Hidalgo [Blu-ray]
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Zuleikha Robinson, Omar Sharif, Louise Lombard, Adam Alexi-MalleDirector: Joe Johnston
Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Touchstone
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Format: Color, Widescreen
Running Time: 136 minutes
DVD Release: April 1st 2008
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DVD Review
Director Joe Johnston has always had an entertaining sense of adventure, and with Hidalgo he proves it in spades. It's yet another underrated film for Johnston (along with such enjoyable popcorn flicks as The Rocketeer and Jurassic Park III), dismissed by many critics but a welcome treat for anyone drawn to good ol'-fashioned movie excitement. In his first role since playing Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Viggo Mortensen brings handsome appeal to his low-key portrayal of Frank T. Hopkins, a real-life long-distance horse racer who, as the movie opens, has witnessed the appalling massacre of Native Americans at Wounded Knee in 1890. Drifting into Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, he agrees to compete, with his trusty mustang, Hidalgo, in "The Ocean of Fire," a treacherous 3,000-mile horse race across the Arabian desert. Toss in a bunch of conspiring competitors, a noble sheik (Omar Sharif), his lovely daughter (Zuleikha Robinson), and enough fast-paced danger to fill 133 minutes, and you've got a rousing, humorous, and lightly spiritual adventure that's a lot of fun to watch. It hardly matters that it's almost pure fiction (the real Hopkins was known by many as "a pathological liar"). More important is the love of movies and moviemaking that Johnston so delightfully conveys. --Jeff Shannon
User Reviews
Totally decent and action-packed epic movie! - Rating: 5/5
If you like epic movies, this one is for you. Viggo (famous from Lord of the Ring) has impressive performance in this movie, so are other supporting actors. It has actions, humor, suspense, heros, villians. There is no kisses or love scenes, but the story is definitely romantic: the subtle hints, the journey, the exotic desert, etc. Most importantly, there is morality, value, loyalty, and friendship to this story, which is based on a real person. In the world of materialism and action thrills, this one stands out by far. Unfortunately it doesn't make a big hit at the theater; but so are some other good movies. However, I am sure you and younsters will enjoy watching this fascinating and unusual horse race. The photography is excellent. Watch it with your HD TV and you will see! Highly recommended!
Its all about the horse - Rating: 3/5
Putting aside the fact that many of the facts concerning Frank Hopkins life are larger than life, Hidalgo isn't bad. But it was really a story about a horse and his rider. The horse really was wonderfully well trained, both on film and, I suspect, in real life. Viggo, especially with a slight 5'oclock shadow, is always a delight to watch, and he gave a wonderful and even believable performance. The desert cinematography was beautiful and the storyline not too dull. However, the main character of Frank struck me as ever so slightly dumb. Yes, he was indeed an honorable man, but did he honestly think that he was just there to `win the race'? Did he not realize the ramifications that accompanied his entry? Especially as things moved along. He just seemed too much of a `country bumpkin'. I enjoyed the movie, mainly because the horse was great, Viggo was nice to watch, but overall, I somehow expected a little more.
Nice surprise! - Rating: 5/5
We didn't know what to expect from this movie. We bought it along with three others at a grocery store. It was fantastic. The story was original. The plot was based on a real person who won hundreds of races on his horse. We both cried at the end, but we were not feeling sorry for anyone or anything...we just thought the ending was extraordinarily touching. The acting was wonderful. In this case...less was more and it was great to see Omar Sharif... he aged well and he was completely believable.
GOtta Watch This One with SUBTITLES... - Rating: 5/5
after only 5 viewings and then, VOILA subtitles I can finally provide an honest and thought provoking review....Viggo is perfect in this role ('cept for the mumbles) and an old Omar fan from Zhivago days helped as well...that horse was theee best actor in the film...how did they get him/her to respond to all those cues....read the script???? I found the race sooo compelling and heart racing as well as the final scream to the finish line....it was hard to appreciate his noble attempt to release the mustangs free and what it cost him and then you finally appreciate his character....perhaps exagerated but nonetheless selfless and the references to the horse people correlation with the Bedouins was touching...I did not appreciate the gratuitous ventures of opposition in the race but the I truly connected with the 'me aida' song at his direst need of help scene...have lots more to say but since this is my very first attempt to review a film I will stop now....loved this film
Great story, entertaining and exciting. - Rating: 5/5
Great movie - you will watch it more than once!
Excellent acting, wonderful story! An exciting movie that keeps your interest.
