Smoke Jumpers (1996) Reviews

• Not great, not bad, just a good way to kill some time

  Christian van Caine2002-06-09

  It´s an ordinary movie about love with difficulties, boy with dangerous job (forest-fire fireman), meets girl, who's,holy damn, ALSO has been a fireman. I do not regret in any way that I saw this movie, but if I had brought it myself....I would be a little disapointed...to say the least. (I got it as a Christmas present along with some other better movies) There are really not much more I can say about this movie, it´s simply too plain, those movies goes thirteen by the dozen. If any TV network sends it, why not give it a chance, but as of a buy-to-have DVD, there are a s**tload of better movies to spend your money on.

• Good movie about a true smoke jumper incident

  karmajun2015-07-09

  One of the better "B" grade movies these days. Other than the dark topic of smoke jumpers, their risk of death or injury with each jump - and one answer during a lecture about shifting winds - "How does the fire view you?" "AS FUEL"... It was a good movie. A nice way to pass time with a youngster. My children are preteens so it was a little dark for them with the theme of risking life for the benefit of others. Family relationships were the dramatic twist, possibly based on one of the smoke jumpers this movie commemorates***spoiler - movie is loosely based on one of the largest smoke jumper tragedies of our time***** - but I don't know if it was Hollywood license or biographical. No heavy emotional drama, no amazing acting, just good on-screen chemistry and a predictable storyline. The family dynamic portrayed may have been the Hollywood storyline or real. Still, I think it was tastefully shot, reasonably well edited and an excellent way to teach my sons that hard work can be dangerous even if rewarding. I'm applying it to their chores (lawn mower, hedge clippers), but after the movie we discussed smoke jumpers working and knowing the terrain, the fire, the normal wind patterns; and yet, a group of experienced smoke- jumpers were caught and burned to death. None of the aftermath was shown, my sons wondered why Adam Baldwin didn't "just keep running?". Maybe the concepts of nature being wonderful but dangerous were lost on them, but it will be a movie I return to when I think they are taking nature for granted. Good family movie even if it ends with the dark commemoration of a tragedy.

• Soundtrack unavailable?

  morzor2015-02-23

  Loved this movie - albeit predictable, it was moving all the same. One of the best things about it was the soundtrack. One of the most annoying things is not being able to find it anywhere online! There is one track from it on a compilation but nowhere else does it appear available to download. Otherwise - recommended viewing. It's an inspirational story for both men and women alike. It's easy to follow and it highlights what our firefighters have to go through. It's not just about putting a fire out, it's all the work that goes into it beforehand coupled with passion, determination, stubbornness, love, physical and emotional strength.