Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Released: 2002
Version: Video
Rated: G
Length: Approx. 83 minutes
Main Cast: Matt Damon, James Cromwell, Daniel Studi, Chopper Bernet, Jeff LeBeau
If you want a movie that will please children, especially girls, than your search is over. Horses appeal to girls like no other animal and since this is a silly movie, it'll also appeal to other children as well.
We begin with seeing Spirit (Matt Damon) getting born. He ends up being a stupid youth that does impossible things, like 'hoof-boarding' in the snow and a scene in which he gets his tongue stuck to a huge ice stalactite. Why is that stupid? Because he somehow manages to break off a big hunk of ice and runs around with it in his mouth. How did he snap it without getting his tongue unstuck??? Eventually, Spirit ends up being the Stallion of the pack, which means he's the head honcho among the ladies, and the protector. He's also the pseudo-narrator.
Anyway, he gets curious about some smoke and investigates a cowboy's camp. He gets chased by the cowboys and ultimately is captured when he has to lead them away from his herd.
He is taken to a fort where the cowboys try to break him. He bucks them all off. The military horses and a captured Indian all look at Spirit with happiness and glee because of his shenanigans . Some of Spirit's willfulness is funny. But a lot of it is stupid and impossible. Take the scene where the Colonel (James Cromwell), a mean jerk, decides to break him. Somehow he can stay on the horse when no one else can. And the horse ends up slamming him into fences and finally shake him off in a second round of bucking. However, Spirit should have ended up with something broken as should the Colonel.
In this movie, no one can get hurt no matter how much damage they take, with one exception.
Anyway, Spirit is set free by the Indian and they both ride out. The Indian also tries to ride Spirit, but they don't break horses like cowboys do. It's more like trying to make friends with the animal. In this respect, the movie is quite interesting as you can actually learn something cool.
Unfortunately, it quickly goes downhill from here. Spirit falls for a female Indian-owned horse and ends up "rescuing" her when she gets shot and falls into some rapids. This is creative, but also one of the lamest things I've seen. Why would a horse ever do that? And how? Besides, Spirit has a whole herd of females, so he shouldn't even give this one a second glance. And if you know anything about horses, than you know that there are no other males in that herd...at least not ones that can procreate.
Spirit gets recaptured by the evil cowboys and ends up being forced to pull a train engine towards his valley along with a bunch of military horses. He doesn't like that, so he plays sick, gets free and destroys the engine and a lot of train track ala James Bond. Stupid stuff here!
Of course, he gets his girl and ends up with his herd again. (Duh! What else could happen?)
The Good Stuff:
![]() | The animation is well done |
![]() | The music is decent for a non-Disney flick |
![]() | And you can learn bits and pieces about horses and the West...if you have someone knowledgeable to point out stuff for you. |
The Bad Stuff:
![]() | Boring movie |
![]() | Unrealistic garbage (yeah, I know...it's a cartoon!) |
![]() | Dumb story |
![]() | Remember. All cowboys are evil!!! (Or so this movie seems to say) |
The Dumb Stuff:
![]() | Why don't the other horses ever say anything!?!? |
![]() | Why doesn't Spirit say more??? |
![]() | What is up with making Spirit act so much like a human? They can't make up their mind what they wanted him to be like. |
![]() | Don't forget that this is a super horse. He can break his back on fences and not get hurt. Thus, he can also fly short distances as is witnessed when he jumps a large ravine to escape the evil cowboys. |
I thought this was a decent movie. But I wouldn't watch it repeatedly. Or pay to see it. Only get it if your a cartoon junkie or if you want an alternative to Disney's fair.
STORY:
VIOLENCE:
(Lot's of bucking and flying cowboys...but no one's hurt)
SEXUAL CONTENT: (Horsie
love...and no, it's nothing like that, you sick-o!)
LANGUAGE: N/A
ACTION:
OVERALL SCORE: