bkoganbing
Tom Burlinson and Sigrid Thornton return in their roles from The Man From Snowy River based on the A.B. Patterson epic poem about the Australian outback. Burlinson has proved himself to be a master of catching and taming the wild mustang known to us Yanks as Brumbies. Now he's back but her father is just as opposed to Burlinson marrying his daughter as he was in the first film.Brian Dennehy takes over the role of the American migrant who came to Australia and made his fortune that Kirk Douglas played in The Man From Snowy River. But it was a dual part that Kirk played, he was also the ne'er do well brother who spent his life in the high country prospecting.Some folks have all the luck, the twin brother died and on his property only feet from where he dug was a mother lode of a gold vein. His fellow prospectors inherited his land and truly share in his potential wealth. That's something resented by Dennehy and the landed gentry he's part of.Dennehy has some respect for what Burlinson has done, but he sees Thornton as marrying up into society and maybe as a part of a merger of families. Like royalty so to speak.The one he has in mind is the son of the local banker Nicholas Eadie who for our purposes is one Snidely Whiplash like villain.Like The Man From Snowy River, Return From Snowy River captures well the flavor of the Australian frontier. Sad that Kirk Douglas couldn't return, but Brian Dennehy is a more than adequate substitute in the patriarchal role.Just brush up a little on your Australian idioms and this is a well done story with a plot you'll recognize from a ton of American westerns.
wes-connors
Three years after the events in "The Man from Snowy River" (1982), wild horse tamer Tom Burlinson (as Jim Craig) returns to his Australian farm. Hair-teasing Sigrid Thornton (as Jessica Harrison) is still in town, but the couple appear to have drifted apart. Understandable. They don't exactly pick up where they left off for a couple of reasons. She has attracted another suitor, handsome Nicholas Eadie (as Alistair Patton), who is preferred by daddy Brian Dennehy (as Harrison). This very predictable story is highlighted by another wild mountain ride by the lead actor, in the beautiful Victoria Alps. Also interesting is how the conveyance of pre-marital sex is satisfying, contextually; this is a "family" movie.***** The Man from Snowy River II (3/24/88) Geoff Burrowes ~ Tom Burlinson, Sigrid Thornton, Nicholas Eadie, Brian Dennehy
ccthemovieman-1
This film, like the first one ("The Man From Snowy River") has the same good and bad features, perhaps even more so than the original. Unfortunately, the bad outweighs the good. The GOOD - Magnificent scenery, better than the first film. I love those high country shots in Australia. Tom Burlinson is still a likable guy, as "Jim Craig." Bruce Rowland did a nice job with the music, too.The BAD - Once again we get an extremely obnoxious feminist heroine "Jessica" (Sigrid Thornton) who is a world-class pouter with an extremely annoying face and manner about her. In this film, we also get a big downgrade in who pays the father. Previously it was Kirk Douglas, now replaced by the always -profane Brian Dennehy. Speaking of that, it is a disgrace that a Walt Disney film would includes usages of the Lord's name in vain. That was one reason was almost totally down the tubes in the 1980s. This film, like the first one
suzyq267
Burlinson and Thornton give an outstanding performance in this movie, along with Dennehy. Although it is at first thought to be only about love, it really goes down deeper than that. The beauty of nature captures this movie, placing among one of the best I have ever seen. The horse scenes are absolutely fantastic!! Any horse-lovers out there will love this movie!
AD
