Pocahontas [G]

In a native Indian village lives the free-spirited princess Pocahontas. For years she and her village have lived in peace, but their harmonious way of life is thrown asunder when a crew of British settlers, led by the greedy Governor Radcliffe, anchor on their shores and begin digging up the earth looking for gold. Amongst them is the brave and handsome Captain John Smith who, after meeting Pocahontas in a river’s glen, falls in love with her. Unfortunately their love is threatened by their two different worlds’ prejudice and misunderstanding of one another and Pocahontas must find the courage and the wisdom to make everyone see that they can live together in peace. 

I used to really love this movie when I was younger but, unfortunately, it’s another of those rare Disney movies that just isn’t as good as you remember when you watch it again as an adult. I still maintain that the story is lovely and a very powerful one with beautiful messages about the evils of prejudice, misunderstandings, and racism, the songs are enchanting and stay with you (I watched this last night and woke up this morning with Mine Mine Mine stuck in my head), and the animation is very beautiful too, but ultimately Pocahontas just doesn’t do it for me anymore. It’s sad but true. 

In a native Indian village lives the free-spirited princess Pocahontas. For years she and her village have lived in peace, but their harmonious way of life is thrown asunder when a crew of British settlers, led by the greedy Governor Radcliffe, anchor on their shores and begin digging up the earth looking for gold. Amongst them is the brave and handsome Captain John Smith who, after meeting Pocahontas in a river’s glen, falls in love with her. Unfortunately their love is threatened by their two different worlds’ prejudice and misunderstanding of one another and Pocahontas must find the courage and the wisdom to make everyone see that they can live together in peace. 

The major appeal of this movie is the messages it throws at you from every direction. The great contrasting symmetry of the two tribes of people very strongly conveys the film’s central messages of the evils of racism and prejudice as well as that age-old adage of “what you don’t understand can hurt you”. 

Then we have the beautiful romance of Pocahontas and John Smith, which is all about overcoming adversity and breaking down those constricting walls. The impossible love is something that we continue to see time and time again in one form or another and it never gets old: Beauty and the Beast, Pretty in Pink, Marnie, The Little Mermaid, Spellbound, Moulin Rouge!, Romeo + Juliet, and even Twilight. 

Featuring the voice talents of Irene Bedard, Mel Gibson, David Ogden Stiers, Russel Means, Christian Bale, Linda Hunt, Joe Baker, and Billy Connolly, Pocahontas is a very nice Disney movie filled with great messages, a beautiful romance, enchanting songs, and breathtaking scenic animation. The downside to all this is that it just doesn’t do it for me like it did when I was younger. Sadly, it just doesn’t stand up.