Pocahontas
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Pocahontas, daughter of a Native American tribe chief, falls in love with an English soldier as colonists invade 17th century Virginia.
What critics thought
The odd one out of the Disney Renaissance, Pocahontas drew genuine admiration for its visual ambition and unusually serious tone, while critics were sharply divided over whether its earnestness compensated for a thin, formulaic story stripped of comic energy. The film's treatment of Native American history and culture was itself a source of debate, drawing both condemnation for harmful stereotypes and praise for being more honest about colonialism than Hollywood typically dared.
“Gloriously colorful, cleverly conceived and set in motion with the usual Disney vigor, Pocahontas is one more landmark feat of animation. It does everything a children's movie should do except send little viewers home humming its theme song”
Janet Maslin·The New York Times
“With dismay, I realize that virtually everything in the movie – every character, every story twist, every song – is as generic as the two hygienic lovers. As a fairy-tale confection, a kind of West Side Story in Jamestown, Pocahontas is pleasant to look at, and it will probably satisfy very small kiddies, but it's the first of the new-era Disney cartoons that feels less than animated”
Owen Gleiberman·Entertainment Weekly
“a surprisingly serious, thoughtful and beautifully drawn Disney animated feature about the American birthright of exploitation and racism”
Gene Siskel·Chicago Tribune
“Not only historically dubious, but the dullest Disney animation for years”
David Hepworth·Empire Magazine
“on a list including Mermaid, Beauty, Aladdin and Lion King, I'd rank it fifth. It has a lot of good intentions, but a severe scoundrel shortage.”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
Accolades
Genres
Adventure, Animation, Drama
Cast & Crew
Mike GabrielDirector
Eric GoldbergDirector
Irene BedardPocahontas (voice)
Mel GibsonJohn Smith (voice)
David Ogden StiersGovernor Ratcliffe (voice)
John KassirMeeko (voice)
Christian BaleThomas (voice)
Judy KuhnPocahontas (singing voice)
Billy ConnollyBen (voice)
Frank WelkerFlit (voice)
Russell MeansPowhatan (voice)
Linda HuntGrandmother Willow (voice)
Danny MannPercy (voice)
Joe BakerLon (voice)
Alan MenkenComposer
Chris BuckWriter
Philip LaZebnikWriter
Susannah GrantWriter
Joe GrantWriter
Glen KeaneWriter
Rob GibbsWriter
Burny MattinsonWriter
Andreas DejaCinematographyPocahontas
Pocahontas, daughter of a Native American tribe chief, falls in love with an English soldier as colonists invade 17th century Virginia.
What critics thought
The odd one out of the Disney Renaissance, Pocahontas drew genuine admiration for its visual ambition and unusually serious tone, while critics were sharply divided over whether its earnestness compensated for a thin, formulaic story stripped of comic energy. The film's treatment of Native American history and culture was itself a source of debate, drawing both condemnation for harmful stereotypes and praise for being more honest about colonialism than Hollywood typically dared.
“Gloriously colorful, cleverly conceived and set in motion with the usual Disney vigor, Pocahontas is one more landmark feat of animation. It does everything a children's movie should do except send little viewers home humming its theme song”
Janet Maslin·The New York Times
“With dismay, I realize that virtually everything in the movie – every character, every story twist, every song – is as generic as the two hygienic lovers. As a fairy-tale confection, a kind of West Side Story in Jamestown, Pocahontas is pleasant to look at, and it will probably satisfy very small kiddies, but it's the first of the new-era Disney cartoons that feels less than animated”
Owen Gleiberman·Entertainment Weekly
“a surprisingly serious, thoughtful and beautifully drawn Disney animated feature about the American birthright of exploitation and racism”
Gene Siskel·Chicago Tribune
“Not only historically dubious, but the dullest Disney animation for years”
David Hepworth·Empire Magazine
“on a list including Mermaid, Beauty, Aladdin and Lion King, I'd rank it fifth. It has a lot of good intentions, but a severe scoundrel shortage.”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
Accolades
Genres
Adventure, Animation, Drama
Cast & Crew
Mike GabrielDirectorEric GoldbergDirectorIrene BedardPocahontas (voice)Mel GibsonJohn Smith (voice)David Ogden StiersGovernor Ratcliffe (voice)John KassirMeeko (voice)Christian BaleThomas (voice)Judy KuhnPocahontas (singing voice)Billy ConnollyBen (voice)Frank WelkerFlit (voice)Russell MeansPowhatan (voice)Linda HuntGrandmother Willow (voice)Danny MannPercy (voice)Joe BakerLon (voice)Alan MenkenComposerChris BuckWriterPhilip LaZebnikWriterSusannah GrantWriterJoe GrantWriterGlen KeaneWriterRob GibbsWriterBurny MattinsonWriterAndreas DejaCinematographyStream
Rent & Buy