Pocahontas recieved bad reviews!?

[Idioteque...]

The music in this film nice, it might not be the most historically correct movie out there but it does contain a great story. It's a fun movie, I honestly don't see anything wrong with it but then again, RT gave Bolt (which is part of crappy Disney) a 72%.

What's the general consensus on this forum? Like it? Hate it? I personally cannot wait for the blu.

[jhiggy23]

I didn't have much of a problem with it--it was pretty good, albeit completely inaccurate. I studied it on my Native American Image in Film class. It is confusing to me, and was then, why Irene Bedard and Russell Means, two major Native American activists, participated in such a stereotypical film. Means later said it was one of his biggest mistakes.

that being said, I think the music was good and think it would be a good blu. I probably wouldn't buy it, though.

[toef]

I hated it.

It didn't come close to living up to the last 4 musical Disney movies.

The next few got gradually better (Pocahontas < Hunchback < Hercules < Mulan) but none seemed to match the classics from the early 90s (Mermaid, Aladdin, Lion King, BatB).

[Idioteque...]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

I didn't have much of a problem with it--it was pretty good, albeit completely inaccurate. I studied it on my Native American Image in Film class. It is confusing to me, and was then, why Irene Bedard and Russell Means, two major Native American activists, participated in such a stereotypical film. Means later said it was one of his biggest mistakes.

that being said, I think the music was good and think it would be a good blu. I probably wouldn't buy it, though.

That's true but the film did get its message across, a clear of example of the message is expressed in "Colors of the Wind" and even though there are story inaccuracies, it does give children a broad view of who she was and her significance in history.

Originally Posted by toefer

I hated it.

It didn't come close to living up to the last 4 musical Disney movies.

The next few got gradually better (Pocahontas < Hunchback < Hercules < Mulan) but none seemed to match the classics from the early 90s (Mermaid, Aladdin, Lion King, BatB).

I heavily prefer Pocahontas over Mulan. I never cared for Mulan. I'd have to watch Hunchback and Hercules again though.

[sokrman14]

Hercules is near the top of my list for Disney movies

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by toefer

I hated it.

It didn't come close to living up to the last 4 musical Disney movies.

The next few got gradually better (Pocahontas < Hunchback < Hercules < Mulan) but none seemed to match the classics from the early 90s (Mermaid, Aladdin, Lion King, BatB).

Agree on this one! Especially Hunchback, what a terrible film! My wife and I took our daughter and walked out on that one. In no way was that meant for children.. Disney droped the ball with all of them after Lion King (save Tarzan)

[masoud90]

One of my favorite Disney princess movies. I LOVE it. Great songs, and beautiful animation.

[Mr.White]

I watched "Brother Bear" on DVD with my nephews the other day, not a bad Disney film at all!

[F-Man]

Originally Posted by Elvis

Agree on this one! Especially Hunchback, what a terrible film! My wife and I took our daughter and walked out on that one. In no way was that meant for children..

It's unfortunate that the movie was deceivingly rated G, but you shouldn't judge the quality of a movie by whom it targets... There must be plenty of movies not meant for children that you like.

[Foggy]

have you even seen BOLT?

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Elvis

Agree on this one! Especially Hunchback, what a terrible film! My wife and I took our daughter and walked out on that one. In no way was that meant for children.. Disney droped the ball with all of them after Lion King (save Tarzan)

Not that Pocahontas was "too shocking" for children, but it was coming down to the end of the Katzenberg Formula days--
And although the animators thought they were creating a beautiful "adult" piece about romance and swirling leaves, audiences thought:
A) The "romance" bored kids silly, hence the marketing focusing entirely on "Look, a funny racoon!"
B) The usual cookie-cutter "Shouldn't we all understand each other?" Disney message was here steamrollered by the corporate heads into a bit of intentional Eisner-era "Ahem, y'know, shouldn't those Native folks in Virginia get along with their new neighbors, hint-hint?" propaganda during their ill-fated Disney America speculation (and don't the snotty/panderingly self-righteous lyrics to "Colors of the Wind" just make you want to punch somebody?),
thus giving us
C) THE most insultingly corny, wimpy and paper-target one-note Katzenberg-era sniffy-gay Disney villain since Scar: Gentlemen, a Disney classic is Only As Good As Its Villain, and Ratcliffe was an insult to the Evil Queen, Cruella deVille and Captain Hook....Shame, sir, shame.

Hunchback only flopped because the pump had been primed for noticing how by-the-numbers repetitive Katz musicals were becoming (and y'know, Hercules wasn't really that bad, for being the last straw on the audience's back)--
But HoND also made the mistake of Katz thinking they now had a "cottage industry" for adapting their movies for Broadway stage musicals, and gave us a claustrophobic "stage-ready" animated where the characters stood around singing, and all the action still seemed confined to two or three real-life Equity stage sets, so why animate it?

(Okay, now anybody want a defense of "Treasure Planet" or "Home on the Range"? )

[P@t_Mtl]

Pocahontas was my second least liked Disney movies of the last 20 years, number 1 and 3 being Tarzan & Hunchback. For me the 90's were not a very good decade for Disney in their big releases, Only Beauty & The Beast, Mulan & Hercules were hits with me.

[ScarredLungs]

Originally Posted by Foggy

have you even seen BOLT?

Yes and I love it. (Although the question was directed elsewhere, I'd thought I'd answer) As for Pocahontas, it was a good movie. It had good animation and a fun soundtrack.

[Blu-Ron]

Originally Posted by Idioteque...

The music in this film nice, it might not be the most historically correct movie out there but it does contain a great story. It's a fun movie, I honestly don't see anything wrong with it but then again, RT gave Bolt (which is part of crappy Disney) a 72%.

What's the general consensus on this forum? Like it? Hate it? I personally cannot wait for the blu.

You seem to be my complete opposite when it comes to movies. I thought BOLT was brilliant and POCA horrible (agreed on a good soundtrack).

[KubrickFan]

The only thing I truly hated about Pocahontas was the constant interfering of the 'cute' sidekicks, although I do give Disney some points to not have them talk too. The entire movie was a bit mediocre to me, I thought The Hunchback of Notre Dame was a much superior movie. Yes, it also had annoying sidekicks, but those I could stand. Plus that movie has much better songs. Now, I don't hate any of the Disney movies (even liked Chicken Little, surprisingly) and I think some of them get far too much hate.

[Nerdkiller likes BD]

Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I actually liked The Hunchback. Maybe its because I didn't read the original novel. I liked the way they took the whole thing seriously in a Disney movie. But trust me, even if you never liked the movie you gotta admit that Hellfire was brilliant.

[GLaDOS]

Eh, I liked Snow White, Cinderella and Mulan better. i have mixed feelings about Pocahontas, but it's an okay movie.

[Idioteque...]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Not that Pocahontas was "too shocking" for children, but it was coming down to the end of the Katzenberg Formula days--
And although the animators thought they were creating a beautiful "adult" piece about romance and swirling leaves, audiences thought:
A) The "romance" bored kids silly, hence the marketing focusing entirely on "Look, a funny racoon!"
B) The usual cookie-cutter "Shouldn't we all understand each other?" Disney message was here steamrollered by the corporate heads into a bit of intentional Eisner-era "Ahem, y'know, shouldn't those Native folks in Virginia get along with their new neighbors, hint-hint?" propaganda during their ill-fated Disney America speculation (and don't the snotty/panderingly self-righteous lyrics to "Colors of the Wind" just make you want to punch somebody?),
thus giving us
C) THE most insultingly corny, wimpy and paper-target one-note Katzenberg-era sniffy-gay Disney villain since Scar: Gentlemen, a Disney classic is Only As Good As Its Villain, and Ratcliffe was an insult to the Evil Queen, Cruella deVille and Captain Hook....Shame, sir, shame.

Hunchback only flopped because the pump had been primed for noticing how by-the-numbers repetitive Katz musicals were becoming (and y'know, Hercules wasn't really that bad, for being the last straw on the audience's back)--
But HoND also made the mistake of Katz thinking they now had a "cottage industry" for adapting their movies for Broadway stage musicals, and gave us a claustrophobic "stage-ready" animated where the characters stood around singing, and all the action still seemed confined to two or three real-life Equity stage sets, so why animate it?

(Okay, now anybody want a defense of "Treasure Planet" or "Home on the Range"? )

Scar corny!? I think not, my favorite Disney villain, he was so sinister! Jeremy Irons did such an excellent job with the voice acting. I think without Jeremy Irons Scar wouldn't have such an impact. I'm surprised not many like this film here. Kind of sad.

and I personally think the movie is great for the message it's trying to portray.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Idioteque...

The music in this film nice, it might not be the most historically correct movie out there but it does contain a great story. It's a fun movie, I honestly don't see anything wrong with it but then again, RT gave Bolt (which is part of crappy Disney) a 72%.

What's the general consensus on this forum? Like it? Hate it? I personally cannot wait for the blu.

Tisk tisk Sir. BOLT was a fun time at the theater.

[toef]

Originally Posted by EricJ

C) THE most insultingly corny, wimpy and paper-target one-note Katzenberg-era sniffy-gay Disney villain since Scar: Gentlemen, a Disney classic is Only As Good As Its Villain, and Ratcliffe was an insult to the Evil Queen, Cruella deVille and Captain Hook....Shame, sir, shame.

Good points, except for C.

Lion King is frequently considered among the greatest Disney animated movies, and you yourself mentioned how poor of a villain Scar was. Jaffar was also a pretty weak villain, though Aladdin doesn't receive nearly as much praise as Lion King, so maybe that ties into it a little.

Pinocchio's another great one that doesn't have much in the way of great villains.

And on and on...

I think great villains can help, but they're only part of what makes the movies great or not.