Hercules - Review

I have been on a Disney kick as of late. Not too sure how it started, but I've been checking out some of the classic Disney films I watched as a kid and see if they stand the test of time. Aladdin is still fantastic while re-watching Tarzan was a bit of a letdown. Next in line was Hercules and thank goodness, this film still rocks. Unlike Tarzan, this film is still a classic musical and this film has some great songs. Sure, it's no Beauty and the Beast or Lion King for that matter, but Hercules still has some great tunes like "Zero to Hero" and "Go the Distance." However, I have to ask, why in the world are all the songs gospel? I mean, I like it, don't get me wrong, but I really don't get what gospel has to do with ancient Greece. The only connection I can see is that gospel is mostly sung at churches and Hercules is technically a God so... still I don't know. In fact, there are a lot of strange choices the filmmakers made in this movie. James Woods plays Hades, but he doesn't portray him as your typical villain, he talks more like a car salesman or a lawyer. Also, this movie feels more like Las Vegas's interpretation of ancient Greece. Mix in that with gospel music and you have yourself one hell of a mix. Luckily, I think all those aspects make the film unique. Not to mention Danny DeVito's "Phil" is hilarious and acts as Hercules' very own version of "Mickey" from the Rocky franchise. All of the unique choices elevate this movie from its rather bland heroine Meg and Hercules who, while likable, isn't as charismatic or complex as some of Disney's other heroes. I should also mention that this movie reminds me so much of Superman. God like a baby is abandoned on Earth, raised by two human parents only to grow up and not know what to do with his powers, etc. Now I could complain to say that we've seen this story before, but Greek gods are what superheroes were originally based on, and it's nice to see Disney's version of that story in an animation style which looks very different than their more traditional works. Overall, this is a great Disney classic that any family will enjoy. However, I have heard some film students talk about how much this movie sucks in the past (which surprised me). So with that being said, if you have no heart strings or hate anything that the majority of people like then maybe stay away from Hercules (or anything Disney for that matter) but if you are looking for a movie to show your kids, this is a good one to choose!