 | |
List Price: $14.94 | | Label: SONY PICTURES
Salesrank: 20471
Released: January 27, 2009 |
| Our Price: $5.66 |
| Used Price: $3.73 |
|
MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
|
Editorial Review:
John Denver stars in this dramatic thriller set against the awesome backdrop of the Alaskan wilderness. A disillusioned FBI agent decides to retire and join his buddy running an air freight business. When his friend is murdered and unjustly branded a bootlegger, the former agent sets out to clear his friend's name.
Description of Higher Ground:
Singer-songwriter John Denver sought to reboot his career and carve out a new role for himself as an action hero with Higher Ground. This TV movie, clearly intended as a pilot for a possible series, stars Denver as former FBI agent Jim Clayton, who goes to Alaska when the incompetence of his superiors at the bureau becomes unbearable. In the vast wilderness, he teams up with an old friend named Rick, who has an air freight business. But Rick soon turns up dead and it's up to Jim to clear his friend's name of bootlegging charges and bring peace to Rick's wife and son. Along the way, of course, there's an occasion for Denver to pull out his guitar and exercise his soaring tenor. The plot and overall quality is standard television fare of the 1980s: The bad guys are obviously bad, a young boy needs to regain his faith in humanity, and solving the case doesn't involve detective work so much as looking earnest and getting into awkwardly choreographed fist fights. Still, Denver's sincere and likable personality comes through and fans will enjoy his performance. Also starring John Rhys-Davies (Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Lord of the Rings trilogy) and Richard Masur (Risky Business). --Bret Fetzer
Higher Ground Reviews:
John Denver is fantastic in a serious role 
2009-10-14 - This is a a great treat for anyone and a must see for fans of John Denver. He's looking great, showing off his excellent acting abilities against the backdrop of beautiful Alaska and is shown doing what he loved almost better than anything; flying. It is exciting to see him in fight scenes, a sharp contrast to his gentle nature and beautiful songs. Even peace loving people sometimes have to stand up for what is right.
John Denver Fans Will Love This One 
2009-08-05 - I bought this dvd partly because i'm a big John Denver fan & partly because the reviews of it here on Amazon were overwhelmingly good. I unfortunately missed it back in 1988 when it was on tv but I am really glad I took a chance & bought it cuz it's one of Denver's best movies & also a real treat to see him playing a former FBI agent in the wilds of Alaska who while investigating the murder of his best friend & partner, gets to fly around in cool seaplanes as part of the shipping business that he's working in. His investigation rubs a few locals & the sherriff (John Rys-Davies) the wrong way at first but they quickly start to see that his character is smart, tenacious & not someone to be taken lightly. Along with the good story there is teriffic scenery & a good cast as well. You even get to see John sing & play guitar during a party scene. The highlight of this film isn't the music, story or gorgeous scenery though. It's actually getting to see John do the thing he loved to do the most when he wasn't entertaining all us lucky fans, and that was flying airplanes. Obviously there is a bittersweet quality to this but it's still great to see John having a great time & know all the while, that at the very least, he died doing the thing he most loves to do.
Higher Ground w/ John Denver
2009-06-10 - It was a very interesting movie it had a lot of beautiful scenes of Alaska and a great plot.
A great addition to John Denver collections.
2009-03-28 - I really enjoyed this movie and can recommend it for anyone whether they are a John Denver fan or not. The acting was great and the scenery even better.
JOHN DENVER 
2009-02-26 - This little telefilm is a must have for John Denver fans. If, for no other reason, it is one of the few films he ever did. Otherwise, there is not much about it that is worth anything. The story isn't bad. The scenic shots of Alaska are stunning. It is a big budget production with a fairly solid cast. The direction is weak and unimaginative and the writing appalling. The entire film makes you wince given the words that these actors have to struggle with. However, for JD fans, it's a chance to spend some time with him. The character he plays is really John Denver as an FBI agent. "Oh God" gave us JD when he was much younger. This film gives you a more mature JD. Aside from "Oh God", "Foxfire" with Jessica Tandy is a much better film with John. The, as yet to be released in DVD telefilm "The Christmas Gift" is also a better choice to see JD. He's a pretty natural actor and, in "The Christmas Gift", he sings a lovely verse from one of his more contemporary songs, "Love Again" - an added bonus.
