all of Fox’s movies are f-ing terrible.  You’re supposed to lead the audience, not try to give them exactly what they want.  When you make decisions based on what you think the audience wants rather than what you think is good, you get Manswers.