I'm a big Viggo fan, if he's there I'm there (except for the remade Vanishing Point), I think he is right up there with my current favorite movie heroes. I enjoy the way he modestly underplays his action characters. I also enjoy Omar Sharif as the Arab leader with mixed feelings about Viggo in this tale of an American cowboy with a painted mustang engaged in a long distance horse race across Saudi Arabia. Pretty much anything that could happen happens. The action keeps coming but you still get a few magic moments of the beautiful scenery of the open desert. So I really continue to struggle with the Disney machine. Their labeling of this as "based on a true story" is pretty disingenuous in light of the internet material I've read on the subject. It sounds like Frank Hopkins was one major bull-you-know-what. I don't like the "based on a true story" line unless the movie is essentially grounded in the real deal. Kind of like where "Fly Away Home" was "based on a true story" when the only connection was a guy made a plane geese might follow. But it's just like Disney to sneakily give veritas where no veritas is due. If they were really creative and not this antiseptic corporate blockhead, they would have had fun with the whole Frank Hopkins tall tale thing. Make it clear at the beginning that this is a story told by Frank Hopkins and whether it happened or not is up to the viewer. And at the end, just say "Frank Hopkins claimed to have....". Sometimes it's not so bad to just tell the truth.

I loved this film. Wikipedia says this man's story is all horse-poop but I like to think that it was true - or as close to true as one expects from Hollywood. The film is beautifully shot and the horse is marvelous!And who doesn't want to look at Viggo?Viggo plays Frank Hopkins, a trick rider who worked as a scout and messenger for the US Military when it was "cleaning up" the west. We know how that went.He's a long-distance racer on his American Mustang, his "painted horse". I can't say much more without it being a spoiler, so enjoy!

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?

How strange the infidels give this classic a rating below, oh, 8. A fabulous movie, full of adventure and honor. Thanks, Joe and Vergo. IT would be easy to call this the American against the Muslims. And you may be right. But there is something about this movie that speaks to the American spirit. Something about the old west, too. Every scene is significant. Every scent an adventure. How could you not love it and how could the droids give it a numerical rating like that. There are only movies and anyone who doesn't recognize the great ones should stick with "Saw." The only movie besides "Little Big Man" that salutes the American Indian. The only movie that gives credit to our true heritage.