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Hidalgo [DVD] [Widescreen Edition]

1 disc
Region 1 USA/CA (info)

A breathtakingly photographed, epic western like none produced for decades, HIDALGO recounts the life of legend Frank T. Hopkins (Viggo Mortensen). Set in the 1800s, this family film chronicles the triumphant victory won by Frank and his mustang Hidalgo in the Ocean of Fire, an often-fatal competition in which the best riders and thoroughbreds race across Middle Eastern deserts. For Frank, who is known in the west for his prowess as a Pony Express rider and the winner of long-distance horse races, the lure of the Ocean of Fire is not only the $100,000 purse but also the clear challenge--both of which prove irresistible, and inspire him to travel across the world for this life-altering experience.

With sweeping landscapes that evoke John Ford westerns like STAGECOACH and THE SEARCHERS, HIDALGO features enough racing, rivalry, and romance to befit any action film. But the race also provides a vehicle for the story of Frank forgiving himself for his participation in the Wounded Knee slaughter and accepting his part-Indian ancestry. The film's message, highlighted in a particularly moving scene where Frank invokes the spirits of his Native American ancestors, is that the key to happiness is accepting yourself as you are.
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- Rating - for adventure violence and some mild innuendo
Additional Info

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 32425
Credits

Viggo Mortensen, Omar Sharif, Michael Shalhoub, Zuleikha Robinson
Critic Reviews

"HIDALGO was obviously inspired by Carroll Ballard's landmark 1979 horse film, THE BLACK STALLION. This movie also has the handsome, weathered look of BLUEBERRY."
New York Times
"HIDALGO has a sweet-natured appeal that welcomes sentiment without overdoing it."
Los Angeles Times
"[D]irected with love for scale and location by Joe Johnston..."
Entertainment Weekly
"[T]he film makes its points about character, courage and perseverance in crowd-pleasing fashion."
Box Office
"HIDALGO is an old-fashioned saga with adventure writ large, grand vistas and a stalwart hero."
USA Today