Amazon.com: 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
Good For All This recount of the life and times of Frank Hopkins is fun to watch, thought provoking, and heartwarming. Even if one has not lived such an exciting life, it is easy to relate to some of the personal trials while wishing for such fun. As the story evolves around a 3,000 mile race, Hopkins' Mustang is clearly the underdog. Hopkins and Hildago (the paint Mustang) must each face the harsh desert and its perills, the "bad guys", and personal conflicts. Hopkins competed in races around the world well into his 60's, not only for the adventures, but to bring to light his personal goals regarding the Mustangs and protection of their lives and environment. He was an activist on behalf of the Mustangs all of his adult life. An excellent movie, good for all.
An entertaining and well acted film Hidalgo is a pretty good film, entertaining and visually beautiful. Viggo Mortensen utterly owns this film. Him and that beautiful horse. Its unbelievable the rapport they have in this film. Its very sweet and completely believable. It's not just an actor on a horse. It feels like so much more. And that is what makes this film work. The script is pretty engaging and the acting from the rest of the cast is also very good. I do remember I think it was a tad on the long side, which isn't a big deal really but truthfully, I don't think it needed to be that long. However, since Viggo is in this, it really doesn't matter since his acting is so brilliant and you really can't take your eyes off him when he's on screen. There is a nice amount of action mixed with humour and some tense, almost depressing moments. It really has everything anyone could want in a film.
Wonderful Acting Authentic beautiful set with great costumes and acting. Awesome horses and desert scenery. A must see on my list.
Highly Entertaining A very fast-paced and entertaining film with Viggo Mortensen, Omar Sharif. One important fact: no such race ever existed. Hopkins made all of it up. Still if you are looking for a good family entertainment, then this is certainly one.
A good horse an' Indian movie The American Indian tamed the Spanish horses that got free and went wild. The mustang became an all American breed of horse. The stamina and endurance of the mustang against breeds more than 1000 years old was established by this one horse and one man, refuting all prejudice about breeding lines. The same has happened repeatedly in human history: out of no where comes a fellow as stringy as beef jerky! Killing people and horses because of their heritage is criminal and unchristian.
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