Hidalgo has been a movie I've been waiting for since May of last year. It seemed as though this epic had gone under the internet radar for a long time, and then exploded onto the scene when it previewed with Matrix Reloaded. Pretty much the only enjoyment I got out of that MR screening. Since then, it was a pretty long wait to November 2003. The date it was supposed to be released. Then it was announced that Hidalgo was going to be released in March of 2004, and it seemed as though I would never be able to see this movie.
But finally the film gods parted the heavens, and layed before me the glory that is Hidalgo.
Frank T. Hopkins is a man who is half Indian, and half White-Man. The horse he rides is Hidalgo. A mustang, so therefor inferior horse to those that are bred stallions. But as fate would have it Hidalgo and Frank are quite a pair and have never in their lives lost a long distance race. And when this movie says long distance, they mean long distance. Like across three different states. Because Frank has such a connection to Hidalgo he defends his horses honor fiercely. Pretty much pounding the crap out of anyone who mutters a sour word about his best friend.
However, events concerning the Union Army and the Indians that have taken camp nearbye lead to disaterous results when every member of the tribe is slaughtered before Frank's eyes. Leading him into a bottle of alcohol, and not set to emerge for a long time.
Decrepid and drunk he comes into the employ of Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. Where two men in the employ of the Sheik of Arabia are sent to persuade Frank to enter himself and his mutt of a horse into a 3,000 mile race in the Ocean of Fire. AKA, the dry arrid desert. Which in the honor of his horse, he does.
What pretty much ensues is a 2 hour desert adventure which makes Viggo the next best thing to Indiana Jones as far as I'm concerned. His honor to himself and especially to his horse is absolutley amazing. While riding, he calls Hidalgo "Little Brother", and "Son". The bond between the two of them really is amazing. So amazing in fact, that Viggo bought the horse after they were done filming. But for a select few out there, we know that this isn't the first time Viggo has purchased his equestrain co-star. He purchased the horse he rode in Lord of the Rings.
While we're on the subject of the horse, let me say that I have not felt such a deep connection to an animal in a movie since Dunston Checks In. This horse has the most amazing design on his coat, and his eyes, eerily, convey emotion far beyond those of the human breed of actors.
But while we're on the subject of human actors, it fills me with joy to see the legendary Omar Shariff return to his Arabian Movie roots!!! Omar plays the Shiek, a man who lusts after the recklessness of the wild west. But who has also lost his sons to the dangers of the race, and now only has his infidel daughter to raise.
FINAL ANALYSIS!
Hidalgo is everything I was hoping and praying it would be. A huge action movie with a ton of heart and emotion, and a well written story behind it.
There is no one on earth who could have played the rough, gruff character of Frank Hopkins better than Viggo. It was very hard to imagine Frank Hopkins as the same man who was King Aragorn in The Lord Of The Rings. This man is on the same spectrum as Aragorn. He's got a past that he wants to leave behind him, but he must rise to claim his future. But at the same time, Aragorn is a guide in the dark, but Frank is moody and lost. He has no direction and the only one he can count on is Hidalgo.
That's deep man. What a bond between two friends that aren't even the same species.
This movie is a classic return to daring and epic adventure movies. Every bit what Golden Era Hollywood was. A totally amazing movie, and a hell of a thrill-ride.
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