King of the Wind

I loved this story as a child and was delighted to find it had been made into a movie, though I didn't expect much. I am pleased to report that the movie was actually quite well done and the boy playing Agba, Navin Chowdhry, was excellent, especially in light of his acting is done without voice. The movie is a delight to watch and the horses true to type. As a former Arabian horse breeder I judge the horses in a film such as this as much as I do the human actors. The little horse that plays the adult Sham is a handsome little fellow and exceeded my highest expectations for this film. The costuming was lovely as was the scenery and this film is all together delightful. I've placed it on my shelf of favorite equine films along with The Black Stallion, Black Beauty and National Velvet. If you are a horse lover you mustn't miss this movie. I'd have given it more stars, but I save those for truly great movies of the caliber of Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. While this doesn't qualify in my book as "truly great", it is a most excellent and enjoyable film, not to be missed.

The heart-touching story of Sham, the Godolphin Arabian, is always worth to be seen, not only for children. It is a story of love and devotion between human beings and animals - and about what is it worth to fight for and to be true and devoted to each other. The movie shows a lot of nice and overwhelming shots of horses which really touch the heart. And it also says, that not everybody is a bad human being, although there are lots of them in the world. I missed Grimalkin, the cat, who was the Godolphin Arabian's beloved friend, not only through his bitter and difficult years, but also in the time, the wonderful horse was honored and admired by the people. The movie does not follow Marguerite Henry's book very close, it is understandable that a few changes make a movie much easier and do not damage the story. I would have loved to see some shots in Gogmaggog, England, where the famous Arabian horse found his home where he could stay and live a happy life. The story between the boy Akba and his friend Sham, the Godolphin Arabian, touches the soul.

A stirring movie, spanning three continents and an ocean, about a disadvantaged boy moved to transcend his handicaps through intelligence and excellence, out of his love for an Arabian horse he'd cared for since the horse's birth.

Sound like fun? Probably would be. I'd like to see that movie. Instead, we saw "King of the Wind."

It's an interesting idea done in by the main human character and, unfortunately, that's hard to shrug off. We meet scoundrels and nobility, we traverse desert and sea and countryside... but unfortunately, everywhere we turn we're beset by this dim-witted, obnoxious, resourceless boy, Agba.

I don't know that the eighteenth century showed much charity towards the disabled; I would think that a mute, to survive, would have to be quick-witted, sharp and resourceful. Not this kid. Scene after scene features him standing about (sorry for the pun) dumbly. He hasn't even worked out a response for those who ask him his name — EVER! — invariably waiting stupidly for someone else to explain that he's mute. Evidently even the thought of pointing at his mouth and shaking his head is beyond his grasp.

Again and again things unfairly go against Agba, and he's unable even to explain (though he can eventually write) that he's innocent, or even try to do anything about his situation other than go along with events in sullen helplessness. Agba depends on others to bail him out each time. The only thing about Agba is his dogged devotion to a horse who is, arguably, smarter than he — which is no great compliment to the equine.

The movie only gets a "4" because, having visited England, I enjoyed the costumes and locations and living nobility. It's a charitable score at that. I'd like to have seen a good movie about these events. Too bad this wasn't it.

A capturing story, my children loved it the first time and the twentieth time of viewing. It's a film that can be seen often and the magic doesn't disappear.

If you're fond of horses then it's a film to beat Black Beauty.

What more can I say?