Rating: 
Summary: What's Not To Like...??
Review: "NEVER CRY WOLF"..."FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX"..."THE ENLGLISH PATIENT"......all, cinematic and character delights - as you will find "THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER"... Technically a "10", this Aussie (and World) classic, may leave you none-the-less breathless. George Miller's direction, Cull Cullen's script (enhanced by John Dixon and David Bradshaw's, "A.B. 'Banjo' Paterson", whose original poem is the essense of the film), Keith Wagstaff's absolutely stunning cinematography and Bruce Rowland's original and heart-tugging music (particularly, the piano solo, "Jessica's Theme") may bring tears to your eyes with this simple, Down-Under western plot -- but it took a world-class editor like Adrian Carr to put this gorgeous film into the top ranks of movie-watchers the globe over. Carr's timing of Wagstaff's photography and Rowland's music is the stuff legends are made of...just, dare I say it, "Professional Grade"(!)
It didn't hurt to have a made-to-order cast. Burlinson is quietly, and wonderfully, cast as the young male hero, "Jim Craig." Kirk Douglas hasn't played a better role - and, as a double. Terence Donovan played the quietly strong, short-lived role as Burlinson's father, "Henry." Sigrid Thornton was exemplary and believable as Tom's love interest, "Jessica" (the woman is beautiful) and the venerable Jack Thompson was magnificent as "Clancy" - the range-wise, "horse-magician" glue that holds the whole film together.
The subtle British humour Americans are so used to is sometimes raucous in the film - more the better from Chris Haywood's
"Curly" (..."Ah'm studyin' to be Supavisa!").
If you can't get an empathetic rise and a teardrop over the cornea through this wonderfully crafted epic, then pop-a-top from a 12 oz. curl of your favorite brew, pull back the handle on your Lazy-Boy and turn on the Wrestling Channel...you dolt. Filmed in 1982, it's still a true classic 22 years later. ~Bob Shank Jr Technical Support Engineer
IT UNIX Help Desk
Engineering Computing
Raytheon Missile Systems Co.
Tucson By-God Arizona (...and, yes, we still have true 'horsemen' here - they just blacksmith Tomahawk missiles in their spare time)
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT HORSEMANSHIP MOVIE
Review: One of the best horsemanship movies ever made. The presentation of the main characters exceeds most movies. The actors, Kirk Douglas (playing a dual role), Tom Burlinson and Sigrid Thornton were made for their roles. There are parts of this movie that stand out as unforgettable. -- The startling beauty of the Australian outback; the wild horses running free across the vast wilderness; the men on horseback riding out on their search for Jessica; and, the ride of Jim Craig straight down the mountainside. It is a movie to be watched over and over again to see things missed the previous time. This movie is a must buy.
Rating:
Summary: Twenty years later, this movie is still an Aussie classic
Review: I remember seeing this with my girlfriends in the theatre, and then buying my first vcr so I could watch this film everyday. The cinematography is gorgeous. The music is haunting and beautiful. Tom Burlinson and Sigrid Thornton make a great romantic team, and Jack Thompson is wonderful as Clancy. All of the actors fit their roles except for Kirk Douglas. It really shows that a "big name star" had to be used to get this picture made. Kirk Douglas insisted on re-writing many of his lines, and refused to step off his horse with the entire cast at the end of the movie in homage to The Man From Snowy River. The entire end scene had to be re-written. Little wonder that Brian Dennehey was cast in the role in the sequel. Enjoy both the original and the sequel. And be sure to get the soundtracks. Bruce Rowland created two of the best movie scores you will ever hear.
Rating:
Summary: BUY THIS MOVIE!
Review: This ranks as one of my all time favorite movies! It's an excellent family movie; it's got everything: a little comedy, drama, action and romance. So far, everyone I've watched it with has loved it. In fact, my family has seen it so many times, we've worn out our first two copies! Pay attention to the music -- it really flows with the movie. You may as well order the soundtrack now...The perfect example of the music matching the scene, and the scene being unbelieveable, is the chase down the mountain and through the snow. I first saw this movie when I was 12...I'm 31 now, and I enjoy it as much now, as I did then. And, 19 years later, we're still trying to figure out just how they did Kirk Douglas' peg-leg! I hope you'll purchase this film, and grow to love it as much as my family and I do.
Rating:
Summary: One of those classic movies that must be watched!
Review: "The Man from Snowy River" is a movie I'm sure you'll fall in love with just as I have. Actor Tom Burlinson plays Jim Craig, a mountain boy from the Victorian Alps of Australia. Ever since his mother died he had been living with his father, Henry Craig (Terence Donovan). But when Henry is killed, Jim must go down to the flat lands to find a job so that he can keep up his place. Since Jim's horse, Bess, had joined the wild Brunby horses lead by the 'black stallion', a good friend Spur (Kirk Douglas) gives him a mountain horse, Denny. When he reaches the flat lands, he is hired by rich and powerful Mr. Harrison (also played by Kirk Douglas) as a stable hand. Though because he is a mountain boy and everyone says away from him, some even openingly making fun of him like Curly (Chris Haywood), Jim makes friends with the lovely daughter of Jessica Harrison (Sigrid Thornton). They begin to fall in love but when a dark and long kept secret involving the Harrisons is brought up, will they still be able to be together? And will Jim be able to prove himself not as a lad, but as a man... a man from Snowy River? As a Hollywood Reporter quoted, "A movie for the eyes as well as the heart," I most certainly agree with him! The Australian mountains are beautiful and breath-taking. There is not one place that you would want to skip or fast forward. And besides that, you have action and adventure, romance, magnificent horses, and absolutely terrific acting. Though Tom Burlinson and Sigrid Thornton are perfect for the part of the two lovers, the person who really shone in his role was veteran actor Kirk Douglas. He was wonderful and it must have been fun for him to play two parts in the movie. There is also a sequel to this movie, "Return to Snowy River" in which Jim Cranston returns to Snowy River after a few years. But many things have changed, but does that mean that Jessica's love for him has changed? Another marvelous movie though I was somewhat disappointed that instead of Kirk Douglad playing Harrison, they had Brian Dennehy play the part. Yet still a movie that is also enjoyable!
Rating:
Summary: Wild Horses
Review: The rural grazing life in the Snowy Mountains has hardly changed since Banjo Paterson traveled the high country and wrote his famous "Man from Snowy River" poem. His poetry is an authentic voice of a frontier society in which song and campfire recitation were much appreciated entertainment. "And the Snowy River riders on the mountains make their home,
Where the river runs those giant hills between;
I have seen full many horsemen since I first commenced to roam,
But nowhere yet such horsemen have I seen." Andrew Barton Paterson was born in New South Wales and was the son of a Scottish immigrant. Paterson was a poet, journalist, lawyer, jockey, soldier, farmer and one of the best-loved figures of Australian literature. His poem is the basis for this gorgeous movie about the treacherous terrain and bands of wild, stampeding horses. He also wrote Waltzing Matilda, which is lovingly woven into the soundtrack. The Man from Snowy River Movie tells a more in depth story of a cattle baron Mr. Harrison (Jessica's father) who has had a long quarrel with his brother Spur. Kirk Douglas plays both roles. When one brother finds his fortune, the second goes searching for gold. This is a story based on a time when families tended their sheep and cattle. Ghost towns from the gold rush still haunt the landscape. Set against the untamed Australian Outback, a love story unfolds between Jessica Harrison ( Sigrid Thornton) and Jim Craig (Tom Burlinson). Jim seems to have a way with horses and Jessica is a bit of a brash filly herself. She has her own ideas regarding a woman's choices in life and choosing the path she will take in her own career. She defies her father and runs off to find Jim. Her anger towards Jim over a horse riding accident is like a summer storm that quickly disappears once she experiences the excitement of forbidden love. Her father, Mr. Harrison, has not yet learned that there is a beautiful place inside each person where we are either nurtured or destroyed. He seems emotionally destructive and Jessica rebels because he won't let her follow any of her dreams. He seeks to trap her in his own wishes and thinks she should settle down into a domestic lifestyle. Jim and Jessica are soul mates with hearts as wild as the horses running free through the snow. While at first they fight their mutual attraction, Jessica seems clearer in her thinking after she almost dies and realizes there are just some things in life worth fighting for. Equestrian Heaven with an impressive conclusion! You must see this movie once in your life if you love horses. The wide-screen edition is highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: What's Not To Like...??
Review: "NEVER CRY WOLF"..."FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX"..."THE ENLGLISH PATIENT"... ...all, cinematic and character delights - as you will find "THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER"... Technically a "10", this Aussie (and World) classic, may leave you none-the-less breathless. George Miller's direction, Cull Cullen's script (enhanced by John Dixon and David Bradshaw's, "A.B. 'Banjo' Paterson", whose original poem is the essense of the film), Keith Wagstaff's absolutely stunning cinematography and Bruce Rowland's original and heart-tugging music (particularly, the piano solo, "Jessica's Theme") may bring tears to your eyes with this simple, Down-Under western plot -- but it took a world-class editor like Adrian Carr to put this gorgeous film into the top ranks of movie-watchers the globe over. Carr's timing of Wagstaff's photography and Rowland's music is the stuff legends are made of...just, dare I say it, "Professional Grade"(!)
It didn't hurt to have a made-to-order cast. Burlinson is quietly, and wonderfully, cast as the young male hero, "Jim Craig." Kirk Douglas hasn't played a better role - and, as a double. Terence Donovan played the quietly strong, short-lived role as Burlinson's father, "Henry." Sigrid Thornton was exemplary and believable as Tom's love interest, "Jessica" (the woman is beautiful) and the venerable Jack Thompson was magnificent as "Clancy" - the range-wise, "horse-magician" glue that holds the whole film together.
The subtle British humour Americans are so used to is sometimes raucous in the film - more the better from Chris Haywood's
"Curly" (..."Ah'm studyin' to be Supavisa!").
If you can't get an empathetic rise and a teardrop over the cornea through this wonderfully crafted epic, then pop-a-top from a 12 oz. curl of your favorite brew, pull back the handle on your Lazy-Boy and turn on the Wrestling Channel...you dolt. Filmed in 1982, it's still a true classic 22 years later. ~Bob Shank Jr Technical Support Engineer
IT UNIX Help Desk
Engineering Computing
Raytheon Missile Systems Co.
Tucson By-God Arizona (...and, yes, we still have true 'horsemen' here - they just blacksmith Tomahawk missiles in their spare time)
Rating:
Summary: My All-time Favorite
Review: I first saw The Man From Snowy River when I was 8 years old and now that I'm 23, it's still my most favorite movie. I've probably watched it close to a thousand times by now, with every line memorized. There is not a single thing about this movie that's not amazingly beautiful, and the sequel is just as good--if not better, then the first! I would absolutely recommend this movie to anyone looking for some good, wholesome entertainment!
Rating:
Summary: He hails from Snowy River, up by Kosciusko's side...
Review: This movie is a classic and a must-see. Based on Banjo Paterson's iconic poem of the same name, The Man From Snowy River will always hold a place in my heart. It tells the story of Jim Craig, who lives a tough life in the mountains and has the riding prowess to show for it. The storyline is cleverly adapted to also interest the audience through romance and other action, but it stays true to the poem in the most crucial scenes. This movie always sends shivers up my spine ^_^. For anyone seeking to understand Australian culture and character, this is an essential movie to watch - although it may not be how many Australians are perceived now, these men still exist and should not be forgotten :)
Rating: 
Summary: Great family Western
Review: This is a good example of a "family" film that doesn't play down to any member of the audience. It also takes the Western in an interesting direction by moving the setting to Australia (it's based on a poem by an Australian poet). The dramatics are sometimes creaky, especially the twist that most viewers, even the young 'uns, will see coming from miles away, but the absolutely gorgeous photography makes up for it. The scenes of stampeding horses and the wranglers chasing them are literally breathtaking, and the widescreen transfers captures is all. Kirk Douglas is also excellent in his dual role and brings and American earthiness to the production. This DVD features an excellent sound mix. Although not in 5.1, the Dolby Surround is crisp and lush for a back catalog film that otherwise has no special features on it at all. Bruce Rowalnd's wonderful score certainly deserves this deluxe treatment. And at this price, how can you resist the appeal of The Man from Snowy River?
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