Just caught Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron on HBO, and have to say that the film, while rendered and acted beautifully, is some of the worst Dead White Male-bashing I've seen this side of Jebediah Springfield.
First of all, the American Indians were not the bastions of all thing natural. Few people know that the "Native American" tribes of ancient times hunted the North American horse to extinction. Just because we see that their ropes are a little less tight around Spirit's neck and that they use wool blankets instead of saddles does not mean that they understand the nature of horses any better.
The Union Army were baseless, barbaric savages? Yeah, that's a really authentic portrayal. Any fool that has experience with raising horses knows that you do not treat the animals this way. In the so-called "Wild West" or "Old West" horses were lovingly and respectfually taken care of...otherwise, they would not be adequate beasts of burden or an excellent mode of transportation. Cowboys and soldiers treated their horses very well...nothing like what is portrayed by these Nazi-like Union soldiers in this film.
The evil transcontinental railroad? Not hardly. And while we're at it, let's make the horse a terrorist. SPOILERS AHEAD. He could have killed those men when he caused that steam engine to roll back down that hill, as well as the ensuing explosions and fire. What kind of message does that show to children?
I urge parents with any amount of intelligence to keep this film away from their kids, or at least explain the great amount of fiction that lies within it.
First of all, the American Indians were not the bastions of all thing natural. Few people know that the "Native American" tribes of ancient times hunted the North American horse to extinction. Just because we see that their ropes are a little less tight around Spirit's neck and that they use wool blankets instead of saddles does not mean that they understand the nature of horses any better.
The Union Army were baseless, barbaric savages? Yeah, that's a really authentic portrayal. Any fool that has experience with raising horses knows that you do not treat the animals this way. In the so-called "Wild West" or "Old West" horses were lovingly and respectfually taken care of...otherwise, they would not be adequate beasts of burden or an excellent mode of transportation. Cowboys and soldiers treated their horses very well...nothing like what is portrayed by these Nazi-like Union soldiers in this film.
The evil transcontinental railroad? Not hardly. And while we're at it, let's make the horse a terrorist. SPOILERS AHEAD. He could have killed those men when he caused that steam engine to roll back down that hill, as well as the ensuing explosions and fire. What kind of message does that show to children?
I urge parents with any amount of intelligence to keep this film away from their kids, or at least explain the great amount of fiction that lies within it.