Countryman

COUNTRYMAN has unusually good action, adventure, and Jamaican magic that sets itself aside our standard American form of entertainment. Originality is the key point of this flick. The reggae soundtrack that includes Bob Marley & The Wailers is well done for a rarity. The bad thing wrong with the movie is the speech. While a few may understand the dialogue that is spoken, many will have a rough time following along. Still, this is an overlooked cult classic that should get another chance at a video release.

Countryman is one of my favorite movies. This is actually a very well made film. Parts of the film seem compromised to the extent that it was influenced by American Cinema, but the film exposes aspects of Jamaican culture that i'm sure many aren't familiar with. Also, the Jamaican/Rastafarian vernacular, though it is a little tough to pick up on upon first hearing it, is very beautiful and poetic. This film conveys the idea that we should love and help out eachother, an idea rarely found in modern Western cinema anymore. This is one of the only movies I really even like anymore. Also, this film has an excellent soundtrack and quite possibly the best kung-fu scene ever!

That's about it...run of the mill plot, with some mystic nonsense thrown in to make it Rasta-friendly. Countryman is a better actor than Keller or his wife, but that's not saying much.

An interesting movie. It's about a Jamaican Mon Tarzan saving foreigners.

It's not your usual movie. It has a unique feel and production. It was a good watch.

Verdict: a good 80s movie mon.

A plane crashes deep in the heart of a Caribbean island. A local fisherman, Countryman, rescues the man and woman, but soon finds they are being hunted by the army. This film could have been the template for the second half of Crocodile Dundee 2 - a journey through a wild land, a hero who respects the land and its mystical aspects, and villains who come a cropper in their disrespect for nature. The film has a certain charm, walking a fine line between the innocence of the hero, and the worldly events that impinge on his way of life. The soundtrack is amazing, some early versions of classic Bob Marley (Small Axe) and Toots & the Maytals (Bam Bam) - and many other great reggae tunes.

Overall, an enjoyable, eco-friendly film with killer music.