Main Disney • Re: Is Pocahontas really hated?

Sorry for bumping this thread, but after reading your response and how nobody replied, I wanted to give it a shot.

The beginning and the ending are the movie's strongest elements, it's the middle that suffers. I really think the movie would have benefited from a longer running time, and a more developed relationship between the leads. As it is, I just don't buy this whirlwind romance because it feels unearned. Even fairytale movies with their notoriously swift romances seem more believable than the one seen here. Maybe it's due to the unhappy ending -- as a general rule, the leads in Disney movies end up together and while their initial courting period was quick, the implication is that the relationship will further develop as it goes on. Here, Pocahontas and John Smith are obviously smitten with each other from the start, and basically have a three-evening romance before he is shot and transported back to England. There really is no time to process the romance properly. If the movie was set over the course of a, say, month, and then used one of the songs as a montage to cover that period (like for example Tarzan did with "Strangers Like Me"), I believe it would have done wonders for the movie and the relationship between Pocahontas and John Smith. Pocahontas's playful nature could have been showcased more in that montage as well, before the threat of the impending conflict would make her act more serious and reserved.

Also, I'm aware of the actual history and that much of the movie's plot was fabricated (and that by all accounts the real-life John Smith was a POS), and I can accept the movie as a fairytale version of the historic events, but if you're reinterpreting it as a fantasy, then a happier ending wouldn't be THAT out of place, would it?

You know, despite how I`ve always loved Pocahontas, as an adult I`ve realized that the movie clearly suffers from those flaws that you`ve mentioned: The development between the lovebirds isn`t given enough time to truly develop as it should`ve have. Sure, it`s mostly due to how they meet up trice, but despite that, the screentime between them should`ve been more expannded. It`s ironic how Tarzan was more believable and plausible with it`s language barrier and romance development with Strangers Like Me, despite not being rooted in reality to the same degree as Pocahontas supposedly were. Yes, the Listen With Your Heart-device is contrived, but even the development of learning their different point of views is rushed. As Pocahontas teaches John Smith about her lifestyle just roughly after having met. Which makes Colors of the Wind rushed.

As for the ending, as a child I wanted Pocahontas to have a happy ending (due to the norm of the formula). And while I have nothing against that it was given an unhappy ending, the ending still suffers from being contrived from an analytical, scrutinizing point of view. It was way too quick and convienent to have John Smith being shot (despite how it actually happened). And while Pocahontas is given a final arc of chosing her own path, she`s still given the choice to actually go with Smith. So the tragedy doesn`t come across as completely hopeless as it should`ve have, which dilutes the believability of the tragedy.

Anyway, after I finished the original, the sequel came up as a suggestion on Disney+, so I kind of begrudgingly pressed play, and... ended up sort of liking it? (When I told her I liked the sequel upon the rewatch, my Pocahontas-loving cousin threatened to disown me.) I've only seen it once or twice before, and that was probably twenty years ago at this point. Make no mistake, it's still quite a bad movie, BUT there are elements of a really good story, and had it been given a proper care and wasn't a quick cash grab, it really could have been something special. The worst things about it: the songs. Save but one (well two, including the end credits song), they all sound like they came from a different movie universe (Beauty and the Beast and Hunchback came to mind multiple times) and don't fit the movie AT ALL. Secondly, the designs of supporting and background characters; again, they don't fit the visuals of the original in the slightest. What else? Terrible comic relief. Needlessly comical/hysterical King James. But the rest? Not gonna lie, I enjoyed it. Pocahontas's struggle with fitting in, the whole subplot of Ratcliffe trying to make her appear uncivilized in front of the court, her coming back to her roots and being proud of her culture, and some good, compelling dialogue that normally shouldn't exist in a cheap DTV -- all good. If only the rest of the movie was as enjoyable. Oh well.

You know, despite how the sequel clearly is a second-tier product, I still like it. Sure, it`s suffering from most of the flaws that cheapquels does and it`s nothing against the spectacle that was the original. But I still thought it was a compelling, worthy sequel. Most of all due to how there`s more action, suspense and the stakes of the conflict are even higher. Not to mention that the script is very good.

On a semi-related note, I really miss the times when Disney (and non-Disney) movies were set in real-life locations and introduced audiences to different cultures and traditions. Pocahontas, Hunchback, Anastasia, Mulan, Lilo & Stitch, The Princess and the Frog, etc., all sparked my interest in historic events behind some of these movies' plots and made me want to visit countries and regions they were set in. And I understand that places like Corona and Kumandra are inspired by real-life destinations, but it doesn't really feel the same as before.

Agreed. I miss it, too.

Statistics: Posted by DisneyFan09 — Thu Jan 11, 2024 10:24 am

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