Hidalgo DVD: Review By movieguru

Frank T. Hopkins (Viggo Mortensen), hides his Indian blood, while bloodshed goes on around him. After witnessing the mindless slaughter of Indians on a particular day, in part based on the orders that he had delivered as a Calvary courier, Hopkins quits his job in favor of Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show. There he and his wild Mustang, Hidalgo, perform stunts. Soon a Sheik (Omar Sharif) finds out that Hidalgo is billing himself as the greatest horse known to man and pushes him to participate in the famous 3,000 mile survival race across the Arabian Desert called The Ocean of Fire. The horses who compete are bred for this sort of thing, Hidalgo is a wild Mustang. The men competing are of the Arabian sort, Hopkins is dubbed as the "American Cowboy". Nothing is as it seems.

With plenty of shenanigans on the way, the film never loses its sense of adventure. Sure, there are clichés and unnecessary subplot abounds, but the spirit of the film is there. The chemistry between Mortensen and Hidalgo is at times entrancing. Both creatures come to life, and when they do, you can be sure that we're watching. It's not a great film, but it is not a waste of time either, especially so for the great cinematography and outstanding performances from much of the cast.

The special features are few, but well done. There is a short behind the scenes featurette called 'Sand and Celluloid' and a gallop through history with the real story behind Frank T. Hopkins and Hidalgo (a DVD-Rom feature). And that's it.

The film a THX standards transfer in a widescreen anamorphic ratio 2.17:1. The picture quality is fairly good (and the cinematorgaphy is excellent), though a bit soft and pale.

In Dolby Digital 5.1, there are lots of sounds mixed in through various channels be they sand storms, gun shots, music, horses... The sound is well-layered and elaborate.

If "Hidalgo" was a race, it would occasionally be exciting, and at times dull. At times emotionally entrancing, at times unaffecting. But the gallopers are always powerful and the message is endearingly noble.

In other words: It's worth a rental.