Christian Message Boards: A mixed review: Hidalgo

This is topic A mixed review: Hidalgo in forum Christian Video Clips, Movies , Church Webs TV at Christian Message Boards.

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Posted by mohawk (Member # 2898) on :

I just purchased a used DVD of the film "Hidalgo" and though I found the story and acting highly entertaining, I was troubled by some of the more subtle elements the film contains.

No, this is not a "Christian movie" per se... it's a secular film to be sure. It's an eye-opening example of spiritual politics in a film... and the politics in question is definitely anti-Christian.

This is amazing because the company responsible for "Hidalgo" is Disney, a movie studio that was once a watershed of wholesome movies, and an alternative for viewers seeking a refuge from the general ungodliness of the rest of Hollywood. How times have changed??

In the film, there are three spiritual viewpoints indirectly referred to. The Arabic culture (Islam) is portrayed as savage yet noble, barbaric and sexist, yet methodical and disciplined. The lead character, the cowboy Hopkins, is a disciple of American Indian mysticism, and basically he is portrayed as prevailing over everyone because of it.

There is one character referred to as "the Christian woman" who is thoroughly made the villain. It comes out of nowhere--all of a sudden she is a Darth Vader in pink lace and high-heels. A capitalist, racist, evildoer willing to order people (and the title horse) killed to meet her selfish ends. If I ruined the film for you, maybe I am glad.

No one ever comes out and says "Islam rough but basically okay... Indian mysticism good... Christianity bad..." but that is the message (that I see) being laid down, in an indirect, subtle way. I am wondering if anyone else who saw the film picked this up? Or am I just over-analyzing it? Please help me out as I am torn between holding onto the DVD for its technical entertainment value--or--returning it to the bin because of its spiritual backhandedness.

Posted by Cameron (Member # 1090) on :

Well you sort of have a point. Doesnt' really surprise me this day and age. it's funny how people cry out for religious tolerance for all beliefs....except Christianity. Bear in mind though, some people associate themselves with the Christian banner and yet are totally the opposite of what a Christian should be. (like that woman) And another thing, can you imagine the feedback the movie makers would have got if they'd protrayed muslims in a bad light? I'm not justifying it, I'm just pointing out their point of view. All in all I don't think there's anything wrong with the movie, but if you don't like it, send it to me [Razz]

Posted by Yeluansh (Member # 4068) on :

Yes,you are right,in our days and age,moives are just a method of earning money for those moive makers,there isn,t any true mind in the moives,and from another point,a moive is just potray a thing ,maybe a story written by a writer or a story that happened somewhere somebody a Christian in form.
So do not mind about a moive ,to tolerate is a road to paradise.