World's Fastest Indian, The (2005) [Blu-ray]
Biography | Drama | Sport

Academy Award® Winner, Anthony Hopkins stars as Burt Munro, a man who never let the dreams of youth fade.

In the late 1960s, after a lifetime of perfecting his classic Indian motorcycle, Burt sets off from the bottom of the world, Invercargill, New Zealand, to clock his bike at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. With all odds against him, Burt puts his irrepressible kiwi spirit to the test, braving the new world on a shoestring budget. Burt's quest culminates in an unlikely conclusion and remains legendary within the motorcycle community to this day.

User Comment: tony-dowson from New Zealand, 3 July 2005 • A true story with a nice mix of emotion and motorcycles.

At a sneak preview of this movie in Burt Munro 's hometown - Invercargill, I noticed at the end that many of the men had moist eyes -not that the film is weepy or sycophantic in any way - it's simply inspirational.

The hero/underdog here is a social misfit, a self-confessed dirty old man but a lovable one. He loves the ladies and he loves speeding on his vintage Indian Scout "modified somewhat" along the open beach of Invercargill in Southern New Zealand.

Until recently, beach bike racers contested the Burt Munro Trophy and Burt's 1967 record at Bonneville still stands. These races have recently (since the movie) been restarted.

Anthony Hopkins manages to master the problematic Kiwi accent to deliver a touching, funny and realistic depiction of Burt in his quest to be the fastest thing on two wheels. Sir Anthony said that it's the best thing he's ever done and it's hard to disagree based on his laconic and lovable portrayal.

Outstanding cameos by the likes of Annie Whittle and Diane Ladd simply add depth and verisimilitude to the film. Tim Shadbolt... well he definitely acted in the film...

Complete and convincing performances that warm the heart and show true humanity shining through.

The cinematography is clear and precise, the action scenes are mercifully free of special effects.

A new classic from Roger Donaldson.

Summary: A Chick Flick for Guys.

[CSW] -3- The character development was excellent and the winning over of both adversaries and the audience was definitely there but I was a lot more interested in the mechanics and the motorcycle than the personality of the driver. If the technical development had been there I would have given it a -5- but also be aware that without it, if the role hadn't been played so well by Anthony Hopkins, it would have gotten a -2-.
[V4.5-A4.5] MPEG-4 AVC - D-Box-3.5/10

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