Hidalgo (15) Buena Vista Home Entertainment Rating: 3 out of 5.

Lord of the Rings star Viggo Mortensen jumps from one epic to another in this extraordinary tale, based on the true story of long distance cavalry despatch rider Frank Hopkins.

He plays the legendary rider who became the first Westerner to be invited to compete in a 3,000-mile race, known as the Ocean of Fire, across the Arabian desert in the 1890s.

As well as facing the challenge of a lifetime against the finest Arabian horses, Hopkins's journey is complicated still further by the unwelcome attentions of his rivals, who will stop at nothing to prevent a foreigner from winning.

How Hopkins and his Mustang pony Hidalgo fare in this remarkable race makes for engrossing viewing, with sub-plots involving a sheikh's daughter and a scheming Englishwoman (Louise Lombard) adding to the intrigue.

Mortensen, fresh from his success in Peter Jackson's Oscar-winning trilogy, soon settles into the saddle as an action hero, while Omar Sharif lends solid support as the secretive sheikh.

Also worth of a mention are the stunning locations and at times breathtaking photography that only serve to enhance the epic scale of the film.

Out to rent or buy on video and DVD