HIDALGO is the extraordinary story of one man's journey of personal redemption, reportedly based on the life of long distance horse rider Frank T Hopkins.

The film opens in 1890. Hopkins (Mortensen) works as a dispatch rider for the US Cavalry, quickly earning his spurs as 'the greatest rider the West has ever known'.

He falls on hard times, becoming an outcast from his own land with his beloved horse, a mustang named Hidalgo.

Redemption beckons when he is invited to enter the annual Ocean Of Fire competition - a survival race of the fittest across 3,000 treacherous miles of Arabian Desert.

Usually, only the finest Arabian horses belonging to royalty and nobility are allowed to enter the race.

However, their host, Sheikh Riyadh (Sharif), is fascinated by Wild West folklore and he gladly breaks with tradition to meet the American who has ridden alongside Buffalo Bill (Simmons).

Together with his brave steed, Frank races across the desert, pitting his wits against Arabian and Bedouin riders, who will do anything to prevent an American winning their beloved race.

This is a swashbuckling romp with quaint, old-fashioned characters and values, directed with gusto.

Mortensen thrusts out his chiselled jaw as the swaggering hero of the piece, looking every inch the fallen idol.

There's not much emotional meat for him to get his teeth into; the acting plaudits go instead to Sharif, who radiates majesty and compassion in his pivotal supporting role.

Screenwriter John Fusco takes considerable artistic licence to inject suspense and action into the story.

He contrives an adrenaline-pumping subplot involving the daring rescue of the Sheikh's kidnapped daughter Jazira (Robinson) from bandits.

And a giant computer generated sandstorm, which appears to have blown off the set of The Mummy Returns, is also rather over-the-top.

When Hidalgo focuses on the central story of a man and his horse battling against the elements, the film is lively and entertaining.

Pity, there are so many extraneous subplots and set-pieces which force the film to trot to an uncomfortable 136 minutes.

Rating 5/10