User reviews

If only ALL animation was this great. This film is classic because it is strong is two simple aspects: Story and Character. The characters in this film are beautifully personified. I felt for all of the characters, and human-animal relationship in the movie works perfectly. The beautiful animation and 3-D computer animation hasn't worked better in any other film. This is a great movie for kids, and for adults who want a classic hero's journey. 8 of 10.

Why do people who already have a preconceived notion of what is an acceptable amount of tenderness in a film write reviews for films like "Spirit"? I have one message to anyone with a blindly scathing opinion of this film: if you just don't like children's films, or if you have the rigidness of mind that makes it impossible for you to go back to a time of greater innocence, DO NOT REVIEW THIS FILM! Please.

That said, I can continue that "Spirit" is extraordinary. The animation is technically impressive, from the opening shot to the locomotive scene at the end. The storytelling is straightforward and pure, yet has many totally original moments that combine with the more formulaic, tried and true story elements. Objectively speaking, you can see that a great deal of time and money went into making the movie something that would stand a little taller than its competitors.

Sadly, "Spirit" suffers from its subject matter in a way unfair to the film itself. The film will likely appeal more to the sensitive (read: women, girls and young boys) than a general audience. The story is about a horse, and that means it is NOT likely to have lots of guns, swordplay, singing animals, characters saying, "It's all my fault", or distinct good vs. evil. My word, what happens when someone is courageous enough to make a movie that so deviates from tried and true storytelling devices? The answer: they don't make as much money as the recyclers at the Mouse.

"Spirit" was outshone and outmarketed by "Lilo and Stitch" and did not have nearly as long a run as a result. Guess who lost out because of that? You did, very likely. I saw this in the theater and on home DVD. "Spirit" loses an enormous amount of its power going to the small screen. The opening panoramic, long shot behind the eagle is reduced to a clever camera trick. And the experience of being engulfed in the thunder and masterfully recreated power of the galloping herd of mustangs is reduced to a moment of natural drama and little else. If you missed this movie during the summer of 2002, it is little wonder why you might overlook (or worse, pan) this magnificent milestone in animation.

See "Spirit" with an open mind. Enjoy its fresh take on the Bambi/Kimba/animal adventure tale. If you can, watch it with *children* so you can get a glimpse at the magic that they can easily see in this superior film. When it's over, take a moment and imagine what imagination and heart went into creating this film.

And if you still cannot decide favorably on it at all, watch "Scary Movie" or something that appeals better to your sense of intelligence and taste.

Looking for a movie with cutesy talking horses that the kiddies will love? Then Spirit is probably not the movie for you, it is instead one of the nicest animated features to come along in a long time to not have Disney written all over it. No, the horses do not talk and they shouldn't as the whole story is told from a horse's point of voice in a wonderful narrative. In fact there's not a lot of pointless dialog to weigh down the movie at all.

Instead it's filled by a wonderful score by Hans Zimmer and songs by Bryan Adams who admittedly I wasn't a big fan off except for (Everything I Do (I Do It For You) and Star) but the songs he did for this movie especially Here I Am, Get Off Of My Back, Can't Take Me, Brothers Under The Sun and Sound The Bugle made me download the soundtrack from Walmart.com the next day.

The main reasons I liked this move would have to be the beautiful drawn animation, mixed with an endearing story with some comedy elements and a wonderful soundtrack. Spirit is simply fun and enjoyable for the whole family no matter what their age.

In a time when Hollywood is making money by showing our weaknesses, despair, crime, drugs, and war, along comes this film which reminds us the concept of the "Indomitable Spirit". If you are feeling beaten down, this movie will free your mind and set you soaring. We all know how tough life can be, sometime we need to be reminded that persistence and courage will get us through. That's what this film did for me and I hope it will for you.

I have to admit, I was skeptical about this film. An animated feature about a horse fighting for his freedom during the "How the West Was Won" years. It sounded a little dull. Well I couldn't have been more wrong. SPIRIT is a captivating film... beautifully animated and told.

In the film's dramatic opening, we follow an eagle as it soars through rich Western landscapes. The backgrounds are stunning. I've never seen better in a 2D animated film. The eagle flies over a rushing river and into a forest, which comes alive with fluttering birds and frolicking bears. Han Zimmer adds an eloquent score, which gave me chills. There's some tasteful narration during this segment, done by Matt Damon. A perfect choice for the voice of the hero, Spirit. I'm not a big fan of narration, but the film-makers were smart, and the narration is used sparingly. Within moments a herd of horses charges over the horizon and the audience is taken on a wild ride.

The big surprise in this film is the amount of story telling that is achieved without much dialogue. Yes, the horses in SPIRIT don't talk. I was shocked too. John Fusco is credited with the screenplay, but he obviously didn't have much to write. The real story tellers here are the animators. These horses are beautifully drawn. Their dramatic expressions tell you everything the horses might think or want to say. It's nice to see a film daring enough to break away from the Disney formula. I was dreading a sequence with singing and dancing horses. Fortunately, it never came. There are no silly side-kicks either. Again, a welcomed change.

I don't want to give away too much of the story, because it is quite an exciting experience. The basic premise deals with a stallion named Spirit who is captured by some cowboys. Spirit is then dragged off to a Cavalry fort, but he never forgets his herd and longs to return to them. Spirit meets a mean colonel, a friendly Indian and a attractive mare (you knew there had to be a love interest) in his travels. All of them help open Spirit's eyes to the new world around him.

The film features songs from Brian Adams. Most of the songs are strong and serve the story well. Once or twice I felt the songs were a little too close to each other, but that is only a minor gripe.

Overall, I found the film completely engaging and surprisingly moving. Also, the themes, especially involving freedom, are very timely, given the post-9/11 era we find ourselves living in. Without a doubt the best animated feature in a long, long time. I look forward to seeing it again.

Whether it is the best Dreamworks movie is up for debate, but it is a long way from being their worst. Along with The Prince of Egypt, one of the most powerful, evocative and stirring animated films I have seen along with Watership Down, Spirit:Stallion of the Cimarron has to be Dreamworks's most ambitious film to date. It is also visually stunning, and do I think it is underrated? Yes, I do. I am going to do something I have not before in my earlier reviews, I am going to talk about each element of the film and talk about them in sufficient enough detail(or at least I will try to):

ANIMATION: My goodness! The animation in this film is absolutely stunning! No, no, can I change that to gorgeous? I cannot count the amount of times I sat there awed at the audaciousness of the backgrounds, the vibrancy of the colours and the swiftness of the character movements especially on Spirit himself. I know I have raved about how amazing the animation was in Prince of Egypt and Over the Hedge, but seriously the sheer beauty of the animation here makes this for me the most beautiful visually of the Dreamworks movies.

MUSIC: For this movie, I have read reviews not only on IMDb but also from critics that the songs and score here sucked. Can I be obliged to disagree? I admit at 17 I prefer classical music, but the songs from Bryan Adams I thought were lovely. They had nice melodies and meaningful lyrics that do try to convey a message, Here I am was amazing. I also liked the orchestration. Hans Zimmer has done better work, and I admit the sounds used in the orchestration were unusual they were somewhat effective as well.

STORY: When criticising this film, this is the element that gets bashed most. Critics complain that the story is slow, lacklustre and not compelling enough. Okay, it isn't the most fast moving story or one driven by humour and excitement, though there is evidence of both. This film for many reasons is somewhat more mature and ambitious than most of the other Dreamworks films, I think the only other Dreamworks movie that surpasses it in terms of ambition and maturity is (predictably) The Prince of Egypt. The story here is driven by themes of love, courage, following your heart and freedom and they are explored acceptably. Admittedly, it wasn't always as in-depth as it could've been, but some scenes like the scene with the train really did have an impact on me, and the romance between Spirit and Rain was cute. I wanted Spirit to succeed, even when it looked impossible.

SCRIPT: I liked the maturity and heart of the script here. And I also liked the fact it was delivered in the perspective of Spirit, I like films that are told through the perspective of a character from the film, it offers a whole new perspective on things. Spirit isn't the first film to be told in the perspective of a character, Black Beauty and Watership Down are prime examples and the Rankin'/Bass special Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer had a snowman telling the story. That said, the script is very reflective and beautifully written.

VOICES: Very little to complain about here. Matt Damon was a nice choice for Spirit/The Narrator. I have also heard complaints that Damon was bland and dragged the movie down, and I also do disagree with that. I have heard much worse voice acting, and as far as I am concerned(not trying to sound opinionated) but Damon did a good job. And I liked the character of Spirit, he was brave, handsome and loving, quite possibly my favourite character. Daniel Studi was appealing as Little Creek, and James Cromwell plays the mean Colonel with crusty demeanour.

In conclusion, this is an underrated film, that deserves more praise. It isn't one hundred percent perfect, but I do think there are worse animated movies out there, that are nowhere near as ambitious, as well animated or as brave as Spirit:Stallion of the Cimarron. It isn't easy taking on ambitious projects, and I applaud ANY film that tries. 9/10 Bethany Cox

This is a wonderful movie in a lot of ways. Everyone in my family enjoyed it. The animation is excellent and easily demonstrates that there are plenty of producers who create films that are as visually brilliant as anything that comes from the Disney Studio.

One difference from the normal Disney fare is that this Dreamworks movie does not feature some wise-cracking side kick for comedy relief. And, there are no sudden moments where the characters break into song. I am sure that a scene at the beginning of the film would not appear in a Disney picture: the birth of Spirit. But it is done tastefully and is not offensive at all. "Spirit" was a great breath of fresh air. Don't get me wrong. I have loved Disney for years and will continue to do so.

"Spirit" is another example of great animated fare. As soon as it was over, my kids wanted to watch it again. I had the same feeling. I thoroughly recommend it.

Spirit is a unique and original look at western life from the point of view of a wild horse, and native Americans. The film focuses on the friendships and perils that a wild horse, Spirit, encounters during his life.

Very well done in the presentation, using the technology available today to deliver stunning visuals that are breathtaking in their depth and realism.

The music is fantastic, with songs by Bryan Adams, and music by Hans Zimmer, who also was responsible for the extremely popular music from the 1994 Disney hit, The Lion King.

The story is not very deep but the fact that it isn't quite as in-depth as some movies doesn't in my opinion detract from the film as a whole.

An excellent film which I enjoyed immensely, and that is suitable for all the family. Not one to be missed. (10/10)

I really didn't want to see this movie. "Oh great, another singing and dancing horses drivel from Disney" I thought. And when I was practically forced to watch it, I did it having prepared all my wits and irony to completely and utterly destroy the movie with my scornful remarks throughout.

The first ten minutes or so I was more or less successful in my hatred. But the further the movie went the more I realized that I was actually liking it and then ultimately completely loving it. And there I was, with tears in my eyes out of sympathy for the main characters and worrying whether everything will be all right in the end. How pathetic is that?

I really wanted to hate this movie. It should have been easy. Somehow, I failed. Or did the movie simply just succeed instead?

I liked this movie a lot. The animation was well done and the romance was cute. I liked most of Bryan Adams' songs and the Hans Zimmer score was excellent. What a lot of people don't realize is how well it relates to the Heart of Darkness/Apocalypse Now themes (what happens when so-called "civilization" invades someone elses home, what does it mean to be "civilized" etc.). The opening scenery and music were very stirring. The film is a lament to an America that was once beautiful.

This movie is a biography of a horse named "Spirit." We watch him from the time he's born, until he takes leadership over of a heard of wild horses. The area these horses roam seems to be the entire western half of the United States, from Arizona to the Pacific Northwest. Spirit and his extended family greatly enjoy the wide open spaces, even though dangers in the form of mountain lions may lurk around the next boulder.

But as dangerous as a mountain lion can be, it pales in comparison to white men. Spirit, who is a living symbol of freedom, carelessly walks into a camp of sleeping cavalry soldiers, and finds himself captured. The soldiers and cavalry are symbols of discipline, hardship, and a type of slavery. As anyone who's ever served in the armed forces knows you don't have the freedom to do as you like when under military authority. Even some the constitutional protections civilians take for granted are out-of-bounds for a serviceman.

Spirit is taken to the soldier's fort, and is quite literally tied up. The fort is symbolic of prison, and is portrayed as a type of concentration camp for wild horses. Spirit does demonstrate quite a bit of spirit and independent thinking the entire time he's captive, to the dismay of the colonel in charge. So the colonel attempts to do to the horse what the military does to every single man that joins it's ranks: he tries to break him down.

At the same time Spirit is being held in the fort, a young native American is brought inside and tied to a post. His only crime: being a young, free brave. The native American, much like Spirit, is also symbolic of freedom. So it's no surprise when the young man cuts himself loose from his ropes, and storms out of the fort in the company of the horse. On their way out, Spirit makes a point of "freeing" all the cavalry horses, making for one major jail break.

But Spirit still does not get to enjoy the freedom he once knew, for now the young Lakota takes him captive, and puts him in a coral near the tribal camp! But their is a profound difference between the captivity of the U.S. Army, and the captivity of the Lakota. The young brave, named "Little Creek," uses love, kindness and generosity to "break" Spirit of his wild ways, even using his own female horse to help persuade him. Yet whether it's the Army's harsh, violent ways, or the gentle, loving ways of the Lakota, Spirit refuses to give in, preferring his freedom above and beyond anything that man can do for him.

The animators at DreamWorks have their work cut out for them in this film, taking an abstract concept like freedom and creating a wild horse to embody that trait. This is a difficult trick to pull off with educated adults, and even more difficult with young children. But they do put in a good effort, and those who are used to symbolism and types will be able to see the point of this film without looking too hard.

Spirit's love and commitment to freedom is most plainly evident in a scene where Spirit destroys a railroad camp. The "sin" committed by the railroaders which causes Spirit to fume with righteous anger is their use him as a part of a very large team of horses to pull a steam engine up a mountain. Spirit decides he's had enough hard labor for one day, and feigns sickness to get released from the team. He then recovers quickly after being unhitched, and proceeds to act in a way that causes the destruction of the locomotive being hauled up the mountain, along with one sitting on the tracks below, along with the ENTIRE railroad camp at the bottom of the mountain, along with the forest surrounding the railroad camp. The punishment levied against the railroaders is quite drastic and very violent, and goes so far as to make Spirit look like almost like a villain. Yet, a small price to pay in the name of freedom.

The animators do a fantastic job with the visuals, especially where nature and wildlife are concerned. There is a scene in the movie where Spirit has a race with a bald eagle that had me in mouth-gaping awe. Very well done. The movie is truly a feast for the eyes, if not also a famine for the brain.

In the end, this is a movie that demonstrates that freedom IS something worth fighting for. Whether it's a railroad, the cavalry, or a friendly tribe of natives, slavery and servitude is not preferable to living the life of freedom. Sadly, while this film does a fine job demonstrating the need to fight to maintain freedom, it doesn't touch on the fact of the responsibility one has to oneself and others when free --for there is a strange paradox in that as one's freedom increases, so does ones responsibilities. In other words, you can never be free from responsibility, especially when you're free! Think about it.

While one can be upset at the constant negative portrayal of white men in this film, truth be told white men did, in FACT, do a great deal of harm to native Americans of ALL tribes. While their were certainly some violent, warlike tribes that received their just deserts, there were also many peace loving tribes that were exploited and manipulated for evil purposes, mostly by white males. It is a sad fact of history, and one I do want my children to make note of.

Overall, I applaud the message implied in this film of the overriding importance of freedom, even if it means the destruction of innocent railroad employees and the demonizing of white males.

Rating: 6/10

What happened to the children's movies where care-free entertainment was in mind versus setting an agenda that tries to teach that white men are evil and the devil-incarnate? I rented the movie for my 6 year-old step-daughter because she loves horses. She didn't understand why the humans (evil white soldiers) would want to hurt or mistreat the horse. Half way through the movie she was crying and asked to turn the movie off, but only after enduring the horse being tied down, beaten, spurred, ridden by every soldier with little brains & an overwhelming amount of testosterone, shot at, forced to ride a train in the dead of winter, and being put under the chains to haul a train across the new railway during the expansion to the West. We ended up watching Sponge Bob to cheer her up. I think she should be watching shows that make her laugh and enjoy her childhood, not shows that confuse her on how evil white people mistreat the animals, Indians and the virgin land. What's worse is movies like this never portray the evil white people as being an isolated incident. They portray them as being the norm. I don't doubt that there are evil people out there in the world, but to try and teach a child that she comes from a lineage of evil-doers does little to improve her outlook on life, let alone it makes for terrible entertainment.

SPIRIT: STALLION OF THE CIMARRON, the new animated feature from Dreamworks, is an honest-to-God western. Some of you may be forgiven for thinking it was just a horse movie, a distinct and definable genre in its own right (e.g. MY FRIEND FLICKA), but I assure you this is a real, bonafide western, complete with cavalry, Indians, Monument Valley and the building of the transcontinental railroad. It's a familiar saga (to western fans) but told here from the point-of-view of a wild horse. It just may be the only western that children in today's audience will get to see on the big screen. (And it's perfectly suitable for even the smallest children.)

The movie has three selling points for people who are appalled at how childish and inane animated features in the U.S. have been over the last decade or so:

1) It's got a serious story. 2) The horses don't talk. 3) The horses don't sing.

The latter two functions are served by Spirit's first-person narration, voiced by Matt Damon and told in the past tense as a reminiscence, and several songs on the soundtrack written and performed by Bryan Adams. Neither of these elements were particularly necessary and the movie would have been better without them, although they aren't fatal. Hans Zimmer's excellent music score does a far more effective job in conveying, in dramatic and emotional terms, what the songs belabor. But, thankfully, aside from Damon, there are no other celebrity voices.

The other big selling point is the artwork. The background art and western landscapes are stunning and offer a mix of painted scenes and computer-created scenery, although everything seems computer enhanced in one way or another. Most importantly, the film gives us a chance to savor the backgrounds. The characters don't zip around in constant frenetic motion the way they do in Disney movies. Although there are several chase scenes, the characters are just as likely to pause and connect with each other in movements reflecting naturalistic behavior. There are moments of gentleness, tenderness, curiosity, and discovery, so we get to see the space the characters are in and get to connect with it ourselves. There's a real palpable sense of environment and geography, of time and place, something rarely found in American animated features.

The character design is also well-done. The human characters all have solid, expressive, recognizable faces, strongly differentiated from each other. The horses are well designed also, looking like horses, but anthropomorphised enough to give them recognizable emotional responses. No character, human or animal, is exaggerated for cartoon effect.

I normally have problems with digital animation and computer created imagery and SPIRIT is, for the most part, computer created, although it replicates the look of traditional 2-D animation. Still, if this is the wave of the future, then SPIRIT shows us how it should be done. This is digital animation at the best I've ever seen it (including the Japanese anime features I've seen in the last few years). And combined with a good story and clean concept that doesn't patronize its audience, it's created what I think is the finest American animated feature since BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1991). If there is any significant flaw in SPIRIT, aside from the songs, it's that the story falls short of greatness, undercut by the lack of a sufficiently emotional payoff. Still, it's a better story than any I've seen in an American animated production since at least THE LION KING. Some viewers may quibble about the politically correct aspects of the story (cavalry=bad, Indians=good), but there is a moment near the end that balances things out in an intelligent, dramatic way.

SPIRIT may suffer at the boxoffice because it doesn't have the all-important lowest-common-denominator touches that have so cheapened the animated genre but attracted audiences looking for easy laughs (e.g. celebrity voices doing hyperactive genies, show-tune-singing meerkats and jive-talking jackasses). But it should give a measure of hope to that small, passionate segment of the audience that cares about animation as a medium capable in its own right of great storytelling and cinematic artistry.

A beautifully animated film about the conquest of the American West, from the point of view of the wild Mustang, who is captured and trained by the US Army, put to work building the railroad, fights back, and escapes. A young Native American man who is also captured by the army and escapes with him serves as a foil, but the story is about Spirit, not the Lakota community, which is otherwise absent. Of course it's more difficult to root against the laying of the transcontinental railroad given that it already happened more than a century ago (and also seems less devastating then, say, multiple concrete roads and highways). So the key symbolic action is when the general who has been pursuing Spirit and his Native American rider lets them go after they have jumped across the Grand Canyon, giving them a look and a nod of respect. That is the message of the film - that the old ways of the "West" be respected. But the railroad was built in any case.

Sienna's rating: 8 stars Sebastian's rating: 6 stars Paul's rating: 7 stars

Sienna pointed out that Seb probably didn't like this movie very much, despite his love of horses, because the animals didn't communicate with each other in English (though Spirit does have an interior monologue). An interesting idea, but unconfirmed!

The horse is indeed a fine animal. Picturesque depictions of wild horses and their grace could never have been more majestic in an animation flick.

The animation is simply stupendous. The fine animation forms the backbone of the beauty that the horses embolden across the flick. More so when the stallion traverses diverse terrain, jumps across cliffs and braves waters.

Soundtrack too is very impressive. The wonderful instrumental music lures you to appreciate the movie.

"They say the story of the west was written from the saddle of a horse . " huh? Well ,The story of a fine horse sure was written from the saddle of the west .

All in all, this movie is clearly up there with the best .It is one of the best animation flicks i have watched. Would be a very fine choice on a lonely night. An easy 9/10.

very good movie, i was very nice surprised when i saw it. It gives me really nice feelings and thoughts about the freedom and the life and so on. Very, very, very good.

I have probably seen this movie over fifty times by now because of the kids they just cant get enough of Spirit. The best thing about the movie I think is that the animals isn't able to talk, this makes the whole movie more honest and makes a better impression on both kids and the adults so 10/10 from the kids and me

I just returned from the theater with my family after watching Spirit and realized that I enjoyed it as much if not more than my children. Spirit may not have been the blockbuster that it could have been (for reasons that I will touch upon below), but it is a strong film with stunning animation. From the opening frame, the rich textured backgrounds are lush and beautiful. The characters have a very "Aeon Flux" look to them that actually melds nicely with the scenery.

The narration by Matt Damon, and the voice acting of James Cromwell (of "Babe") was also very well done.

Some individuals I know have complained that this movie makes the US look bad while placing the American Indians in a positive light. I love my country (The USA) as much as anyone, but I did not feel that this was the case. I felt that this movie was based on the stallion's fear of ANYONE, not just the white man. It was a movie about freedom, not about an "evil" US government. And, the freedom that this government gives us, enables Dreamworks to present such a film. So if you are opposed to seeing American Indians as shown as having a heart, do not see this film. If you would like to see a good family movie intended for those with an open mind, please do yourself a favor, and see this movie. It may even make you appreciate your freedom.

I give Spirit 7 out of 10 stars.

There's no song and dance numbers, and the ponies don't break out into song whenever they're blue or lonely. That's enough to rate this film very highly. The storyline has a lot of symbolism in it, from the captivity of Spirit as well as that of the other horses, and the 'lessons' the movie tries to teach us in the bad guy vs the good guy, the bad guy being Army, and the good guy being Lakota. You'll like the movie. It'll make you think, and your kids will adore it.

Well, what can I say, this movie really got to me, it's not so bad, as many say, I really loved it, although the idea seems so simple, and rather boring, it isn't. First of all I enjoyed the soundtrack (Bryan Adams), it really goes with the movie. Second the simple story, and the drama of Spirit gets your attention. One thing I like the most is that they didn't give the stallion a human voice to interact with the other horses, it makes the movie more realistic, not many animations seem realistic now do they ?, but... I don't know, making animals talk is just so... lame.

One of the most beautiful animations of 2002 in my opinion, I recommend it to everyone, not just the kids :), because it is very relaxing.

I have seen many cartoon movies and I remember a time when these movies had a semblance of depth and I owe my fondest childhood memories to the Disney classics, so if anyone thinks the following words come from a person who doesn't watch or love cartoons they are greatly mistaken. That being said I have also seen some not-so-well done or simply naive cartoons which obviously hint at only being enjoyable to young children. But I have never NEVER in my life seen such a big hunk of cheese as Spirit.

It's a film that relentlessly goes over the top in the following respects: fake and slimy political correctness; absolute implausibility; cheezy, VERY cheezy song numerals, occurring in relentless numbers. I don't think a movie has EVER induced more groans out of me. Painful to watch, this movie goes over the top to a degree which is simply wrong and inhuman.

Yes, the young horse freely rides the plains. Everywhere he goes the music follows him. He is captured and of course struggles in his relentless fight for freedom. He stumbles upon a captured Indian and (guess what!) they become friends. When captured again, being a smart horse that he is, he singlehandedly (singlehoofedly?) sabotages an entire railway production. He makes poignant speeches in his head (since he can't talk) every five seconds. In the end, he makes a daring leap across a cliff to escape capture (will he succeed? oh my!). Suffices to say, a painful, unwatchable movie. A big piece of (to use kiddie-friendly language) poo. A groan fest.

Of course, I am sure that all the Indians will feel compensated for all their suffering having seen this movie. It is easier to make such movies than make those methods of the past truly be a thing of the past.

Rating 1/10

Scale: 10 MASTERPIECE, 9 Excellent, 8 Good, 7 OK, 6 Adequate, 5 Average, 4 Mediocre, 3 Poor, 2 Bad, 1 HORRIBLE

It's said that when Disney first contemplated Dinosaur (2000), the idea was to have the giant lizards play out non-speaking roles and that this was eventually abandoned, principally through a fear of alienating a junior audience. Asbury and Cook's Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron reverses that decision, takes the braver choice and leaves the equine main characters mute - though still subject to some restrained first person narration by Matt Damon. `They say that the history of the west was written from the saddle of a horse - but it's never been told from the heart of one' he says and, right from the start, it is clear that this will be a Western with a different perspective. Animated Westerns are rare enough (the last one I can easily recall is Fievel Goes West (1991)) and those told from an animal's viewpoint even scarcer. Spirit is refreshing in that it carries off a combination of these two challenges effectively, if inevitably somewhat simplistically.

The stallion Spirit's indomitable nature is what shapes the narrative, and is his most defining characteristic. His craving for freedom and independence remain uppermost, even when eventually tempered by the relationships eventually established with the mare Rain and the Indian Little Creek. Strictly speaking, one might argue that Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron is less of a Western than a nature film, in which pastoral ideals loom more important than the rigours of life at the frontier. As such, it plays more like a cross between the pony paean of Champion the Wonder Horse, and the pantheism of The Indian Fighter, than as a regular film of the genre. The traditional Western often centres around the establishment of civilisation, the drive West, the homestead movement, and so on. The scene in which Spirit wrecks the locomotive, checking the advance of the railroad, is at odds with a genre world view which, typically, has seen the iron way's coming as a tremendous advance.

Spirit seeks to keep the wilderness pristine, a place apart from the footfall of white men, where foals can be brought up in peace and security. Of course, his halt of railroad expansion can only be a temporary one, but it is good enough in the meantime. It is as well that he acts when and how he does too, for his friends the Indians are blissfully unaware of events, and seem unable to act with similar determination. A far cry from the marauding savages frequently presented by the Western in its heyday, the tribe here are a peaceful people, somewhat enervated by the need to have a strong animal lead and presumably the claims of political correctness. Little Creek is the exception (although still open-mouthed at the stallion's continued rebelliousness at the fort), even if his amazingly timely and successful trudge to find Spirit down the tracks strains belief.

First time co directors Kelly Asbury and Lorna Cook have had some involvement with successful animated projects in the past, such as Prince of Egypt, Toy Story, and Little Mermaid. They've clearly learned from their experience. Hans Zimmer's stirring score (which echoes his triumphant Gladiator music at times) and Byan Adam's throaty warbling helps them along, and the story of Spirit runs like clockwork, displaying none of the cutesy parochialism which mars some of Disney's work. With no horse dialogue to slow matters down, much is conveyed through meaningful neighs and equine expressions, surprisingly effective in communication.

Some viewers have praised the quality of the animation, and while it is done effectively enough much of the figure drawing has a stripped-down quality which leads to a certain TV blandness (more noticeable in the pan-and-scan video version). The most effective animation occurs during the dramatic destruction of the railroad, but even here there's a suspicion that, had a little more care been spent on light and shade (for instance), the results would have been even more impressive. Least effective of all is the scene on the train, when the despondent Spirit sees his family and friends imagined in falling snowflakes, as the graphic visualisation is disappointingly unsubtle. It's at times like this that the soundtrack proves its worth, carrying the reader over such less effective patches with some emotional charge.

When all is said and done of course, it's the target audience which matters the most. The two junior ladies in my household have watched Spirit repeatedly since it arrived at Christmas and would give the film a big four thumbs up. No doubt the successful reception of the feature on the big screen may encourage a sequel (the antipathy between Spirit and The Colonel has been left unresolved, for instance) and in my home, at least, the result of Spirit and Rain beginning a family would be eagerly awaited.