paindweller
Can't believe I have never watched this. It's the type of film you have to go into with an open heart & mind. Rest assured it will then blow your mind. There are parts hard to watch which add to what makes it epic. This was an experience. Definitely ignore every nay sayer on this one and do yourself a favour and don't go so long like myself never having watched it having never heard of it before. You won't regret it. If you have a love for all life then this is the film for you. Wish I could live that experience again from scratch.
info-12190
I don't want to spoil anything for you so I'll just say that I've seen this movie at least four times since it came out and I love it more each time. I highly recommend it because it is one of my favorite movies of all times. I've also seen Silence of the Lambs about the same amount of times, to give you a counterpoint. I also enjoyed Spartacus the TV show, that has one of Hidalgo's actors in it. I also enjoy Ripper Street, Peaky Blinders, Orphan Black, just to name a bunch of shows that I like so you don't think I only enjoy Disney (Touchstone) movies like Hidalgo. I don't really understand why I have to have ten lines of text to post a review, that seems very arbitrary and unnecessary. OK, I think this will post now. Enjoy!
g-bodyl
Hidalgo is a very entertaining, action-packed film that is well-directed and has a great lead actor fresh off his Lord of the Rings films. It's beautifully shot and the cinematography of the "Old West" and the Arabian Peninsula is gorgeous. The script is thinly-written, but Joe Johnston easily takes care of that in this entertaining flick. I also learned a thing or two about horses and the different types of breeds.Joe Johnston's film is about a cowboy and a horse racer who heads to the Middle East to participate in a 3000-mile long race. However, there is an evil plot in the works that this cowboy may end up being involved in.Viggo Mortensen is an underrated actor and it's a shame he doesn't get many leading or high-profile roles, with the Lord of the Rings trilogy being an exception. He does have the grace and capability of being a leading man as shown here.Overall, this is a fun, very entertaining film. It's a pleasure to look at and the story is involving. This is nothing special, but it's a pure escapist film after the long, grueling Oscar season. I had a fun time watching this and there are many important themes here. I rate this film 9/10.
Neil Welch
Traumatised by his part in the Wounded Knee massacre, rider Frank Hopkins leaves the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show and accepts a challenge to take part in the 3,000 mile Ocean of Fire endurance horse race across the Arabian Desert.Based on Hopkins' self-related life story (which, it appears, contains no verifiable facts and must, therefore, be regarded as of questionable accuracy or less), Hidalgo - the name of Hopkins' mustang - is an exciting and enjoyable action adventure movie, albeit one which suffers from shifting moods. The opening, with Wounded Knee and Hopkins' spiritual malaise in the Wild West Show promises some emotional depth but, despite Viggo Mortensen's typical intensity and integrity, what follows is Boy's Own action adventure stuff, including an exciting princess rescue mission as well as the privations of the race itself.The movie is enjoyable, but without the depth it might have had.
AD
