SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Pastimes : Movie Reviews. U Rate It! Silver Screen Gem or Stinker!
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: Tadsamillionaire who started this subject8/7/2004 10:01:14 PM
From: ManyMoose   of 725
 
Hildago on DVD / The Young Black Stallion on IMAX

Both films deal with horse racing in Arabia, a topic that is apparently dear to the Arab male ego. I thought it was interesting that both films dealt with Arabs like westerns deal with cowboys. That is, there were Arab good guys and Arab bad guys. That's the way it should be, I guess.

Both films had young Arab girls struggling to break the shackles imposed by their male dominants and Islamic law. Young Black Stallions female character was a principal, while Hildago's was secondary. They were successful in a small way, but apparently that is considered a sidebar to the main object, which was horse racing victory.

Both films were cinematically gorgeous. The IMAX YBS film had me feeling as if the horses were going to step on me.

Both films portrayed the Arab "good guys" in such a way that one could root for them, although their slavish adherence to Islamic law was no less objectionable than that of the bad guys. For example, in Hildago, the main Arab good guy character, who was played extremely sympathetically by Omar Sharif, at one point declared that he would have to stone his own daughter to death for an offense that would hardly have called for an American girl to be grounded for the evening.

The cowboy character in Hildago was aptly downplayed by Viggo Mortensen. His character was a believable cowboy, not a triumphant champion horse jockey, although the real-life Frank Hopkins was nothing short of unbelievable.

If you get a chance, see the movie on the big screen. It may still be playing on some second-run theatres. The Young Black Stallion is probably still playing in the IMAX theatres.
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2025 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News