Hercules is one of the films of Disney's Renaissance that seems to have been forgotten by the company, along with Tarzan, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame and such. Like those two, it deserves much, much better treatment. It was actually the last Disney film that involved Alan Menken until the disastrousHome On The Range. Let's just say that this film should really be considered his last film up until Enchanted. Why? The music is some of Disney's best. Its Award Bait song, Go the Distance, actually does something amazing; it's a Michael Bolton song that actually works, a feat that wouldn't be repeated until The Lonely Island's "Captain Jack Sparrow." Hell, they even managed to make Danny De Vito sing well for the catchy One Last Hope.
As for the story, it's an In Name Only version of Greek mythology, as are the majority of modern adaptations; it owes far more to Superman and Rocky than the actual mythological Hercules. However, this is hardly a bad thing in this film's case. While Everybody Hates Hades usually works to the detriment of the film, here, Hades is easily the show stealer. He's voiced by James Woods, who delivers one of the most Evilly Afabble Disney villains since Ratigan. Pretty much everything Hades does in the film is a Crowning Moment Of Funny. Since Hades is far more comedic than Nightmare Fuel, the usual Disney Accidental Nightmare Fuel is provided by the monsters he pits against Herc, especially the Hydra and the Titans, who are here portrayed as elementalEldritch Abominations.
As for the rest of the characters, Hercules is, like most other Disney heroes of the 90s, much more of a character than early heroes like Prince Charming; he wants to find his way back home with his family, which, in a rather unusual case, are both alive, since they are gods.
This film goes the distance
Hercules is one of the films of Disney's Renaissance that seems to have been forgotten by the company, along with Tarzan, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame and such. Like those two, it deserves much, much better treatment. It was actually the last Disney film that involved Alan Menken until the disastrous Home On The Range. Let's just say that this film should really be considered his last film up until Enchanted. Why? The music is some of Disney's best. Its Award Bait song, Go the Distance, actually does something amazing; it's a Michael Bolton song that actually works, a feat that wouldn't be repeated until The Lonely Island's "Captain Jack Sparrow." Hell, they even managed to make Danny De Vito sing well for the catchy One Last Hope.
As for the story, it's an In Name Only version of Greek mythology, as are the majority of modern adaptations; it owes far more to Superman and Rocky than the actual mythological Hercules. However, this is hardly a bad thing in this film's case. While Everybody Hates Hades usually works to the detriment of the film, here, Hades is easily the show stealer. He's voiced by James Woods, who delivers one of the most Evilly Afabble Disney villains since Ratigan. Pretty much everything Hades does in the film is a Crowning Moment Of Funny. Since Hades is far more comedic than Nightmare Fuel, the usual Disney Accidental Nightmare Fuel is provided by the monsters he pits against Herc, especially the Hydra and the Titans, who are here portrayed as elemental Eldritch Abominations.
As for the rest of the characters, Hercules is, like most other Disney heroes of the 90s, much more of a character than early heroes like Prince Charming; he wants to find his way back home with his family, which, in a rather unusual case, are both alive, since they are gods.
In short, this film is much better than The Nostalgia Chick says; it's not quite The Lion King or Aladdin, but it's certainly no slouch like Pocahontas.