1 Not the best Disney, but it's still excelent.
I am a somewhat animation aficionado and I would like to put some things in pesrpective regarding this movie.
First off, I would like to say to all of you that wrote a review based on the way Disney follow the true story of Hercules: GET A GRIP. Everybody knows already that Disney has the right to take their own approach when it comes to stories. If you want to learn about Greek Mythology, GO TO THE LIBRARY. If you don't like to read, then you can always buy one of those horrible and boring to death movies with real actors. (Kevin Sorbo as Hercules? Talk about imagination!
About the animation, I would like to say that Disney's animators are the some of the best out there. The studio reached its peak when it comes to technique with the Lion King.
The only thing I can criticize about this movie, is the scene with the computer monster. In my opinion, it looked pretty plastic. I would have tried to make it into regular animation, but I understand, they got excited about trying something new. Oh well!
I think this movie is excellent for kids and adults. It's funny, the songs are great, the design of the characters is appealing, it's fast-paced and, why not?, inspiring.
2 Zero to Hero
First, let me start off by saying that I am quite aware that this movie very much alters the original story of "Hercules". But I have learned over time that Disney does that with movies. They sugar-coat the story until it is simple and appropriate enough for children to enjoy. They did it with "Pocahontas", "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", and probably some other movies that I don't know of. In the true story of Pocahontas, Pocahontas was just a young teen when she met the older John Smith, and the original "Hunchback of Notre Dame" ended up being one of the most disgusting, disturbing books I've ever read in my life...okay, now that I've said that, on to my review!
"Hercules" is a really good movie! It has comedy, romance, great animation, a good plot, and great songs. "Hercules" used to be one of my favorite movies, even though Hades, God of the Underworld, scared me (I was three or four). I loved the romantic parts with Megara and Hercules, and I thought the part where Zeus makes Pegasus was cute, and...if you like Disney cartoon movies, then I suggest just seeing it for yourself! And don't be surprised if some of the songs get stuck in your head!
3 Who put the glad in gladiator?
i love greek mythology , and I don't care how "inaccurate" the story line is!! Its a kids movie!!! Everyone seems to go haywire if anything is inaccurate, please save it for the people who are snobs like you. This movie has an awesome score and is hilarious. I think it's a great adaption of the Hercules Legend, why are you even reading this?!!? go see it!! make your own opinion!! "Whose daring deeds are great theater?"
4 Witty Disney
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.
5 Funny
I really enjoyed this movie and so did my pre-teens and toddlers. The toddlers are watching it right now. It's funny and bright. You have to watch it at least twice to catch all the funny stuff.
6 A Walt Disney Masterpiece HERCULES
Disney's 35th animated flick which isn't the best but its but it's pretty good.@ x's funny & it can be boring but it has a great score with great songs.I think Alan Menken is one of the best composers ever.Buy this Limited Issue!
7 GOOD MOVIE BUT WEAK DVD RELEASE
Well Disney definitely has a class system when it comes to their DVD releases. At the top of the heap is their platinum editions, loaded with outstanding extras and at the bottom is the Gold collection....which doesn't.
Too bad. I actually thought Hercules was a pretty fun movie. Technically, and given the financial constraints of modern animation, this is a good movie. Of course the Disney people fiddled with the story line and the character names, but name me the last Disney film that stayed "true" to its origins.
Production values were up to Disney standards (which means a lot), and the story is guaranteed not to offend anyone's sense of PC. You can feel safe tossing this into the VCR and plunking the kids in front of it for a hour or so. They'll enjoy it, even if they miss a lot of the "adult"-level humor.
The approach is fresh and interesting - recasting the story of Hercules as if he was a modern day sports hero with his own 'Air-Herc' sandals and 'Herculade' soft-drink. The Greek Chorus, a Dreamgirl-style lineup who move the plot along, was a wonderful touch. Tate Donovan is effective, earnest and yet naive as Hercules. James Wood's Hades is one of the best performances in any Disney film since Robin Williams as the genie in Aladdin and Robby Benson as the Beast in Beauty & The Beast. He adds to every scene and is a terrific villain. Kudos also to the animators of Pegasus - without being annoying he manages to be expressive, funny, and a terrific sidekick. They must have had a lot of fun doing him.
It may take great liberties with Greek Mythology but it'sstill a fun movie and deserved better treatment on DVD
8 good but not great
It is not easy to actually come to a conclusion about this movie. It does lack the enchantment that it could have had, given the material it was dealing with.
But the first movie in the Disney series to substitute enchantment for cheap humor, peppering in jokes and modern references, was The Sword In The Stone (1963).
The complaints about Hercules are similar to what can be said about The Sword The Stone.
This was not Disney's best offering, but the kids do love it, and they do laugh a lot wile watching it.
The music is good, if not quite like classics such as The Lion King, Prince of Egypt and Anastasia.
The scenes of the battle against the hydra and the Titans, and the singing gospel girls on the vases, where superb. Hercules (Tate Donovan) and Megara (Susan Egan) and Philoctetes (Danny De Vito) where not bad. Zeus, Hera and Hades where portrayed badly. Though that is not the fault of those who read their parts, Rip Torn, Samantha Eggar and James Woods respectively but rather the script and animation.
And I did like the way those three witches with the one eye between them (Hades' minions) where done.
9 Hercules
This movie was very good! Funny, entertaining charecters, and an okay storyline.
Hercules is the story of a baby "god" (As innacurate as it is) that is turned mortal, forcing him to live with mortal parents. Hercules grows up with the mortal people, only to discover he is not one of them, sending him on a quest to become worthy of being a "god" once more. Along the way, he encounters Hades, the evil lord of the underworld, Megara, the girl he falls in love with, and many other charecters.
I would recommend this movie.
10 The worst movie I have EVER seen!
This was such a horrible movie. I hated it as a kid and I hate it even more now. When I was a kid a loved watching the "Hercules" and "Xena" shows, true they weren't excellent or completely accurate with mythology but they were still very good in my eyes. This piece of dung that Disney made was so bad, I can't even sit through it now!
I hated how it majorly screwed up the Hercules legend ( This is something Disney if famous for doing, I don't mind the other stories and legends they've done this to because I liked those movies. This one I hate with a passion!) and how it made the main character come across as a self-absorbed pig! And the character designs were so Ugly! All of Disney's other works I have loved ( with the exception of Tarzan, that was a piece of crap as well and I hated it with a passion too!) but this movie was just horrible. If you're really want to watch it, rent it. Don't waste your money on this unworthy crap!
11 Great teaching tool
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.
12 Zero to Hero
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.
13 From Zero to Hero
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.
14 What? Disney spoofs itself??
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.
15 A Modern Disney Classic.
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.
16 Good Movie, but I think it should be PG.
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.
17 Amusing little movie
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.
18 Great Kids Movie
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.
19 A great movie
Disney did it again! This movie is wonderful. It is entertaining to kids and adults. The character Hades is supurb! A lot of reviews have said that this is a bad movie because it is inaccurrate. Why does this matter? It is a movie for kids and the real version of the story is very inappropritate for children. I think Disney did a wonderful job of making it a kids movie and telling the story appropriatly.
20 Does inaccuracy matter?
Alright, so many people have stated how Disney failed to put ancient Greek mythology into an animated movie. However, since you made the effort to even count the mistakes they made you must have realized how boring and cruel Greek mythology really is. Would you like Hercules to be killed in the end like in the legend? Sorry, that's not my idea of entertainment. Disney's Hercules shows us a take on Greek mythology that does not offend children in the first place. I was fourteen years old when this movie came to the theaters, and I loved it! I got interested in Greek mythology and still am. I do believe it was because of Hercules that I even started reading Greek mythology. I'm sure many other kids experienced the same.
Disney's Hercules is one of Disney's best animated movies and should be recommended although it does not describe the Greek legends on a 1:1 basis. Neither did Beauty and the Beast, neither did The Little Mermaid (God, who would have wanted to see Ariel die in the end!). That doesn't make the Disney movies bad, it just requires a littler more willingness to actually read the stories these movies are based on.
21 good movie....
Ok, first of all, this is loosly based on the Greek myth. Hercules was Zeus' illegitamate child with a mortal, which is why he wasn't allowed on Mt Olympus, but i guess that doesn't work well for kids, so the whole thing with Hades nad the Fates was a good way around that. Hercules also went crazy and killed Megera and her kids, but that also doesn't work well for kids, so that got axed too.
Aside from that, this is still one of my favorite Disney movies. It is funny in a way that a lot of kids wouldn get, makes me cry every time, and i think Hercules is just such a great tormented hero. Dunno. watch it and forget about myths and all the 'reality' that is forgotten about here, and just enjoy the movei for crying out loud! its a cartoon!
22 The worst movie in the history of Disney
Much as I am a fan of cute little Disney movies such as this, I must say, this one stunk. They got so many things wrong that it was just sickening. Here is a list of some of the main wrong things:
1) If this movie is about the Greek hero, why don't they CALL HIM BY HIS GREEK NAME? Yes, Hercules is his Roman name, and his Greek name is Heracles.
2) Just because his Greek name is Heracles, this does NOT mean he is the son of Hera. Heracles's mother is actually Princess Alcmena.
3) It was not Philoctetes the satyr who trained heroes like Odysseus, Jason, and Achilles, but Chiron the centaur. Philoctetes wasn't even a satyr to begin with.
4) When HERACLES is in that palace place, and he is being painted on that vase, he is wearing a lion's fur. That lion happens to be Scar, from the Lion King, and I suppose he was supposed to be the Nemean Lion. They look nothing alike!
5) In the scene where Pegasus is sort of falling in love with another winged horse (which happens to be Hades's minions Pain and Panic in disguise), it is PINK (gag!) with a heart on its butt, making it look very much like a My Little Pony. MY LITTLE PONIES DID NOT EXIST IN ANCIENT GREECE!
6) There are NINE muses, not five, and they are not supposed to sing gospel, which, as far as I know, did not exist in ancient Greece.
7) Pegasus the winged horse came from Medusa the Gorgon's severed neck. The movie just makes it look like he is born the normal way, or something.
There are just too many things wrong here to list. Honestly, this movie doesn't even deserve 1 star. I guess this movie is all right for advertising purposes, though, but it is so bad otherwise. So if anyone out there likes REAL Greek mythology, DON'T SEE THIS!! Leave it for 3-year-olds who like heroes like this.
23 Mythy
Disney's hercules was to be honest a little too inacurrate for my taste. To be honest with you, I only went to see it because James woods starred in it. He made that movie. The character hades was so original, excellently animated and so funny and yey menacing at the same time.
I was impressed with Meg, however. You could tell that she's 'the girl that smokes in the girls bathroom.' You find that she's the only disney girl that has had past boyfriends. She isnt an angel. She's not like 'save me! save me!'
Hercules himself was too much of a goody goody and that really spoiled the whole thing for me. Chizzled hunks just aren't my cup of jo but hey, what cn I say, you had to laugh when he knocked down that building at the beginning of the movie with a frisbee.
Phil...what to say about this guy...why? He was a waste, seriously. Ok, dannay dovito did a good job, and he even had his own song. Nice. But apart from that, Phil was a waste of ink.
As for the humour, I loved it. It was so funny but the jokes were aimed more at adults. 'somebody call ixii!' I mean, my little kids I look after looked at me blankly. they had no idea what that meant. They hardly laughed at all really the whole way through.
Anyway, apart from all that, if u are a fan of james woods, go see it. If u are a fan of greek mythology, don't go to see it. It is soo unlike the myths I was shocked.
But, overal it is good fun to watch and good for a laugh. As far as I'm concerned, when I watched it, I fasfoward to all the scenes with hades. the rest of them are boreing.
24 The only Disney movie that I hate with a vengeance....
If there is one Disney movie that I dare to call a disgrace, it would be this take on the Greek myth of Hercules. I understand that the movie has its fans, but I stand strongly by this rating. The biggest problem that this movie has is the overemphasis on too much comedy rather than true heroism. Even in ALADDIN (another inferior Disney movie which nevertheless got lucky thanks to Robin Williams' Genie), the humor was better balanced than in here. There is stuff to laugh at, yes, but jokes such as the "wearing HIS MERCHANDISE!!!!", "is my hair out?", and all others are packed so much within the film that it ultimately ends up becoming unfunny. Even the movie's so-called funniest character, Hades (voiced over-the-top by James Woods), falls flat on his face, delivering more comedy than malice. (And I wonder, did Disney even know that Hades was NOT a bad guy in the original Greek mythology?) I was also getting tired of seeing the references to the "Hercules" merchandise ala Disney style -- it makes the movie look, and feel, no doubt, like a commercial, not a movie. Obviously, Disney was trying to outdo ALADDIN by injecting all the jokes they could into this movie, and their failure is so spectacular. It's no wonder the movie was a major disappointment at both the box office and on video. I enjoy over-the-top comedy, but here it just didn't FEEL together, especially for scenes where there is NO comedy.
But there are other problems besides the forced comedy -- for one thing, Hercules is a HORRIBLE exaggeration of a muscular strongman. He starts out as a sympathetic young boy who is unable to control his strength but when he becomes a grownup... therein lies the intense dislike for him. So one-dimensional, so boastful, so annoying is Hercules that he ends up becoming the most unsympathetic character in the entire movie. Even the leading lady, Meg, is a disappointment. Sure, it's nice to have a character who changes from being cynical to a true friend, but it's handled so mechanically and so forced that she, too, is an unlovable character. All of this is not helped by a script which not only bastardizes the Greek myth (Odysseus, Jason, and Achilles failed Hercules' trainer? Hera LOVED Hercules? Zeus is a nice guy? Hades is evil?), but fails to engage in any way. The film's ultimate message that "a true hero is not made by the size of his strength but by the strength of his heart" is so poorly depicted that we actually find ourselves wishing that Hercules would indeed continue to be called "JERK-ules". Sorry, but a film which tries to be so funny and at the same time take itself seriously does not -- I repeat -- does NOT work.
Arguably the hugest injustice on the film is its soundtrack. Unlike some people, I actually enjoyed the gospel songs, but the inclusion of them in the film is only one other huge mistake on Disney's part. As fun as the songs are, they don't suit a film about Greek gods and heroes. I respect Alan Menken as a composer, but here he misfired. The other songs are not much better. "One Last Hope" sung by Danny DeVito is funny for a while, but is poorly composed and ill-suited. Meg's number is condescendingly weak, and even Hercules' song is awful. (I may have used it for a school alma mater, but that was before I truly realized how much of a dud it was.) Usually, songs are what make a Disney movie, but in HERCULES, it only is one more slapping insult to this joyless film.
I admit that I enjoyed HERCULES when I first saw it, but I began looking upon it with harsh skepticism when I saw that everybody else was. When I saw it again on video, I realized just how rotten a movie HERCULES was. I cannot recommend it to anybody. Before I even close off this review, I must say that there are few movies that offend me so strongly, but HERCULES did it for me. Disney has done so much better than this, and the film is so inconsistent as a whole that it only drives the final nail in the coffin. Search some of Disney's better movies instead -- HERCULES was, and still is to this day, a disgrace to come from the Mouse House, and a fine example on how NOT to make a masterpiece. Funny moments, good voiceovers and some occasionally amazing pieces of animation (the Hydra battle) cannot make up for a poor script, lackluster soundtrack, and unsympathetic characters.
25 How inaccurate can ya get?
Alright, I know, I know, this is a children's movie but still. First of all, Hera and Zeus were NOT happily married; she only married him because he raped her. Secondly, Hera was not Hercules' mom nor did she love him, she tried to kill him on numerous occasions. Hercules was one of the offspring of one of Zeus' many "consorts". Another thing, this is supposed to be Greek mythology, in Greek mythology Hercules was called Heracles and only become Hercules in Roman mythology. Also, there were nine muses not five. Narcissus would be dead and not up on Mount Olympus staring into a mirror; as soon as he discovered himself with his reflection in a lake, he stayed there and slowly died. Gah! I like this movie but it annoys me too much with all the mess ups in it.
26 Hercules and the magic mortal-making bottle
Contrary to the beliefs of the people who developed this film, it is possible to create an accurate Hercules adaptation without killing the myths behind them. Disney's Hercules was the worse conversion Disney has ever done. Hercules was a bastard, I know that's not family friendly, but it's true. His dad was married to Hera and slept around a lot! He did not drink a 'magic' bottle that made him half god. It would have been fine if they removed the incest, but A MAGIC MORTAL MAKING BOTTLE!!! I could have made Hercules more family friendly without doing this. The second thing that bothered me, the Gods and Titans -- all wrong. Third, the Christian/Modern elements. I hate when they try to a- modernize ancient times (only Flintstones did it in a way that was funny) and b- christianize a non-christian world (true the Xena & Hercules series did it, but in a way that worked. They didn't make Hades the equvalent of the Devil). Hades is not the devil with little demon minions, he's the ruler of the underworld, the land of the dead - all dead. Hades itself is not Hell, it's the underworld period. Hera hated Hercules, the second she was made his mother I concluded this film was stupid and never wanted to see it again. The fun part about doing a story about the Greek gods is so many of them walk the middle line - they are flawed super humans. But even if they had made Ares universally evil to fit into the Disney formula, I could have accepted it. Hey I liked the gospel muses, they actually could have worked -- in a better adaptation. The super-pet Pegasus could have even worked -- in a better adaptation. The changes to Hades, Hera, and the addition of the magic 'half-god' making bottle just killed it (plus those annoying demon minions). Pocahontas was modified in a way I could accept. I joke about all the things they got wrong, but I enjoy the movie and would recomend it for family entertainment. I would never recomend this, it morph the story into some unrecognizeable to anyone who knows anything about the greek myths.
27 Okay, I'm gonna try to make this short...
Hercules is a pretty good movie, even though it's not "right up there" with my favorites (It did, however, instill an interest in Greek mythology). As other reviewers have said, the animation is a bit cartoonier than usual, and it IS inaccurate. The music is a little above average (but how do we define average?) save for one stand-out: the Meg song. This film isn't a bad comedy, and the in-jokes know no bounds (read some Greek mythology, it will get funnier!)My favorite character would have to be Meg. The love story in this is very good, but, unlike in Pocahontas, gets the point across without taking over the whole essence of the film. All in all, this is a good movie. See it and write your own reviews!
28 Urk...
Okay, so I see so many bad reviews calling Pocahontas inaccurate but most for this movie say "Lighten up! It's a great movie!" However, I love Pocahontas and hate this movie. Why? Because Pocahontas kept the spirit of the story alive and generally got the same message across. This movie, as one review put it, lacks any respect or regard for Greek mythology.
First off, I will admit that I am a huge Greek mythology fan. I know that every Disney movie is inaccurate, and at all different degrees. However, I judge by the movie itself and am willing to accept inaccuracies if the movie is worth it. And indeed, Hercules is in no way worth it.
My friend said that Hercules seemed like an attempt to fit Greek characters into the typical Disney formula, which seems like a good way to summarize it. What were once engaging characters were made flat, lacking the realistic flaws that made them so endearingly human in the myths. Hercules is basically your perfect good guy hero, instead of the conceited, musclehead with a foul temper. I'd complain about Megara's persona certainly not belonging in that timeframe, but I love Susan Egan and she made it work. The only god who was really sort of accurate was Hermes. And I do agree that the gods were absolutely hideous, save Aphrodite.
My biggest complaint, though, goes with the thing that everyone praises: Hades. Yes, he is my favorite god and I am biased, but they threw away what is known about his personality and adapted him to fit their usual witty Disney villain. And yes, he was an entertaining character, but at what cost? The thing that I always liked about Hades was that he wasn't evil. Basically, they seemed to have said "Lord of the Underworld? Wow, that's a perfect villain!" In my opinion, someone like Ares would have been better-suited for being the villain. I mean, Pain and Panic originally belonged to him anyway! And if they had to really destroy Hades' character they could have at least had Persephone, too.
I did love the music, though, especially Megara's solo "I Won't Say I'm in Love."
29 This movie goes the distance!
Excellent songs.eye-popping animation and a great story combine to make "Hercules"a movie of mythic proportions!I love all these things.We begin with Herc's birth on Olympus.Hades.lord of the dead learns from the Fates that Hercules could foil his plan to rule all.His minions give him a potion that will make Hercules normal so they can kill him.Fortunately he keeps his strength-sadly he IS mortal and myst prove himself a true hero to return to Olympus.Can he go the distance?Buy this video and find out!
30 You go girl, Meg and 2 flaming thumbs up.
It's a very hip ancient Greece. Meg and Muses are the hippest chicks in greece. Our buddy Hercules, the son of the king of the gods is trained by Danny Devito and prayed upon by James Woods, deliciously, funny head of Hades. There are so many funny bits in this movie; Like Hades gives something 2 thumbs up and they alite in fire. We ranked this 17th out of 41. The 3 stars means we felt it was an above average movie. This is clearly a popular movie at Amazon as it ranks 1700 in sales that would put it in the top 10 of the 41 movies we are ranking. Hades in this movie, portrayed by Woods is one of my favorite Disney villains because some of the lines are laugh out loud funny.
What didn't we like? We thought that Disney has seen much better animation. They used CG here and some of it was very mediocre. We rank it 17th primarily based on the fact that we collectively like 16 movies better, and 24 less.
We had a lot of fun by gathering the family together to rank the 41 Disney movies we have that include some cartoon work. All the kids, ages 6 to 27, participated along with mother and dad. Lion King was selected number 1 of the 41 as the family favorite, but narrowly. Peter Pan was 2. Pete's Dragon 3, Beauty & the beast 4, Sleeping Beauty 5, Snow White 6, Robin Hood 7, 101 Dalmatians 8, Fox and the hound 9, Cinderella is 10th, Rescuers 11, Hunchback of ND 12, Aladdin 13, Aladdin King of Thieves 14, Jungle Book 15 and Little Mermaid 16.
31 God-like fun for all ages
"Hercules" will never win any type of awards, but it is a fine addition to the Disney giant. When people hear "Disney," they automatically think of the classics(e.g. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Bambi, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, etc.) that set the standard for all animated motion pictures. However, "Hercules" is dusted off as the illegitimate child among Walt's brood. This is a total shame, primarily because "Hercules" is a good Disney movie with good Disney music and good Disney characters, with the exception of Hades, who is a great villain. It doesn't have any memorable songs, but they are all good songs. You won't see a Broadway production of "Hercules," but that doesn't mean it's a bad movie. The easiest way to explain "Hercules" is this: Have you ever watched a movie that was just fun? No moving moments, no dead deer, nobody unable to wait to be king, just good ol' fashion fun? "Hercules" is that movie. It has adventure and action for the young'uns and a little adult humor for the quick ear. It doesn't pay any attention to historical accuracy, but that doesn't matter here. What matters is that this film can be watched by all and enjoyed. The Mouse that Walt built did a fine job with this film, but please don't blow it off as a bad movie just because it's story isn't as moving as some of Disney's standard classics. Give it a chance. Having a young daughter, I own quite a few Disney DVDs, and I have to say that I prefer watching "Hercules" more than any of the others, because it's a funny movie.
32 Who needs history? This is funnier.
Hercules is the Greecian (and Roman, after they adapted it from the Greeks) tale of a boy with incredible strength who must become a hero.
Although history is thrown out the window, in the process loveable characters, hilarious one-liners, and bountiful culture references, are created, so who cares? It IS Disney after-all!
Every character in this movie has their moments, but Hades is the standout preformance in the movie (pat on the back to James Woods). His fast-talking, car-salesman type personality is hilarious, and his two bumbling side-kicks, Pain and Panic only serve to fuel his anger, and the hilarity.
The soundtrack is whimsical and catchy, and the gospel tunes of The Muses is the best handling of a 'character-growing-from-kid-to-adult-during-a-song' mechanis (often employed by Disney) to date.
Kudos to Disney for this instant classic--a must-have for everyone!
33 Historically Accurate - NOT!, but who cares! It's FUN!!
I have a degree in history and a passion for mythology which immediately made me scream foul when I saw this movie. However, the truth is it is GOOD, FUN, and AMUSING for the whole family. Lets face facts, did we really want the true Hercules mythos and its twists being fed to toddlers and preschoolers who live in a freaky world already? NO, I don't think so. It would be complicated to have to explain to kids that Zeus and Hera are siblings and married, but also have kids with lovers. Hey the cool part of this flick is unlike all the other disney movie's Hercules actually has four parents - WOW!!! I mean imagine that a mother and a father - twice over - in a disney movie. I'm surprised it was released. The mutilation of mythology can be overlooked because it is a good movie, my almost three year old really enjoyed it and in the end that is all that matters.
34 Have people forgotten what type of movies Disney makes?
OMG! DISNEY RUINED GREEK MYTHOLOGY! And maybe on account of that this is a KID'S MOVIE!
If disney didn't add changes to the story this movie would have been rated PG-13. The real greek stroy has lots of adult content, and would you want your 4 year old kid to to view that? If you do than you must not be a very good parent. Now if you were renting this video for yourself, you would actually expect something completly acuurate from disney?
35 Competent and enjoyable
Hercules is rarely grouped with Disney's more popular movies of the 90's such as The Lion King, Beauty And The Beast and Aladdin, but that doesn't mean it's expendable. As Disney films go this one is pretty good fun, and is actually the favourite of several of my friends in college. The story is simple enough: Hercules is stolen from Mount Olympia and is turned human, but manages to maintain his godlike strength. Handed down to an orphan family he is deemed a misfit because of his strength and starts training with satyr Phil (DeVito) to become a real hero and return to his rightful home. Of course, things aren't that easy, with Hades (Woods) and true love in the form of feisty Meg getting in the way of our hero's path.
Many people have complained that Hercules doesn't really incorporate the reality of the Greek myth, which is true for the most part, but the kind of self-knowing sidenotes to the overblown myths and legends of Greek history make the movie seem much fresher than if they'd rigidly stuck to a storyline. In fact, adults jokes about Oedipus Rex, where Hercules jokes that he thought he had problems with his family, is hilarious and shouldn't have been dispensed with for the world. Although at times it can seem like Hercules tries to hard to get in a little bit of every Greek legend of the time - Orpheus, Theseus and of course Hercules are all there - it does so in a bright and enjoyable way.
The supporting actors, as is usual for all Disney movies, remain the most memorable. James Woods makes a great villain, and Danny DeVito is likewise great value as Phil. Plus, following in a recent tradition, lead girl Meg is more than just a pretty face but an actual character, spouting more than a bit of feminism, making her a lot more interesting than, say, Cinderella. However, whilst there's nothing really implicitely wrong here, Hercules fails to stand out as a classic of the Disney canon. The songs are bland (sung here by Ricky Martin) and unimaginative and although it seems originally like Hercules was going to be set up as a big strong nerd, he quickly turns into the kind of boring hero that you least wanted to see. The film also seems too short, and Hercules' discovery that he is in fact adopted is handled in a surprisingly slapdash manner for what is quite a controversial subject (at least for Disney). Still, they're only small quibbles and Hercules really is very good, just no classic.
36 Come on people
Many of you are mad at disney for making fun of greek mythology. Sure the God's are in different colours and not everything is true, but this is a movie for kids! I thought people wanted to get away from the histroy classes and into something fun. Disney didn't want to make a boring film and that was scary for kids. A 4 year old isn't going to point out how in accurate this film was. It is a great comedy. Even if you don't like what disney did, you should have known by looking at the cover.
The best character in this film was Hades, the villain. His flaming hair and his cool moves and slang words are great. He is also voiced by James Woods. This is a good movie for your kids. If your thinking of showing this to an older group, don't bother.
37 Disney Ruined Greek mythology
I like most Disney movies but I hated this one. I love Greek mythology and they ruined it. I can sort of understand some of the changes because this is a movie for kids. However, some of the changes were just stupid. That part were Phil is talking about the other greek heros is horrible. None of them failed and Perseus is a constellation. I did like some of the songs. Disney should have done another myth that would be better suited to be made into a movie for kids.
38 ONE OF THE BEST DISNEY HAS TO OFFER!
I know there are a lot of critics out there that don't enjoy how Disney has not stayed true to the original story of Hercules. However, how many other movies are not completely true to the originals or even to the "real life" events that actually occurred. (Even the fan-adored-Leo-loving Titanic wasn't true to all the facts and/or people represented on the screen)
Take a second and just sit back and enjoy this animated masterpiece. The wit of Disney story-telling shines through with a perfect fit of rousing musical numbers. All of this, and still you get characters full of charisma and heart (not all, but most).
I'm sure that you will find something that you will find appealling, whether it be a new insight on something in your own life, or even one as simple as experiencing a creative and touching Disney film for a few hours.
Absolute seal of approval from this Disney fan!
39 Great example of greedy opportunists.
Disney doesn't respect classic literature or ancient cultures around the world. All they ever do ... to make money for themselves... Go ahead, praise acts of literary and cultural vandalism.
I much prefer when Disney creates original works such as Lilo & Stitch.
40 Possibly the only Disney animated feature I truly HATE
I have been a huge fan of Disney animation for years. While I may not like many of the features, I can see why they are popular. This movie, however, stinks. Even though it has this Jazz groove going on (and I am a HUGE jazz music fan), I found it trite and dull musically, and in fact quite annoying at many times. This also has a "new wave" animation style that really is distracting as well. I think Pokemon has better animation style than this movie (I can't believe I can actually say that!).
And the story! Well, if you hoped it stuck to the original, forget it. It's a total rewrite of the legend.
I'll give credit where credit is due. It's still better than Barney.
41 "Read me a book da-da, once upon a time"
One thing that could have made this movie better, if Michael Borton singing "I can go the distance" during the end credits, was cut. Michael (in my opinion) was really bad singing that song, he sounds like a bird dying. But does Disney expect people to believe that an inmortal baby can be put on eartj, and made mortal? As the movie opens, baby Hercules is born to Zeus and his wife, and has a party, which inclues the movie's villain, Hades "lord of the underworld". Hades has Hercules stolen from Zeus and his wife, taken to earth to change to mortal and then killed. But the baby misses the last drop, and is discovered by a human couple. When Hercules is a teenager, he sets out ot find where he blongs, and a statue of his father comes to live to talk to him, and teels him to get back to being a god, he has to be trained a true hero, and his trainer is Philoctetes "Phil" (Danny DeVito). Joshua Keaton voices the young Hercules and Tate Donovan voices Hercules as an adult, Susan Egan voices Hercule's girlfriend Meg, and James Woods voices Hades.
42 Yeah, Disney slashed this movie to shreds
If you are looking for a retelling of the myth of Hercules, then you will hate this movie. Disney completely ruined it. But what disney did do was create gorgeous animation, a pretty decent soundtrack and an adorable story with a strong female character. The artwork throughout the story keeps in line with the greek style of artwork from the shape of the trees to the style of dress and hair on their pottery. So watch this movie for it's entertainment value, and not for a faithful retelling of a complicated greek myth. Take it with a grain of salt and you will be okay.
43 Hercules
I'm a homeschooler and am making my way from the ancient times to modern day times in my history course this year. As we were studying Greece I learned about many of the Greek myths and heroes including Heracles. To make it more interesting my history curriculum suggested watching the movie, Hercules.
I absolutely loved the movie and had fun finding all the parts of the movie, which related to the original myth. The story takes the original plot and makes a wonderful comedy out of it using original characters including Hades, Zeus, and his wife Hera, as well as several other additional characters.
The story starts out when Zeus and his wife Hera have a son named Hercules. When Hades, Lord of the Underworld, learns that if Hercules remains alive, his plans of overtaking Olympus will surly fail, he becomes furious. In his rage he sends his two imps, Pain, and Panic, to kidnap the baby and turn him mortal by having him drink a special formula and then kill him (it was impossible to kill an immortal). In the process of feeding the baby the formula, the imps are startled by the sound of someone approaching and drop the bottle before the baby finishes the last drop, spoiling their plans. In fear of Hades anger the Imps say they have completed the task, leaving Hades thinking Hercules is dead.
As Hercules grows up in the care of a farmer and his wife, who found him shortly after Hades attempt to kill him, he often finds himself unable to fit in with the crowd because of his strength. So, he sets off to the temple of Zeus praying to Zeus to show him where he belongs. Zeus quickly tells Hercules the whole story, and Hercules is overwhelmed with excitement. After hearing that he could one day return to Olympus if he were to become a true hero, Hercules sets out with his flying horse Pegasus, an old gift from his father, to find a famous trainer called Phil and convince him to teach him how to become a hero.
Under Phil's training, Hercules develops his strength and skill and sets off to prove himself a hero. During his first fight, he meets a beautiful maiden, named Meg and falls head over heels in love with her. Through trial and error Hercules becomes a great hero of Greece and learns what it means to be a true hero. I really enjoyed this wonderful comedy and found myself watching it over and over again.
44 NOT one of Disney's Best
The kids like it, so I guess that's all that matters. But overall, It's not what I would consider a Disney Classic. In fact, It's not very memorable. Get "Monsters,Inc" or "Tarzan" instead. Chances are your kids won't watch it a second or third time.
45 On what myth did Disney base this movie?
This movie doesn't measure up to the rest of the Disney repertoire. It purports to be Disney's animated re-telling of a Greek myth. I can't, for the life of me, decide which myth the movie is trying to re-tell. Pegasus figures prominently in the movie, so the Bellerophon and Perseus myths are strong candidates. Then again, the hero of the movie descends into the underworld to rescue his beloved, so maybe it's the Orpheus myth. But then there's the confusing matter of the movie's title. Hercules was a figure in Roman mythology -- every other character in film has a Greek name. I'd like to think the film makers made an honest mistake and meant Heracles, Hercules's Greek counterpart. However, in this movie, Hera is the hero's loving mother instead of his ruthless and relentless tormentor . . .so that rules out the Heracles myth.
All sarcasm aside, this film is just barely recognizable as an adaptation of the Heracles myth. Apart from that, the film is enjoyable. The animation is spectacular. The music (and singing) is quite good. James Woods's Hades is nothing short of hilarious. From a parental perspective, I let my preschooler watch this (he had a blast!), but I took care to introduce him to the more traditional versions of the Greek myths as well.
46 Usually fantastic Disney at its worst -- and most dangerous
I am a big Disney fan. I in no way demand that Disney adhere slavishly to the original source material it usually relies upon in making its fabulous animated features. I absolutely respect Disney's right to remove dark elements, to simplify, and to mark its work with its own style.
But Disney's Hercules does a hack-job on Greek mythology which passes the most generous bounds of adaptor's license. I am tempted to say that "Disney's Hercules leaves Greek mythology looking like a chimera after a bad night in a procrustean bed" or some kind of nonsense like that, but I will refrain.
Hercules represents far worse than poor screenwriting -- it constitutes a serious disservice to children and parents alike, systematically mis-educating American youth as to the fundaments of Western culture. ...In a first draft of this review, I listed some of the more egregious examples, but on reflection I don't want to reify the false memes the film has surely injected into the American mainstream knowledge base by enumerating them here.
Bottom line: if you don't fall into the "pig-ignorant and proud of it" category, I urge you to take my advice and boycott this poor showing, thus sending a message to Disney that Americans aren't as dumb as market statistics imply, and simultaneously doing your children the favor of not filling their heads with information tending to increase rather than decrease their ignorance of classical culture.
[These points made, I liked James Woods' powerful stage presence and I liked the gimmick of making the muses (although why there should only have been three muses I cannot guess) African-American. I liked essentially nothing else about the film. Disney should be ashamed of this one.]
47 A standard Disney film outdoes itself with flying colors!
This is Disney's attempt at diving into Greek mythology and the legendary muscleman, Hercules, who-- "Wait! Don't you mean Herakles? Hercules is Roman!"
...So anyway, he gets kidnapped from his parents, Zeus and Hera, by the Lord of the Underworld, Hades, out of fear that he will someday spoil his plans for taking over Mt. Olymp-- "WHAT THE HECK?! His parents were Zeus and Alcheme, a mortal! And HERA was the villain! Hades never wanted to take over Greece! What the--"
Okay, okay. If you have a serious affliction with Greek myths and/ or dedicate your life to studying them, DO NOT see this film! If you are a fan of Disney's comedies, have children, and love musicals, this film is for you!
I have read reviews by many people who hated this movie because of the complete disrespect for Greek myths and some even considered the songs to be lousy. What do you expect from an animated family adaption of Hercules directed by Ron Clements and John Musker from The Little Mermaid and Aladdin? They knew that the real story wasn't fit for kids, so they altered almost everything about the tale and added groovy gospel tunes sung by five (not nine!) Muses, who narrate the story. But what resulted was a delightful, hilarious romp through an idealized fantasy world with down-to-earth characters (most of them,anyway), and some of the songs aren't that bad, guys! Hercules' song "Go the Distance" is a comforting ballad, the hip sextet with Megara and the Muses is so upbeat that your adrenaline almost starts up, and most of the gospel songs are just as enjoyable. If only the lyrics were a bit wittier.
So, as a person who likes the elements that Hercules offers, I enjoyed it. There are many clever in-jokes, Hades' character is a riot, and Megara is one of the most unique Disney heroines in ages! I DO have some problems: the sidekicks leave more to be desired and the animation isn't up to par with, say, Beauty and the Beast. But overall, a funny, hip flick to enjoy when you're feeling a bit loose and collected, and one great movie to watch with your son. You'll have to tell him the real myth, though, and explain to him what it takes to be a true hero.
48 Minor effort with surprisingly little emotional appeal
This minor Disney effort shamelessly bowdlerizes Greek mythology, but retains just enough pagan darkness to give the little ones serious nightmares.
_Hercules_ contains several spectacular animated set pieces, excellent comedy writing, and two remarkably engaging supporting characters. The down-on-her-luck Megara may be the best Disney romantic heroine ever, and Hades (memorably voiced by James Woods) is a classic comic villain. But Hercules himself is just not interesting, and his "family problems" seem more appropriate for an after-school special than a full-blown animated spectacular.
Character design tends to eschew the standard Disney roundness for flat, pointed, angular shapes. I enjoyed the stylized approach, although it may alienate viewers looking for a more traditional style. On the whole, not bad -- but not a masterpiece either.
By the way, if I were Megara, I'd consider staying as far away from Hercules as possible. In the original Greek myths, Hercules marries Megara -- but when the goddess Hera drives Hercules to madness, he promptly kills his wife and children. I guess some people just can't win for losing ....
49 As Meg Might Say...A Real SLICE!!
Since this has become a recent favorite for my daughter, I have watched it many times recently, and I LOVE it! ............. The great characters, the colorful animation, and the refreshingly witty and hip script make this a standout in Disney's many releases. I really enjoy watching this one, and I don't get tired of it. I particularly like the "Hades" god of the dead character, voiced superbly by one of my screen favorites, the incomparable James Woods. He makes Hades such a funny and cool villain. I always enjoy the villains more than most other characters anyway, but Hades is one of the best Disney has ever created. He actually looks like a female version of "Ursula" from "The Little Mermaid" too. ................Also amusingly different in this film, is the use of yiddish expressions like Hades referring to Hercules as "the one SCHLEMIEL who can louse everything up." Philates the goatman, aka "Phil" is my other favorite, a grumpy but tender hearted satyr who trains "hero's." He ALSO has a funny line where he goes on about Achilles, and how he COULD have been a hero..."but that FUSHLUGGENEH heel of his!!" ................ The muses are amusing as a gospel chorus who sing about what's happening, and give narratives as well. The "fates" as three hideous corpses resembling "Mrs. Bates" of "Psycho" fame, who work for Hades cutting the life thread of the "incoming" (over 500000000001 served) flashes a McDonald's-like sign as someones soul is plucked, are grusomely funny too. No, I've not forgotten Meg, the pretty and sassy mortal gal who mutually falls for "Herc" while indebted to Hades. She must decide whether true love will conquer all. .................The fun script, and use of "hip" lingo delivered cheekily by terrific characters, give "Hercules" a fresh spin on the greek myth, AND make this entry the COOLEST in Disney's vast filmography.
50 Greek myth told with musical and comedic flair
This is an enjoyable film with a great Alan Menken score. The featurette is good, but the Ricky Martin video looks like it was transferred from a VHS tape. I especially like the Muses' in the film (or is it Muse's?). I give this disc a reasonable four star rating, and it is a perfect addition to any Disney collection.
51 From Zero to Hero...
I'll admit it--if I had written this review in 1997 this film would have recieved about a 1 star. But now that I've seen it on video and DVD a few times I've grown to really love it. There's a lot of subtle AND outrageous humor...as well as the GREAT villain--Hades.
While I root for Hercules to be able to "make it" to hero status, I also find myself sympathizing for Meg--who has only been disappointed in love matters. The big moment occurs when she is singing her "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" song she gazes up at a statue of Hercules and her hand is almost caught in his. Maybe I'm the onlyl person to have noticed this moment, however.
Great movie...I love Pegasus and the very imaginative animation! I can't wait to own this on DVD--the transfer looked incredible.
I'm glad I gave this movie a few more chances...it's grown on me immensely and I can say that Hercules HAS gone from ZERO to HERO. Hooray!
52 Wonderful!!
Buy this movie for the music. Alan Menken scores a big hit with his Gospel-style Muses. James Woods as Hades is stellar. Bobcat Goldthwait as Hades side- kick Pain adds some humorous moments. The story has a lot of heart as well as a unique animated look (very Greek)! The bargain of the show is Alan Menken's knock down score!
53 JUST A FUN MOVIE
HERCULES is undoubtedly one of Disney's finest animated films. The animation style is brilliant and wonderous (I love the look of the old style drawing; especially towards the beginning). Tate Donovan does a marvelous job as Hercules, and proves what a wonderful singer he is.
The music in HERCULES is also awe inspiring! Alan Menken has done it again! From the uplifting "Go the Distance" to the awesome '50s style solo by Meg to "Zero to Hero," HERCULES is definately one of Disney's best soundtracks, and Alan Menkens most "rocking" score since NEWSIES!
54 A Wonderful musical version(of the first two Superman films)
Hercules really is a wonderful addition to the Disney classics! I have grown to love it, AND the hilarious animated TV show based on it. But it is true, it's really just the first two Superman films combined. But that's okay, since most films are a repainted version of classic stories, and even the first Superman was clearly based on the life of Jesus Christ. Disney's Hercules takes the classic Myth and revises it for a younger crowd. For example, Hercules is the product of Zeus and Hera, not of one of Zeus' extramarital affairs. The songs are from the same team, or one member at least, I'd have to double check on that, that gave us The Little Shop of Horrors, another excellent musical. It's no difficult task to see the similarities between the music of the two films either.
In this version of the Greek Myth, Hercules was born a god, and would have stayed one, if evil uncle Hades had not sent his imps to steal him, turn him human, and kill him. They fail in their task though, and Hercules is left human, but with god-like strength, to be raised by human parents. As Herc grows up, Hades believes he is dead, which I just realized is a bit funny, since being the god of the underworld he ought to know who's dead and who isn't... As a young man, Herc discovers his true roots, and wishes to restore his godhood, but in order to do that, he must prove himself a true hero. He seeks out Phil, the hero coaching satyr, and begins his monster fighting career upon his winged horse, Pegasus. Meanwhile, Hades pursues his plan to take over...well, everything, by releasing the titans to help him fight Zeus. Now it's up to Hercules to save everyone, if his new infatuation, the bitter-towards-men Megara, doesn't screw things up! In the end we learn the meaning of a true hero, and have the makings of a hilarious new animated TV series too. Oh, and this synopsis may not have pointed out the similarities to the Superman movies, but if you just watch those first two and then watch this again, you'll see what I mean.
All in all this is one entertaining movie! The music is great, the story is great, and the animation is Disney, so what more could you ask! The voice talents are excellent, with extra points to James Woods for being hilarious, and not snubbing the animated TV series either! Overall, Hercules is probably more of a musical comedy than anything, but there's no lack of romance, drama, action, or any of that other good stuff! The DVD is weak on extras though, and why do we get the Ricky Martin video and not the Michael Bolton one? Anyway, it's still a must have!
55 Hercules is a decent addition to Disney's library
I really wanted to give "Hercules" a higher rating, becuase I do think that it is a good movie. However, the reason for the 3 stars is that I only found three characters appealing and none of them were the good guys. Not that I am saying that Hercules, Meg and the others are bad characters, they do have their moments BUT they were not people you wanted to root for. James Wood's Hades is the best character of the film, Disney's 35th, with an over the top performance. His two side kicks provided the comic relief.
I did appreciate how the film handled Greek Mythology (a first time subject for Disney), making it more appealing to the general audience by adding humor, hippness and eye popping animation. Even including a 2-3 second appearance by "The Lion King"'s Scar (sort of).
The Gold Collection Edition also has a Making Of Documentary, that doesn't really offer THAT much becuase of it's brief length. It does offer some insights, nevertheless.
The film should satisfy most, just do not expect an "Aladdin"-type appeal.
56 Better than advertised
This is one Disney picture that I had missed in theaters when it was released. Mainly because the press reviews werenå't that great. But it is actually a wonderful story, full of entertaining moments and characters. James Woodså' impersonation of the evil Hades is an absolute must.
57 awsome
i watched this over 1oo times. Its about a man Hercules that is a god and was captured and broguht to earth. To join his fellow gods in ehaven again, he must proove he is brave, mighty, powerful, and a true warrior. But Hades of the underworld tried to stop him he must be brave before its too late.
58 Call I-X-I-I, It's Hercules!
Closing out the wildly successful Menken musical feature era at Disney is the film HERCULES. Sporting some clever lyrics and a couple pretty songs, the movie should be enjoyable. Yet, it suffers from being to familiar. We've grown accustomed to the story through The LITTLE MERMAID, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ALADDIN, THE HUNCHBAK OF NOTRE DAME and POCAHONTAS. All great films and each one even better when compared with other fare outside of the Disney Lexicon. So, Hercules gets a bit of a bum rap. Still, I find most of the animation spectacular and the 'in-jokes' (a la ALADDIN) many times hit their mark. Of course, some of them miss as well... Give it a chance, it can go the distance.
59 Hip and Funny!
Hip, cool, tambourine-shaking, hand-clapping, gospel-style numbers make Hercules a Must-Have movie!
Voiced by a stellar cast: one of the funniest lines is the sonorous voice of Charlton Heston saying, "You go, girl!"
Songs by the team that did "Little Shop of Horrors": "Zero to Hero" still makes me move and shake!
Wonderful animation: much of it stylized like the characters from the "Asterix" series of comic books, which made it all the more enjoyable for me.
Plus a great story line, albeit not a true rendering of the Greek myth, but hey! It's a kids' movie, right?
All in all, a fabulous movie and a great buy. Enjoy!
60 A must for any Hercules fan (or Ricky Martin!) ;-)
I've always been a fan of Disney's Hercules, so the Gold Collection video is a treat! At the end there is a "making-of" documentary that shows everything about the movie's production process--including interviews with the voice actors and directors. I only wish it were longer! But still, it's a pretty good overview. What the video DOESN'T advertise on the jacket is a special Ricky Martin music video shown after the documentary (which I don't understand why--it seems he would be a big selling point for the video). Ricky sings the Spanish version of "Go the Distance" entitled "No Importa La Distancia." In case you didn't know, Ricky was the voice of Hercules for the Spanish language version. So if you're a Hercules fan, or a Ricky Martin fan, grab this video!
61 Disney Mythology
The Disney take is as follows: Miring in the place of departed souls, the God of the Underworld Hades covets Mount Olympus; by releasing the imprisoned Titans from Tartarus, he plans presently to overthrow King Zeus. The three Fates caution that Zeus's newborn son Hercules will foil his plan, so Hades dispatches his bungling thugs Pain and Panic-both fabricated-to abduct "the little sunspot." Since Alcmene and Amphitryon - anachronistically represented - happen upon the racket, the inept imps fail to make the tot imbibe the entire elixir that will turn him mortal, thus leaving Hercules on Earth, as a demigod, to be raised as a human.
With Zeus's blood in his veins, the young Hercules's divine strength makes him a pariah and a buffoon - both ridiculous suggestions - until he discovers his holy heritage and Zeus tells him that to return to Olympus de jure, he must become a "true hero." Phil the satyr trains him, and, after battling the triheaded Hydra and the Titans, Hercules is the most famous person in ancient Greece. Yet, even after saving Olympus from Hades's coup d'etat, he has not proven himself, for his love Megara, not a royal princesses but a foxily cynical, auburn-tressed temptress, remains a damsel in distress. Finally, Hercules's self-sacrifice to rescue Meg from Hades shows that a Hero needs not only physical but emotional virtue.
Hercules, with its topical, commercial references to "Air Herc" sandals and "Herculade" drink, is really about our time. I'd watch it again in a Peloponnesian minute.
62 It's ok ,but not as good as Hunchback of Notre Dame
This movie is ok but it just sworda drags you away up until the song I won't say I'm in love ,your complety Asleep ! My sister Krystle would sit through The Hunchback of Notre dame (the Disney animated one ) but this on the other hand she would get up after the first four scene's . This movie gave me Nightmares for 2 day's about ! I'm sorry but Hunchback of Notre Dame is way better ,That sum's it up .
63 Inaccurate, Occasionally Graphic, But Rollickingly Funny
No, the film didn't portray the mythical characters accurately. But if children who enjoy the movie now, they may be inspired to read about the Greek Myths behind it later. I loved the observation Phil and Herc made of the disgruntled citizens of Thebes,("Don't even get me started on the crime rates!") and the appropriately irritating mannerisms of Hades'Disney-made henchmen, Pain and Panic. Children don't need exposure to the graphic slaying of the Hydra, but adults will enjoy the snide repartee of the characters. As for the singing,I found the Gospel and early 1960's pop styles to be well done. (Incidentally, the comments of an earlier reviewer regarding Michael Crawford and Mel Gibson intrigue me. It looks as though we have similar tastes in favorite entertainers.)
64 Great movie with a great moral.
Yes! Disney's at it again! Another classic film. The story of a boy who finds the courage and strenght in him to overcome any obstical. The Gods have spoken! Hercules is a great family film and a great film for any Greek Mythology lover (although some of the Greek Mythology was messed up, like the 3 fates being the 3 grey sisters, and the titans being natural disasters). Get Hercules if you love Disney movies!
65 Best Disney Movie since "The Lion King"
Hercules restored my faith that Disney can still make fun, engaging animated movies (this one's much better than the more recent disappointing Road to El Dorado or The Emperor's New Groove). The animation is dazzling (from the makers of Aladdin and The Little Mermaid), the music is a new take -- gospel, and the characters are funny. The voices include a cast of famous names, such as Tate Donovan and Danny DeVito as Hercules and his goat-man sidekick. The plot is predictable and the storytelling of the Greek myth may be a bit off, but after all, it's Disney. The DVD includes a documentary ("The Making of Hercules") and a Ricky Martin music video (for the song "I Can Go the Distance"), and most Disney DVDs hardly have any extras. I wouldn't call this movie a must-buy, but it's a welcome addition to Disney's family of great cartoon movies... and kids will certainly love it, too.
66 Great Fun!
This great story of Hecules is musical and fun to watch! As you'd expect from Disney, animation is great and you won't be bored! Be warned though: some songs maybe stuck in your head! You gotta love this movie! Buy the DVD.
67 A wacky Disney take on Greek myth
HERCULES is another Disney take on the Warner Brothers' style humor that worked so well in ALADDIN. Basicially using the old Superman story as a model, the film tells the story of young Herc as he is kidnapped from his home in Olympus and must make his way as a mortal hero....a very super-strong hero at that!!! While the humor isn't quite as wild as ALADDIN, it does a wonderful send-up about the price of fame. James Woods is a stitch as the evil god, Hades...the underworld lord with the tactics of a used-car salesman. Susan Egan oozes sexy smarts as Herc's love interest, Meg. In fact, all the voices do a solid job in this flick. While not very true to the actual myth, HERCULES is another winner in the Disney stable of animated classics. Highly recommended.
68 Stylistic & Comical Disney Romp
This is a great film for the kids and anyone interested in animation. The use of gospel music was a masterstroke and adds much to the livliness of the film as does the input from Gerald Scarfe, the mastermind behind Pink Floyd's "The Wall". His influence and artistic stlye are seen in every frame of the film and give it the most distinctive style and look of any Disney film since Sleeping Beauty. Highly original and beautiful. I espicially like the character design of Meg, they've made her to look like a walking grecian vase!
Story wise we've seen this a million times before, especially in all the recent Disney films. That said though, I still enjoy this film more than Aladdin, it's competitor for the funniest Disney film ever (that was until The Emperor's New Groove knocked them both out of the park). Children are sure to love the outragous humor, bright colors, music and light tone as well as the comical sidekicks (Pain and Panic) and monsters. Frankly, I'm confounded by the negative reviews here. Everything is done top notch except for the predictable Disney formula plot.
The DVD presentation is fantastic. The film is presented in widescreen, the colors are bright, blacks are deep and dark and the sound is crisp and clear. You couldn't ask for a better presentation. However, it lacks for extras. There is a 12 minute making of short that is somewhat insightful and a music video of Ricky Martin's Spanish version of "Go The Distance". Also included are a simple triva game and the storybook mode that's found on most Disney DVD's.
The crisp bright look of the DVD is enough to warrant a buy for a Disney fan, but add in the gospel music, humor, fantastical setting and daring animation style and you've got yourself a winner for anyone!
69 Great effort from Disney, awesome DVD transfer!
Hercules is one of my favorite Disney movies. The story is funny and fast-paced and the songs don't slow anything down. The DVD transfer looks stupendous, everything is crystal clear, colors are vivid, and the sound, lemme tell ya...I felt like I was on Mount Olympus myself. Disney did a great job with this one (that's more than can be said for the Pocahontas DVD...shame on you, Michael Eisner, shame!!).
70 Ggod Disney film
It took me a while to see this film. Reason: James Woods in a Disney movie. I did love the music & Danny De Vito's character. Overall, a good Disney film & a good DVD. Good picture quality.
71 A Great Movie for Anyone
I found this movie to be funny and entertaining. Hercules, the son of Zeus, was kidnapped as a child and was turned almost completly mortal. Hercules is adopted by an old couple, but because of his super-strength, he is an outcast. He goes on a search to find out who he really is.
Disney takes the Greek tale and turns it into a kid's movie. They did a good job except for the fact that Meg, Herc's crush, has a waist about the size of a dime. The original music is gospel and I love it. The songs are upbeat and catchy.
Little kids may be frightened at some parts of the movie, but it still makes a great movie for any child.
72 Some clever moments but ...
overall disappointing. I was always a big fan of Greek mythology and I was excited to see Disney take a crack at it but it left something to be desired. It was a little to silly and sing-songy to me. But I can see what they were trying to do after the rather dark Hunchback. Visually the hydra was great, and the overall style was refreshing. The dvd was standard, good video/sound, no extras.
73 FUNNY FUNNY FUNNY!
This is one of my favorite Disney animated movie. Being a fan of Greek myths, this movie took certain liberties of the myths, of course, but with hilarious results.
The plot center around the God of the Underworld Hades, who is planning to release the evil Titans from Tarterus (imprisoned by Zeus) so he can take over Olympus. Thanks to the prophecy told to him by the three Gates, he found out that the only thing that stood in his way was Zeus' newborn son, the "little sunspot" Hercules. To make sure this will never come to past, he sent his two demon imps, Pain and Panic, to kidnap the infant Hercules and make him mortal by making force feeding him some insidious potion. They were interrupted by Alcmene and Amphitryon who came to see what the commotion was. Because Hercules did not drank ALL of the potion, he still retain his godlike strength even though he is mortal, and only mortals are allow on Mount Olympus.
To reclaim his place on Mount Olympus, Hercules have to prove himself a true hero, and what follows is a fast, furious and hilarious movie that literally charms the heck off me, especially the Five Muses.
Another thing I like about this movie is how detailed it is. Sometimes you have to watch the movie again to catch all the details you might have missed. During the Olympian reception in the beginning, just watch the crowd and you will recognize other mythological personages: Athene, Atemis, Poseidon, Demeter, Eros, etc.
The Minotaur, Medusa the Gorgon, the Calydonian Boar all made cameo features here.
The DvD version is not much different from the VHS version, considering that the screen of the movie is not that much wider than the TV screen, but it is a better investment....DVD, unlike tape, will never get scrunched or tangled. And I have watched this movie over and over again. Still loved it everytime. The only thing I do not like about this movie is Megara's solo musical performance. It is kind of icky and gooey.
74 Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
So the movie's not accurate... what Disney movie is? But that doesn't mean it's not good.... in fact it's great! You haven't seen funny until you see James Wood's rendition of Hades. One of the latest Disney flicks.
75 Grows on you
Yes, I was a tad disappointed the first time I saw Disneys Hercules.I'm not a big fan of Gospel Swing music, and the animation struck me as being somewhat minimalist and cheap looking.And Megs a bitch! But after it came out in video form I wound up watching it a few more times and the movie just *grew* on me-I enjoyed it's spontanety, it's toungue-cheek-humour and most of all-James Woods marvelously evil Hades-the best Disney villain ever. After the Herc cartoon series premiered-{and the cleverness of the movie is tripled in the series-I strongly recoomend you catch up with this animated gem of a cartoon show}I and my kids enjoyed the movie even more. Yes-there are discrepencies-of course-yes-they put the myths in a blender and hit the Puree button-But-who cares? Its good, clean original clever fun for the whole family. And its NOT Pocahontas!
76 One of Disney's best
This movie is enjoyable from the Charleton Heston opening to the final word from Hades. I loved almost every aspect of it. The music is fantastic, especially Meg's song, though gospel haters will be covering their ears. The art is very stylized and unrealistic, which fits the plot and setting. With the exception of Hercules, all of the characters are interesting and three dimensional. (Notably the first Disney film to have an interesting heroine, in my opinion.)
Special note to adults: There may be a fair amount of slapstick, but there's considerable subtle humor as well. Keep your eyes and ears open.
If you try not to compare Disney's version to the more traditional Hercules accounts, you'll have a good time. I heartily recommend this movie.
77 I Loved It
I Loved This Movie. Whats wroung with you people who hate it just because it is myth____ incroect. Who cares the only thing important is that you have fun wathing it. Ok Anna, Lets get back to the review, Anyway I would tell you the whole story but that would take a long time and I would get off trak and there would be no point in watching it because I would have told the whole story, see I get off trak alot. I think this movie is great for little kids because it is funny and you learn form this movie that you can do any thing you set your mind to. Just look at Hercules he went from a little slim frek to a muscular hero.
78 The more I watch it, the more I like it!
I have to admit that when I first saw Disney's "Hercules" I was definitely NOT IMPRESSED. If I had written this review the evening after that first viewing I would probably have rated this movie at about 2 or maybe 3 stars -- like many of the other reviews listed for this movie on Amazon.com. In the intervening three years, however, I've come to thoroughly enjoy this animated feature. Why? Well, I'll tell you...
1) The story line is good enough...not outstanding, but good enough.
2) There's a really good bad guy (Hades) that you love to hate. He's so evil, self-centered, and conniving that you actually feel good detesting him. He's a classic Disney villain...cut from the same kind of evil character mold as 101 Dalmations' Cruella (animated and real-life).
3) The supporting characters "Panic" and "Pain," which I thought were only mildly annoying when I first watched the show, have really grown on me. They provide great comic relief. These first three points are enough to make this a 4-star movie, but the following point moves this video to 5 stars for me...
4) The clincher for me is that the music is awesome. Again, it takes some listening to in order to catch the vision of it. It's got a strong traditional gospel strain mixed with broadway chorus line pieces like songs from shows such as "Little Shop of Horrors," etc. I especially like the song that Megura sings, "I won't say I'm in love."
Sure there's a strong sentimentality factor to the show, but that's not at all unusual for animated Disney features. When all is said and done I think that's a plus!
If you look at my other reviews (e.g., Tarzan, Fox and the Hound) you'll see that I do not believe that all Disney animated features are 5-star affairs. Once you give this one a fair chance though, you may come to enjoy it as much as I do.
Give this movie a second and third chance -- maybe after the children are in bed, and see if it grows on you too.
I think it's worth 5 stars, and well worth the price!
Alan Holyoak
79 A Disappointment from Disney
After having seen such brilliant Disney adaptations as Mulan and Hunchback, both of which managed to take LARGE liberties with their originals and still delivered beautiful revisions, I was sadly let down by Hercules. This film was tolerable until we were invited to laugh at a satyr who is watching nymphs in various states of undress. Of course, we never see the naked ladies, but no doubt is left as to what the character is seeing. So now Disney is inviting us to see voyeurism as funny and to laugh at peeping toms?
Several scenes later, our heroine, Meg, is held captive by a centaur, a creature known for its lust and rapist behaviors in Greek mythology. Disney counts on the kids not to catch the reference--that Meg is about to be raped by the centaur--and has her gamely remark that she can take care of herself. So for those of us who do follow the reference, attempted rape is to be dismissed as being okay, as long as the woman feels she can take care of herself?
What hurts about all this is that Greek mythology is filled with terrific tales that could easily have been adapted to suit Disney's needs. Even Hercules could have been used without all the vicious sexual overtones and hints employed in this film. What a shame that the creators of this revision did not do enough research to understand their story or to revise it in a way that could have been both meaningful to an audience and not encourage violence against women.
80 Hercules is Amazing..!
An animated movie for all the family! Love Songs! In Spanish Version.... Ricky Martin sang "No importa la Distancia" is all Great!
81 I know it's not accurate mythology, and I don't care!
It's a Disney kid's movie. Get over yourselves!
Now that I've got that out of my system...
This is one fun movie. Hades and his henchmen are a scream! James Woods is just perfect as Hades, Rip Torn is great as Zeus, and Danny DeVito does a pretty good Phil. The score is great - my daughter and I have been singing "Zero to Hero" for about a week straight. There's enough songs and kid-stuff to keep little ones glued, and enough in-jokes and pop-culture references to keep the adults entertained as well.
If you're afraid that your kids will be scarred for life after seeing this movie, I'll be willing to bet that, once they've seen and enjoyed Disney's version, they'll sit still to hear the "real" story.
82 Mandatory viewing for your son (or daughter)
Disney's grown up - to the point where each new animated release is sure to draw controversy and criticism from somebody; I personally was furious at the revisionism of Hunchback. I forgave them when this movie came out. Disney's Hercules is an experiment just like Fantasia, but many folks (it appears), disliked the tampering with Greek myth as well as the unfamiliar style and animation. But I've got lots of reasons to make it my new favorite Disney. First, Disney (in an incredibly bold move) hired Gerald Scarfe to design. His surreal yet powerful visions were always a highlight of Pink Floyd concerts; now they break ground in the same way that Little Mermaid did. While many of the characters appear weird and sketchy, their power seeps through every frame. And, as always, nobody does villains like Disney; Hades, Cerberus, the Titans, the whole Underworld - profoundly frightening in a whole new way. And Disney's forays into computer-generated animation again stop the show when Hercules battles the Hydra; even purists must agree to its power and brilliance.
Then there's the voice talent: James Woods predictably steals the show as Hades, whose wisecracks do little to hide his genuine evil. A close second is Danny DeVito as Phil, a satyr who's saddled with training the young and awkward Hercules to become a true hero; DeVito's given lots of jokes to tell, and only diehard stodges will fail to bust a gut at some of his remarks.
Which leads us to the music: I went out and bought the soundtrack because it was so good. Led by the Muses (who are transformed into the ultimate r&b/gospel choir), the songs have a delightful mix of 50's do-wop (Susan Egan's absolutely beautiful "I Won't Say I'm in Love"), comedy (DeVito's "One Last Hope"), and classic Disney uplift (Roger Bart as Hercules singing "Go the Distance"). Disney staple Alan Menken teams with lyricist David Zippel to deliver yet another brilliant soundtrack.
But what has made the movie my personal favorite is the message it has delivered to my three-year-old son; Disney's given lots to the girls lately (most of Disney's recent heroes have been heroines), but Hercules delivers the message that boys can grow up to be heroes as well. It's taught my son honor, generosity, and humor (well, I'd like to think I helped a bit). Hercules' journey from earthbound misfit to man/godhood is truly inspiring. My son thinks so, and so do I.
By the way, the special features enhance the DVD a great deal. It's always a pleasure to have the curtain pulled back to reveal the magic behind the magic.
Purists can just go to - well, the Underworld; Disney's Hercules was meant to be innovative, but it did much more than break ground - it taught my son a wonderful lesson.
83 A decent movie.
I really enjoyed watching this movie, though I never saw it in the theatres. The music is Ok, not as good as most Disney films, but not that bad. The animation is good, and the story is OK. I have noticed that several critics here and other places have panned this movie because it strays from greek mythology. While that is true, it is exactly the way Disney has treated every story they have laid there hands on since the 70's, so it should come as no surpise. If you expected to see an accurate portayal of greek mythology in a Children's movie given to us by Disney, I have to ask what you were thinking.
It's no Beauty and the Beast, but it sure is better than _Pocahontas_
84 Okay for middle road stuff
I'm going to re-evaluate my thought that Hercules is the worst Disney movie. I no longer think it is so. It's okay for family entertainment, but I would like to say that there are more worthwhile movies. I really don't care about the liberties Disney took with the mythology. I watch movies for the story and not for accuracy. The fact that it is mythology and not history means that Disney has greater freedom to create a great story. What we get, instead, is unintelligent drivel that looks like your standard Saturday morning cartoon. In fact, some of the cartoons I watched as a kid were better because the characters were well developed. The characters in Hercules are your stock cartoon characters. They're really flat, and some aren't even interesting. Pain and Panic are the dullest, most irritating comic reliefs ever created. Hades is a colorful character, but color doesn't make up for being a weak villain. The movie only seems interested in filling up the time with comedy and songs and then more comedy. Only at the very end does it get remotely interesting. Even then, it's still dull. On the plus side, some of the songs are good. Overall, though, the movie tries to be more of the light fare like Aladdin but doesn't have Aladdin's energy and color. If, however, you have a family that's not so critical of good family entertainment, Hercules should be fine viewing. Just be aware that it's more or less on the same level of Rock-a-Doodle, another movie of average fare.
85 THE TRUTH !
Hey you, guys who swallow anything Disney push into your throats: I have one thing to say: this is their worst aniamted film ever! It destroyed Greek Mythology, it made Hercules look like a dumb person, it has the worst technical effort ever, all characters are horrible. If you don't wanna see that, fine with me. But just compare it with "MULAN", "LION KING" and all others...
86 THE WORST FROM DISNEY !
Everything is horrible here ! The plot, the total destruction of Greek mithology, the boring three women-statues that keeps bothering during all the film, the lousy soundtrack. ..well, skip this one, it is not in accord to Disney traditions!
87 PATHETIC!
WHAT A RIP-OFF OF GREEK MYTHOLOGY! HERA WAS NOT HERCULES MOTHER, SHE HATED HIM! I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT HOW BAD THIS MOVIES MYTHOLOGY WAS, BUT I'LL SPARE YOU. THE ANAMATION WAS HORRIBLE! DISNEYS IDEA OF GREEK ART MADE ME SICK! SPARE ME! AS YOU CAN FIGURE OUT, THE MOVIES PLOT WAS PREDICTABLE! THANKS DISNEY, YOU'RE PROOF THAT AMERICA IS GETTING DUMBER! HELP! THE PART ABOUT HERCULES BEING STOLEN BY HADES WAS VERY INACCURATE!
88 fun,fun,fun
This is one of Disney's most enjoyable movies.It is fun to watch,has peppy songs and of course...great sidekicks.No, this isn't the technical version of the myth of Hercules.Most Greek myths aren't suitable for children.But what it is, is a well made cartoon that keeps kids entertained and adults amused with it's sly references.
89 Grossly Underrated and Great Fun
If people would stop looking for the movie they thought should be made and watch the one that Disney actually put together, they'd see what a great time they're missing. Greek grandeur? Godlike powerful swellness? You can catch all the usual cliches in umpteen other flicks. This is better. No Disneyfied cutesy-pooness. Terrific score with great performancse. Hilarious villainy. Stylish animation that avoids all the usual visual too-realistic cliches. Compelling drama to ground the humor. This flick has everything Alladin does, but better! For my money, this is one of the best products of the "new" Disney.
90 Not the best
Perhaps what killed this film was its title. The three things the main chcracte has in common with Hercules is name, place of birth, and titanic strength. And to those of you who claim that this IS Hercules, only in a mellowed Disney "entertaining" form, I want to say that through your claims Disney is only losing face. No respected company would make a demeaning joke out of a great legend.
This film is just plain poor. The main character is so undeveloped that he passed beyond two-dimensionality into Line Land. He has literally few lines (and a poor song). The plot seems to be oriented towards humor. Once again, the humor is just terrible. Partly because most of it is slapstick and partly because there's so much of it. The art is either stylized or unfinished. Everything is made of shapes, like marionettes. Everything is flat. The shading seems to have been done by a lover of geometry - it's perfect. There is no diffuse lighting, or tactile texture - it's either LIGHT or it's DARK.
The film is filled with cliches up to the rim. It's predictable. It features no original parts. The attempts to make it into a hectic comedy failed. I just hope that Disney will stop releasing things like it.
91 Better than I thought it would be
Not my favorite Disney film, but I was not looking forward to this when it came out. The wonderful music & the character Phil did it for me. The one problem....James Woods!
92 Pinnacle Dissapointment mythology transformed into 'film'
A painful squirm compared to classic mythology. Hercules is a failure to the end, opposite to everything the myth teaches, except the for the notorious muscles. sorri but this disney is no classic.
93 Pinnacle Dissapointment mythology transformed into 'film'
A painful squirm compared to classic mythology. Hercules is a failure to the end, opposite to everything the myth teaches, except the for the notorious muscles. sorri but this disney is no classic.
94 Great Widescreen DVD!
A fun Disney film made all the better because of its widescreen release on DVD! Disney Home Video: Please release all animated features in widescreen, especially FOX AND THE HOUND, THE ARISTOCATS, THE BLACK CAULDRON, and all future Disney Gold Collection DVD's. Or give Disney fans the option to see either version, like the excellent MULAN DVD release.
95 Great movie and great fun!
I am 35 years old and still love Disney movies from cartoons to those old outdoor nature and adventure movies, so I believe I know the wide range of releases that Disney has to offer. I believe that Hercules should be rated in the top 5 of Disney Cartoon Movies. Not only is the animation clever and compliments the story lines, but the voice casting of the characters is brilliant! James Woods as Hades is hilarious and the animators were right on target in drawing Hades/Woods. Rip Torn, Tate Donovan, Bobcat Goldwait and Danny Devito are perfect as the voices of the main characters as well. Great story line that never goes dull. Kudo's to Disney for this movie!
96 This was great movie, but...
This movie was great, okay? It was brilliant. I haven't seen this good movies for a long time. But still... When you have seen better movies from Disney, like "Tarzan" and "Hunchback of Notre Dame" this feels quite... Not so good. I mean, this could've been better. It was great, but not so great after all. I rate this still with 4 stars.
97 Pretty good
"Hercules" was better that Hunchback for few reasons, and also had its flaws. First, this "suggestion" of a new Hercules version is not as inventive as Aladdin. But it doesn't fit as well as in Aladdin, simply because Aladdin was not a legend or a greek myth. And if you'll try to notice there aren't any differences between the story crafting of both films. Also, one strong point that stands to Hercules is its villain. Hades is well drown and sophisticated, also very funny. One of the things Disney has been lacking in the past few years is a good villain. Ratcliff wasn't even near to perfection, Frollo was TOO scary, no funny jokes or sophisticated lines. Simply a turn to Ursula and Gaston's perfections! The animation in Hercules is not impressive or breathtaking, it's very abstract and doesn't follow The Hunchback of Notre Dame's beautiful backgrounds. Another thing, the characters aren't remarkable and look very strange, Herc's ears look like cookies. Overall, the movie is pretty good, unfortunately it was not a huge financial success like The Lion King.
98 I LOVED IT... but
this was a great movie but the accuracy is what makes this movie not so good! There were a lot of things that werent true in the plot! the music was great but they need to correct the problems with the accuracy! like hades wasnt evil and hera wasnt the mom...
99 heni
This is thebest movie I ever see >
Thank yo
100 The Spanish language version has a special guest voice!
Although this one is clearly not one of the all-time best Disney films, and the content is mor haphazardly put together than the hair on Hades' head, there are some razzle dazzle moments and sentimental scenes to warrant a few viewings. But more interestingly, this DVD does include exclusive alternate language versions of the film (in Spanish and French). No one seems to have noticed that in the Spanish version of Hercules, the speaking voice of the adult Herc is provided by none other than singer Ricky Martin! In essence, we are paying essentially for 3 different versions of the movie, and while Martin is still hot, an exclusive collector's item! I am also glad that the alternate versions took enough care in duplicating the voices as closely as possible. It's hard to recommend this film on its own merits, as there are few. But these little extras make the Special Edition DVD worthwhile.
