Hercules (1998, VHS)

So there was a huge party this weekend, which I m assured was an insanely good time.

I wouldn t know. I wasn t there.

So where, you ask, was I? What could have been more fun than consuming copious amounts of alcohol, listening to terribly loud music and attempting to hit on every beautiful woman around? What could I possibly have been doing?

I ll tell you. I was at home, babysitting some of my younger cousins.

So what s so great about that? Well, aside from the fact that they re really quite a lot of fun and I absolutely love them to bits, it also means that I get to watch a kiddies movie in the presence of actual kiddies, without the oh-this-is-so-stupid-it s-almost-funny attitude I d have to adopt if I were to watch it with someone my own age. Basically, I get to be a kid again for a while.

So, to get to the point, I watched Hercules this weekend. And now I m reviewing it. So read on.


Hercules is the baby son of Zeus and Hera, the rulers of the gods. Unfortunately for him, Zeus younger brother Hades is really unhappy with his position as Lord of the Underworld, and means to do something about it. He has a plan to unleash the Titans, dethrone Zeus and take over the cosmos. And he has reliable information (imparted by the Fates) that his plan will succeed unless Hercules fights for the gods on the day he launches his big coup.

So Hades tries to get his minions to get the baby Hercules to swallow a potion that will make him mortal. They re interrupted just before our hero swallows the last drop, and he retains his godly strength. But mortals can t stay in Olympus, and his divine parents allow him to be adopted by an elderly farming couple. Raised in this simple environment, Herc s strength combine with teenage awkwardness to make him a menace.

Then he discovers the truth of his origins, and learns that the only way for him to get back into Olympus is to become the greatest hero the world has ever known. To that end, he goes into training with the horny old goat (literally, he s a satyr) Philoctites, trainer of Achilles, Odysseus, and all the other greats. None of them could go the distance, but Hercules just might have what it takes unless Hades has anything to say about it.


Obviously this version of the Hercules story is not exactly mythologically accurate. But that s okay with me, because the official mythological Hercules was a bit of a stupid bastard (literally as well as figuratively), and not exactly suitable for use in a children s movie. Zeus philandering nature and Hera s insane jealousy are absent from this tale, unsurprisingly (that s not exactly kiddie fair). Anyway, there are mythological asides and in-jokes for those in the know throughout the film, and it s actually quite fun to see how Disney has taken these old stories and incorporated it into this newer version.


Hades is actually the most interesting character in the film, and it s hard not to feel sorry for the guy. I mean, he s had the worst job of all the gods basically since time began, and his older brother seems completely oblivious to his unhappiness. Hey, if I was stuck down in the underworld for a few millennia, I d probably be seriously ticked off, too. You ve got to feel for the guy.


The mythological Hercules is reinterpreted as a figure more in line with the more popular heroes of modern culture. In other words, he s a superhero. Specifically, he s very similar to Superman in the whole baby from out of this world adopted by elderly couple and raised in wholesome fashion, struggling to control his powers and becoming the greatest hero the world has ever known thing. Ironic, really, because the mythological Hercules was part of the inspiration for the Man of Steel in the first place. Anyway, this version of Hercules fits our notions of what a hero should be (kind, sincere, moral, determined) far better than the original version (big, strong, stupid, thinks he owns the world and acts accordingly).


Megara, the beautiful love interest with a dark secret, is very cynical and world-weary for a Disney character. Her views are very much darker than I d expect for a children s movie, but I thought she brought something important to this film, a sense that life doesn t always treat you well, and the happy ending that results is so much happier for her earlier misery that I can t complain. And my cousins didn t seem to have a problem with it either (though that s probably just because they re too young to really understand her views).


The animation is interesting, very different from what Disney had tried before. Though I personally preferred the straightforward style of The Lion King and the energetic boldness of Aladdin, this movie s style seems to fit it well enough more cartoony than usual, exaggerated, strong. It feels a bit like a mixture of Ancient Greek art mixed with early Marvel comics.


Music is an important part of Disney s animated movies, and this movie is no exception. The Muses sing songs throughout the movie, and while this is rather entertaining (they re like a modern-day gospel/pop group), their songs really aren t all that memorable (I m having trouble recalling any one particular song right now). However, the Go the distance song that Hercules sings when he declares his intention to earn his way into Olympus is quite moving and very memorable (in fact, the damn thing s still running through my head).


Overall, an enjoyable retelling of the tale of one of the most famous heroes ever, updated for our times with wit, humour and more likeable characters. Not Disney s greatest ever, but certainly a fun treat for the youngsters.