Walt Disney's Hercules
directed by Ron Clements and John Musker

There are a few things that could be said about this offering from Disney: it isn't accurate, the story-line isn't much, the songs are nice and 'fluffy'. But it was a lot of fun!

In this version of the Greek legend, Hercules is the son of Zeus and Hera. Hades, wonderfully voiced by James Woods, wants to do a 'hostile-takeover' of Mount Olympus and, as the three fates reveal, the only thing that will stop him is Hercules.

So, he has two demons, Pain and Panic, kidnap the boy, turn him mortal and kill him. Hercules was turned mortal but he kept his powers due to the intervention of two kindly souls who adopt him as their child.

Growing up with the nickname 'Jerkules' (he's a strong klutz), Hercules finally finds out he's the son of a god and goes about getting his godhood back by performing heroic deeds.

As is getting the norm in Disney productions, there is a strong female lead in the form of Meg who has a lot of nice one-lines ("Hello, Wonderboy,", "Are you always this articulate?") but who may have a nasty past.

So, Hercules performs mighty deeds, kills many monsters, gets 30-minute workout scrolls and action-figures made of himself but finally learns what it is that makes a true hero.

In comparison with previous Disney offerings like Pocahontas or The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules is very light-hearted and pokes a lot of fun at merchandising. It helps that the dialogue, never heavy at all, is easy on the ears. Of all the recent Disney animated offerings, this one has the most 'cartoonish' atmosphere.

The artwork is more basic than previous Disney offerings although consistent (or am I being spoiled?) with less obvious computer generated images unlike Hunchback which had rather obvious CGI-images. I found myself paying more attention to the story than to the artwork in this movie.

The references to past Disney movies is also getting very obvious (apart from the "Hidden Mickeys" that 'real' Disney fanatics can catch but which I can't) as well as references to other movies.

In short, watch it for sheer fun, but don't expect a very artistic or thought-provoking movie.

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Walt Disney's Hercules directed by Ron Clements and John Musker

Walt Disney's Hercules
directed by Ron Clements and John Musker