Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #905 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-07-03
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 127 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
A movie that exudes affection and goodwill, The World's Fastest Indian is an unabashed mash note to a lovely character from New Zealand's recent past. Burt Munro, played by Anthony Hopkins, is a cantankerous Kiwi with an obsession: he's been tinkering with his 1920s-era Indian brand motorcycle for years, pushing it to ever-faster speeds. It's the 1960s, and Burt has the utterly mad idea of taking the bike to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, site of world records for speed racing. The movie takes a while to get to the journey--and then the journey takes a while--but the genial atmosphere prevails. (People of a certain age, for whom the word "Bonneville" evokes pleasant associations with hotrods and world-speed records, will not be disappointed in the film's location shooting, or its sense of awe.) Hopkins is not quite on-the-money casting for the jovial, happy-go-lucky Munro, and his accent wavers, but he nails the emotional scenes and the fascination with speed. Smaller bits are well-filled by Diane Ladd and Christopher Lawford (son of Peter), who looks uncannily of the era. New Zealand director Roger Donaldson doesn't take any chances here, but the story clearly means something to him, and that sense of commitment carries the film through its sleepier moments. --Robert Horton

Synopsis
The life and triumph of Burt Munro, the elderly Kiwi man who, at the far from sprightly age of 68, broke motorcycle racing records in Utah, has fuelled director Roger Donaldson's creative energy for years. In the early 1970s, just a few years after Munro's incredible triumph, Donaldson directed OFFERINGS TO THE GOD OF SPEED, a documentary on the sensational senior. Here, with the help of the fine actors Anthony Hopkins and Diane Ladd, the director brings the story to vivid, dramatic life yet again, constructing a gripping and inspirational narrative. Hopkins's Munro is a rich and magnetic character, a man who wears his notable physical ailments (which include an embarrassing prostate condition and deficient eardrums) like quirky idiosyncrasies rather than debilitating defects. An active playboy, Munro is a lovable character in his small New Zealand town, an attractively unique old man with a zest for life and a love of his vintage motorcycle a bright red 1920 Indian model. After racing his own times obsessively every day, he becomes determined to live out his dream of participating in the annual Speed Week motorcycle event at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats. Through local support and innovative fundraising, Munro is finally able to afford the long nautical journey across the world to Mormon-land and, beating all the incredible odds, not only enter the race but break its records with a jaw-dropping speed of 201 miles an hour. Besides telling a classic tale of individual triumph, THE WORLD'S FASTEST INDIAN offers a sociological look at the American West of the late 1960s, an iconic landscape peppered with colourful characters that include a wizened Native American and a generous drag queen, both of whom help the eccentric elder on his quixotic quest.

Customer Reviews

Fantastic, moving, funny and featuring one of Hopkins' best performances
I was lucky enough to see this film at the one cinema in the country that showed it. I couldn't believe that such a family friendly and feel good film was given the shoulder by the distributors. It cost $25m to make so I cannot imagine why there was no general release for it. Certainly the audience I was with REALLY enjoyed it. Hopefully this DVD will find the audience it deserves.

There are many reasons why this film is great. Firstly, the "true" story of Kiwi Burt Monro - one of life's innocents, dropping all and heading off to the Salt Lake flats, is really an inspiring and moving one. I suspect that the incidents that happened on his journey have been dreamt up for the film, but we can forgive them for it. As a racer myself, I recognised the atmosphere there is at an event, with all the signing on, scruitineering, the adrenalin, the people etc.

Secondly, the script is very good. Burt Monro has some wonderful one liners, and the many characters that greet him on his long journey are interesting and show us more about Monro's character each time. This is the kind of film where you know the ending, but it's the journey and the small details that make it a delight.

Thirdly, the locations are awesome. I love road movies that travel the beautiful locations of America, and here you get the fantastic vistas, but of course with Burt pounding through them on his motorbike. The direction and the music, the thematic material and the shot in the arm the film gives you is really something - and there's one final element to congratulate for it...

Anthony Hopkins. Since his big Hollywood break Hopkins was on a roll. Then he started drifting towards the typical Hollywood roles that didn't suit his talents. And in recent years his creditability was at it's lowest ever, thanks to rubbish like Instinct, MI:II and Bad Company. I assumed he'd given up 'acting' for the easy paycheck. However, in this film he delivers what is probably one of his best ever performances, easily his best since 1994. He totally inhabbits the character, and he does what he does best - SHOW us the character in the small moments, and not repeat mannerisms. According to Kiwis his accent is particularly good, which was always a challenge for Hopkins. Had this film had more fanfare upon release he would have easily gotten an Oscar nomination, without a doubt. If his career goes back to below par as it was before this, we can be glad at least that he gave us the character of Burt Monro.

The World's Fastest Indian will not appeal to the ultra-cynical of person, but it should be an entertaining and uplifting experience to those who are able to give it attention. The film's message is simple: Life doesn't have to be as bad as people make out. Honesty's good. Being genuine is good. To me, this film is both of those things.

The World's Fastest Indian
I saw 'The World's Fastest Indian' at the local cinema in Berkhamsted, Herts. Without a doubt it was the best film I have seen for twenty five years. It made me laugh, sit on the edge of my seat, and get very emotionally involved.

For once the Americans were not the stars and history was not being rewritten. Anthony Hopkins plays the part of a real man who had great asperations and an almost niave belief in the goodness of people, an attitude which helped him to achieve his goal after a series of setbacks that would have daunted most folk.

In a word, brilliant. I can't wait to see it again on DVD.

hopkins at his best
I first heard about this film from some biker friends and decided to see what the fuss was about. I was slightly confused at first at who the "indian" was but soon discovered it was the motorbike belonging to Burt Munro (Hopkins). From then on i was captured by this old gentlemans charisma and excentricity. The film was directed by a man who knew Burt Munro personnally and has given Munro an epitaph to be proud of. Hopkins plays Munro so well that by the end of the film you will believe that you know Burt intimatly. This quirky old gent had a dream to see how fast his "indian scout" motorbike would go, not to brake records not to race but simply a passion. The only place on earth Burt can achieve his dream is to take himself and the "indian" on a trip half way round the world to Utah salt flats in america for speed week to time his bike. His trip is not lavished up by big budget stunts but simply tells his story to reach his dream. Everyone he touches he befriends by being himself and honest and by the end of the film i was willing him on. Sadly only once in a while do films like this come along, but with such a small budget by todays terms (35 mil) this film was not shown in too many cinemas world wide, but i urge you if you love true storys and enjoy hopkins at his best you cannot go much wrong to watch this "indian" journey of life.