Hercules (A Walt Disney Masterpiece) [VHS]

Remembering how much I enjoyed this movie throughout the years (and which it will never get old) I am deeply shocked of seeing the negative reviews for this classic film. Greek mythology can be a very complex issue if not explained and detailed right and for Disney to get into all that non-sense would have been a waste of time and paper, and more so if it's a movie intended for kids and family. This is definitely one of my favorite Disney movies and the last one that I can remember enjoying the most. I loved every single character, the story line in the film and also the music.

If you're into heavy Greek mythology, like many 1 star reviewers here have stated, and cannot tolerate for a `kids movie' to be altered to be adapted to Disney style then I suggest for you to watch something completely different, a documentary that portrays accurately everything you're looking for on the Discovery and History channel.

I was looking forward to seeing Hercules when it first came out but I remember being disappointed that it was little more than a remake of Superman.

On its own though, Hercules is a fine production with top-notch animation and voicing.

Actually, I think I'm going to pull out Superman and Hercules this weekend and make it a double-feature. It should be interesting.

This was the best movie i watched in a loong time... it brought alot of my old childhood back ... i love the time it was shipped and the way it was handled

I love this movie! I also love Ricky Martin talking for the Spanish version! I love his video on this DVD too!

I am trying to purge the VHS collection and convert to DVD for my 3yr old. It is not easy to find all the classic Disney videos on DVD. Thanks for being available. Hercules - he loves it!!!

This is a classic Disney movie. Not very exciting but a great classic for small chilldren.

My grandchildren love this DVD. They have not stopped watching it since it arrived in our mailbox. For keeping them quiet it scores 10/10.

Disney released its 35th full-length film in early 1997 and much like all Disney films be prepared for musical numbers to tell the story.....but they are done by Alan Menken....so it isn't all that bad. The plot is set early in the film: Hades wishes to over-throw Mt. Olympus and imprison the legendary gods that live atop the mystical mountain. So Hades summons the sisters of fate to predict the outcome - their forecast is anything but reassuring. A child will be born on Olympus that will defeat Hades' plot - if Hercules fights Hades will lose. So Hades sends his to loyal henchmen, Pain and Panic, to steal the baby from Zeus and feed him an elixir that will remove the young Hercules' godhood and allow Hades to kill the newborn. Well, in typical style, Pain and Panic, botch the assignment and Hercules retains his godly strength. This is a key event in the movie....since it is Hercules' strength the makes him an outcast among the mortals.....and during his teenage years he heads toward the Temple of Zeus looking for answers. This is when the young Herc learns of his true heritage....but before he can join his father on Olympus, Hercules must become a true hero. To aide him, Zeus returns his companion Pegasus, a flying white steed and tells him to find Philoctetes.

After receiving these instructions, Hercules seeks out the guidance of Philoctetes - the trainer of heroes. Shortly after his departure, Hercules finds a satyr spying on two wood nymphs - wouldn't you know it, this peeping Phil is the goatman he's been looking for. After a little encouragement from Zeus, Phil accepts the young student as his pupil - this is no small task, however, Hercules may have monstrous strength, but he's as coordinated as a dancer with two left feet. After Hercs' training we meet another key character in the film, Megara, who made a deal with Hades that allows him to keep her soul. Stumbling upon the River Guardian, Herc takes it upon himself to rescue this damsel in distress. We soon learn that this was no chance meeting.....Hades has made another deal with Meg - if she can manipulate Herc...Hades will release her soul - but this path soon finds a fork in the road when Meg and Herc fall in love.....this becomes a major problem since the deadline to attack Olympus is drawing near. This sets up the next key event in the movie....Hades schemes up a dubious plot that uses Meg's own life as bait to force Hercules to relinquish his strength for twenty four hours. The two strike the deal but with one stipulation: if Meg gets hurt Hercules will regain his strength. I don't think I'll go any further...I don't want to spoil the film for those who haven't seen it....and if your anticipation levels are high, the rest of the film promises to raise them even more. Will Meg get hurt and allow Hercules to regain his strength? Will Hades defeat the twelve gods of Olympus? Will the film end with a happily ever after?

Hercules is one hour and thirty-three minutes and was released on June 27, 1997. This was one of the few animated movies not based on any fictional story, but on Greek Mythology. The story begins with the party Zeus and Hera giving a party to the birth of their son Hercules. Later that evening, Pain and Panic kidnaps Hercules and steal them to the mortal world and try to make him human so they can kill him. Pain and Panic work for Hades who is trying to overthrow Mount Olympus. They fail in their attempt to kill him and Hercules is turned into a human with only his strength left in him. He is found and adopted by Amphitryon and Alcmene. Hercules grows up to be a young man and is somewhat of an outcast do to his strength. Amphitryon and Alcmene one evening tell Hercules the truth and he sets off to find his father, Zeus. Zeus tells Hercules that the only way to become a god again is to prove himself a real hero and only then would he be allow to enter Mount Olympus. Zeus tells Hercules to seek out Philoctetes, a trainer of heroes. Phil is reluctant at first, but in the ends he trains Hercules to become a Hero. Hercules first fights a centaur in order to rescue Megara. Phil, Hercules, and Pegasus (a winged horse) reached Thebes. Hercules fights off the Hydra sent by Hades to kill him. After a lengthy battle with the Hydra, Hercules wins the fight. Hades would continue to send one monster after another to kill Hercules, but all of the monsters fail. The people of Thebes think of Hercules as a Hero. When Hercules confronts his father as to why he is still not a god, Zeus tells him that a true hero comes from the heart. Hades sends Megara after Hercules to try to find his true weakness, when she tells Hades that he has none, Hades sets the wheels in motion. Hades shows himself to Hercules and tells him that he has a deal for him. If Hercules would give up his strength for twenty-four hours he would allow Megara her freedom. Hercules reluctantly agrees only if no harm comes to Megara. Hades agrees to the deal and Hercules strength is gone. Hades begins his take over on Mount Olympus along with the Titans. During a fight with one of the Titans, Megara is seriously injured and Hercules regains his strength. Phil stays with Megara, while Hercules heads to Mount Olympus to free the gods and fight Hades and the Titans. Hades is defeated and retreats back to the underworld knowing that Megara is dying. When Hercules gets back to Megara, it is too late. Hercules heads toward the underworld and demands Megara soul back. Hades tells Hercules that Megara soul is trapped in the River Styx. Hercules strikes a deal with Hades his own soul for her. Hades agrees and tells Hercules that he must retrieve Megara soul himself, leaving out the part that he must be dead first to enter. Hercules enters the River Styx and begins to age. While aging, he starts to become immortal and rescues Megara. Hercules emerges from the River Styx (show his youthful self) with Megara and knocks Hades into the River Styx where the dead attack him. Hercules returns Megara soul to her body and lives again. A cloud lifts Hercules and Megara to Mount Olympus where Zeus tells him that he is a real hero. In the end Hercules gives up being a god for a life of a mortal to be with Megara. Hercules is done in a style of a musical almost, which is a change of pace. Hercules gets an AAAA++++.

Chapter Selections
Bonus Material
A) No Importa La Distancia-Music Video with Ricky Martin
B) Film Recommendations
C) The Making of Hercules
Set Up
Play

i loved this movie when i was little, so i had to get it on dvd to watch again.

Very well done. I enjoyed the way the storyline was written (which differe ENORMOUSLY from the myth, out of necessity) and there are some fun hidden gags in the dialog. I thought Danny DeVito's voicework in this film was perfect. Overall, a lot of fun.

And That's The Gospel Truth.

I'm a big fan of all the Disney movies. The Disney Corporation has for just under a century, entertained generations with their loveable, funny and downright memorable characters and films. Historically, most people will prefer the old Disney film to the modern movies, but there's no doubting they still have their place.

Hercules was released during the rebirth of Disney ignited by the entirely computer animated Toy Story thanks to its collaboration with Pixar. You will be forgiven for thinking that Disney may have taken a bit of a step back reverting to the traditional hand drawn animation, but I'm sure there's a reason for that and it isn't entirely in 2D drawn animation. This particular movie was part of the Disney renaissance in which Disney reverted back to its classic ways of making movies based on classic characters and stories. Along with Hercules, other films in the Disney Renaissance were The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and Mulan amongst others.

The plot tells of the ancient Greek myth of son of Zeus, Hercules, half God and half mortal. On his birth, the bitter and evil brother of Zeus, Hades lord of the Underworld is forging a plan to become ruler of all the Gods. He is approached by the fates who tell him that he will win in his plan as long as Hercules does not interfere. Because of this, Hades sends his stupid minions, pain and panic, to kidnap baby Hercules and feed him a potion that will turn him mortal, once he's mortal the plan is then to kill him. All does not go according to plan as Hercules doesn't drink every last drop of the potion and playfully disposes of pain and panic. Alone and stranded on Earth, Hercules is adopted to be brought up as a mortal.

We fast forward to his teenage years and Hercules is a klutz struggling with his own sense of identity and due to his god like strength, he simply doesn't fit in. He is told by his adoptive parents about his relation to the Gods and Hercules goes on a quest to find his true calling and become a true hero. Along the way, he meets his trainer, Philoctetes, a feisty girl by the name of Megara and fights the harrowing Hydra. These people all shape the man he eventually becomes to create a magnificent Disney classic about self discovery.

The animation is very unique in terms of drawing style and the flowing of lines and the brightness of the colours. It is drawn in the style of the paintings on the side of an Ancient Greek vase. The introduction of the Muses to sing in particular scenes add a musical individuality not seen before in a Disney movie. There is a combination of CG animation and 2D animation to make the experience more realistic and immersive, especially in the case of the fight between Hercules and the Hydra. The voice casting is absolutely perfect, with the exception of Hercules himself as I wasn't crazy about whoever voiced him. James Woods as Hades is almost perfect in him putting across the touchy lord of the Underworld prone to unpredictable outbursts of anger. Susan Egan as Megara is also a perfect match even though I'm not familiar with Egan's past or even current work. Of course, the real voicing legend is Danny DeVito is perfect for the touchy, down on his luck Philoctetes.

It's overall an absolutely amazing film and I was 11 years old when I first saw it. I'm now 22 and I reminisce about the first time I saw it and how much I appreciate it. If you're a parent, then this is a good film to introduce to your kids as although it's not in the slightest bit historically accurate, it's still a great way to introduce a new generation to Greek Mythology. The messages conveyed within are that of discovering ones own identity and remaining true to yourself and those you care about. It conveys this message with such subtlety that an adult can watch it and just enjoy the odd sly adult joke without feeling a bit patronised.

What's not offensive about this?

The designs are hideous. It's like Disney hired a five year old to design characters and he hated them, so he drew hideous abominations Quasimodo would get sick form watching.

After that production can only be explained by someone saying 'You know what I find hilarious? Making fun of religion, ethnic people, and fat people. It'd be great if I could find some way to put all of those together. Don't worry, no one will care if we throw in a bunch of pop culture jokes kids won't understand and are on just like things stolen from later Shrek movies'

This movie insults anyone with any knowledge (let alone respect) for the Greek religion and pantheon (and sends the message that religion is there to make fun of and no one will get mad if you get important parts wrong), soul music, fat people.

These messages are downright transparent. Why would anyone think that's what we should be teaching kids?

I ordered the product on a Friday and by Tuesday I had received it in the mail. I was truly impressed with the speed with which the transaction occurred. It was a very good experience and I would do it again.

This is a fun, family friendly movie. I really enjoyed it. I am always nervous to buy things on-line, because I am afraid that it is a hoax. However, after ordering from Amazon I recieved the movie in less than a week. I trust that Amazon will deliver on it's promises. This movies is a must see, and ordering from amazon is the best way to go!

Talk about one for the Safe

and it didn't cost a fortune.

Worth it's weight in gold.

This was a present for my girlfriend who collects disney dvds. This one was a rare find and I could not beat the price I got it for excellent product!!

The only problem with the movie is the sound is messed for the first 5 minutes. It's really quite then all of a sudden it's really loud.

I never recieved this product, even though I paid for it. I realize it was just a video tape, but I still should have gotten it by now right? It never got here.

Disney released its 35th full-length film in early 1997 and much like all Disney films be prepared for musical numbers to tell the story.....but they are done by Alan Menken....so it isn't all that bad. The plot is set early in the film: Hades wishes to over-throw Mt. Olympus and imprison the legendary gods that live atop the mystical mountain. So Hades summons the sisters of fate to predict the outcome - their forecast is anything but reassuring. A child will be born on Olympus that will defeat Hades' plot - if Hercules fights Hades will lose. So Hades sends his to loyal henchmen, Pain and Panic, to steal the baby from Zeus and feed him an elixir that will remove the young Hercules' godhood and allow Hades to kill the newborn. Well, in typical style, Pain and Panic, botch the assignment and Hercules retains his godly strength. This is a key event in the movie....since it is Hercules' strength the makes him an outcast among the mortals.....and during his teenage years he heads toward the Temple of Zeus looking for answers. This is when the young Herc learns of his true heritage....but before he can join his father on Olympus, Hercules must become a true hero. To aide him, Zeus returns his companion Pegasus, a flying white steed and tells him to find Philoctetes.

After receiving these instructions, Hercules seeks out the guidance of Philoctetes - the trainer of heroes. Shortly after his departure, Hercules finds a satyr spying on two wood nymphs - wouldn't you know it, this peeping Phil is the goatman he's been looking for. After a little encouragement from Zeus, Phil accepts the young student as his pupil - this is no small task, however, Hercules may have monstrous strength, but he's as coordinated as a dancer with two left feet. After Hercs' training we meet another key character in the film, Megara, who made a deal with Hades that allows him to keep her soul. Stumbling upon the River Guardian, Herc takes it upon himself to rescue this damsel in distress. We soon learn that this was no chance meeting.....Hades has made another deal with Meg - if she can manipulate Herc...Hades will release her soul - but this path soon finds a fork in the road when Meg and Herc fall in love.....this becomes a major problem since the deadline to attack Olympus is drawing near. This sets up the next key event in the movie....Hades schemes up a dubious plot that uses Meg's own life as bait to force Hercules to relinquish his strength for twenty four hours. The two strike the deal but with one stipulation: if Meg gets hurt Hercules will regain his strength. I don't think I'll go any further...I don't want to spoil the film for those who haven't seen it....and if your anticipation levels are high, the rest of the film promises to raise them even more. Will Meg get hurt and allow Hercules to regain his strength? Will Hades defeat the twelve gods of Olympus? Will the film end with a happily ever after?

This movie is entertaining and has a wonderful moral lesson in the end. I bought it for my toddlers, and although it contains stimulating animation, they did not enjoy all the battles Hercules had to endure. It is a movie based on the mythical hero, but completely incorrect from an historic point of view. Maybe my kiddos will like it a bit more in a couple of years.

Though this movie is great for an hour and forty five minutes of entertainment its accuracy is something from another planet. If your looking to educate your children about the gods this isn't the right movie. However, if you want a little play-off on the gods and goddesses this is perfect. Its packed with humor and adventure, perfect for any ages. If you want some fun stories to read to your child I would recomend the D'AULAIRES book of greek myths.

From a middle school student in MA.

I never recieved this movie...and its been a mounth and two ays since my purchase had been made. I hope amozon banns the seller from selling items because all the reviews this person recieved wer awful.

I received the movie at the time indicated it would be sent and it was in great condition. Thank you.

The animation is very good & detailed. The story has a lot of action. It is a good hero movie with a great romance. There is lot of comedy in it. The voices of some of the characters are well known so it is great to listen to them. It is quite easy to watch many times. My boys have watched it so many times that they can quote whole scenes by heart. The joy my boys have gotten from watching it has made it a worth while purchase.
DLP

The DVD I purchased was in great condition! I've always loved this film and I'm so happy to have it as a part of my collection!

I'm nineteen years old... and I STILL love Disney, this movie especially. Historical re-tellings are the best Disney movies. They provide a bit of culture to the audience, whom are usually children. It's a great way to sneak education into their entertainment. While the history isn't always exactly accurate, or the re-telling of the myth... it still has value. Ignore the poo-pooing of the accuracy and animation buffs. IT'S A CARTOON. For entertainment! Lighten up, folks. Hercules gives us the buildings-roman part of the story and is obviously the main focus... but really, the other characters are the best. Meg is wise-cracking and street-smart, Hades is smooth-talking and evil, Phil is a crabby yet lovable mentor, the Muses are sexy and snappy, and the Fates and that eyeball are way too cool. This movie is a bit gorey and I wouldn't recommend it for young-young children, older ones would probably get a kick out it. This movie is a bit gorey and I wouldn't recommend it for young-young children, but the older ones would probably get a kick out it.

As was pointed out in a recent Journal of the American Medical Association some G rated films are entirely too violent. This is one of them. It is not suitable for younger children at all. There are complicated themes of Hades (Hell), evil, and about one quarter of it is pure violence. On top of all of that it is not even good. It's clunky, and lacks a truely engaging story. Some of the voices in the film are wickedly annoying, though I thought James Woods wasn't bad.

This movie is one of the best Disney movies created in animation. First off, Megara was there making all the other Disney Heroines cower at her feet because she is more tough and witty then they would ever be, and she is so different from all of them. Sure, this story is totally off the original myth, but it teaches kids to compare and contrast from the real thing if you put it that way. I absolutly love the style of music, with the Muses and all the other inspirational songs such as Go the Distance. I Won't Say (I'm in Love) was sung beautifully by Susan Egan. Her voice brought out the attitude and sass in Meg, and how perfect the hunky naiveness in Hercules is. The romance between those two is amazing, better then other Disney Classics. The colors and animation is one of the best seen, and I have to say nods to Disney on this. It's a true shame, it didn't get more welcoming then it should have. Way to skip it's tenth annaversary in 2007 also Disney, no offense. But come on, this DVD needs more EXTRAS!!!!!!!

I think we all know about Disney's Hercules, so let's talk about the shipping...it was great. Fast, efficient, in tact. Great! I bought the movie for my brothers and they love it!

Disney brings new life to the Greek epic of the powerful mythic strongman in the fun-filled animated feature "Hercules". Hercules (Tate Donavan), the son of Greek Gods Zeus and Hera, is stripped of his immortality as an infant and seeks to regain his rightful place among the Gods of Olympus. With his godlike strength and the aid of his winged horse Pegasus and his feisty personal trainer Phil (Danny DeVito), Hercules will face incredible challenges and learn what it takes to be a true hero. Though not as memorable as "The Lion King", "Hercules" is a refreshing and funny animated romp for the whole family. The thirty-fifth Disney animated movie includes an amusing story, likable characters, a catchy musical score, colorful animation and comical references to pop culture. James Woods is hilarious as the hotheaded God Hades and Susan Egan is amusing as the streetwise damsel Megara. "Hercules" also features the voice talents of Bobcat Goldthwait, Matt Frewer, Rip Torn and Paul Shaffer.

Despite its new cover art, "Hercules" Gold Collection is completely identical to the previously released Limited Edition. The thirty-fifth Disney animated feature is presented in 1.66:1 non-anamorphic widescreen format. The picture quality is the same but it's still a bright and colorful THX-Certified video transfer. Its 5.1 Dolby Digital sound is clear and quite dynamic. The interactive DVD menus are simple. Its only two supplemental extras are the 9-minute "The Making of Hercules" featurette and the Spanish version of the "Going the Distance" music video performed by Ricky Martin. In terms of supplemental material, "Hercules" is somewhat of a letdown compared to other Disney DVDs and earns a "B-".

When this first came out, I thought it looked pretty stupid. When I finally did see it, I was pleasantly surprised. It has a fun different feel than any other Disney movie. I dont really like a lot of the modern Disney movies with their different spin on classic fairy tales, but this didnt feel like that. Its very cute and still retains its message. To me, its actually more mature than alot of older Disney films. So, while this is not my fave Disney movie by far, its still a wonderful addition.

When we switched over to DVD from VHS, I went LOOKING for this movie in the newer format - I LOVE IT! As do my kids...terrific animation, fantastic music (the muses are a RIOT), just creativity in every nook and animated cranny there is. Easily entertains adults as well as children - both boys and girls will love it! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

I agree with everything positive everyone else has said... so why repeat? Great movie. My 4 year old daughter LOVES this movie. She's been watching it since she was a newly turned 3 year old. As for myself, I get locked every time she puts it on.

Some of my favorite Disney films are a somewhat inaccurate retelling of an old story. And so are yours. Think about it. Have you ever read how the original stories of Aladdin, The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast went? Most of the stories Disney retooled to be family friendly were simply not appropriate for children. Picking apart Hercules for inaccuracy simply because it doesn't have the luxury of being one of the accepted classics is hypocritical, nonsensical, and totally ignorant of its merits.

This particular film is one of my favorites in the series of Disney feature films, and I've been an avid lover of Greek mythology since I was very young. I knew the stories that were full of gore, murder and rape long before any child would be allowed to see those kinds of things in a movie, so I knew when I saw Hercules that, for example, Hercules dies, Nessus attempts to rape Hercules' wife (not Megara) and ultimately poisons Hercules with a mixture of his blood and semen, Hercules performs his famous twelve tasks after killing his wife and children out of insanity, Pegasus is born from the gorgon's severed neck, etc. Sure, it's different. But parents complained about the graphicness of the hydra fight. Expecting Disney to put this into a G-rated kids film would have been the height of stupidity when it came out and I was fourteen, and some grown adults are still making this complaint!

This film is ridiculously maligned even though I feel it's one of the best of the Disney animated films. It has unique animation, a quirky feel the likes of wouldn't be seen again until The Emperor's New Groove, an exquisite blend of comedy and drama, a lovable protagonist and a hilarious villain that steals the show. Don't believe for a minute the rantings and ravings of accuracy buffs-- this is a fantastic film that people of any age and acquaintance with Greek mythology can love, if they don't let themselves get caught up in elitisms.

It was only a matter of time until Disney Studios put their own dinstinctive spin on that mythical God-like hero, Hercules. When I first saw it on VHS format, I instantly fell for it.
This animated film follows in the same spirit of my own personal favorite, "Aladdin" (no wonder why I like it), which blends dazzling animation, a clever story filled with satirical puns & in-jokes, toe-tapping showtunes, and engaging characters voiced by talented people.
But within all the jokes and gags is the essential message that our hero must learn: That true heroism comes not from wonderous feats, but from within your heart. We watch as Hercules (displaying God-like strength, but turned mortal, thanks to the under-handed doings of the slimy Hades) evolves from gawky, clumsy teenager into a true heroic figure under the tutelage of Philotetes ("call me Phil"). A diminutive Satyr (the most unlikely trainer of heroes!) with a short fuse, Phil is voiced appropriately by Danny DeVito. Tate Donovan voices the uncertain but ambitious Herk perfectly. His Godly father Zeus is given hearty, boisterous authority by veteran actor Rip Torn. Bobcat Goldthwait and Matt Frewer have fun voicing Hades' bumbling demonic minions, Pain & Panic. One of the big surprises among the characters is the leading lady, Meg. Disney, for a change, went against the "pretty-but-useless" damsel-in-distress by choosing a brassy, wisecracking heroine who pokes fun at damsels-in-distress. But the character who really steals the show is the hot-headed but jocular Hades, Lord of the Underworld, voiced with deliciously villainous glee by James Woods.
As with most Disney fare, "Hercules" is for the whole family. But be warned: Some scenes, such as Herk's battle with a head-sprouting Hydra monster and the equally monstrous Titans, may be too intense for little tykes.
However, there's so much to enjoy in this pun-filled take on the legendary hero that you'll most likely stayed glued to the set from start to finish.

This movie is one of the best Disney movies I've ever seen. It is so funny, charming, and entertaining. This is a movie for the whole family, kids and adults. This movie often gets a bad wrap that it does not deserve. I admit, it is no Beauty and the Beast nor Hunchback of Notre Dame. But it has its own charm. The music is so catchy, and the characters and animation is so unique and different. I think kids don't like it as much because some of the humor is a little over their heads, but teens and adults are sure to enjoy it. And the critics keep knocking it because it didn't follow the Greek myth. But the Hunchback also didn't totally follow the storyline. Victor Hugo's novel is a much darker story. Phoebus and Esmerelda's relationship was not as sweet and romantic as Disney made it out to be. The same goes for The Little Mermaid and Pocahontas. If that's the basis for deciding if Hercules is a good movie or not, then someone might as well not like any of the other aformentioned movies. If the storyline of any of those movies was totally followed, then they definitely wouldn't be for kids to watch. On a final note, all I can say is give it a chance. You won't be disappointed!

This is a good movie, BUT it doesn't have the story line and action to keep a 3-year-old interested. It's very slow moving in parts and has lots of dark scenes with not much color. It also occasional breaks away to parts that have music but very few graphics and that causes a lost interest from the kids.

I can't tell the number of hours my daughter and I sat in our big chair with a big bowl of pop-corn watching and rewatching this movie. She always loved it at five and, now at twelve, she still does.

Some people pick this movie apart as if it is supposed to be somehow "accurate" to the mythology. Sheesh! It's a disney film. Just enjoy the beautiful colors, more than tolerable story line, exceptional music and campy laughs. I did rewatching it for the first time on dvd.

One final point: Disney goofed in that they being one of the most left-wing liberal organizations out there mistakenly presented the Gospel to the world in cartoon allegory.

Think about it: The only Son of the Most High becomes human, and dwells among men, "discovers" himself, all the while perfoming a myriad miraculous feats. How does he become a "True Hero"? By sacrificing himself for the one that he loves...His bride.

Alright, it's a bit of a stretch and surely unintentional, but it still works. It's a beautiful thing!

What a shock, Disney changed a story when they adapted it to an animated feature. Hercules is representative of the whole Disney canon in this aspect. This has been the norm for Disney going back to Snow White so I think complaints don't hold much water, especially if someone is willing to accept previous changes made in other Disney films.

As for Disney's Hercules, it's a fun film. This was a nice break for Disney as they had been putting out some heavier material for a LONG time. Aladdin was fairly light-hearted but Lion King, Pocahontas, and especially Hunchback of Notre Dame had all been harder edged. Hercules is a comedy and needs to be looked at as such.

The voicework and songs are all pretty good here. I do like the gospel approach on the music and think it works quite well. Menken, as usual, does a fantastic job with the music and Zippel does well with the lyrics. Granted, he's no Howard Ashman but no one is.

I wouldn't call Hercules one of Disney's best, but it is a good, entertaining film that fulfills its mission. Don't expect to get a lesson in Greek mythology. I do agree with others who encourage viewers to read the mythology, but that doesn't invalidate Disney's film. It's clear that they were merely inspired by the story of Hercules and went from there. I think it's a good thing that they don't feel constrained to follow the stories to a tee; a flat adaptation would not be this entertaining.

As for the DVD, it's far from spectacular. The film is not in anamorphic widescreen and the quality of the "Making if" Featurette is horrible. It looks like someone taped it on VHS and then dumped it on to DVD. The film looks good and the sound is good. This is a fairly barebones release and is one of the most poorly treated of all Disney animated films. It seems to be another that Disney has decided to forget or neglect. What a shame.

Another Disney classic just like Pocahondas, Shrek, Snow white, Alandin and Lion King. These are cartoon figures and films that are never forgoten.

To be fair, the legends of Herakles, as they were originally written, have little to do with this movie, but maybe that's for the best. Having grown up on Superman, Batman and the Justice League, I have a hard time calling a person like Herakles a hero. In the original legends, he was a warrior, but also a brute who eventually wound up killing his wife and children in a fit of rage. He also wasn't, as far as I can tell, as strong as in this version.
Therefore, interpretations of Herakles are, I think, to be judged not on whether or not they deviate from the legend, but on where and why.
Disney has attempted to take Herakles (or Hercules, in the Roman) and make it a story about a true hero, and a perfect one at that. There's nothing I like more than perfect heroes. They inspire me. Conceptually, I like the idea.
Instead of Herakles being the illegitimate son of Zeus and a mortal woman, he's conceived in love by Zeus and Hera and turned mortal by a potion. Not bad. As changes go, it works better than most.
Herc meets Meg at the beginning of his hero carreer and falls instantly in love with her and she with him (another deviation from the legend, and a very good improvement.) Of course, because Hera is his mother in this version, she can't be Herc's enemy, so they make his opponent Hades; lord of the dead, which could be worse, as changes go. I've never seen Hades as being all that bad of a guy, but that's how it goes. Then there's the Hydra, which is, if anything, much larger and more powerful than it was originally, so that's good too. Aside from this, however, I have to say I was disappointed with most of the changes.
The titans, to start with, were underplayed considerably. It might have been premature to mention that they were Zeus' predecessors, but they could at least have given them powers similar to what they actually had, and a roughly-similar appearance. Oceanus, for example, lashing out with blasts of water from his hands like a fire hose, or Cronos reversing the movements of his olympian enemies would have made for an excellent action sequence, particularly since Hercules didn't beat the titans alone in the original stories, nor does it make sense that he should in this one (grabbing a whirlwind? Come ON now.)
I actually didn't mind Hades' used-car-salesman demeanor all that much, though I didn't see a reason why he should have flame-based powers when that's clearly Apollo's territory. Further, I thought most of the Gods and Muses were given no credit at all in terms of their innately glorious nature.
Why is this the case? I think Disney made the mistake, in this film, of not just trying to make the legends clean, but FUN as well, and there's nothing fun about war. I'm not saying they couldn't have made the concept work. In fact, I'm saying they could have made it work if they'd toned down the comedy and given the characters a bit of respect (Justice League style.)
Still, for what it's worth, this is one of the few movies left in the world that isn't afraid to dwell on the concept of a hero, and for that it's worth at least one viewing. Rent it from your local video store, in my opinion, before you make your decision.

Disney has tackled Greek mythology before, most notably in "Fantasia." However, in this feature film Disney combines a lot of humor with a tale inspired by the story of Hercules to create a new fantasy.

We meet baby Hercules at the beginning of the movie. We also meet Hades, wonderfully voiced by James Woods. Hades is upset because he must remain in the underworld rather than being on Mount Olympus with the other Greek gods. Hades manages to have his henchmen Pain (Bob Goldthwait) and Panic (Matt Frewer) give Hercules a potion that removes nearly all of Hercules' immortality. Unfortunately for Hades, Pain and Panic fail to eliminate baby Hercules, who ends up being cared for by mortals.

Hercules (voiced by Tate Donovan) grows up and becomes a menace because he is unable to control his great strength. Philoctetes (Danny De Vito) mentors Hercules with the intent of turning him into a hero. Hercules soon encounters beautiful Megara (Susan Egan), unaware that she is actually working for Hades.

The plot moves along generally quickly, with Meg conflicted between her debt to Hades and her liking and then love of Hercules. As with the best Disney movies, it is the conflict between love and evil that forms the clever and enjoyable end of this movie.

This animated movie boasts an all-star cast in addition to those actors listed above. Charlton Heston is the narrator. Amanda Plummer is the voice of one of the Fates. Rip Torn voices Zeus, Hercules' father. Other voices include Paul Shaffer, Hal Holbrook, and Barbara Barrie.

This movie received 8 awards and another 10 award nominations, one of which was an Oscar nomination.

My only complaint is that the Muses were more filler than anything. Disney Studios could have eliminated the Muses and the movie would have lost nothing. Indeed, the movie might have moved along quicker.

I found this film generally enjoyable and I am glad to have it in my collection. I think that people who enjoyed "The Little Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast" will probably find this movie similarly enjoyable. Enjoy!

Baby Hercules is the son of gods Zeus and Hera, and is adored by all on Mount Olympus, the home of the gods. But when the ruler of the underworld, Hades, kidnaps Hercules and turns him mortal, he is adopted by a couple on Earth, and has no knowledge of his ancestry, or his true home. Years later, as a gawky teenager, Hercules finds out that he is actually a god, and must prove himself a true hero in order to return to Mount Olympus. With the help of Phil, a sarcastic satyr, and Pegasus, a winged horse, Hercules becomes a well-known hero, but surprises everyone with his decision of where he belongs, after falling in love with a feisty girl named Meg.

Full of action and comedy, Disney's `Hercules' truly deserves a place among other animated masterpieces. While not entirely true to the Greek story, the Disney version supplies both adults and children with ninety-three minutes of fun and laughter. With excellent animation, memorable songs, and likeable characters, everyone, young and old, will cherish this stunning success!

I know that this movie is a great hit and all that blabber, but they took too much away from the real myth of hercules. In this film he is quite smart and intellegent, but in the myth that told his truth: he was a dum brute who killed Meg resulting in to the twelve labors of hercules, wich we get a glympse of in the song: Zero to Hero. I know that if a child knew the truth he would get a terrible shock, but its better that they know the truth about their hero

I am so mad at Disney and their movie "Hercules" because they changed the film just because they think they will get away with changing stories. I like Greek Mythology, but the movies have not been good at all. And this weak effort is not going to do anything about it. The plot has been changed completly, Pegasus is never mentioned in the real version, He is not trying to impress people, he had no trainer, the lion and the lion skin is not mentioned, the hydra fight is because of a different reason, ugly characters, Hercules was never in love with a chick, Hades is not a bad guy but he is not good either, and all kinds of things that I won't mention.

Don't buy this movie because it is completly different, why don't you read Greek mythology instead of watching this?

Although I know I have heaped praise on several other Disney films...this film could have been better. Overall, I thought it was entertaining but there were several elements I disliked.

First off the Greek gods were simply hideous, save perhaps for Zeus and Hades (who's was designed to be hideous and was nevertheless, well-rendered), as was baby and teen Hercules. I mean, I'm aware this is a cartoon but for these characters, caricature was overwrought and grotesque to the point of distraction (especially the baby).

Secondly, this just wasn't as funny as certain other Disney films. I found the humor rather flat and meant for the 7-13 year old crowd (or thereabouts). My kids enjoyed it especially my daughter (7). The fact that Disney wasn't faithful to the myth doesn't, in itself, bother me; in fact, I can't fault them for it. For a film designed for general audiences, Hercules can't be a love child and there can be no mention of Zeus's wife Hera (Herc's mom in this movie) being Zeus's sister, (which of course she's most likely not in the movie). Despite this, I feel there might've been better ways to skirt around these issues and still make an entertaining movie. Again Hades is cool and remember able villain, also because of course of James Woods, who excellently voiced him. The love story of this story was disappointing also. The movie is filled with some nicely done action sequences though.

Lastly, there was an air of frivolity around this movie that I couldn't get over; a feeling that it was just a bit too goofy and wasn't taken near seriously enough.

Although it's far from being the best Disney movie and perhaps maybe even the worst Disney of the nineties, I still love some of the elements in this movie. The action is one of them. Don't expect an animated masterpiece but expect an enjoyable movie instead. Let it simply entertain you! All in all, I consider it neither as terrible as some seem to, nor as great as others apparently do.

At this point the Disney animation juggernaut started to show signs of definite weakness. The Little Mermaid revitalized classic animation. Beauty and the Beast took animation to an all time high, the only animated film to be nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award. Aladdin set box office records and became the second animated film to win the Best Picture, Musical or Comedy Golden Globe. Then The Lion King smashed all records. But after that it's been down hill. (Box office that is not quality.)

Keeping with success, Alan Menken was hired to write the music but they were looking for a new lyricist and choose David Zippel who took Broadway by storm with City of Angels and what a great choice.

Running out of good fairy tales, Disney went to Greek mythology and the legend of Hercules. Now this follows the Greek myths as well as many of the animated fairy tales did. (Which means not very well.)

Trying to make the movie hip like Aladdin, they created a Greek Chorus (Lilas White, Roz Ryan, LaChanze, Cheryl Freeman and Vaneese Thomas), that resembled the Supremes or En Vogue, to be musical narrators of the film. The film's plot is about Hades taking over Olympus.

The film begins with Zeus (Rip Torn) and Hera (Samantha Eggar) having a son, Hercules. Down in the underworld, Hades (James Woods) is planning his revenge on Zeus but the fates tell Hades that his plot would be foiled by Hercules. The only way for Hades' plan to succeed is to eliminate Hercules but you can't kill a god. So Hades sends two minions, Pain and Panic (Bobcat Goldthwait and Matt Frewer) to poison Hercules and make him mortal. But as it happens, they get interrupted and Hercules is part human and part god. But to live on Olympus, you must be all god.

Baby Hercules is raised by a local farmer. Hercules grows up and realizes his extraordinary strength but cannot control it. This makes Hercules an outcast in town and he sets out on his own (Go the Distance). When he arrives at the Temple of Zeus, he finds out his history. He also finds out the only way to become a god again is to perform a selfless act of heroism.

So Hercules sets out to be trained by a famous Centaur, Philocetes (Danny Devito). The reluctant Phil takes Hercules on. After he is ready, Herc and Phil set out to make Herc a hero. He quickly goes from "Zero to Hero". Hades quickly notices that Hercules is not mortal and decides to distract him with another minion, the beautiful Megara.

Hercules saves Megara (Susan Egan - Belle of Beauty and the Beast) and falls for her but Meg feels "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" (This is the best song in the show and should have been nominated for an Oscar). Now that Hercules is distracted, Hades moves forward with his plan and releases the Titans to invade Mount Olympus. In the deal Meg is killed but Hercules cannot release her so he goes to the sea of souls to rescue her soul.

As this is a Disney film, you know that all ends up happy but this whole film is done for the fun of it and so a happy ending is acceptable.

This film is a cross between classic and modern. Hades is like a talent agent and when Hercules becomes a hero he is marketed.

DVD EXTRAS:
Music Video - No Importa La Distance by Ricky Martin

Making of Hercules featurette - This is a featurette that is about the making of the film from the voice cast to the music by Menken to the artists who created the characters and the film's directors and producers. What makes this different from the typical "Making of" featurette is it goes behind the animation process and gives you insights to the process.

Personally I adore this film. It's definately not your typical Disney fare in terms of the art, which apparently put some people off as low quality. I don't see that at all-- the details and stylistic choices were obviously done for a reason, making some of the art look as if had jumped off a Greek vase and into Technicolor. The animation of Mount Olympus is particularly well done.

The film is extremely engaging and funny and has enough laughs for both adults and children. I saw this in theaters around age 11 and enjoyed it a lot; earlier this year I watched it, and got jokes I hadn't the first few viewings around such as the Oedipus one ("Man, I thought I had problems!") or Thebes being portrayed as 'The Big Olive'. The film may not be acurate if you're depending on it to be a teaching tool about Greek myths, but this IS Disney. It still allows plenty of chuckles for those of us who do know our Perseus from our Theseus.

Hercules himself is ernest & likable and Megara is one of the sassiest bad-girl heroines you'd see in a Disney film. ("I'm a damsel, I'm in distress, I can handle it. Have a nice day.") Though what really steals the show is the villian. James Woods creates a fast-talking sleazy-car-dealer type of a villian that is genius. I also enjoyed the plethora of songs in the film, with the excecption of Michael Bolton singing "I Can Go the Distance" over the credits. (We'll just pretend that didn't happen, shall we?)

Overall, highly recommended for laughes, upliffing moments of heroism, and some action. If you enjoyed it, I also liked the animated series (they've only released three epsiodes on a "Zero to Hero" video, but the show was hilarious).

This movie has to be one of my all time favorite movies. The music is amazing and the voices are really good. I'd definately recomend this movie to anyone. It's a must-buy or at least a must-see.