{"id":32403,"date":"2014-02-25T04:43:09","date_gmt":"2014-02-25T09:43:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/?p=32403"},"modified":"2022-02-06T00:05:48","modified_gmt":"2022-02-06T05:05:48","slug":"movie-review-hercules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/movie-review-hercules\/","title":{"rendered":"Movie Review: Hercules"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Hercules
DVD cover Copyright Disney<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The 35th<\/sup> full-length animated feature in Disney history, Hercules<\/i> was released on June 27, 1997. It is based on Greek and Roman mythology and clocks in at 93 minutes.<\/p>\n

Plot Summary<\/b><\/p>\n

It\u2019s the greatest possible day in the universe, the day when a new god joins Mount Olympus. Zeus and Hera celebrate the birth of their son, Hercules, and the entire immortal family joyfully parties\u2026well, not quite the entire family.<\/p>\n

Disgusted with his life in the underworld, Hades devises an evil scheme to steal the show, ordering his sidekicks, Pain and Panic, to kidnap and kill Hercules.<\/p>\n

The title character miraculously survives the ordeal, but he\u2019s not unscathed. Indeed, to rejoin the gods, Hercules must prove himself to be a \u201ctrue hero.\u201d Can he accomplish this feat?<\/p>\n

Themes<\/b><\/p>\n

Though the setting of Hercules <\/i>isn\u2019t reminiscent of contemporary life on the surface, many of the film\u2019s themes, including human worth, heroism, and love, are applicable to today\u2019s world.<\/p>\n

Often times, people may question their worth for various reasons such as bullying or general struggles. It\u2019s important to remember that everyone has a place in the world; one\u2019s role just has to be uncovered. Such was the case with Hercules, who transformed from an insecure teen to a confident player with the help of a trainer named Philoctetes.<\/p>\n

Philoctetes\u2014I\u2019ll just refer to him as \u201cPhil\u201d from now on because he prefers that moniker\u2014shows that while others can help an individual realize his or her potential, a person is ultimately in control of his or her own fate. Phil guided Hercules well, but as demonstrated by the female protagonist Megara, he wasn\u2019t always correct in his assessments, and Hercules was often forced to think for himself. This situation reminds me of the posters in my high school classrooms that said, \u201cTeachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

The flick shows that fame and heroism don\u2019t always go together. While the entire populous of Thebes may cherish Hercules and possess his merchandise \u2014seriously, I didn\u2019t realize sneakers and credit cards were so popular in Ancient Greece!\u2014the title character still isn\u2019t necessarily a hero, because as we often see in today\u2019s world, many famous people can be aloof, while some great individuals don\u2019t garner much recognition.<\/p>\n

As Hercules gradually discovers, selflessness is a key component of heroism. The situation surrounding his relationship with Megara depicts selflessness because Hercules willingly risks his livelihood to protect her. I guess Merlin from The Sword and the Stone<\/i> (1963) was correct when he pronounced love to be a greater force than gravity!<\/p>\n

Humor<\/b><\/p>\n

With numerous jokes and visual gags, I find Hercules<\/i> to be among Disney\u2019s funniest animated films.<\/p>\n

Most of the characters, even the villains, are witty, corny, and sarcastic, and many of their lines will catch your attention. For example, when Hercules struggles with his words, Megara sarcastically asks him whether he\u2019s \u201calways this articulate.\u201d Obviously, the humor here won\u2019t mesh with everyone, but it\u2019s definitely present.<\/p>\n

Additionally, gags that seek to connect Ancient Greece to 1990s American culture are inserted throughout the movie. We encounter action figures, traffic signals, Michael Jordan-esque sneakers and billboards, and props from The Lion King<\/i> (1994). Disney even pokes some fun at itself by placing a Hercules gift shop in the film! This store may not be positioned at a theme park attraction exit, but it\u2019ll suffice.<\/p>\n

One of the funniest scenes in my opinion is the segment towards the end where the Titans break for Mount Olympus in the wrong direction. A similar scene featuring Merlin, Arthur, and a pesky wolf is present in The Sword in the Stone<\/i>.<\/p>\n

Music<\/b><\/p>\n

The music in Hercules<\/i> is very upbeat and, in my opinion, excellent. It\u2019s one of those soundtracks where I enjoy the songs on their own terms, not just within the film\u2019s context, and struggle to remove said songs from my head.<\/p>\n

Performed by the Muses, who rescue the film from its initial boring narrator, \u201cThe Gospel Truth\u201d serves as the movie\u2019s major thread. After an initial performance at the open, this number is reprised with varying moods several times thereafter.<\/p>\n

Articulating Hercules\u2019 desire to find his niche, \u201cGo the Distance\u201d is probably the film\u2019s flagship song. I consider the version in the movie proper to be more subdued than Michael Bolton\u2019s rendition during the end credits, partly because the in-film performance is surrounded by melancholy plot context and partly because I think Bolton\u2019s voice is epic.<\/p>\n

I find Megara\u2019s song \u201cI Won’t Say (I’m in Love)\u201d to be underrated. I had no recollection of this number before I re-watched the film recently, but I really enjoyed it. I thought the tune was catchy, and I found the theme about the conflicts of true love to be relatable to everyday life.<\/p>\n

In the Parks<\/b><\/p>\n

Hercules<\/i> doesn\u2019t hold a major place at Walt Disney World or Disneyland. No attractions based on the film exist, and the characters, namely Hercules, Megara, and Hades, rarely appear.<\/p>\n

Overall<\/b><\/p>\n

With its combination of great humor, catchy music, and interesting thematic elements, I think Hercules<\/i> is one of Disney\u2019s most underrated films. I definitely recommend giving it a watch, and in the words of the Muses, \u201cThat\u2019s the gospel truth!\u201d<\/p>\n

What do you think of Hercules? Let me know in a comment!<\/i><\/p>\n

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Sponsored Ad:<\/strong>\u00a0 Would you like to help support The Mouse For Less website in continuing their mission of being THE Disney vacation planning resource?\u00a0 You can do so by purchasing Hercules<\/em> from our affiliate link through Amazon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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