Titreenp SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

Teddie Blake The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Suman Roberson It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

Anoushka Slater While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

abi_sheldon After watching the 1918 Kentucky Derby, run in the rain on a muddy track with near to 20 horses, I needed more horse-racing and remembered Hidalgo, which I had seen and loved. I rented it, and started watching it, and then checked in with IMDB to get more background. To my amazement I had in the past only rated Hidalgo 7/10. As you can see, I now rate this a 10-star movie. I've also read many of the reviews posted here. I agree with those who give credit to Joe Johnston for putting together a truly fine movie--for bringing together a whopping good story with excellent cast, fine cinematography and editing, and a rhythm that makes Hidalgo easy for me to watch four times in a row--gallop, rest, passionate contenders, fierce obstacles, nasty villainess, lovely heroine, bugs! It is a real treat to see Omar Sharif and Viggo Mortensen work together--playing two strong personalities with a fundamental conflict that is less important than their shared interests. Two gentlemen, by golly--but passionate, witty, and very intelligent in conflict and reconciliation. I am tracking other cast members as well to see in other films they've made. Hidalgo is a movie-lover's movie.

Reno Rangan The film was inspired by the American legend Frank Hopkins and his horse Hidalgo. They sail across the oceans to the Arabian desert to take part in a race. This adventure tells their new experience in an unknown territory competing with the greatest riders of the region. Alongside a misunderstanding leads to an unexpected confrontation. From there, how they escape and make back to home halfway across the world is the remaining film to disclose.A different kind of western that takes place in the original timeline of the cowboy culture which is the late 19th century. But the film has only one cowboy, because of where the story sets in. This film came straight after LOTR. Viggo Mortensen was good and his stunts were excellent. The initial parts that commence in America was heartbreaking and I liked the conclusion as well. It reminded me the animation film 'Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron'. Though the film was more about Frank Hopkins and the horse had a good influence on the story as the film title suggests. Long film, but worth it. Surely won't be a waste of time to give it a try.7/10

NateWatchesCoolMovies When I was younger, and first got into seeing movies seriously in theatres, Lord Of The Rings was a huge thing. Every actor in it was scrutinized and put on a pedestal of worship by myself and peers whose passion lay in film. Many of the actors in that trilogy were for us at a young age relatively unknown, prompting strict attention as to what their further ventures beyond Middle Earth would be. Viggo Mortensen, being one of the stars of the show in LOTR, was naturally under my burgeoning cinematic microscope and therefore I was eager to rush out and see whatever else he did during and post Aragon. That's what led me to Hidalgo, a rousing western adventure about aging cowboy Frank T. Hopkins, who takes his beloved wild mustang hidalgo for one last race, aptly named the Ocean Of Fire. It's a brutal slow through hundreds of miles of hellish desert situated in the Syrian gulf and on through Damascus, with every earthly obstacle imaginable chomping at his spurs. Hopkins is a shadow of his former racing glory and enters the contest as a last ditch effort to rekindle dimming glory, and at the request of a wealthy sheik (always nice to see Omar Sharif) whose interest has been piqued by Frank's infamy. And so he enters, not quite knowing what fresh hell he is in for, and the movie takes off into pure joyous escapism. Mortensen already proved with LOTR that he makes an iron solid hero, and here he dons the cloak of rugged underdog with equal fire and brimstone. The photography starts in magisterial Montana and moves to the scorched beauty of the Arabian desert as he and hidalgo hurl themselves into the challenge of both their lifetimes in attempt to win gold and glory. Along the way he encounters many obstacles including bandits, plagues, the mother of all sandstorms and the sheik's gorgeous daughter Jazira (Zuleikha Robinson, excellent). There's nice supporting work from Louise Lombard, C. Thomas Howell, J.K. Simmons and a sly cameo from Malcolm McDowell. It's old school adventure done right, with dazzling scenery and a pillar of a lead performance from Mortensen.

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.