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

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

I would have liked if She would have been a little girl like she was usppose to be. They could have thrown in some family aesops, have John Smith play a fatherly or brotherly role... I dunno.

[earthstar-moon.livejournal.com]

If they had made her younger it would have been more accurate, especially if they had John Smith as an guest and maybe she and him has to save the tribe or something. *ponders* The whole story could have been done a lot better.

[pip25.livejournal.com]

This reminds of ichiban_victory's trivia about Aladdin, where the main protagonist was also planned to be younger than what he finally ended up.
There, the change made sense to me; here I don't really know. Pocahontas being her historical age would have obviously nullified the romantic aspects of the movie (or, alternatively, would have sent a mob of angry parents against the studio :P), and given the scenario romance was something the creators probably did not want to pass up.
Whether the movie would have benefited overall, I guess we'll never know. What I do know is that I've seen this film when it came out, and while I didn't think it was bad, it did not leave a really lasting impression, unlike many other films of the studio.

[ichiban-victory.livejournal.com]

I will forever love the movie for depicting Native Americans as their own thriving human society, not just mere savages. Also, Colors of the Wind is one of my favorite songs from Disney, ever. Aside from that, this is definitely not one of the more memorable, but it is interesting to note that it was drawn in a more realistic style than most Disney movies, which was a challenge to the animators. It is a shame the movie didn't do as well as hoped, after all the money that was spent to produce it. (Lion King was being worked on at the same time. Pocahontas was to be the "A" movie, while Lion King was the "B" film. Who could have predicted the B movie outperforming the A?)

[earthstar-moon.livejournal.com]

*laughs* Yeah, that's a good point too. *imagines an army of angry parents with torches* I guess the romance bugs me since in real life John and Pocahontas were friends and knew each other, but they weren't lovers, but I can't deny this is me being picky. (Can you tell I'm a history geek XP).

With that said, I do agree that there are better Disney films out there. (Lion King, Brother Bear, etc) ^_~