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Monday, November 17, 2014
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Disney's Hercules
The whole story of Hercules was completely different than the traditional stories from Ancient Greece. First of all Hera is not his loving mother, as the Disney film portrays. She is one of the main antagonists in Hercules life, but instead the film creates Hades as the main cause for his strife. Hades is the one that sends "snakes" to kill him as a child instead of Hera. Also, the main plot of Hades trying to gain power is not a part of the traditional stories. Once the Titans are locked up by Zeus, they stay locked up. The film did however have many characters from the stories, but they were very different in the Disney's version. For example, Nessus plays a completely different role in the film, and Philoctetes is a Satyr hero trainer. All these changes were probably done to create a more acceptable family oriented film, as if the story stayed true to the stories it would definitely be much darker and aimed at a different audience. Many aspects of the original story would have been unacceptable, for example the Hercules having to murder his first family and Nessus sexually harassing Hercules' later wife. Plus, with the unfaithfulness of Zeus being the reason for Hera's hate for Hercules, their had to be a completely different antagonist to avoid this debauchery. The Disney team probably did not all study Ancient Greece so they thought the Titans were cool, so why not include them in the film. Also, the twelve labors cast on Hercules by King Eurystheus, was not really in the film at all, only the Hydra and some clips and references to others. For example the boar Hercules had to bring back to the king was shown by a picture on a vase, and it could be inferred he killed the Nemean Lion as he has a lion skin on as he gets a portrait of himself painted. Overall, most of these changes made sense as this is only a film targeted at young children, so they do not know their Ancient Greek history, and the goal was to create an enjoyable film, not a history lesson.
Hercules
After watching Disney's Hercules, I realized that they made some good changes to the original story. They left out a lot of things that would not have been appropriate for a young audience. This includes the adultery committed by Zeus, the wrath of Hera, and the part where Hercules murders his family. In place of Hera as the villain they made Hades the bad guy, which I thought was a good choice. One change that was not necessary was the portrayal of the Titans and the history behind them. Disney could have also put more into the labors that Hercules had to go through, or at least tell us the symbolism behind them.
Hercules/Herkales
It would of been tough for Disney to use the actual stories and mythology into this film because it was made for children and most of the actual mythology wouldn't be appropriate. Things such as hercules killing his wife and children are some of the things that wouldn't of been allowed into the movie. They did, however, bring in actual mythology such as his superior strength and the three-headed dog did make an appearance in the film. Also, the Muse's at the beginning did talk about some of the background mythology that contributes to the true story of hercules. So I do think that Disney did a good job of what they were allowed to bring into the film to make it somewhat mythological for the children that was their audience.
Herakles vs. Hercules
While Disney's Hercules is a highly enjoyable movie it leaves a lot out from the original myth, some changes were welcome and others not as much. Some of the welcome changes were making Hercules a hero that had to work for his control and power. The fact that he went on a journey made him identify much more with us the audience. Instead of seeming distant and godly he seemed human and we could understand where he was coming from. This change also made us feel like we too could reach incredible heights if we work hard, persevere, and put everything we have into our dreams. I go back and forth on the change to have Hades be the enemy, while I like that it actually gives Hercules a physical foe as opposed to a mental one it still diverges a lot form the original story. This change was likely so we could really tell who the evil person (or god) was. I really didn't like how few of the "labors" we saw (at least in any length) it would have been nice to see those a little more or at least have them expand upon them a little more. But overall I think this was a fun and entertaining adaption of the Herakles myth, although it is really a new story entirely.
Herakles vs. Hercules
After watching Disney's movie Hercules and reading the myths of Herakles, I believe that there is a quite a difference. The aim of Disney's movie Hercules was to make a fun animated movie that families could watch together. Because of this they obviously had to leave a lot out about Herakles, for example, Herakles killed his wife and children which would not go well in the disney movies. I think Disney did well for bring some mythology in, I believe this was shown to the audience at the start when we meet the Muses and they start to introduce who Hercules is. The Muses were also able to share brief mythology on Herakles, as when Hercules becomes famous and they show all the battles with creatures that he has been in. I also noticed that Hades was the main villain in the film when in mythology he is not the main villain.
In conclusion, I think Disney did a good job of making the film so that children and their families could watch it while still having a basis of the myths.
In conclusion, I think Disney did a good job of making the film so that children and their families could watch it while still having a basis of the myths.
Hercules transformation
There are many changes made in the Hercules movie from the original myths, overall I believe they were made for the better. This movie could not have been a children's movie if not for these changes. For example, omitting the murder of his family is probably a good thing, as that does not make for a great child's movie. Next, Hades is not he real villain in the myths, however is the easiest character to fill that role. Many children know that the devil rules hell which is equivalent to the underworld and that the devil is evil which makes an easy transition to them interpreting Hades as the devil. Also in the myths the first labor Hercules faces is not the Hydra, but it makes sense why the film makers changed that. The Hydra isn't something Hercules can defeat with brute strength because when it is defeated it just comes back twice as strong. It shows his ability to not only fight but to think and come up with the creative idea of burying the Hydra. This battle shows off a number of Hercules' skills and that is why it is used as the first labor.
Herakles to Hercules
As someone who has read the myths but did not see the movie when I was younger, I'm happy with what they managed to do with the myths. The movie itself is self-aware that it does not strictly follow the story, as evidenced by Thalia's exclamation of, "He's making this sound like some Greek tragedy or somethin'!" Which, ironically, it is. However, I completely understand why they changed the vast majority of the myth because I don't think that Disney is going to focus on a hero who is born of adultery and prone to bouts of goddess-induced madness that drove him to murder his wife and kids and several others who eventually committed suicide thanks to a poisoned shirt given to him by his third wife. Try explaining that one to kids!
And even though Hades did not try to take over Olympus in any of the myths (I've read at least), I understand why Disney made him the villain. Mother can't be the villain? Let's go to the god of the dead! To be honest, it's a logical choice. I also loved how they did his character. Clever, sassy, sarcastic, and prone to bouts of rage (sort of like Hercules in the original myth), he does a lot of the work himself, and is almost completely victorious until Hercules shows up.
And even though Hades did not try to take over Olympus in any of the myths (I've read at least), I understand why Disney made him the villain. Mother can't be the villain? Let's go to the god of the dead! To be honest, it's a logical choice. I also loved how they did his character. Clever, sassy, sarcastic, and prone to bouts of rage (sort of like Hercules in the original myth), he does a lot of the work himself, and is almost completely victorious until Hercules shows up.
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