This DVD uses a land speed record attempt on a 1920 Indian Scout as a backdrop for a feel-good film. Jim Peace loved it. Rowena Hoseason didn't...

When this film came out last year I noted its release in the London cinemas and waited for it to appear at our local fleapit. It played the West End for about three days then came to Walton on Thames for two. By the time I'd got round to persuading Mrs P that she'd love it, it was gone. No-one, it appeared, wanted to see it.

So I waited for the DVD, and then waited a bit longer for the price to go down. Eventually it dropped to £8.99, so I bought it. Last week, armed with a bag of popcorn, and a couple of bottles of London Pride I settled down in front of the box. I have to say, unequivocally, that I absolutely loved it.

The film stars Anthony Hopkins as Burt Munro, a crusty old codger from New Zealand who, in the 1960s, took his streamlined 1920 Indian Scout to Bonneville Salt Flats. OK, so the film has been jazzed up a bit to make it more entertaining, but the climax is pure hang-onto-your seat magic. And the fact that he was helped by Rollie Free, which may or may not have been true, was just terrific. Rollie Free, of course, was the guy who did 150mph lying flat on a Vincent in his bathing trunks. Nyaagh!

This is a feel-good film with no villains, just one man bucking the odds, which is great. And any film where the hero is over 60 just has to be good. Unfortunately my wife made all sorts of excuses not to watch it, so I can't provide a second opinion. However, I have no hesitation in advising anyone to buy or rent it, even if they are not interested in motor bikes. This is a very enjoyable film.

Reviewed by Jim Peace

-------------------

On the other hand… I was pretty disappointed by The World's Fastest Indian. Inevitably, a mainstream movie about an old motorcycle is going to be compromised by its need to entertain the masses - but this went waaaaay to far in the direction of family entertainment for my tastes.

EIndian stuff on eBay.co.uk

It was pretty much cliché city: against the odds and with no budget whatsoever, grumpy-but-loveable old duffer takes on the world -- and wins! No surprise! Along the way he charms his neighbours (who have to put up with the racket he creates most days at 6am), subverts their son, is given a donation by the local bad-boy greasers who help pay for his travel to the USA, is allowed to race despite failing to provide any of the necessary paperwork, wins the heart (of gold, naturally) of a transvestite, and finally cracks the speed record despite displaying a level of incompetance which would see most riders fail their CBT.

If anything, this film doesn't enhance Burt Munro's achievement. Instead it detracts from it. It makes a struggle into a soap opera, turns the man himself into a two-dimensional cardboard cut-out, and somehow neutralises the rasping, thundering glory which should have roared around the world from the Indian when it hit 178mph.

And don't get me started about the sloppy scripting and Tony Hopkins' wandering accent…

It's a harmless enough film, but unless you're looking for something to watch with the kids and/or your mother, you'd be better off renting it than buying it. Seeing it once was quite enough for me!

Reviewed by Rowena Hoseason

---------------

The World's Fastest Indian DVD (2005) starring Anthony Hopkins is available from Amazon, and has now been reduced from £18.99 to under a fiver (and we're not surprised!).

We think the book, One Good Run: The Legend of Burt Munro by Tim Hanna sounds like a much better bet. ISBN 978-0143019749, normal price £12.99 but usually discounted to £8.50 through Amazon.

One of you should buy it, read it, and send us a review…

Search for books and magazines on Ebay.co.uk

Search for similar DVDs on Amazon:

Search: DVD & Video Books Popular Music Classical Music Software PC and Video Games All Products Keywords: