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

[noseless-wonder.livejournal.com]

I agree with your opinion. Messing with the historical facts a little isn't enough to really ruin the movie for me, but it definitely interrupts the enjoyment. Plus, I don't really see what would be wrong with a movie that featured mixed genders who weren't romantically involved. I know it's less dramatic, but if the story's strong, you don't have to worry about that as much. (I could be biased though; my best friend in the world is a guy)

[earthstar-moon.livejournal.com]

(Hey, one of my best buds is a guy, so I totally understand. ^_~)

I just find it's harder to swallow when they don't try to be accurate. They don't have to be perfect, but they changed A LOT of things in Pocahontas. In the movie, they seemed to ignore the fact that the English held her captive for over a year. @_@ Big thing to skip over.

[ichiban-victory.livejournal.com]

Well, if you're going to want that, we'll have to add in her conversion to Christianity as well. It gets a bit too messy for what Disney would want to show, most likely. (Can you imagine the outrage people who have if they saw that happen? Despite the fact it did happen.) From what I've read on it, Pocahontas was not treated badly while in captivity, since she did obviously convert to Christianity, married an Englishman, and even decided she'd rather remain in the white culture than to live with her tribe.

[brendala.livejournal.com]

Yeah. It's ironic that the sequel (which tried to be more "historically accurate" by hooking her up with Rolfe) made a big deal about Pocahontas being true to her heritage when the real Pocahontas did the exact opposite.

[ichiban-victory.livejournal.com]

(Bleh, I saw it once but remember only that Mel Gibson didn't provide the voice for John Smith. I think his brother did..)

It's not 'PC' for people to adopt a new way of life in this day and age, and I can already hear critics howling if Disney had been 100% accurate. Same goes for if they had actually portrayed Zeus as he really is (a womanizer and impregnator of mortal women, the horrors!) in Hercules, people would have gone ballistic! Disney's unfortunately given in to avoiding strife with the PC Police. A shame, really, but given how people continue to trash Disney for every single thing it does, I can't say I blame Disney. It's not fun being in the public eye.