It is the first Disney animated feature to be based on historical events, and perhaps this shines through as the film is perhaps more serious than other Disney fare.

The stroy deals with Captain John Smith, who, along with a group of sailors heads to America in search of gold. However, whilst there he meets Pocahontas and the two characters are let into eachothers worlds. Things become complicated however, when Pocahontas' father and General Radcliffe (head of the mission to the 'New World') prepare to wage a war against each other due to their hatred and discriminations of the other's race. Naturally Pocahontas and John Smith fall in love, though the usual happy ending is traded in for something much more effective.

Comedy comes in the form of sidekick pals Meeko the meerkat and Flit the humming bird, and the magical element of the movie is portrayed in the form of Grandmother Willow, the advice-giving tree.

Accompanied with rich animation, beautiful music and real heart, this is an essential buy for any Disney fan.

a childhood memory
Review date: 2004-03-07 Rating: 10 out of 10

I remember watching this in the cinema, and i loved it, so much so that i had to drag my mum then next weekend to the cinema again! This film has the same themes of other disney films, hope, romance, conflict, freedom, truth. but it has a certain quality to it that just makes it so special.
The musical score is great- Colours of the Wing, and Just around the River Bend are two stand outs.
Buy it for the songs, and of course the story!

Hey Nonny Nonny!
Review date: 2003-10-28 Rating: 10 out of 10

Buy this for the music, The original score by Alan Menken is his best score and his songs are superb. What makes the music so brilliant is it's adult and heartfelt composition and orchestration. Listen to the score on it's own and you could very easily be listening to the phillamonic playing a modern classical movement. Without Menken Disney suffers badly and Pocahontas although well written and beautifully animated is my favourite because of his contribution that and the work of orchestrator Danny Troob.

Disney have lost a lot of interest in recent attempts due to Alan Menken leaving the film side of the company after "Hercules". I'm pleased to say he will be back with a new score for Disney's next animated feature "Home on the Range" next year.

In the mean time see and enjoy his earlier work and buy "Pocahontas" there really is nothing to dislike and the music may even bring a tear to your eye.

Excellent Disney Fun
Review date: 2002-12-29 Rating: 8 out of 10

It's always somewhat amusing when people froth and spit and moan about the liberties with the 'truth' that viewers and critics make mention of when reviewing adaptations of historical or literary works. The liberties with the plot taken with The Two Towers for example are already a source of much bile and venom.

Such it is with Pocahontas, and for no real justfiable reason... if you're looking to learn the history of Pocahontas, go watch a documentary. If you are upset about the fact your children don't know the real story, then get them a book and stop using Disney as a source of education rather than entertainment.

But I digress...

Pocahontas is an excellent Disney movie. Perhaps not quite up to the stellar qualities of Alladin and Beauty and the Beast, it is nonetheless a fantastic and enjoyable movie. It ventures pretty far from the historical truth of the inspirational historical events, but don't let that disaude you in the least... it has everything that a Disney movie should have.

The songs are up to the usual high quality, with 'colours of the wind' being a particularly lovely ballad about the western perception of 'savage' and 'backwards' cultures. Perhaps a little excessively 'politically correct' in some parts, the score nonetheless is as magical as in any other movie.

So, if you're looking for a wonderful movie to enthrall, delight and entertain you can't go much wrong with Pocahontas. If you're looking for a documentary that explains the eco-geopolitical ramifications of the western colonisation of America, then go get a documentary (or a life).

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