Hercules (1997)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Directors:

Ron Clements
John Musker

Writers:

Ron Clements (animation screenplay) &
John Musker (animation screenplay) ...

Release Date:

27 June 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Musical

Tagline:

A Comedy of Epic Proportions

Plot:

The son of the Greek Gods Zeus and Hera is stripped of his immortality as an infant and must become a true hero in order to reclaim it.

Plot Keywords:

Hercules | Hero | Zeus | Hades | Olympus

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 8 wins & 9 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. July 21	8:00 PM	DISN
Wed. July 22	12:00 PM	DISN

Cast

Tate Donovan	...	Hercules (voice)
Josh Keaton	...	Young Hercules (voice)
Roger Bart	...	Young Hercules (singing voice)
Danny DeVito	...	Philoctetes (voice)
James Woods	...	Hades; Lord of the Underworld (voice)
Susan Egan	...	Meg (voice)
Bob Goldthwait	...	Pain (voice) (as Bobcat Goldthwait)
Matt Frewer	...	Panic (voice)
Rip Torn	...	Zeus (voice)
Samantha Eggar	...	Hera, Hercules' Mother (voice)
Barbara Barrie	...	Alcmene; Hercules' Foster Mother (voice)
Hal Holbrook	...	Amphitryon; Hercules Foster Father (voice)
Paul Shaffer	...	Hermes; the Messenger God (voice)
Amanda Plummer	...	The Fates (voice)
Carole Shelley	...	The Fates (voice)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Finland:K-8/5 (re-rating) | Finland:K-8/6 (original rating) | Denmark:7 | Iceland:L | USA:G (certificate #35360) | South Korea:All | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Canada:G | Chile:TE | Germany:o.Al. (bw) | Mexico:A | Netherlands:AL | Portugal:M/6 | Sweden:7 | UK:U | Singapore:G | Norway:7 | Brazil:Livre

Company:

Walt Disney Pictures

Trivia:

The movie makes many references to the epic poem of the 12 Labors of Hercules including the mid-movie battle with the Lernaean Hydra (2nd Labor). The Nemean Lion (1st Labor), Erymanthian Boar (4th Labor), Stymphalian Bird (6th Labor) are featured in the 'Zero to Hero' scene, and the capturing of Cerberus (12th Labor) at the end of the film. Phil also mentions the task of cleaning Augean's stables (5th Labor) and retrieving a Girdle from 'some Amazons' (9th Labor) while Hercules was posing for the painter.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Narcissus is not a Greek God, and therefore would not be on Mount Olympus.

Quotes:

Hades: Uh, guys? Olympus would be that way.

Movie Connections:

References The Lion King (1994)

Soundtrack:

A Star is Born

The last of the new classics

Although I know I have heaped praise on several other Disney films...Hercules stands out as my favourite among them all. After this movie the Disney features once again seemed to slip downhill. However I can watch this movie again and again, it has a spectacular Greek chorus, gospel type score, which will ring in your head for days (and you will like it!). The characters are all likeable, even the villain and it is absolutely hilarious!

I have never understood the panning this film got from Disney fans, as I have never comprehended what there is to dislike. The animation is beautifully done, although it is done in the style of Greek art, which may not be to everyone's taste (very similar situation to Sleeping Beauty which was disliked by some because it was animated in the style of a medieval tapestry), but it works wonderfully for the film.

Take a chance and watch it...and when you're done watching it for the sixteenth time, go out and buy the soundtrack!