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So why, you ask, do I tell you all of this in a review for the Pocahontas: 10th Anniversary DVD 2-disc set? Easy...you see, in a way these two films are related, even though they may never sit on shelves together in your home or the local video store. Pocahontas is officially the only animated Disney film to be based upon actual fact. Yup, every single other animated feature finds its inspiration in mythology, fables, fictional works of literature, nursery rhymes, fairy tales or simply invented outright by the creative teams employed at the studio. When this accounting of Lincoln's life comes to fruition, Pocahontas will no longer be able to claim such a standing amongst its animated peers!
First, let me assure you that as a reviewer it is MUCH easier to be negative than to justify a positive reaction to a film. Second, somewhere along the line it became "cool" and "in" to be against everything. Whether protesting the latest presidential polls in downtown streets, or getting self-righteous on a wonderfully animated and very heartfelt Disney feature, I suppose it is quite fulfilling for these overly critical elitists to have their views displayed to the world...as if they matter. Well, I know now that they don't...but at one point I listened to what these people had to say. And what some of this cranky bunch had to say was very wrong indeed...
I've heard no end of griping about some historical inaccuracies and geographical errors that are part of the Pocahontas film, but let me tell you this very bluntly and right here up front...it doesn't matter in the slightest and definitely doesn't subtract at all from the fact that this tale is a very beautiful translation of innocent love and basic humanity rising above the threat of bigotry and prejudice and is right on par with the best Disney features to date.
At this point, I am sure you have heard the stories basics, but in case you have not I will relate them to you, forgoing all mention of the "facts" they are based upon. In the early 1600's, the British Empire had its sights set on the New World (a still unexplored America) as the best hope for a treasure filled land of prosperity and discovery. Much of this anticipation was based on the reports coming in from Spanish explorers who were "uncovering" (stealing?) golden treasures by the shipload and returning again and again to Europe with cargo-holds filled to bursting with new grains, new fruits, and of course the treasures.
Eager to get in on the action, the British King James I commissioned the Virginia Company to head to the Americas and colonize the area which would become known, fittingly enough, as Virginia. This voyage is overseen by a greedy and evil man named John Ratcliffe who would serve as governor when the crew arrived at its destination, but Ratcliffe's sights are set purely on the gold...and the complete elimination of any "savages" who may try to thwart his plans.
That is, except for John Smith and Pocahontas. Smith is a young headstrong man who finds himself enamored with this new countries beauty, but even more by the beauty of a young Indian maiden named Pocahontas. And she is not entirely immune to his charms either, and soon, while their peoples prepare for war, the two are beginning a romance which knows no color or creed. An arranged marriage for Pocahontas and a dictator governor from England seem to doom their love from the start, however things in Disney films have a way of working themselves out as I am sure you are familiar with!
Beautiful animation and some of the most entertaining supporting characters I have seen in a long time make Pocahontas a winner for any fan of Disney magic. The visuals will have you longing to head outside and soak in a little of what makes our country the most beautiful one on Earth, and the animal sidekicks of both Pocahontas and Ratcliffe will have you and/or your children rolling with laughter and wiping away the tears as they mix in plenty of mischief with the heady drama.
Perhaps the only area in which Pocahontas is slightly lacking is in the musical arena, as the songs as a whole are all quality but only one seems to stand out as immediately memorable and on a level with some of the classics which have come before. "Colors Of The Wind", in fact, won an Academy Award for Best Original Song as well as a handful of other noble accolades, in addition to being a radio favorite for quite some time. The other tunes, however, vary between decent to good, with several of them sounding remarkably similar to one another. There really aren't any poor songs in the bunch, however it isn't one of my most cherished soundtracks to listen to time and again.
Some of the songs deal with some very controversial subject matter regarding the relationship between early white colonists and the established American Indian population. I applaud Disney for not coddling the American people and not being overly politically correct...two words which stand for bending over backwards to a point of absurdity these days. The savagery of the contest between misunderstanding whites and the American Indians who were merely protecting their own is a powerful plot point which would have suffered had the whole issue been smoothed over and polished up. There are intense and violent moments in Pocahontas which give it credibility far beyond some more "cutesy" fare.
So, we have established that this film is a great piece of the Disney pantheon, so just how did they go about honoring it for its tenth anniversary? Well, for starters, there are two discs, so you can be sure that there are extras aplenty waiting for you. Let's take a look at a few of those extras now...
The first disc presents a few things or the younger crowd, including sing along songs and a set top game based on the film. "Colors Of The Wind" is given not only its own sing along, but a music video as well. A feature audio commentary rounds out the offerings on this disc, but don't forget you've still got another one coming; and if you are a little older, this is the one for you.
A twenty-eight minute "making-of" is about the only real in depth bonus feature, but there is a wealth of information contained within this one selection. A few tiny looks into the production and the creation of the music wraps up the technical stuff, but there is a section of deleted scenes also available, making this disc really feel like its worth something! There is a look at the films premiere and a few trailers thrown in for good measure and looking back at the whole package, you see that there is a great deal of bonus material here, as there is in nearly every Disney release lately.
What really seals the deal as an anniversary edition is right smack in the middle of the film though, as there is an entirely new song added in, with new animation to boot. This sets this set aside from the one you may already own and makes it an irresistible purchase for Disney completists. If this is what it takes to get you to purchase this release, then so be it, but I would recommend simply picking it up because it is a great movie. Oft overlooked and very underrated, Pocahontas earns its place amongst Disney's finest as well as its place in your DVD rack.
-aaron-
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All this considered, it isn't surprising that Lincoln would
eventually become the subject of a Disney feature, even if long after
Walt's passing... What is surprising however is the fact that this
particular story-telling of the 16th President's life was to be done by
characters made up of everyday items such as plates, brooms and buttons.
Hmm. Needless to say, this project has been shelved indefinitely
pending rewrites; perhaps never to see the light of day, or perhaps to
find its way to us in one of it's many tentative titles (My Peoples,
Once In A Blue Moon, A Few Good Ghosts, and more).
Now in an ironic twit of fate, this very piece of trivia which
set Pocahontas apart was also the biggest scourge to the film in its
acceptance by the movie going public. Apparently when you tamper
with true life events and historical fact, people are suddenly armed
with facts and figures that they feel important to compare with the new
retelling, whittling away at any shred of credibility until all that
remains is an accusatory finger pointed straight at what they deem an
unworthy translation of the true events. Why do some people
(critics, laymen and blog writers with way too much free time alike)
feel the need to pick apart someone's labor of love like so many crows
pecking at the carcass of a once beautiful animal? Well, I have a
few ideas...
Ten years from its original release, perhaps the film will now
reach new audiences with its pure messages without having to endure the
unfair scrutiny and henpecking of the media at large. If you had
reservations about watching or purchasing this film based on anything
you have heard before, I tell you now that you have been done a
disservice and Disney is now making sure that you have a chance to
rectify the situation with a wonderfully simple and well put together
double disc release. 
These "savages" were of course the Native Americans who really
had no idea what to make of these invaders of their land. Stories
had returned to Europe with the Spanish ships of the Indian's fierce
tactics and skill in war and battle, but stories had also been left
behind regarding the quick to violence tendencies of these pale skinned
visitors and the white man's tendency to destroy everything in his path.
This of course leads to tense expectations of the two peoples...even
long before they meet in person. When they do meet however, it is
with disastrous results...