Hidalgo Reviews

Hidalgo

The first thing that struck me was the blatant copy of Indiana Jones, not any movie in particular but just the style, script and action that we can see in all the Jones movies. The basic plot is Hopkins (Mortensen) is a hard bitten cross country horse rider who is up for any adventure and his faithful horse-Hidalgo-is the ?best horse in the world?. He accepts a challenge to race in the ?Ocean of Fire? in Africa. Yet nothing goes to plan and it ends up a rescue mission to save the Sheik?s (Omar Sharif) daughter. Mortensen is enjoyable to watch on screen yet for me was not the main drive of the movie. Sharif is, of course, outstanding and steals everyone?s thunder when he is on screen. Apart from these two renowned actors, everything else remains fairly wooden and boring. For hardened Indiana Jones fans, this movie may be extremely cringing it places and just bad in others, yet if you want a decent yarn with some good action set pieces then rent this movie. Overall, I?d give it 8 out of 10, yet this is only a guide and this movie may not be to everyone?s taste and movie buffs may find it hard to watch.

IT'S ALL LIES

FRANK T HOPKINS (aka The Laramie Kid) HIS CLAIMS & STORIES ARE ALL LIES!!!!!!!!!!

A BEVY OF INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS JOINED FORCES TO DENOUNCE HOPKINS AS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST SALOON LIAR IN THE HISTORY OF THE OLD WEST.

HOPKINS ONLY FANTASISED ABOUT GOING TO ARABIA!!!!!!!!!!

DISNEY DIDN'T EVEN INVESTIGATE HIS CLAIMS BEFORE RELEASING A FILM LABELED 'BASED UPON A TRUE STORY'.

HE WAS NOT HALF INDIAN!!!!!!!!!!

HAVING THAT OFF MY CHEST, I ENJOYED THE FILM VERY MUCH, It told a STORY, yes, BUT IT WAS GOOD!

Nice Horsey

Hidalgo the horse is challenged to enter a gruelling race the other side of the world by some rather snooty Bedouin chaps. Being a horse that doesnt shirk a challenge Hidalgo and his rider jump on a boat and sail to the Middle East to take part in the 'Ocean of Fire' race. Hidalgo shows plenty of American grit and basically whoops some Arab horse butt. Its not looking good at one point for old Hidalgo but some American Indian ghost friends of his turn up just in the knick of time to help him across the finishing line...well done Hidalgo. Western horse good, Eastern horses total losers...hurray!

Shallow and predictable movie with some hefty dollops of yeehah and a pretty high cringe factor. Nevertheless this is a watchable family film but just dont expect too much. Kids into horses will probably like it.

Enjoyable Arabian Adventure.

A decent action film which film goers and especially horse lovers will enjoy. I didn't really agree with the Indiana Jones comparison (the only similarity being the fact it's an adventure with lots of sand) or the fact it's anti muslim. Being a muslim myself it's clear to see the most babaric act by far is committed by the settlers in America. All in all an original 'Eastern'. A western set in the East!

Excellent

An excellent movie one not to miss.

Thoroughly enjoyed this movie from start to finish.

Superb

I'm not surprised that anyone who was looking for a movie along the lines of Indiana Jones would be disappointed by this one. This movie is a thought-provoking, wonderfully acted film about one man's redemption. Sure, the vehicle is a horse race, but I'd argue that 'The Cowboy' is fleeing from personal ghosts rather than racing to something. Half-native American, Mortensen's character is a man in torment: feeling responsible for his inadvertent involvement in the tragic massacre at Wounded Knee. Unable to face his guilt, he initially tries to lose himself in alcohol, joining Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show as a sharp-shooter: entertaining the crowds in this parody of the truth about the settling of the west. The race in Arabia gives him a chance to find himself once more, and in that discovery he performs one of the most uplifting and utterly altruistic acts I?ve ever witnessed in a movie. A truly respectful film to both the Native American and Arabian cultures (as you would expect from Mortensen), this film is perfect for the whole family. Do not miss this movie if you want more than mass-market entertainment like Indiana Jones.

Crazy horses

I didn’t know a lot about this film when I rented it but I have to say that I really enjoyed it (apart from a particularly strange American accent from Vigo).

At times the effects are somewhat reminiscent of The Mummy but the story 'gallops' along and although ultimately predictable its a thoroughly enjoyable romp.

Surpasses expectations

To be honest when I watched this film I did not know what to expect, but it grips you from the very beginning and doesn’t slow down for a second. One of the best films I have seen this year to be honest, I would recommend it to anyone, you can’t go wrong with it in your rental queue!

Great action film

We really enjoyed this film. It had plenty of action and was well shot. If you like horses, you'll probably like this film.

It's based on a true story and a real person which makes it even more exciting. There are new angles on a few events from American history which are rather unflattering.

In 1890, US Cavalry dispatch rider Frank T Hopkins and his mustang were invited to compete in the the Ocean of Fire, an annual 3,000 mile survival race across the Arabian Desert ? a challenge which, for centuries, had been restricted to the finest Arabian horses from the noblest royal families. But Frank?s race against the world?s greatest horses turns from a matter of pride and honour to a battle of survival against both the elements and some Bedouin riders determined to prevent a foreigner from finishing at all. Based on the true story of one man?s journey of personal redemption. This is a truly fantastic and heart rendering movie, thoroughly enjoyable.