Barnes & Noble

A mixture of Indiana Jones and Lawrence of Arabia seasoned with old-fashioned horse opera, this stirring adventure movie falls just short of "classic" designation but warrants several viewings for its lavish production values and ebullient action sequences. Purportedly based on the real-life exploits of one Frank T. Hopkins (played here by Viggo Mortensen), Hidalgo takes place in 1890, by which time the former cavalry dispatch rider and champion endurance rider has been reduced to working in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Hopkins is challenged by Sheik Riyadh (Omar Sharif) to compete against the finest Arabian stallions in "the Ocean of Fire" -- a 3,000-mile race across the blazing Middle Eastern desert. Hopkins and his compact mustang aren't given much chance of finishing the race, much less winning it, but a competing English noblewoman (Louise Lombard) arranges to sabotage the American, just in case. Joe Johnston is no stranger to high adventure, having directed Jurassic Park III and The Rocketeer, and he imbues the material with thematic and pictorial flourishes worthy of the most memorable big-screen epics. Standout sequences include a breathtaking attempt by Hopkins to outrun a raging sandstorm and his thrilling rescue of Riyadh's kidnapped daughter (Zuleikha Robinson) from bloodthirsty Bedouins. The sober, brooding quality that Mortensen brings to most of his roles is particularly apt for Hopkins, a freedom-loving loner haunted by the abuse of Indians he witnessed while riding for the U.S. Cavalry. Sharif's fine performance invariably invites comparison to his supporting turn in 1962's Lawrence, and we're happy to report that he's every bit as effective in this film. While Hidalgo plainly lacks that hard-to-define something that separates the classic from the merely good, it succeeds magnificently as invigorating escapist entertainment -- and there's certainly nothing ignoble about that. Ed Hulse

All Movie Guide

Actor Viggo Mortensen made his first starring appearance in a film after his breakthrough performance in the Lord of the Rings trilogy with this period adventure. Frank T. Hopkins (Mortensen) is a U.S. Cavalry officer who earned a reputation as one of the fastest and most daring riders in the West; however, after taking part in the bloody massacre at Wounded Knee, Hopkins becomes disenchanted with the Cavalry, and once his hitch is up, he takes a job as a rider with a seedy touring Wild West show. During an engagement in New York, Hopkins meets Aziz (Adam Alexi-Malle), an associate of wealthy Bedouin Sheikh Riyadh (Omar Sharif), who knows of Hopkins' talents and wants him to take part in "The Ocean of Fire," an annual 3,000-mile desert horse race running from Arabia to Iraq. Hopkins accepts the invitation and sails to the Middle East with his trusty mustang Hidalgo without knowing just what he's getting himself into. Once he arrives, Hopkins learns that the punishing race course claims the lives of nearly half its contestants, and that most of his competitors ride pure-bred Arabian stallions and do not regard Hidalgo and his master as worthy adversaries. Temporarily exiled to a land where freedom eludes the multitudes and class and wealth define one's fate, Hopkins finds himself riding for both honor and principle, with the support of Riyadh and his beautiful, headstrong daughter, Jazira (Zuleikha Robinson), though the Sheikh's nephew Katib (Silas Carson) is equally determined to see Hopkins go down in defeat. Hidalgo was directed by Joe Johnston, who previously worked with animals on the run in Jumanji and Jurassic Park III. Mark Deming

Product Details

• UPC: 786936228120
• Source: TOUCHSTONE / DISNEY
• Region Code: 1
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby AC-3 Surround Sound, THX-Supervised Mastering
• Language: Français
• Time: 2:16:00
• Sales Rank: 3,445

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• Hidalgo/the Alamo

Features:

DVD MENU