BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Scheduled to open in Chinese cinemas during the Lunar New Year holiday next week, the epic romance "Australia" is expected to sweep the Chinese box office despite mediocre earnings abroad.

    According to distributor Huaxia Films, the film's mainland version is exactly the same as the original shown in North America, unlike previous films that have been cut by the State Administration for Radio Film and Television.

    An official with Huaxia said, "'Australia' is a real charm in terms of its star cast and overwhelming action scenes, and we expect Chinese audiences to fully enjoy this cinematic feast during the New Year holiday."

    The 165-minute film tells the story of an English aristocrat played by Nicole Kidman who falls in love with a cowboy, played byHugh Jackman, as they drive her cattle across the Australian outback during World War II.

    Australia-born director Baz Luhrmann, who won acclaim for "Romeo + Juliet" (1996) and "Moulin Rouge!" (2001), spent almost four years making epic at a cost exceeding 100 million U.S. dollars.

    It is the second time that Oscar-winning actress Kidman and Jackman, People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" last year, have co-starred in a film following their vocal collaboration in the animated feature "Happy Feet".

    The film has had mixed receptions, but opened top of the box office in European countries, including Spain, France and Germany.

    It also received mixed reviews since its first release last November. China's leading film magazine, "Movie View", described it as the film with the "lowest performance-price ratio in 2008", referring to shortcomings in plot and "inadequate" performances by the two leading actors.

    The period from December to early February, known as prime pre-Lunar New Year film season, is usually the busiest time at China's box office.

    "Australia" will open nationwide on Jan. 28. This year, the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 26.

    The holiday box office competition also involves mainland comedy "Crazy Racer", "Look For A Star" starring singer-actor Andy Lau and "All's Well, Ends Well", part of a popular Hong Kong family comedy series.

    "Red Cliff II", an historical epic directed by Hollywood-based Hong Kong director John Woo, opened on Jan. 7 and reportedly raked in almost 200 million yuan (about 29.4 million US dollars) in nine days.

    Tom Cruise will also join the holiday competition when his latest work "Valkyrie", which depicts an unsuccessful attempt by German soldiers to kill Hitler, opens in February.