Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1231 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-11-04
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Animated, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 85 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Horse lovers young and old will celebrate Spirit, an utterly enjoyable and marvellous-looking animated film. The titular stallion runs free in the Cimarron (New Mexico) wilderness until a series of men try to master the proud horse, leading to adventures through a US Cavalry fort, Native American settlements, and a railroad camp. Despite a heavy dose of political correctness and realism (the animals don't talk; we only hear Spirit's internal monologue, voiced by Matt Damon), directors Kelly Asbury and Lorna Cook give their hero many only-in-a-movie moments, including an action sequence rivalling any of James Bond's escapes. The stirring mix of 2-D and 3-D animation is absolutely stunning and aptly fuelled by composer Hans Zimmer's synthesised score. The film earns one demerit for 80s rocker Bryan Adams's abundant songs--a different singer could have brought more to the film.--Doug Thomas, Amazon.com

Special Features
English
Region 2

Synopsis
SPIRIT: STALLION OF THE CIMARRON is a refreshingly old-fashioned and gentle tale of a mustang stallion struggling to remain free in the old West. The film is a seamless blend of traditional hand-drawn and computer-generated animation. Opening with an impressive bird's eye pan of the Grand Canyon, from the viewpoint of an eagle, SPIRIT captures the unspoiled beauty of the land. The animals in this particular animated film do not talk, and Matt Damon provides effective, sparse narration from the perspective of Spirit, an adventurous young stallion who is captured by the U.S. Army. But Spirit will not let the soldiers saddle and ride him. An authoritarian colonel (voiced by James Cromwell) is determined to break Spirit, at one point starving the horse to weaken him. A Lakota prisoner, Little Creek (voiced by Daniel Studi) is impressed with the horse, and helps him to escape. Little Creek can't break the horse either. But the two learn to respect each other, and Spirit meets Rain, Little Creek's horse, and falls in love. The score was written by Hans Zimmer, and Bryan Adams wrote and performed the sweet, simple songs on the soundtrack. SPIRIT is a great-looking and lovingly crafted children's film.

Customer Reviews

My favourite horse film.
This is one of my favourite horse films, I absolutely adore it and you will too. The animation is perfect and for once the horses don't talk. Have you ever noticed but most animals seem to talk or sing in animated films but not this one. You can still tell what the horses were feeling or saying. Spirit has eyebrows so you can tell what mood he was in. You could even guess what he was saying when he neighed e.g. when Spirit is captured his mother comes down to rescue him but Spirit neighs. It sounded more like a roar but I could almost imagine what he was saying. 'NO! STOP! What is the story - Spirit is a wild young mustang but when he is captured his life is turned upside down. He befriends an Indian and falls in love with a paint mare. But he is far away from home. This film was very touching, one moment I could feel happy, the next I could feel sad. The music was also pretty good. The songs went very well with the scenes. Overall a great family film. 5/5.

A firm family favourite
No matter how many times we watch Spirit, we always love it all over again. All age groups will enjoy the simple story, fascinating animation and the endearing horse, Spirit. Get it if you haven't done so already.

Enjoyable, if slightly predicatable
This animated film has a comfortingly "old fashioned" feel about it. None of the high-tech computer animation of recent years and no cutesy furry talking animals with attitude - thankfully. Instead we get the moving and dramatic story of a wild stallion in the wild west. Actually it is also a metaphor for the plight of the native Americans contrasted with the greedy and selfish white man. It is effectively told and well animated, with good points of high drama, and a good ending. Perhaps it is a little predictable and with an obvious moral, but, as a change from the modern taste in animation of animals with backchat, it is a welcome and enjoyable film.