Hercules (Animated) (DVD)

...land a great warrior called Hercules loved to wear lion skin, carry a club and have his way with woman and small boys…oops, sorry that's the wrong story. Of course I am taking about the Hercules known in myths from Roman and Greek time. Son of Zeus the god of all gods, a man of great strength and courage who sacrificed himself to save other innocent lives. Then in 1997 along skips the Disney family and goes "Hmmmm, this should be a family friendly ...
...but when I was taught Hercules in history I think I came out disturbed without the Disney friendly version I had been brought up on.

---------'''Story Line'''-------
The movie opens with your five narrators known as the 'Goddesses of the arts and proclaimers of heroes' who have this need to sing their story in a rather catchy tune. They bring you up to date about how Zeus came to power and how he rules to protect his people.
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Long ago in a far away land a great warrior called Hercules loved to wear lion skin, carry a club and have his way with woman and small boys…oops, sorry that's the wrong story. Of course I am taking about the Hercules known in myths from Roman and Greek time. Son of Zeus the god of all gods, a man of great strength and courage who sacrificed himself to save other innocent lives. Then in 1997 along skips the Disney family and goes "Hmmmm, this should be a family friendly motion picture!" And off they go taking another sometimes tragic yet classic story (like the little mermaid) and make lots of money out of it so people like you and I can enjoy the bubble pop version. Now I know the above sounds like a complaint but actually I am a big fan of the Disney classics - but when I was taught Hercules in history I think I came out disturbed without the Disney friendly version I had been brought up on.

---------'''Story Line'''-------
The movie opens with your five narrators known as the 'Goddesses of the arts and proclaimers of heroes' who have this need to sing their story in a rather catchy tune. They bring you up to date about how Zeus came to power and how he rules to protect his people.

After this Zeus and Hera give birth to Hercules a bouncing baby boy with super strength and everything he could wish for. There is a grand party to welcome him into the world of Gods and all immortals are happy to see him except Zeus's brother Hades, the ruler of the underworld. Hades has been told by his fates that when Hercules is older he will prevent him from taking Zeus's place and ruling. This of course angers him and that night he sends his servants Panic and Pain to dispose of the baby. They feed him an anti-immortality potion but before they can finish him off a human family finds Hercules and takes him as his ward. Luckily Hercules didn't have the last drop of the potion and still has his super human strength.

The movie is about Hercules trying to fit in, trying to find out more about himself and of course using his super strength to help others without his ego getting in the way. During all this he has to deal with a provocative woman called Meg who is more than she seems and trials from Hades who wants to finish him off.

---------'''Entertainment'''-------
Like most Disney films quite a few catchy songs are added which all have the feel good factor and get your feet moving. These can also be purchasing in a separate soundtrack. Most of the characters are loosely based on someone from the original myth but have been animated in such a way that they are still appealing. For example: Panic and Pain are based on Deimos and Phobos (meaning dread and fear) and were originally Ares sons. In the movie they are playful, clumsy and silly and many a time have caused my young cousins to laugh from their antics. Then of course we have Hercules, in this movie he has moved to a life of celibacy. All of the scenes are carefully drawn and every character has something which separates them from the rest. In one scene you have five towns' people talking and there is a spider coming out of an old mans nose. It doesn't sounds like much but it is all the little things as well as the big that keep the little people entertained. Of course familiar voices is what makes a movie enjoyable too and Danny Davito is my favorite of the movie playing a randy little goat creature called Phil. Things like this make it more fun for the adults who can recognize the voices. We even have some compute graphics in this one when a monster comes out to play. Even though in this day and age its standard I have to admire the skill for the time it was out!

---------'''Main Cast'''-------
Tate Donovan as Hercules
Danny Devito as Phil
James Wood as Hades
Susan Egan as Megara
Rip Torn as Zeus

---------'''On The DVD'''-------
This Disney classic consists of only one disc. When you start the DVD you will get about 10 minutes worth of Disney adverts which are easy to skip.
The opening menu has stars forming together Hercules with the background music to 'Go the distance'.

Play - Play the movie

Scene Selection - This lets you choose from 32 still pictures that represent a place in the movie to start from.

Set up - You have the choice of languages and subtitles which unfortunately are both only available in English.Bonus Material - Here you are given five choices:

• Hercules Video Art Gallery - A young voice talks you though the creations of each character and how several sketches turn into an animation, how they tried to get some Greek elements into the movie and also how they created character that also portrayed their emotional states well. Including the end credits this lasts about 6 minutes and is a joy to watch.
• DisneyPedia: Greek Mythology - You are on a tour with the voice of Phil in a museum. You can choose from nine vases which all tell you stories about Greek mythology with clips from the movie to entertain. It is told in a child friendly manor so that kids can learn without realizing it.
• The Making Of Hercules - Ten minute long clip about how the movie came about. You listen to interviews from the voice of Hercules and the producers with their view of the story. You even get to see the voice recordings in action which is entertaining.
• "Zero To Hero" sing along song - Nice and simple, it shows the clip where the song starts and plays exactly the same way. This time during the scene the bottom sixth of the screen is taken up by yellow writing that turns white as the song is sung.
• Art Attack: How To Make A Greek Urn - Many people will remember the program Art Attack which was aired for nearly 20 years by Neil Buchanan on ITV1. Every week you are taught how to make something fun in an arty way. This time for a Hercules special Neil teaches you how to make a Greek Urn. The clip lasts 5 minutes and is relatively easy to make with some adult supervision. The only things you might not find in your home are PVA glue and if you wish some paint. This would be really good fun for the kids who are into the classic and it helps their creative side too.

---------'''My Opinion'''-------
This is a great family friendly film loosely based on a Greek classic. Being out over ten years now it is known world wide. As I always say if you don't want a traditional Disney ending then this movie isn't for you. My cousins are addicted to this movie right now which shows that it isn't a one time wonder. It also has a long lasting feel good factor which always makes me smile. I think the extras are fantastic which includes the more down to earth Greek mythology without kids realizing they are learning. Encouraging them to be active with art attack is a brilliant idea too. The older members of the family will enjoy this with more grown up jokes hidden throughout. Overall a joy to watch and if you enjoy your Disney classics then a must have! 

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