Product Description

A sandstorm of epic proportions. A swarm of locusts so massive it obliterates the relentless sun. Deadly traps that defy imagination. These are just a few of the astonishing obstacles Frank T. Hopkins, the greatest long-distance racer ever, faces in the rousing action-adventure HIDALGO. Based on a true story and starring Viggo Mortensen (THE LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy), Hopkins (Mortensen) and his mustang Hidalgo enter the ultimate extreme sport of its time -- the Ocean Of Fire. Underdogs challenging the finest Arabian horses and riders, they must not only survive the grueling race across 3,000 miles of the Arabian Desert’s punishing terrain, but they must thwart the evil plots of competitors who vow victory at all costs! A great story of personal triumph, amazing special effects, and memorable characters make HIDALGO one of the most thrilling adventures ever.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4854 in DVD
• Brand: BUENA VISTA HOME VIDEO
• Released on: 2004-08-03
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Spanish, French
• Dubbed in: French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 4.00 pounds
• Running time: 136 minutes

Amazon.com
Director Joe Johnston has always had an entertaining sense of adventure, and with Hidalgo he proves it in spades. It's yet another underrated film for Johnston (along with such enjoyable popcorn flicks as The Rocketeer and Jurassic Park III), dismissed by many critics but a welcome treat for anyone drawn to good ol'-fashioned movie excitement. In his first role since playing Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Viggo Mortensen brings handsome appeal to his low-key portrayal of Frank T. Hopkins, a real-life long-distance horse racer who, as the movie opens, has witnessed the appalling massacre of Native Americans at Wounded Knee in 1890. Drifting into Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, he agrees to compete, with his trusty mustang, Hidalgo, in "The Ocean of Fire," a treacherous 3,000-mile horse race across the Arabian desert. Toss in a bunch of conspiring competitors, a noble sheik (Omar Sharif), his lovely daughter (Zuleikha Robinson), and enough fast-paced danger to fill 133 minutes, and you've got a rousing, humorous, and lightly spiritual adventure that's a lot of fun to watch. It hardly matters that it's almost pure fiction (the real Hopkins was known by many as "a pathological liar"). More important is the love of movies and moviemaking that Johnston so delightfully conveys. --Jeff Shannon

From The New Yorker
The supposedly true tale of a man, Frank Hopkins, his horse, Hidalgo, and a three-thousand-mile endurance race across the Arabian desert in 1890. Viggo Mortensen, late of Middle Earth, gives an old-fashioned and gently sexy performance as Hopkins in this overlong but impressively mounted epic. The director, Joe Johnston, films the desert landscapes of Morocco with panoramic grandeur and wisely gives Hidalgo, a beautiful mustang, some major closeup time. And while the storytelling is choppy-the movie is saddled with a subplot designed to add in some romance-the racing scenes are terrifically exciting, with plenty of Spielbergian obstacles (sandstorms, ambushes, quicksand) to keep the Indy crowd happy. -Bruce Diones
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Leonard Maltin/Hot Ticket
"A welcome return to high adventure, the likes of which we haven’t seen in a long time."

Customer Reviews

"Best Performance by an Animal Actor" Nominee
Unless the Academy opens a new category for "best performance by an animal actor", you won't be hearing of this movie next Oscar season, but that's no reason to miss this movie now. Hidalgo, the horse, and Viggo Mortensen, as Frank T. Hopkins, completely won my heart as well as a place in "Great Couples of the Silver Screen", or at least as great partners in a buddy movie. This wonderful painted mustang plays the serious buddy, making his human tend to business in spite of other inclinations. It is a charming footnote to the movie that Mortensen was so taken with the horse that he bought it after the movie was completed.

Frank T. Hopkins may or may not have lived all the adventures he was famous for recounting, but it is verifiably true that he was instrumental in saving the wild mustang from extermination in North America. For that he is a hero.

This movie version of the 3000 mile race Hidalgo and Hopkins were said to have run across the Arabian desert to keep their title as "greatest long distance race runner" is an old-fashioned popcorn-movie-as-entertainment movie. It should also help the theaters sell quite a bit of bottled water and soda. The film's weaknesses are mostly attributable to the script. The writing (credit is to John Fusco, not-quite-known for writing the screenplay for SPIRIT: STALLION OF THE CIMARRON--- an AHA!! moment here) could have been tighter, and left needless plot holes. Also annoying is a slight laxity in editing. However, the story itself is a dramatic one, and the movie is fun to watch. The cinematography does well by the story and the locale.

Omar Sharif, once again as a sheik, comfortable to the core in his role, is a delight. Viggo Mortensen is good to look at, obviously, but made me realize how difficult "laconic" is to play. He manages. Just. Louise Lombard, playing the English seductress Lady Anne, who continually raises her stakes in the race, has the most compelling eyes of any actress I can recall. The original music by James Newton Howard is also well done.

"The Last Samurai" opened on a similar note: Army orders cause a murderous slaughter of Native Americans for which the protagonist feels responsible, explaining his taking refuge in alcohol. Both protagonists have cynical reasons for leaving America, but some prospect of finding their souls again in a very foreign land, a completely unfamiliar culture. "The Last Samurai" has what this film lacks: a psychological examination of the hero's journey. Both films' protagonists and heroines form a prohibited bond, Samurai's developing naturally, this one seemingly more contrived and less deep. But whereas "The Last Samurai" is a war movie, this film ends as "Seabiscuit": a very exciting horse race.

Our audience was completely involved, groaning, cheering, sweating it out for the heroes, the heroine, and even, occasionally, for the also-rans. It is a satisfying ride. B-

"Hidalgo" Is Filled With High Excitement (4.5 OUT OF 5)
Based on the life story of Frank T. Hopkins and his horse Hidalgo, "Hidalgo", from director Joe Johnston, is a compelling, beautiful, and exciting film (even though it stretches its running time to 130 minutes) that interests every moviegoer with suspense, romance, and tales of comraderie.

The year is 1890, and half-American, half-Souix Indian Frank T. Hopkins (Viggo Mortensen), is invited by an Arabic sheik to compete in "The Ocean of Fire", the most prestigious and dangerous long-distance race ever known to man. Usually reserved for the purest bred stallions and the wealthiest and best riders in the world, the 3,000 mile race across the Arabian Desert leaves half of its competetors dead from natural disaster, insanity, or the treachery of fellow riders. After witnessing a tragedy at Wounded Knee Creek, and falling out of his once-claimed title of the best rider in the West, Frank and Hidalgo jump at the opportunity, where they encounter danger in all forms, and must rely on their friendship and strength to pull off the impossible.

Seeing as "Hidalgo" is Viggo Mortensen's first film in which he has been the only-billed star, he handles the pressure well as the quiet and conflicted Frank T. Hopkins. He plays the character with a brilliant subtlely, and gives him an air of understated intelligence and courage. With the right amount of emotion, Mortensen is the modern day Indiana Jones-like action hero; with sex appeal and gripping stunts. Although he lacks charisma in some instances, he is overall perfect and enjoyable in his role. The supporting cast is strong, with the highlights being Louise Lombard as Lady Anne Davenport and a small but memorable performance by Victor Talmadge as Rau Rasmussen. However strange this may sound, the horse Hidalgo gave one of, if not the best, performance in the movie. He made the relationship between himself and Frank heartbreaking and fufilling, and expressed emotions and conveyed certain thoughts across to the audience in simply a look. If there was ever an award for the best animal actor, I would personally award it to Hidalgo.

One of the main highlights of Hidalgo is the beautiful sets and surrounding scenery. Rich in color, there are stunning shots of the Arabian desert, the plains of old America, and snowy forests and rivers, and just the people of each new environment, which make the story overall more enjoyable. The cinematography is jaw-dropping, as the perspectives, running shots of the races, and choice in angles and film speeds are spot on in nearly every scene. The music is also incorporated well, jerking emotions and suspense from the audience.

Although I have heard the contrary, I was thoroughly satisfied with "Hidalgo" as a whole. I loved the way the relationship between Frank and Hidalgo was portrayed, the story was new and exciting, and I was moved, gripped by the suspense, and engrossed in the film from start to finish. Although it runs a little long, ends one too many times, and has some bad dialogue, it will ultimately satisfy moviegoers of most ages due to the content, draw, and overall look of the film.

What a Great Team!!
I say Viggo has down it again, after the LOTR Trilogy he is starring in this true story about Frank T. Hopkins and his horse Hidalgo in the race across the Aribian desert of the Ocean of Fire. It might be a suprise for some people since that he is known as Aragorn, who hardly gets a swollen eye. In Hidalgo, he gets injured or beaten up in the race. Viggo brings the determined character to life. The movie gives you a feeling of romance and bravery. To me, the movie's captured my heart. I think Viggo makes a great horse rider, and the director probaly caught that from the LOTR Trilogy. They made a great choice to choose Viggo for this role, he can make you feel that the character is real alive just as he did with Aragorn.