Editor Reviews:

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.

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

Rating : - Totally decent and action-packed epic movie!
If you like epic movies, this one is for you. Viggo (famous from Lord of the Ring) has impressive performance in this movie, so are other supporting actors. It has actions, humor, suspense, heros, villians. There is no kisses or love scenes, but the story is definitely romantic: the subtle hints, the journey, the exotic desert, etc. Most importantly, there is morality, value, loyalty, and friendship to this story, which is based on a real person. In the world of materialism and action thrills, this one stands out by far. Unfortunately it doesn't make a big hit at the theater; but so are some other good movies. However, I am sure you and younsters will enjoy watching this fascinating and unusual horse race. The photography is excellent. Watch it with your HD TV and you will see! Highly recommended!