Rating: 
Summary: A good film
Review: This film is good but not as good as the first film. It is a lot more brutal, and it is a pity that Kirk Douglas was not acting in it. It is sad too. The first video was based on the poem by Banjo Paterson, and the book by Elyne Mitchell. This film was just an invention by the producers. It is quite a good film though. And the horses are wonderful.
Rating: 
Summary: Great film, inexplicable presentation
Review: This is a terrific film, one of the rare sequels that's even better than the original. However, Disney's decision to present this film in cropped, full-frame format is inexplicable. With its magnificent scenary, this is a film that cries out for widescreen anamorphic presentation. You'll get some idea of what you're missing during the opening titles, which are horizontally compressed to fit the frame rather than cropped. (If you have a TV with 16:9 mode, you can flip to it at that point to see the credits in nearly-correct aspect ratio. Otherwise, you'll be watching a parade of very tall skinny horses through spectacular scenary.) The lack of widescreen is the sole reason I don't give this DVD five stars.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Follow Up
Review: This is one of those soaring, melodramatic epics, set as a sequel to the classic film "The Man From Snowy River." It's a typical action-adventure love story, laden with turgid emotional scenes, where the hero gets plenty of triumphal moments and everybody gets what they deserve in the end. The movie is set apart from most by its stunt work, cinematography, scoring, top notch actors and classy style of filming. This movie is also suitable as family entertainment, though this in no way takes away from its overall quality.
Plot wise, there are several engaging storylines, well knitted together and leading to a thrilling climax. Jim Craig has gathered together his "stake" - a herd of top notch horses, which should enable him to settle down with his first and only love, Jessica Harrison. There are, of course, problems; Jessica's father is as difficult as ever; both the Harrisons are under pressure from a wealthy banker and his son - one wanting marriage and the other some firm support in return for a loan. The support takes the form of legislation that targets the highlanders- like Jim Craig - for rights to the mountain grazing areas. This puts some stiff resistance from both sides against a lover's reunion, setting up the classic poor boy/rich girl against society angle.
Additionally, a respectable Army officer stirs the pot by being more impressed by Jim's horses than those bred by the rich banker.
Fans of the first film should also be pleased to see the return of the prize colt, who Jim and Jessica trained in the first film, making his racing debut.
This film seems to be frequently overshadowed by its predecessor. But for me, it has always had on an edge over its prequel. I think it is a more polished product; the actors look better, the editing is smoother, the stunts are more daring, the cinematography is more expansive. It come across as a more mature film overall, which is really what it's supposed to be.
The cinematography is notably fabulous, and the dramatically flighted score matches it perfectly. Many prefer Mr. Douglas in the first film, but I thought Brian Dennehy did a fantastic job replacing him; he does the role a lot of justice. The social commentary implicit in some of the storylines can get a bit heavy-handed. Some of the characters are saved from being too stereotypical only by the skin of their scripts and some good acting. There are times when the dialogue skates the edge of cheesiness or the plot line takes a turn into improbability. But the overall strength of the acting and filming always manages to pull it through.
This film is especially noted for its stunt work with horses. As a rider and horse lover myself, I've seen pretty much every horse movie out there and 99% of them just can't pull it off. The action in this one is just mind blowing, very realistic and filmed with incredible intensity. Even better, all the horses are gorgeous and the main actors are fabulous riders, who you actually get to see doing most of their own riding stunts. In my mind, it still sets the standard for horseriding action in film. Just compare it to the work on "The Lord of the Rings" or "Seabiscuit," and you can see how far it outstrips even modern attempts in filming exciting horse work.
Overall, this is a great old fashioned drama, and a wonderful experience on film.
Notes:
The internet fosters some reallllly wild ideas.
The movie "The Man From Snowy River" is based on the famous poem of the same name, by Banjo Patterson, considered to be a national treasure in Australia. Elyn Mitchell's book is not the source.
Several other reviews have mentioned the idea that a horse died onset. The rumor is specifically concerned with one scene, where a horse named "Denny" (please note this is the name of the character's horse and not the real horse - you can confirm it with subtitles) is shown falling down the side of a mountain. Being an avid horse lover, I spent some hard hours ferreting out the source and veracity of the rumor.
A check at the American Humane Association's online ratings site revealed a review for "Return to Snowy River," which rated the movie as "Unacceptable."
For those who do not know, AHA is responsible for overseeing all animal action in U.S. made films.
The review had several inconsistencies, which I contacted them about directly (they're very prompt in answering emails).
It stated only that they had received a report from Australia that a horse had died on set; no further contact was ever made and the report remains unconfirmed and unsubstantiated. AHA does not monitor films made in foreign countries, nor will they rate a film "Acceptable" based on reports from foreign animal welfare agencies. Additionally, the rating given the film does not match the ratings system that is currently in place, which would have simply listed the film as "Not Monitored."
Further research yielded the fact that the Lovicks, who were responsible for supplying all the horses for the film, will confirm they owned the main horse actor who played "Denny" up until his death and that no horses died onset. They have a website you can contact them through.
Apparently, a report was filed with the Australian SPCA, due to some animal protesting which was happening at the time. The report was later pulled for lack of evidence. There has never been any official word from anyone I could find which mentioned a horse dying. The rumor seems to be unknown in Australia, and the Australians I have talked to think it is crazy.
Finally, there seems to be an underlying confusion as to how horses are actually used in film. The main animal "actor" in any film has multiple doubles for handling the work. I myself counted at least 3 different "Dennys," which an experienced eye can easily pick out. In movies, there is often a need to see horses falling on camera and there are special stunt horses trained to do just that; they are called "fall" horses. A "fall" horse and rider did the controversial scene on the mountain, not the main horse who played "Denny." In fact, I think the "fall" horse might even have been a mare. Nor, of course, was anybody falling down a mountain; the camera angles simply make it appear so. In any case, such a stunt is a fairly common thing in movies and can be filmed safely.
Rating: 
Summary: Jim's back mate
Review: This is probably the best sequel ever made, as compared to the story line of the original. Jim is back, and he is ready to get what's his...Jessica. But, now stands in his way, a Military loving snob. A very bratty Patterson. In this film are two scenes that are outstanding (Athough the rest of the film equally blends with their strength>) One is triumphant and the other traumatic, A battle of skill won, and a dear friend lost. I recommend this film one hundred percent, and challenge you to also buy its predecessor! Both are moving, great, adventures of will and determination. Strap yourself in for the ending mate!
Rating: 
Summary: Return to Snowy River
Review: THis move WAS very exciting BUT it was also a terrible one as at least ONE horse was REALLY killed in the filming. They tripped the little buckskin horse and he did not survive his tumble down the hill!
Rating:
Summary: Return to Snowy River
Review: THis move WAS very exciting BUT it was also a terrible one as at least ONE horse was REALLY killed in the filming. They tripped the little buckskin horse and he did not survive his tumble down the hill!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Film for Any & Everyone
Review: This movie is a pleasure.
It is not often you find a movie sequel every bit as excellent as the original.
Fortunately for us, The Return to Snowy River is such a movie.
We are treated to a more mature version of Jim Craig, who truly has become the Man from Snowy River and Jessica Harrison, who has become a woman in her own right. The magnificent scenery and excellent acting are a bonus to the storyline, and when you combine the Return to Snowy River with The Man From Snowy River, you have the perfect movie night for family viewing.
Rating:
Summary: THE VERY BEST
Review: THIS MOVIE IS EXCELLENT! STAR QUALITY, ACTION QUALITY, SCENERY QUALITY, AND THE HORSES WERE MAGNIFICIENT, ALL OF THE QUALITIES FOR A GREAT MOVIE. WONDERFUL, EXCEPT FOR ONE SCENE WHERE I CRIED, BUT ALL TURNS OUT WELL. A MUST FOR ANYONE'S COLLECTION TO WATCH OVER AND OVER. I SAW IT WHEN IT FIRST APPEARED, THEN JUST HAPPENED TO SEE IT WHILE SHOPING AT KMART. CAME HOME AND WATCHED IT TWO TIMES AND AGAIN THREE DAYS LATER. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THIS MOVIE. WOULD LOVE TO SEE A SEQUEL TO THE MOVIE WITH THE SAME STARS, SHOWING THE COLT AS THE STAR HORSE. GREAT MOVIE! GET MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER AND THIS MOVIE YOU WON'T BE SORRY.
Rating:
Summary: A Genuine Romance
Review: This movie is one of my favorites! i am extremely glad they made a sequel to the first film, "Man From Snowy River". The first film leaves you hanging on the romance of Jessica and Jim. The sequel has many twist and turns in the way of that romance. It's a heart-wrenching movie that will make you cry. It's suspensful and the riding is phenominal! I loved it and would recomend it to anyone!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent movie!
Review: Those critics were deffinently wrong. The scenery was beautiful and the plot was really good. Tom Burlinson returns as young Jim Craig who is still in the middle of a war between the more rugged mountain men and the city slickers in the valley below, and he's still trying to convince his former boss to give up his daughters hand in marriage. I was dissapointed to see Kirk Douglas hadnt returned though and even more dissaponted at what happened to Denny, the faithful buckskin stock horse gelding. I wish my stud acted the same way as the black Brunby stallion. I dont know if I would have left that Aniston Patton off that easy.
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