“I’m going to look at the horses!” as they say in Mongolia when one departs for the rest room.

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The "Australia" premiere invite said “7:00.” You know what that usually means — the stars don’t arrive until 7:30 and the milling crowd takes another half hour to stop carrying on as if they’re at a cocktail party. 

But Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, the stars of "Australia,” decided to break with tradition. While the movie still didn’t begin on time, it was no fault of Nicole or Hugh. They were in the Ziegfeld Theater at seven o’clock sharp, having finished their red-carpet duties. 

Upstairs, on the second-floor lobby of the theater, Miss Kidman had a bit of a hard time breaking away from her admirers. And this is a woman who cannot disappear in a crowd. She fairly towered over most mere mortals, in high heels she couldn’t have worn in a former Tom Cruise life — all swan neck, and gazelle legs, in a glittery little dress.

As people slowly seated themselves, those of us already seated were entertained by a live quartet, dressed in tuxedos, playing classic 1940s ditties. (“Australia’s” action takes place in 1941.) I must say, this was charming, and unusual. So were the ladies dressed in sexy cigarette-girl outfits, sauntering up and down the aisles, handing out candy. However, by the time the band had swung into “Waltzing Matilda” and “Thanks for the Memories,” the natives were getting restless. 

But as if on cue, before the impatience meter climbed, Tom Rothman, the co-Chair of 20th Century Fox, appeared at the front of the theater to give a mercifully brief speech. But he didn’t fail to acknowledge those famous internationals, Rupert and Wendy Murdoch, sitting close by — and then he introduced Nicole and Hugh. Jackman told an amusing story about his father, who was in the audience. Nicole did not speak. “She’s very shy,” said Hugh. Indeed, Kidman kind of hung back, in little-girl fashion, as if overwhelmed by the night. Director Baz Luhrmann also spoke, fast. (Rothman, Jackman and Luhrmann all mentioned that the audience was in for a good long sit!) And then “Australia” began.

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I think most critics and audiences are going to love “Australia.” Those who don’t will say — it’s too long, it’s all over the place, it’s at least three movies and five genres in one! And they’d have a case. 

But I tell you, this is exactly what Baz Luhrmann intended; a gigantic, often whimsical epic, a romantic love story, a war film, a civil-rights manifesto, a child-ripped-from-mother’s-arms saga, a magical mystery tour about aboriginal wizardry, a tale of loving enough to let go. (Apparently, Baz wrote six endings, and filmed three. Lord knows what the DVD “director’s cut” will show us!)

“Australia” has Baz’s elaborate stamp of fantastical realism all over it. No other director could have done this, and, in the end, done it so successfully. The payoff is worth the wait — rushes of sentiment so powerful you’d have to be made of stone not to react.