Disney Renaissance Month - Pocahontas (1995)

         Hey guys, Chuck here, and we're back with more for Disney Renaissance Month. Last time, we talked about, arguably, the biggest movie of the Disney Renaissance, The Lion King. However, what's most ironic is that during development on the film, it was seen as the smaller of two projects being produced simultaneously, and a majority of the top-level Disney animators chose to work not on The Lion King, but the film that was seen as the film that would be bigger than The Lion King, 1995's Pocahontas, directed by Mike Gabriel and Eric Goldberg and based on the legend of the historical figure of the same name. 

        The movie opens with the 1607 voyage of the Virginia Company, a group of men sailing from England to the Virginia Territory in North America. Among the crew are Captain John Smith, Governor Ratcliffe, his assistant Wiggins, and a young sailor named Thomas. During the voyage, the ship gets caught in the middle of a storm, Thomas ends up going overboard, and John dives into the water to save him. We learn that, while John is seeking adventure in an unknown land, others like Ratcliffe are after gold and riches. 

        We then see the Powhatan tribe,.which is a tribe of Native Americans based in the Virginia Territory. The tribe's warriors, led by Chief Powhatan, return from a skirmish with an enemy tribe. Unfortunately, the chief's daughter, Pocahontas, isn't in the village, as she is out and about near a massive waterfall not far from the village. Pocahontas, along with her best friend Nakoma, return to the village, where the tribe honors one of their warriors, Kocoum, for his victories in battle. Powhatan and Pocahontas reunite, where Powhatan reveals Kocoum has asked to marry Pocahontas, in spite of his stern and serious personality clashing with her own free-spirited nature. 

        Seeking guidance, Pocahontas takes a canoe down the river, where she goes to see Grandmother Willow, who is a forest spirit living in a willow tree, regarding a dream she had about a spinning arrow and strange clouds. Grandmother Willow tells Pocahontas to listen with her heart, and she will find the answers to her dream. Pocahontas then climbs up to the tree tops, where she sees the sails of a ship. Specifically, the ship carrying the Virginia Company. John decides to go ashor and explore the land, whilst the rest of the men set up the fort, with Ratcliffe naming the new settlement Jamestown, and start to dig for buried gold. Back in the village, Chief Powhatan warns against going near the settlers. 

         Ultimately, John and Pocahontas end up meeting, and the two learn of each other's cultures over the course of the afternoon, with Pocahontas showing John the wonders of the natural world, and how everything from trees to rocks to animals have spirits. Unfortunately, one of the settlers kills one of the Natives in self-defense, causing unrest between the two peoples, and forcing Chief Powhatan to summon warriors from neighboring tribes to join in a war against the settlers. Back at Jamestown, Ratcliffe is convinced that the reason the Natives attacked is because they're protecting the gold. 

      The next day, Pocahontas reveals that there is no gold around, and she introduces John to Grandmother Willow, who takes a liking to him. Unfortunately, the two are forced to return to their people to try and stop the impending war, to no avail. However, Chief Powhatan does seem to be, at least, willing to speak with one of the settlers. Pocahontas returns to Grandmother Willow, where she is to meet John again. Both Kocoum and Thomas, who hasn't been measuring up as a soldier in Ratcliffe's eyes, follow Pocahontas and John, and are shocked seeing the two together. Kocoum, however, is livid seeing John and Pocahontas kiss, and he tries to murder John in an incensed rage. Thomas shoots Kocoum, killing him and angering Pocahontas. John orders Thomas to leave, and he is promptly taken by two of the Natives, who plan to execute John at sunrise, and then go to war against the rest of the settlers. Thomas relays what happened to Ratcliffe and the others, who mount up with rifles and prepare to go to war against the Natives. 

        Pocahontas, clearly saddened by what's going on, looks upon the compass John gave to Meeko, Pocahontas' raccoon friend, and realizing it's the spinning arrow from her dreams. Following it towards sunrise, Pocahontas races to stop her father from killing John and starting a war, stepping between her father and John, declaring her love for the latter. Listening to the spirits in the wind, Chief Powhatan stands down, and declares he will spill no blood going forward, ordering John go free. Ratcliffe, unconvinced of this act of peace, takes a rifle to kill Chief Powhatan, who John steps in front of and takes the bullet for. This leads the men to arrest and bind Ratcliffe in chains. Although the Natives help mend John's wound, Thomas and the men must return him to England to heal properly, John and Pocahontas say their goodbyes, and Powhatan welcomes him to return, ending the movie. 

        Okay, so as much as I enjoyed this movie and the story as a kid, I do have to admit that Pocahontas doesn't hold up in the story department particularly well. Unfortunately, there are far too many historical inaccuracies that weigh heavily against the film's plot, and even back in 1995, that was a point of criticism. However, I'm not going to list all of the historical inaccuracies present in this movie, because it would take up too much of the review. However, I will say that it's not necessarily meant to be seen as a reflection of history, but rather a romantic fairy tale that features famous historical figures. Obviously, the real Pocahontas, John Smith, and Governor Ratcliffe were nothing like how the movie portrays them, but it's a historical fantasy. Trying to view this movie as faithful to history is like saying that Mel Brooks' History of the World, Part 1 is meant to be faithful to history. It's just not how people were supposed to view the movie. But, even I have to admit the historical inaccuracies definitely take the movie down a few pegs. 

       One of the more praiseworthy elements of the movie is the vocal talent behind it, as both Irene Bedard and Mel Gibson are fantastic as Pocahontas and John Smith. I also enjoyed the likes of Russell Means and Linda Hunt as Chief Powhatan and Grandmother Willow. Christian Bale, Billy Connolly, and Joe Baker were also a lot of fun as Thomas, Ben, and Lon. And remember, we're talking about Christian Bale and entire DECADE before he suited up as Batman in Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins. So, yeah. 

       David Odgen Stiers is also in this movie, and he provided the voices of Governor Ratcliffe and Wiggins. Unfortunately, Ratcliffe is probably among the weaker of the Disney Villains introduced during the Disney Renaissance. However, it's his over-the-top nature that makes him stand out just slightly over other one-dimensional villains like McLeach in The Rescuers Down Under. 

      The music was another highlight of this movie. Alan Menken returns to produce the score, and also returns as songwriter, joined by lyricist Stephen Schwartz. And there are quite a few really good songs in the movie, such as "Steady as the Beating Drum," "Just Around the River Bend, " and of course "Colors of the Wind." I'm serious, guys, Alan Menken is just spectacular when he works with Disney. 

          Honestly, as much as I enjoyed the movie as a kid, Pocahontas is definitely not one of the stronger Disney Renaissance movies. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy it. Heck, I even got Irene Bedard to sign my Blu-ray of the movie. So, yeah, I still like the movie fine, but there are definitely better films in the Disney Renaissance. So, I'm giving Pocahontas a rating of 4/5. Now, would Disney pick things back up? Well, the next film in the Disney Renaissance would see the return of Beauty and the Beast directors Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale, so, we'll see. But, that'll have to wait until Monday when we get to said film, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Until then, this is Chuck signing off, and I hope you guys enjoy the weekend.