Rookie676 Typical cowboy movie? Maybe, maybe not... mostly not. Personally, I hate cowboy movies. My dad's sat me down and made me watch too many bad cowboy flicks, but "Hidalgo" had me hooked from the start. This had plot twists around every corner, a (somewhat) diverse set of characters, and great practical and special effects, each are ingredients to the recipe for a good movie.To be brief, the movie starts out at the end of a race in America, during the Cowboy age. Frank Hopkins (being the somewhat typical white-washed "Hollywood cowboy" with a Native American twist) has just won yet another long-distance horse race. Frank's show name in an American entertainment show gets him wrapped up in a famous race in the far-off country of Arabia. He is given vague advice, some poor instructions, and is sent off to compete in the race. Being an underdog character and a tough-as-nails, adaptable-to-everything cowboy stereotype, Frank is able to survive a massive sandstorm, locusts, starvation, heat, corruption, and anything else thrown at him. In an odd addition, Frank is sent on what can be described as a "side quest" to save the daughter, Jazira, of Sheikh, the one holding the race. Once Jazira is safe, Frank simply goes back to racing. Of course, as everyone anticipated, Frank and Hidalgo win the race after almost every damn odd was stacked against them. The casting for this movie is arguably... "okay". Frank, played by Viggo Mortensen, was introduced as a cowboy character for the most part, but with the addition that he was half Native American. This detail could have been removed/replaced and made the movie look a little less white- washed, as Frank looks entirely white. Oddly enough, the horses' acting is worth noting. The animals, no matter was situation they were put in, reacted extremely well and fitting to their scene, it's quite remarkable. Some characters could have been removed, such as Lady Anne and her forced-feeling relationship with Frank (but the cowboy always has to get the girl, right?) as well as the slave boy and Jaffa, whose parts are irrelevant other than giving Frank advice. The clashing of Frank's American culture and the Arabic culture was mixed well. Frank respects, although not happily, their customs. Not touching the Shiekh's hand (in the beginning), not helping the other racers (at first), and putting up with their "fate has been chosen already" rants. The Arabics accept that he has a "painted" horse, and is not one he bred himself, but instead tamed and befriended. Though, the Native American touch could have been ditched for something a bit more fitting, say... more American grit? Second thought, this movie has so much grit already it might burst if there is anymore added.All things considered, "Hidalgo" isn't half bad of a movie. It's got great emotional feel the whole way through, the costumes and scenery were gorgeous, and the ending was a bit disheartening yet certainly satisfying. Although, what American (such as myself) doesn't love an underdog movie with cool animals and awesomely choreographed fight scenes?

AlexanderExtazy Omar Sharif's role was nicely done; as well as Viggo's.Viggo played the role of a cowboy/gunslinger (not too much of that) - during the 19th century era - who rides a talented horse. Upon impressing an Arabian sheikh during a show in the United States, he gets invited to participate in a traditional horse marathon that lasts for many long and sour days; deadly is the term best to use to describe such a race.Despite Viggo's great acting, the director of the movie didn't put the story exactly right, nor did he pay attention to simple facts that lowered the credibility of this movie in truly being in a 19th century Arabian setting.Although you may see some Arabian women whoring in the Western world, back then the case was much different. The scene with Viggo laying back in the tent is something that is 101% rare back in them days.Girls were raised "by the belt" as they say, and they would never lower their morals and standards to "laying down the same tent" with a man that isn't her husband; moreorless a foreigner that is far different from their culture and religion.This simple fact is quite shameful to see in such a great movie.Other than that, I loved seeing the deceptive parts played by the Arab tribes during the race.. As well as the tribal fighting, which was a bitter part of Arabia's history.

dan_marsala Usually, here in Mexico the titles of movies change radically, but not for good. For instance, "Rush Hour" movies became "An Explosive Couple", "Bourne Identity" became "Unknown Identity", "Despicable Me" becomes "My Favorite Villain". Do you know the title of Resident Evil? The Cursed Host… which actually sounds pretty good in English… but in Spanish sounds like… well. Something else that is compromised is the continuity of the following titles: like, "Resident Evil: Apocalypses" has no Spanish title, but that is another story.There are a couple of films that has been better with the title given to them here. I'm pretty sure people would have liked the more "Pearl Harbor" with the subtitle "Between Passion and Fire" on it. It prepares you for a war-romance flick (when you are watching mostly romance with war as a subject and time-space scenario, but is kind of what you were expecting).When I saw this movie on TV a couple of months ago, I didn't know it was "Hidalgo", the 2004 movie whom commercials trailers where not attractive to me. That was before I knew what it was about. This is simply one of the most entertaining pictures I have ever seen on my whole life, I've watched it like four or five times since. It has the right amount of adventure, action and comedy, half western and half racing.But I believe it could have been something different with the real name. Here, the name was the name of the race ("Ocean of Fire") which I think depicts better the script. If you consider it, "Hidalgo" prepares the spectator for a movie about the horse, something like,… I don't know, "Spirit: Stallion of Cimarron", "Babe" or something like it…"War Horse". But the story about Hidalgo, how it was born, how it was trained, the same story filmed with a different view point, focus in the horse, when it is about the cowboy, Frank Hopkins and an adventure in the middle of Arabia. So, when I heard "Ocean of Fire" I knew it was going to be about the race, but I also found a beautiful story about Indians, civil war soldiers, a terrible past and a very weird friendship.Maybe that is why I liked it so much.

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.