The lowest point in Disney's opportunistic revisionism of source stories for its animated features in the 1990s, Pocahontas presents the title character (voiced by Irene Bedard) as a voluptuous Indian babe who falls for the British plunderer Captain John Smith (Mel Gibson). Half-baked if trendy paganism abounds in the film's depiction of nature as possessing consciousness (though talking trees certainly aren't new to cartoons). But the dubious legitimacy of the film's premise and characterisations calls everything into question. The songs by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz--while Oscar-winning--fall short of the standard Menken achieved in superior Disney predecessors including The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Failed historical lesson but has its redeeming points With Pocahontas as an ancestor, I saw this movie in grade school and then followed it up with mountains of reading and research when it first came out. Disney has been well known for their distortion of stories and tale, but that generally doesn't bother me. Beauty and the Beast is my favourite movie of all time even though it differs drastically from the original tale. Disney went too far, however, when they decided to tackle American history and then twist it for their means. A few being, the aging of... more info
Underrated classic Pocahontas is a sweeping spectacle of a film, which desreves greater recognition than it has recieved thus far. Inevitably, coming hot off the heels of The Lion King, Pocahontas was never going to match its success, but that doesnt make it any less enjoyable.
It is the first Disney animated feature to be based on historical events, and perhaps this shines through as the film is perhaps more serious than other Disney fare.
The stroy deals with Captain John Smith, who, along with a group of sailors... more info
a childhood memory I remember watching this in the cinema, and i loved it, so much so that i had to drag my mum then next weekend to the cinema again! This film has the same themes of other disney films, hope, romance, conflict, freedom, truth. but it has a certain quality to it that just makes it so special. The musical score is great- Colours of the Wing, and Just around the River Bend are two stand outs. Buy it for the songs, and of course the story!
Hey Nonny Nonny! Buy this for the music, The original score by Alan Menken is his best score and his songs are superb. What makes the music so brilliant is it's adult and heartfelt composition and orchestration. Listen to the score on it's own and you could very easily be listening to the phillamonic playing a modern classical movement. Without Menken Disney suffers badly and Pocahontas although well written and beautifully animated is my favourite because of his contribution that and the work of orchestrator Danny... more info
