Disney Thirty Days #21

[eastofthemoon]

Day #21: An overrated movie



First off, I have to say that Colours of the Wind is one of my favorite Disney songs and I don't mind when Disney makes a well known story more family friendly, especially when you consider how dark some of their original source materials can be, such as the Grim Brothers fairy tales and don't get me started on the Greek myths.

With all that said, I picked Pocahontas because doing that type of movie on a real historical figure is A LOT harder to swallow. (Yes, I know Mulan is argued to have really existed but since she's more shrouded in mystery it doesn't drive me as crazy.)

Here are some real facts about Pocahontas.

1. She was a lot younger than she was in the movie, somewhere between 12-14 I think.
2. She and John Smith were friends BUT NOT LOVERS
3. The whole "beheading" that Pocahontas was famous for saving John from, there's actually a lot of evidence showing that it was actually an adoption ritual for making John Smith part of their tribe. It was suppose to symbolize dying and being reborn as part of the tribe.

Also, am I think only person thinking that Pocahontas being married to Kocoum wouldn't have been so bad? I know he was "so serious" but considering Pocahontas was such a free spirit that actually might have been a good balance for her and vice versa. That might have been why her father agreed to the marriage in the first place. Just a thought.



Day #1: Your favorite character
Day #2: Your favorite princess
Day #3: Your favorite heroine
Day #4: Your favorite prince
Day #5: Your favorite hero
Day #6: Your favorite animal
Day #7: Your favorite sidekick
Day #8: Your favorite villain
Day #9: Your favorite original character (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, etc.)
Day #10: Your favorite song
Day #11: Your favorite love song
Day #12: Your favorite villain song
Day #13: Your least favorite song
Day #14: Your favorite kiss
Day #15: The first movie you saw
Day #16: Your favorite classic
Day #17: Your least favorite classic
Day #18: Your favorite Pixar film
Day #19: Your least favorite Pixar film
Day #20: Favorite sequel
Day #21: An overrated movie
Day #22: An underrated movie
Day #23: A movie that makes you laugh
Day #24: A movie that makes you cry
Day #25: Your favorite scene from your favorite movie
Day #26: Saddest death
Day #27: Your favorite quote
Day #28: Your favorite theme park Changed to: Favorite Disney animated TV Series
Day #29: Your favorite theme attraction Changed to: Your Least Favorite Disney animated TV Series
Day #30: Your favorite theme park show Changed to: Your Favorite Live Action Disney Film

Comments

[ichiban-victory.livejournal.com]

Pocahontas marrying Kocoum would have been bad, yes, since it's not at all historically accurate. Pocahontas did actually marry outside of her race, wedding the Englishman John Rolfe. (Not that I recommend seeing Disney's sequel.) 'Pocahontas' isn't even her real name but a nickname given to her that meant "little mischief". Obedient and submissive daughter she was not. ^_-;

Anyway, I can't fault Disney for the changes it made. I don't really care that they aged Pocahontas up and John Smith down since in our current society, it is not at all proper for young girls and older men to be interested in each other, but back in the day it was common practice. Plus, Pocahontas did a lot of good for the early settlers, so it's nice that her legend gets passed on to future generations. (That said, it's a shame Sacagawea continues to disappear into obscurity.)

[earthstar-moon.livejournal.com]

I know Pocahontas married John Rolfe, I'm just saying refusing Kokoum just because he's "too serious" isn't a good enough reason for me storywise.

Also, a lot of people's complaints, especially from the Powhatan Nation (http://www.powhatan.org/pocc.html) , about this movie is that Pocahontas and her tribe were not treated so "well" as they were in the movie and it's very inaccurate.

Anyway, I just think it's a shame that Disney didn't do a Native myth instead. They could have done a wonderful job retelling one on the big screen. There's a dozen of them begging to be made into a Disney film. Hiawatha (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Song_of_Hiawatha) would have been a lovely choice for them.

[ichiban-victory.livejournal.com]

Given Pocahontas' tendency to be free-spirited and do what she wanted, not what others expected her to do, Kocoum being "serious" is just the tip of the iceberg of reasons why she wouldn't find him appealing. Would you want to be married off to a man who didn't share any of your zest for life?

Brother Bear is based off native legend, actually, so technically Disney already has. Neither movie did very well (people tended to complain about the movies more than anything), so it's understandable why Disney would back away from such things. Unfortunate though.

[dqbunny.livejournal.com]

I agree, Hiawatha would have been a lovely choice.

The sequel is much, much worse, as you and I were discussing. It's actually a Disney film I don't want my kids seeing because I don't want them getting the wrong image about this historic character. If they do want to see it, I'll make sure that they know that it's make-believe. Disney can do things wrong, and this is definitely something they got wrong.