The World's Fastest Indian

[David Meek]

This vehicle (pun intended) stars Anthony Hopkins as Burt Munro in a mostly-biographic film about the later part of Munro's life. That's the part where the lovable, eccentric New Zealander hocks everything he has and takes his nearly 50-year-old, modified Indian motorcycle on a journey from Invercargill to Bonneville, Utah to run the salt flats.

It's a light-hearted romp that Hopkins suffuses with his charm and the message that it's never too late to follow your dream. There are some nice cameos by '60s vintage salt flat speedsters for the automotive oriented among us. No, it's not grand cinema, but it's a good movie.

:35: out of :5:

[Nick M]

One of my recent favorites for sure! :T

[Kevin D]

I thought I heard its coming on HDNet Movies next month. Some exclusive or something.

Kevin D.

[RobP]

I have had this movie on order for the past three weeks, looks really good.

[George Bellefontaine]

Saw this when it first came to dvd and really enjoyed it.

[John Holmes]

Saw this when it first came to dvd and really enjoyed it.

So did I. Good film.

[Race Car Driver]

Picked it up a while back, good movie

[wkhanna]

I've been meaning to post on this one for months, but alas, procrastination is an evil disease.

While is does not compare in epic scale to 'Laurence of Arabia', it shares many points:

It is a true story, and WFI is very accurate in its story line, with less dramatization than LoA.

Both men were obsessed with a personal mission others felt was outlandish at best.

Both men inspired everyone they came in contact with.

I tell everyone this not a movie about motorcycles (of which I am very fond) but about an extraordinary man who through shear will, achieves a dream others call impossible.

Five stars in my book.

[Chris D]

In my Netflix queue with 499 other movies.

[David Meek]

Chris, bump this one up. You won't be disappointed. :T

[Chris D]

That's my problem. I keep bumping all these movies up, and adding new ones, so although I watch a bunch of movies, I never really make progress on my queue.

[bigburner]

I enjoyed this film too. Anthony Hopkins did a good job with his Southland accent (they roll their r's down south) and that was important to give the film credibility. The early 1960's scenes brought back memories of the New Zealand that I knew as a little boy. It was a pretty backward place in those days.

There were some nice touches too that only a Kiwi would know about. For example, Tim Shadbolt, who played Frank in the film, is actually the mayor of Invercargill. When I was at university Shadbolt was a radical student leader who became a household name for writing an autobiography entitled "Bullshit and Jellybeans". As a young man Shadbolt was once arrested for using the b word. It just wasn't said in public in those days.

Enough trivia already.

[wkhanna]

Thanks for the firsthand insight and trivia, Bigburner!
Next time I watch it, I will look for Tim Shadbolt.

And don't forget to make your offerings to the gods of speed!

[Brandon B]

The is a really nice and accurate cutaway replica of the motorcyle from this film on display in the shopping mall next to Tokyo Disneyland where I am working right now. I'll see if I can get some pictures of it and post them.

BB

[David Meek]

That'd be cool B. :T

[David Meek]

FYI, here's a portion of the Wikipedia listing on Mr. Munro:

...In 1967 his engine was bored out to 58 in³ (950 cc) and he set a class record of 295.44 km/h (183.58 mph). To qualify he made a one-way run of 190.07 mph, the fastest ever officially recorded speed on an Indian. (unofficial speed record is 331 km/h (205.67 mph))...

[Chris D]

And don't forget to make your offerings to the gods of speed!

Who... you mean Dale Earnhardt and Mario Andretti?

[David Meek]

Or Danica Patrick? :B

[Chris D]

Wouldn't that be a "goddess"?

[Brandon B]

Well, finally got this scaled down to the tiny 100K limit.

BB

[Chris D]

Finally saw this tonight on HDNet. (or maybe it was Discovery HD Theater) GREAT! I would have downgraded the movie about certain parts of the story that seemed much less important or unrelated to the plot, such as picking up the Air Force pilot in his final leg to the salt flats. However, the fact that this is a true story really brought these parts of the movie to life. I can just picture the real Burt Munro, sitting in a porch chair, telling the story of his journey to a quiet listener, relating these interesting side facts of the story that enhance the plot.

Not my all-time favorite movie, so I'd hesitate to give it a full 5 stars. But I'll give it a solid :45: out of :5:. Very much enjoyed, great movie!

[a_frankton]

Not a bad watch. Hopkins always adds something to a movie. Dunno about that kiwi accent though.... he sorta lacked that cute fush and chups sound they have.