Hidalgo [Blu-ray]

I loved the whole movie Thank you

Viggo makes it worth the cost of admission.

Supposed to be based upon a true story but the actual story wasn't true. I googled that fact bc I was curious. But the movie is very good very entertaining

This is such a well done movie. Highly recommend

I like this movie very much and a great story. Want to be able to watch it any time I want so bought a copy. They sent it super fast and was a good buy. Thanks!!

Exce

Liked what i got tremendously!!!

Despite Disney Studios stupidly trying to push Hidalgo as fact, ignore that. This is Viggo Mortensen's first movie, since giving us the warrior-king Aragorn. He brought such compassion, such caring to that character, it's hard to think of any one else playing the role. So now, one ponders if he is "typecast" as Aragorn in everyone's minds. Will they accept him as a redhead, sans the beard of the darkly handsome ranger? The Rings Trilogy will live in our minds for decades. Those movies are the Gone With the Wind, Wizard of Oz, the Star Wars Sagas of our era. That Viggo is a super actor was proven long ago, if anyone was paying attention. He's acted with some of Hollywood's legends - actors and directors - but he is a near Alec Guinness type chameleon, so his works often went unnoticed. Hidalgo is not only the first project for him after Rings, it's the first really big budget film he's done riding solely on his shoulders. As such, he not only battled the Aragorn mantle, Disney's error in publicity, but the question - can he translate that into a leading man career?The answer so far is not clear. But I believe he will. He is just too talented. Disney really muffed the ball. Six months before the movie came out it was hit with a hue & cry by historians offering evidence Hidalgo was far from factual. But then, stop and think. Since WHEN did Hollywood ever present TRUE history. One only has to look at Braveheart and Rob Roy to see great movies - shoddy history. It's always been the case with Hollywood. So Disney made a BAD decision to push this as "a true story". Even before the movie was released, there was a growing feeling of "Anti-Hidalgo".For me, leave Disney faux pas at the door. While loving Rings, leave Aragorn at the door. And just enjoy. Movies are not for learning, they are for entertainment, something often ignored or forgotten. This is a very enjoyable movie. Directed by Joe Johnston, a rather new director (Jurassic Park III and some of the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles), he does well in giving an old-fashioned adventure for the whole family. It's filmed with an eye of beautiful imagery.Viggo plays Frank Hopkins, who tried to make himself a legend in his own time. Many of Hopkins claims have been proven false, but as I said, this IS Hollywood. Hopkins supposedly was a rider/messenger for the Army after Little Big Horn, a time when the US Army extracted vengeance by massacring non-rebellious Indians at Wounded Knee. One of the saddest incidents in US history. He delivered the ordered that set loose the massacre. He had left, but hears the gunfire and returns to see the result. This cripples him emotionally. Hopkins life falls into an endless tour of towns with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, where he's billed as the greatest horseman and his horse, Hidalgo, is the greatest horse in the world because of the countless races he has won. Hopkins inner pain is compounded by seeing the Indian's portrayed in a shabby like by the Wild West Show.Things shift for Hopkins, as an Arab visiting American challenges that claim Hidalgo is the fastest horse in the world. He demands either stop making the claim or have it proven in a race called the Oceans of Fires. Everyone chips in to help Hopkins and his horse compete. It's a grueling contest that sees riders and horses falling by the wayside, but Hopkins faces more than just finishing, there are Arabs determined that the American not win.Don't nitpic, don't try to read political undertones into it, just sit back and enjoy. Viggo, a devout horseman, clearly bonds with the amazing Paint. I have never seen a horse with such an expressive face. Very understandable Viggo bought the horse.I advise getting the widescreen version. The regular edition just seems too cramped. Also, there are times when Viggo is speaking with an Indian in the native tongue, or Omar Shariff is speaking to his daughter in Arabic, that it's not subtitled, so you are left sitting there going...so? Otherwise the transfer is beautiful. Very enjoyable.

This is one of those great epic adventure films that is perfect to while away a long wet winter afternoon. The basic storyline of the down on his luck American horseman and his trusty steed Hidalgo may be standard Hollywood fare and somewhat predictable, but the exotic 19th century Arabian desert setting is different and exciting. The hero and his coloured horse are, of course, seen as a joke by the Arabs with their noble purebred stalllions. And when the natural challenges aren't enough to defeat the American and his ridiculous mount, there is scuduggery afoot as some of his rivals want to see him stopped at any price.The cast is great with Viggo Mortensen in the lead making for a very likable hero and a perfectly cast Omar Sharif as a dignified Arab prince. Nice to see him again. And the horse(s) are, of course, magnificent. They make the film a real treat for horse lovers. Overall it's a better than average family film that should keep everybody well entertained for a couple hours. However, there are a couple intense scenes that may upset very young and/or sensitive viewers.The DVD has English subtitles for those who may need them. It also includes a couple of extra features: - Sand & Celluloid Featurette - The Horse is Good 'Easter Egg'

The film opens to a windswept winter landscape as two cross country riders race against one another. This 2004 film allegedly recounts the story of Frank Hopkins (Viggo Mortensen) who claimed he was the dispatch rider that carried the message that led to the Wounded Knee Creek Massacre in 1890. Frank then ends up in Buffalo Bill's Wild West carnival where he gets offered the chance to take part in a 3,000 mile desert endurance race against Bedouins.Loading offers English, Portuguese and Dutch. Then goes into trailers. Main menu is play, Bonus [Sand & Celluloid, which is a making off and what inspired it], scene selection and set up[ basically subtitles, and English or Portuguese sound –no Dutch! ]The Disney Corporation marketed the film as "based on a true story" although subsequent investigations failed to find any evidence of such a race and the entire tale is based upon Hopkins own autobiographical account [unpublished in his lifetime] of which the major part is easily dismissed as fantasy as there is no evidence a race of its type ever took place. In other words its all fiction and reality plays second fiddle, yet it’s a great tale and remarkably entertaining. Basically the story is a challenge between the ‘impure’ blood of commoner Franks Mustang and the ‘pure’ blood of the Bedouin Sheiks thoroughbreds.Despite the dodgy facts, this remains a swashbuckling yarn in true ‘Boys Own’ tradition as man and beast face adversity from nature and people alike and includes sandstorms and kidnapped maidens to be rescued. It has elements of the Scorpion King, Indiana Jones, Romancing the Stone, The Jewel of the Nile, as well King Solomon's Mines, and if they appealed to you, then this might as well. The content is inoffensive but younger viewers might be disturbed by some scenes and the 12 rating is thus apt. This is lively family fun and deserves to be better known. Its hard to be disappointed by this.

Surprisingly good movie - a 2004 film based on the true-life exploits of Frank Hopkins and his horse, a mustang named Hidalgo.Frank Hopkins was a rough-rider (cowboy) from the American west in the 1890's who accepts a challenge to enter a horse-race across Arabia.- it would be unfair to give the ending away but, believe me, this really is a rip-roaring adventure story with echoes of "Indiana Jones" and "Lawrence of Arabia" - Viggo Mortensen in the role of Hopkins plays a most convincing cowboy.If you like a good adventure story (or even if you just like horses) you should enjoy this - it is a very good movie.

I can't help wondering just how much accuracy people expect in a piece of escapism produced by Walt Disney - next they'll be telling us Dumbo couldn't really fly!It seems Frank Hopkins - whose disputed account of his life as an endurance rider and participation in the Ocean of Fire race forms the basic plot of this movie - was as much a story teller as old Walt himself. And as a story it's no doubt had its embellishments with yet more added during the script writing but does that detract from its entertainment value? Does it make it any less of a visual feast? No, it doesn't.Yes, the syyrup is ladled on thick at times - gritty reality isn't exactly a hallmark of Hollywood or Disney - and characterisation may have as much depth as a pantomime villain but it's still an entertaining movie and shot beautifully throughout. Since it's not a documentary does it really need to be historically accurate? Does using modern day place names and phrases really matter that much in what is essentially a fairy tale?If it's facts and historical accuracy you want watch a documentary. For a few hours entertainment the whole family can enjoy you could do far worse than watch this.

What a beautiful film. From the settings, the story and the camera shots right through to the characters and, of course, "Hidalgo" the horse.Viggo mortensen is brilliant as the cowboy/indian who owns and rides hidalgo and the fact that this is a true story really makes this something special. Truly Enjoyable!