Customer Reviews

Hercules

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

I'm not going to say a whole lot about the movie itself because I want to discuss the DVD itself.

Hercules is a fun movie with some good animation, catchy songs, and lots of in-jokes and satire. I don't consider it a Disney classic, but I do recommend the movie for kids and adults.

The DVD version of it isn't exactly the best, but it does have some good special features. I always like watching the "Making of..." featurettes on DVDs (especially animated movies).

The quality of the film is more like movie theater quality than DVD, but I like it. All that's missing is a giant screen and a big sound system.

Overall, the movie is great and the DVD is pretty good. I say buy it if you get the chance.

Ok, its not anywhere close to the original tale of Hercules, and the anitmation is kind of odd, but who cares? this is a funny movie. The little jokes that kids wouldn't get crack me up, and so what if its not The Lion King or one of the other great Disney movies. Its fun, and thats about all i care about when I watch a movie.

An unusually clever and satisfying movie, suitable for both children and literate adults. The plot is a Disney template: Hercules must discover his identity, learn the true nature of heroism, do his parents proud, and win the girl, all of which he achieves by an act of self sacrifice.

A run of the mill coming of age story, then, but several things make the film more than a boring rip-off of ancient themes. First, the drawing has an elegantly fresh look to it, with many witty visual references to Greek vase paintings, sculpture, architectural lines and so forth. There are also quite a few quips and puns for grownups (Thebes is the Big Olive, for example, its residents speaking in New York accents) including plenty of cute jokes about the classics. Pedants can enjoy cataloguing the allusions and "mistakes".

The music is pleasant, a lot of it sung by an updated "chorus" of gospel singers. Finally, the characters are vividly sketched, with Hades really stealing the show. Some of the animated figures amusingly caricature their real life voice actors. (See The Making Of supplement.) The rich background of the myths gives the story more depth and darkness than it would otherwise have.

Bottom line: appeals to a different audience than some Disney favorites, but a very smart production with many original aspects. Too much neglected.

When the evil Hades, god of the underworld, learns that if Zeus and Hera's newborn son Hercules fights his world takeover plan, he will fail, Hades' idiotic helpers Pain and Panic kidnap the tyke in an attempt to turn him mortal and kill him. But before baby Herc could drink the last drop of the potion, a middle aged couple intersept. They take young Hercules in and raise him as their own. The only problem Hercules has is his god like strength, which he retained because he did not drink the last drop of the potion.

Hercules grows up feeling like he doesn't belong and goes on a journey to find his true identity. When he discovers that he is the son of Zeus, he is told that the only way he can regain entry to Mount Olympus is to become a true hero.

So with the help of Phil, a satyr, and Pegasus he begins training to become a hero. He ends up meeting Meg, a young woman who sold her soul to Hades, and falling in love with her. Meg is torn between loyalty to Hades and her growing love for "Wonder Boy".

When Hades strikes a deal with Hercules to give up his strength for 24 hours, Hades frees the Titans to take over Olympus. Due to one technicality in the deal, Hercules regains his strength and defeats Hades. But when he learns of Meg's death, he strikes a deal with Hades to rescue her and take her place in the underworld.

A little bit too modern for a story set in Ancient Greece but this movie contains all the essential elements of a true Disney classic.

Precisely BECAUSE of the complete disregard for the original mythology, this movie is a superb teaching tool for middle schoolers. After a unit on Mythology, the kids can identify for themselves the many creative changes Disney opted to make, and even better, they can figure out for themselves why Disney made those choices. It makes the kids savvier media consumers, they enjoy spotting the "mistakes," and the music is terrific and holds their attention. We all enjoy the fact that nearly every time the Muses sing "and that's the Gospel truth!" they're referencing something completely FALSE. And the group scene at the christening makes a great "test" of those symbolic identifiers--the kids like being able to identify the gods and goddesses based on the clues in their appearance.

Hercules is a total knockout - for the first half of the movie. The second half falls flat. Hercules has one of the best animated film scores ever. To promote the film, Disney had a traveling "troupe" of singers in Greek costume perform at malls around the country. The executives apparently even appreciated the incredibly orignal gospel-style songs with witty and joyful lyrics. The rollicking songs get a big "Amen!" The fabulous Muses are wonderful creations.

The story involves Hercules as an awkward boy trying to fit in with the humans who have adopted him. After he inadvertently causes a disaster at the marketplace, Herc strikes out on his own, and is shocked to discover his Mt. Olympus heritage. Megara, the female romantic interest, is not very likeable as a fallen woman redeemed by love. You feel Herc deserves better.

Since Aladdin, Disney has used celebrities as character voices. Hercules in particular benefits from this, with James Woods ad libbing hilariously as Hades, lord of the underworld, and Danny DeVito, who brings heart and laughs as "Phil" the Satyr.

Hercules is just one of the many fun Disney movies like any other. Therefore you can expect a fun movie to watch. Just read any other review or think of any other Disney movie you have seen.

Hercules has some funny elements. First of all the voices of James Woods and Danny DeVito are funny and add something to the characters they 'play'.

There are some inside joke only adults will understand. The funniest bit is when Hercules gets famous and the people in Greece start making merchandise for him. Vases, little statues and drinking cup (think McD) all with his image. This of course happens every time Disney brings out a movey. Even a Herculas credit card is in the movie! It's the highlight in an otherwise standard Disney movie.

After the success of Pocahontas, Disney came out with a slew of Disney films based on the legendary Heros. After Pocahontas, Hercules was made. One thing that I like about this movie is that it is artistically different from all the others. It is very bold and bright. The voice casting is great, as well as the animation. The computer effects are also really good. The elements add up to a funny Disney film that is worth seeing.

Hercules is a very good comedy. But I think they should re-rate this movie PG for animated violence. Kids might get scared if they see this movie. I don't know why Black Cauldren is PG. It's not even scary.

This and Jimmy Neutron are my 3 year old's favorite movie. Typically, he doesn't like bad guys that are too scary. Hades, played by James Woods is great and mixes funny jokes in with his evil ways very well. The music is well done and the story is appropriate for kids of all ages. In our house we are sensitive as to whether a "G" movie is actually "G". This one is and it is one of Disney's best kid's movies in the past decade.