Rating: 
Summary: Completly and Tragically Misunderstood
Review: To anyone expecting a historical and accurate presentation of envents, look elsewhere. But then why are you looking at Disney films in the first place? They are famous for sugar-coating fairy tales and myths, why should historical stories be any different? That said, Pocahontas is a surprisingly real story even if it's events are complete fiction. It's characters feel like real people, and the events are both tragic and inspiring, and, yes children, not all endings are happy. What's wonderful about Disney is how they can make a heart-wrenching tale such as this and still include light moments that don't seem totally out of place. The cute animal antics are great and show that animals don't need to talk to be funny. Such constant prescenses and Grandmother Willow and Wiggins add comic relief to what would normally be only serious situations. The story is classic and teaches a good lesson. Who cares if it's historically accurate? Leave that for the history books to tell! Disney's calling it historical merely indicates that it is BASED on history in the way that The Little Mermaid was BASED on a fairy tale. And I don't need to remind you that Ariel commited suicide in Anderson's original tale. Anyhow, many people I know don't like this film cause it's too serious. Most of the guys I hang around with need a good fight scene or perhaps an explosion before they'll acknowledge a film's greatness. Also the humor is a lot more subtle in Pocahontas than in many Disney films. Others like the film but not the ending. To me, Pocahontas is a masterpiece of artistic creativity. Sure it's historical balderdash, but it's a great story, has great characters, and has more depth than many live-action films today. While it is not my favorite of the recent Disney movies, it's a great one, and I love to see them trying different things!
Rating: 
Summary: And now what really happened...
Review: I do hope there will be another version of this film which shows what really happened. Disney said the film was "responsible, accurate and respectful"; I don't see how sugar-coating this dreadful period of American history with blatant lies is any of those. Pocahontas was actually called Matoaka, she was around 11 when the attack happened and kidnapped by the British and married off to John Rolfe who was twice her age. In 1614 she was shipped to England where she was paraded around the upper-classes, until she died alone of smallpox in March 1617. Rolfe then returned to America to 'disperse' the Powhatan and steal their land. No one expects all movies to be 100% accurate, but when it is a historical movie supposedly showing true events I don't think it's unreasonable to expect them not to completely disregard known facts and provable dates just because they think it'll make a better movie. If the details do need changing to make the movie better then they shouldn't make a movie about it at all.
Rating:
Summary: Unfairly treated
Review: It is a pity that this film didn't quite get the critical acclaim it deserved, as it is truly a classic. A reason for its lack of popularity may be the fact that it is something of a divergence from the normal Disney formula. Yes, it has the fatherless heroine, the cute animal familiars and the ugly villain (with the requisite baritone voice) but the glaring inconsistency is that Disney chose to have Pocahontas stay at home while John Smith returned to England, when in reality she went with him (she is buried in Westminster Abbey). I believe that this is the main reason that some people didn't like the film, however, these people conveniently chose to overlook the stirring score (especially "Just Around the Riverbend"), the heartrending dialogue and of course, the extremely pertinent social message. A must-have for any Disney aficionado and a repeat view if ever I saw one (if you'll excuse the pun!).
Rating:
Summary: Great Disney film, good disc
Review: I was prepared not to like this film. I ended up loving it. It is certainly not the best Disney film but it is great. Excellant music. Better than average Disney DVD. A few extras on it.
Rating: 
Summary: Disney does it again!
Review: Whenever one wants to watch an animated movie, one can never go wrong by picking a Disney movie. Pocahontas (Disney) VHS ~ Mel Gibson is a delightful movie filled with great animation and a story line that is fairly well done. However, there is a problem with the music; most of the songs are not that well written and the lyrics are in fact a bit stupid. I especially liked the chemistry between Meeko, the mischievous raccoon and Flit, the hummingbird; these encounters were absolutely hilarious and added a bit of humor. Percy, the pampered pug is also enjoyable and his antics are a treat to watch. Overall, I would give this movie 4 stars for a well developed story and wonderful animation; however, if the songs and music would have been a bit better it, i.e., Pocahontas (Disney) VHS ~ Mel Gibson would have received one more.
Rating:
Summary: One of My Favorite Disney Movies yet...
Review: Six years ago when I first saw "Pocohontas," I didn't find it special at all, or worthy of any praise. But in the past week, I rented it, almost as a joke, and fell in love with the animation, the very commendable score, and the lesson learned by watching it. In that period of five nights before it was due, I must have watched the tape twenty times! To me, this is a movie that can't grow old. First of all, the music is, in my opinion, one of the best Disney scores in my memory. Just seven days ago I reclaimed the tape from a friend, and have been listening to it nonstop since. Alex Menkin's music makes the listener feel the emotion portrayed by the scene. One of my favorite parts is the skirmish between the Indian warrior Kocoum and John Smith. This whole musical segment Six years ago when I first saw "Pocohontas," I didn't find it special at all, or worthy of any praise. But in the past week, I rented it, almost as a joke, and fell in love with the animation, the very commendable score, and the lesson learned by watching it. In that period of five nights before it was due, I must have watched the tape twenty times! To me, this is a movie that can't grow old. First of all, the music is, in my opinion, one of the best Disney scores in my memory. Just seven days ago I reclaimed the tape from a friend, and have been listening to it nonstop since. Alex Menkin's music makes the listener feel the emotion portrayed by the scene. One of my favorite parts is the skirmish between the Indian warrior Kocoum and John Smith. This whole musical segment is outstanding on its own, but when viewed with the graphics, it is truly memorable. (Am I getting carried away???) My favorite piece in the score, however, is the end title "If I Never Knew You." This song is amazing. That's all I can say. Another favorite of mine is the song "Savages." The lyrics take the other side of the prejudice, that of the Native Americans themselves. Because in this song, no longer are the Indians the only "savages," but the Englishmen are being unrightfully judged as well. Next, the animation. The scenes in Virginia are breathtaking, especially the scene with Pocohontas' and John Smith's first meeting. Much better than that of the flatter animation of some of the earlier Disney classics. (One flaw might be Pocohontas' waistline, but let's not get in to that now. Hey, it's Disney!) The animation during the "Colors of the Wind" song is unrealistic, but dreamlike. Another asset is the segment near the beginning of the movie in the storm at sea. And now I'm about to buy the DVD version of this Disney movie. I have the gift certificate in hand (er, in computer) and I'm going to purchase it no matter what anyone says about the quality of the picture. It's gotta be at least as good as VHS, and considering what movie this is, that's good enough for me. I think this is one of the very best Disney movies so far, and very essential to your collection, with or without kids! (I'm much too old to be buying this for myself, but youth is inside, right?)
Rating: 
Summary: An Average Disney Movie, more pretty than beautiful
Review: Pocahontas is a more serious Disney, that is good in the first viewing.
Rating: 
Summary: Sigh. . .
Review: There is nothing like watching a DVD, a crowning glory of Western technology, that argues that all cultures are equal. At one point in this oppressive PC film, the not-at-all historical "Pocahontas" asks how John Smith can think that his culture is "better." One might suggest literacy as a basic improvement. Or the ability to make movies. This Disney film is dull and plodding. In my experience, once you buy it kids will seldom choose it, if you have a big enough Disney library.
Rating:
Summary: Pocahontas is a True Classic
Review: Meeko, Flit and Percy, these the are names of the animal friends who get in and out of mischief, befriend each other and accompany Pocahontas in the vast panorama of pristine North America that is the setting for "POCAHONTAS." No Disney animated film would be complete without these familiar looking creatures and rightly so. These are films for the whole family, but "POCAHONTAS" was a notch above many of the animated films from Disney over the past two decades. "POCAHONTAS" was a change-of-pace from the recent trend of animated films from Disney in 1995. This is one of my favorite Disney films and one of the best since the 1960s. It has substance and deals with real issues. We see the Native American Indians at peace and harmony with the land and nature. This is beautifully captured with the exceptional animation of vibrant green forests and flowing blue rivers. These scenes have a breath of fresh air about them that you can almost feel. When the European settlers arrive we know that it is only a matter of time before they begin to erode this paradise. The Europeans with closed minds did not realize how much they had to learn from the Indians and tried to impose their brand of civilization on them. Their brand of civilization is to subjugate or annihilate the "savages" and ravage the land. We see the two cultures meet in one of the finest animated scenes ever presented by Disney. Captain John Smith and Pocahontas come face to face by a waterfall. Smith lowers his rifle, as Pocahontas stands erect and unafraid. Their eyes meet and he no longer sees a "savage" but a human being. Their eyes tell us that they immediately fall in love. As Pocahontas "listens with her heart" as Grandmother Willow has taught her they both communicate with each other. Soon their differences become apparent, but it is John Smith's ignorance revealed by inadvertently referring to Pocahontas as a "savage" that is the focus of the rift. He states that there is so much the "savages" can learn from the English. Pocahontas asks, "If the savage one is me, how can there be so much that you don't know?" During the "Colors of the Wind" sequence John Smith learns first hand the value and reverence of nature and that it should not be exploited out of mere human greed. The message of "POCAHONTAS" is that European settlers leveled forests and imposed their own vision of a "civilized" society, whether or not it was welcome by the Native Americans. The corrupt Governor Ratcliffe is shown gleefully using cannons to level forests while his other men wield picks and axes in a mocking musical number. The brown piles of shoveled up earth stand in contrast to the majesty of the green untouched forest. When the settlers open fire on the Indians, they retaliate by capturing John Smith and prepare an execution for him. Only Pocahontas, who can empathize with both sides, can bring them to see their transgressions and teach them that violence only breeds violence. The dramatic structure over which the film's message is delivered deals with her father's disapproval of the man she loves, because he belongs to a different race. The film thus takes on more significance as it deals with ethnic discriminations as well. Her father wants her to marry a member of the tribe, who she dislikes because "he's so serious." A similar theme is taken up in "THE LITTLE MERMAID." "POCAHONTAS" is based on legend, rooted in murky historical events. In real life, Pocahontas was about 13 when she first met John Smith. Smith claimed in his journals that Pocahontas saved his life. John Rolfe was the Englishman that she eventually married. She did indeed get to go to England (See "POCAHONTAS II"), where she was treated as a princess. She died in Europe, near 21 years of age. What is particularly good about "POCAHONTAS" is the artistry of the animation. The virgin land of towering green forests, sparkling blue steams and rugged cliffs are drawn with a freedom and energy that posses real power and reverence. Very effective is the jutting rock that overlooks the landscape giving the entire film a feeling of sweep and grandeur. Anyone viewing the finale of this film can not help feel an emotional outburst as the "colors of the wind" blow past this precipice toward the horizon. I know I did. The image is unforgettable. The songs by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz include one unrestrained emotionally charged standout, "Colors of the Wind." This is an unforgettable song that can be appreciated on so many levels. It is a consummate example of melody and lyrics that make you "Listen With Your Heart."
Rating:
Summary: The kids like it..That's Good enough for Me!
Review: Ok, so I'm not a big fan of kid's typical cartoon (er, excuse, me, "animated") movies (er, make that "films"). I sat through most of this thing, ok, some of it. Not bad. But the kids (girls, ages 4 and 9) love the damn thing. The DVD quality was lacking compared to the other ones they make me watch, but they don't care. I think they're watching it again right now....man, wish I had boys so we could OD on football....
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