Don't listen to the negative reviews

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

It's 1888 Australia. Young Jim Craig loses his father in a logging accident partly due to a wild horse herd led by a black stallion. Fellow mountain men claim that Jim has not earn the experience to work the property. Spur (Kirk Douglas) is an one-legged miner friend of the family. Jim goes into town and finds work at the ranch of Spur's wealthy brother Harrison (Kirk Douglas). It's love at first fight with Harrison's daughter Jessica (Sigrid Thornton). The brothers ignore each other over a 20 year old sibling feud.This is an Australian western romantic epic. I remember this movie being a trailer mention during my childhood with the cable movie channel. It didn't appeal to a young boy for obvious reasons. This is very much a romantic frontier fable. It is traditional western with a dash of modern independence. The landscape is as epic as the story construct. The only strange aspect is that I kept wondering why Jim doesn't tell Jessica about her uncle Spur. It's strange for him to keep a secret from her. It might work even better if the brothers were played by different actors and they reveal their secret family connection late in the movie. Otherwise, it's a great romantic epic.

This movie was absolute garbage in almost every regard. And be warned--it's NOT a western, "family" or otherwise. Just because it takes place in the Outback and involves cowboys (or "horsemen" as they call them in the movie) doesn't make this a western (kind of like how the Godfather isn't a war movie, despite the fact that Michael is a war hero. It's hardly the point of the movie, and the same logic applies here. This is a romance movie that happens to take place in a "western" setting.).The only two aspects of this movie that had any redeeming qualities were there were some decent shots of horses running in a herd and there were some good shots of the Australian wilderness. That's it. Now let's look at the two things people typically care about most in a movie--acting and plot:Acting: The acting is pretty awful. There's a small amount of chemistry between the romantic leads, but their relationship is hardly believable. Kirk Douglas' characters aren't convincing and are horribly overacted, especially Spur (and the subplot involving the brothers is pointless and predictable). The only character that wasn't terribly acted was Clancy, but compared to most of this cast, Nic Cage is a stellar actor.Plot: There isn't a strong enough word to describe how predictable this movie is. Within 30 seconds of every new aspect of the story presenting itself on screen, it was abundantly clear how that aspect would play out. This, in itself, wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if the story came up with some interesting ways for the characters to reach their predictable conclusions, but sadly that's not the case.

In 1880s Australia when young Jim Craig's father dies Jim takes a job at the Harrison cattle ranch and he is forced to become a man.The screenplay contains numerous references to Banjo Paterson, aside from using his poem "The Man from Snowy River" as the source material and his inclusion as a character in the film. For example, the numerous references to the late Matilda are likely a reference to the song "Waltzing Matilda", which was written by Paterson. In addition, the melody for "Waltzing Matilda" can be heard near the end of the film.What I find really unfortunate about this film is that I was expecting a western, and it really isn't one beyond the setting of a cattle ranch. That's not the film's fault, but going in expecting a western and then sitting through an overly sentimental, romantic drama is quite a change. I guess the film received positive reviews, but again, for me, it is overly sentimental. It's just bizarrely exaggerated.

Fairly ordinary movie about a boy suddenly alone in the world . In 1880s Australia , Victoria Alps , when young Jim Craig's father (Terence Donovan) dies he becomes an orphan boy and he is seeking a life of his own . Meanwhile , a reclusive mountain man (a bearded Kirk Douglas) helps Jim overcome his sudden state as an orphan . Jim (Tom Burlison) takes a job at the Harrison cattle ranch and there the men challenge him and then he is forced to become a man . Jim falls in love with the well brought-up Jessica (young and beautiful lead Sigrid Thornton) . But her daddy (non-bearded Kirk Douglas, though Burt Lancaster and Robert Mitchum were also considered for the dual role) aims to keep the lovers apart . And a wild horse is a stunning highlight . This big hit entertaining adventure contains melodrama , thrills , action , a love story , spectacular outdoors and stunning photography highlights . More like Disney style than a John Ford Western , this Australian film takes its wake from ¨Wilderness family¨ saga . Being based on the poem by A.B. 'Banjo' Paterson , scripted by Fred Cullen and John Dixon . Very good acting by the great Kirk Douglas in a dual character -a cheap gimmick of casting- , as portraying two battling brothers , one a wealthy land-owner and the other an one-legged prospector . The starring couple , Tom Burlison and Sigrid Thornton , suffers through the inexperience and being newcomers actors . Tom Burlinson performed all his own horse riding stunts in the film . Colorful cinematography , as photography of horses in breathtaking . It was an Australian huge success and was one of fifty Australian films selected for preservation as part of the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia . It is continued by ¨Return to Snowy River¨ by Geoff Burrowes who produced first entry and also with spectacular scenarios . Following the lives of the previous ranch hand and the rich rancher's daughter ; Brian Dennehy takes over from from Kirk role as stubborn dad . This Down Under motion picture filled with enjoyable moments was professionally directed by George Miller , but with no originality because takes too many elements from former films . Not to be confused with another Australian director, George Miller, of the Mad Max movies . Miller is an Australian director usually working for television (Tidal wave , Journey to the center of the earth , Attack of the Sabretooth and many others) and occasionally for cinema (The man from Snowy river , Zeus and Roxanne , Robinson Crusoe ). Rating : 6 . Acceptable and entertaining flick with glimmer cinematography making the whole film worthwhile watching .