Australia

Funny how I was musing on a visit to Australia, it being my number two destination in mind after Ireland, when I decided to watch The Man From Snowy River. I had no idea it was set there until Tom Burlinson, i.e. Jim Craig the mountain boy, opened his mouth and started talking. Surprise!

G'day mate!

I didn't even realize Kirk Douglas was in it, nor that he played two parts, brothers. The cinematography was nice, the outback and the mountains are just gorgeous, and the horses are breathtaking. Especially the rogue ones, a brumby mob (a free-roaming feral horse in Australia).

I also did not know that it was released in 1982. I was negative 3! But this movie had the dubious honor of being one of the few movies my family owned that wasn't Disney. That's a big deal in this household. The other placeholders include Captain Ron and Grumpy Old Men and it's also funny sequel among very few others. If it's owned, it must be worthwhile. Hence why I love those movies and hold a special place in my heart for them, including The Man From Snowy River.

Plus, I was obsessed with horses until I was 11...or it's still ongoing. Irrelevant seeing as horses scare me half to death, as much as I love them.

Regardless, now I need to 1) own a horse and 2) ride it in the outback of Australia.

On another note, Tom Burlinson and Sigrid Thornton reprised their roles in the 1988 sequel, Return to Snowy River. Tom was/is a judge on Australia's Got Talent now. Supposedly he can sing, which gives him the right. And he became popular enough through his few movies and television series' to garner him a spot. Sigrid performs on stage and television in Australia.

Seeing these facts just makes me realize how large a world we live in that there are famous people in other countries that are completely unknown outside of their area. If a British star sat down next to me in a bar, I'd have no idea. But it doesn't seem that way with American stars. They cross the ocean's and are bombarded at airports and followed by local paparazzi. Fascinating what kind of power-hold the American movies have on the rest of the world and over people's livelihoods.

Definitely interesting. No wonder they go crying to Mama when they can never have any privacy from the world. Hello, you pursue the career knowing what comes with it. It isn't as if it's suddenly changed overnight or anything. Der.