Hercules (1997 Disney Animated Film)
Synopsis
Disney’s Hercules does not fail to capture a vibrant retelling of the Greek mythological hero Hercules. Hercules is in fact the son of Zeus and Hera who was taken up by Hades, the God of the Underworld, who deprived him of his immortality. Due to being raised as a mortal but with unnatural strength, Hercules sets foot to prove that he is a true hero and earns the right to be among the deities. On his way he meets the satyr Phil (his trainer), Pegasus (his wing man horse), and with Megara; a shrewd woman who happens to be Hades’ lover. The movie incorporates comedy, action and some touching fragments touched with great music inbetween.
Awards & Wins
- Academy Award Nomination: Best Original Song for “Go the Distance” composed by Alan Menken and David Zippel.
- Golden Globe Nomination: Best Original Song for “Go the Distance.”
- Many tracks from the film including “Zero to Hero” and the “Go the Distance” became known Hollywood songs further adding to the reputation of the film.
Cast & Crew
- Directors: Ron Clements, John Musker
- Producer: Alice Dewey Goldstone
- Screenplay: Ron Clements, John Musker, Donald McEnery, Bob Shaw, Irene Mecchi
- Cast:
- Tate Donovan as Hercules (voice)
- Danny DeVito as Phil (voice)
- James Woods as Hades (voice)
- Susan Egan as Megara (voice)
- Rip Torn as Zeus (voice)
- Bobcat Goldthwait and Matt Frewer as Pain and Panic (voices)
- Roger Bart as Young Hercules (singing voice for “Go the distance”).
IMDb Ratings
The movie has an IMDb rating of 7.3/10 and is backed by over two hundred and fifty thousand reviews, signifying the film’s stand as one of the cherished delights in Disney’s wealth of great animated movie classics.
Personal Insights
The film earns its stripes with its exquisite waist deep in color animation and combines Greek mythology with humor and gospel sounding music to an interesting level. Hades portrayed by James Woods plays a pivotal role and without a doubt ranks him among Disney’s classic villains. Love, for example, the relationship of Hercules and Megara is just one of the character differences that enrich the plot in addition to Phil providing a comic heart to the film as a coach. The basic view that the film conveys is that heroism is not a superpower but the size of the heart a person has, a revelation that carries value for many generations.
Cultural Significance
The movie presented a unique approach to Greek mythology by integrating the classic narrative in true Disney fashion. Including gospel music as a theme was a somewhat shocking and dramatic choice, but it made the story come to life in a new way. Although it did not perform as well in the box office as some other films during the Disney Renaissance period (The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast), the film admires a fanbase owing to its humor, music, and even the popular James Woods. It also encouraged and nurtured interest in the Greek myth to younger generations.
To relive the sight of these issues in America, the viewer can refer below the trailer.