Watch Return to Snowy River
- PG
- 1988
- 1 hr 39 min
-
6.5 (2,819)
Return to Snowy River is a 1988 adventure movie directed by Australian filmmaker Geoff Burrowes. The film is a sequel to the popular 1982 movie The Man from Snowy River and is set in the picturesque Australian Alps. The story picks up several years after the events of the first movie. Jim Craig (Tom Burlinson), the protagonist of the first film, has left the Snowy River valley and is living on a farm with his partner Jessica Harrison (Sigrid Thornton). They have a young son, but Jim is restless and yearns to return to the mountains.
Meanwhile, Harrison (Brian Dennehy), a wealthy American rancher, has arrived in the valley to buy up land for cattle grazing. His son Alistair (Nicholas Eadie) is a brash and cocky young man, who immediately clashes with Jim. The two develop a bitter rivalry, which takes center stage as the film's main conflict.
The film features stunning landscapes of the Snowy River valley, with wide shots of mountains, rivers, and forests. The cinematography is well crafted, and the Australian wilderness is captured in all its rugged and awe-inspiring beauty.
The story follows Jim's return to the valley, where he finds that his old mentor, Jacko (Brian M. Logan), has passed away. He is reunited with his beloved horse, the black stallion which was once the pride of the Harrison ranch. Jim hopes to tame the horse and ride it once again as a symbol of his connection to the land.
The film is full of action-packed horse-riding sequences, with sweeping camera shots of riders galloping across the plains and jumping over obstacles. The horse-riding scenes are highly choreographed and executed with skill, and the actors put in solid performances.
As Jim and Alistair's rivalry reaches a fever pitch, a violent bushfire breaks out, threatening to destroy the entire valley. The two rivals must put their differences aside and join forces to save the valley and its inhabitants from the flames. The climax of the film features a thrilling horseback race through the inferno, as Jim and Alistair battle it out for supremacy.
Return to Snowy River is a well-crafted adventure movie, with an engaging plot and strong performances from the lead actors. While it is a sequel to The Man from Snowy River, the film stands on its own merits and can be enjoyed by newcomers to the series. It's a classic tale of man vs nature, with breathtaking vistas and plenty of action to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
Overall, Return to Snowy River is a nostalgic return to the world of the first film, with the same stunning landscapes and thrilling horse-riding scenes that made the original so popular. While it may not be the most original or innovative film, it's a solid adventure movie that will appeal to fans of the genre.
Return to Snowy River is a 1988 adventure movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5.