Hidalgo ***

Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Omar Sharif, Zuleikha Robinson, Adam Alexi-Malle, Louise Lombard, Saïd Taghmaoui, Adoni Maropis
Director: Joe Johnston

Hidalgo is the story of Frank T. Hopkins (Mortensen), his horse Hidalgo, and a long distance race across the Arabian desert. Hopkins was known as the world's greatest long distance rider, and when an Arab challenges that title, he finds himselftravelingg halfway around the world to participate in a 3000-mile race across the Arabian desert. Along the way, they will battle the heat, fight some bad guys, and maybe even save a woman in distress. While based on the real life Hopkins' memoirs, he was known as a bit of abraggartd, and the level of truthfulness of the story comes into question. That being said, the story being told is highly entertaing and full of adventure. Mortensen, in his first post-Lord of the Rings role, shows that he can carry a lead role and without the help of Tolkien and Peter Jackson. Hidalgo is an enjoyable movie for the whole family.