Pocahontas (Disney) [VHS]

Loosely rooted in real American history and based upon people who once actually lived, "Pocahontas" is a very different kind of animated classic from the House of Mouse. It's the tale of a beautiful, free-spirited, young (but not as young as Disney's usual) Native American princess who crosses paths with an English explorer named John Smith, only to have romance quickly develop between them. John Smith arrives in the Americas just in time for Pocahontas, who is troubled by her father's wish that she marry hometown hero Kocoum and, confused all the more by a mysterious dream, is in search of a different path to follow. John Smith is also in search of something, and when he finds Pocahontas, he thinks he has found it. The problem is, John is filled with prejudices against Pocahontas and her people, until she shows him the light. She teaches him about the beauty and wonder of nature and how we are all connected to each other. But love makes John an easy sell. His fellow English settlers are not quite so easily convinced. They only see the Indians as dangerous savages that must be destroyed to make the area safe to live in. Matters are made worse by the greed of their leader, Governor Ratcliffe, who is convinced the savages are hoarding the gold he can't seem to find by digging up the land. Their violent actions lead to violent reactions from the tribe, which culminate in a fiery confrontation that only Pocahontas's love and understanding can bring to peace.

The first time I saw Pocahontas, and for long after that, I had mixed feelings about it. I'm a hardcore Disney fan, and there's little I hate more than to be disappointed in a Disney animated feature. Unfortunately, this was something I had to deal with for... possibly the first time ever in theaters upon seeing "Pocahontas." Not doubt, "Pocahontas" was always a gorgeous film. The art is Disney at its best, and the music and songs are truly beautiful. The comic relief, in the form of Pocahontas's animal friends, is right on the money. The voice cast is top notch, with Mel Gibson as John Smith and Irene Bedard as Pocahontas (Judy Kuhn doing her wonderful singing voice), David Ogden Stiers as Ratcliffe and his servant, Wiggins, Russell Means as Chief Powhatan, Christian Bale, Linda Hunt, and more rounding out the cast, but there was just something missing,...something crucial. I soon decided that the problem was in the villain, Governor Ratcliffe, who just wasn't villain ENOUGH for my tastes. This sudden realization of what was wrong with "Pocahontas" was a big mistake, but it's one that is still commonly made. I failed to see then, that the true villain of "Pocahontas" is not Governor Ratcliffe at all, but "prejudice" itself. This is something that is even pointed out in the DVD's audio commentary, but, of course, I only heard that recently. My bad. I should have been able to see past the expected to the pretty obvious. However, while this knowledge does help improve the movie somewhat, it still doesn't take it from, "good, but not quite `Disney' good," to "Instant Disney Classic." As it turned out, the secret lay in a cut musical number: "If I Never Knew You." One day, while watching the network television premiere of "Pocahontas" on ABC, I learned about a beautiful and wrongfully cut scene from the film in which John Smith, while awaiting his execution, shares a romantic duet with Pocahontas in which the two truly expose their feelings for and to each other. It's the moment in the movie where we truly get the feeling that these two love each other, and not having it in the film was a horrible mistake! And, why did they cut it? Because little kids were bored with it. Thank goodness for DVDs and Special Editions! In this 2-disc, 10th Anniversary DVD release of Pocahontas, that glorious scene has been completed and restored to the film, and it makes all the difference in the world! There's even a new reprise of the song near the end as Pocahontas and John Smith exchange two lines, and that moment will bring you to tears! After finally viewing the movie with "If I Never Knew You" intact, I can happily say that "Pocahontas" has gone from one of my least favorite Disney films to one of the best! There may be no drop-dead gorgeous, redheaded mermaids and no delightful singing bears, but Disney has managed to take a more real and serious subject and turn it into a wonderful new masterpiece! Now, if they could only fix "Atlantis: The Lost Empire."

As for the DVD, this incredible 10th Anniversary Edition is a huge improvement over the Gold Collection release. The film has been digitally remastered and is presented in anamorphic widescreen. Your are given the option of viewing "Pocahontas" as it plays, which means the "extended cut" with "If I Never Knew You" intact, or choosing the shorter, far inferior theatrical cut. Why would anyone want to do that? Still, options are always nice to have. Disc One also includes a fine and informative audio commentary with producer and directors that will only heighten your appreciation of the film. An art project, game, and two sing-along-songs ("Colors of the Wind" and "Just Around the River Bend") are included on Disc One as well, along with the Vanessa Williams video for the pop version of "Colors of the Wind." Remember how they used to play Disney songs like that on the radio during the Disney Decade? That was so cool.

Disc Two is loaded with great extras for the serious animation enthusiast. There's an enjoyable making-of featurette hosted by Irene Bedard, an early production reel, loads of galleries and clips on one of my favorite subjects: character development (art design, layouts, and backgrounds are also covered), scene production comparison reels, the pop video for "If I Never Knew You," a featurette on the music of the film, and one about the decision to restore the movie's (very necessary) cut scene. One of the highlights of the DVD extras for me was definitely the discovery of the thankfully deleted talking turkey character, Redfeather, while what some might consider a low point is the lack of insight given into the real history behind Pocahontas, Smith, and the others. Further extras include an awesome selection of fascinating deleted scenes, two theatrical trailers, a neat featurette on the movie's ambitious premiere in Central Park (on a row of 8-story movie screens), a multi-language clip reel of the Oscar Winning song, "Colors of the Wind," and a very cool publicity gallery which includes a fun fashion spread from Harper's Bazaar that used Pocahontas as a model! Yes, you get to see Pocahontas drawn in modern clothes, in full color, and she looks darn good, even if I am more of a Tink and Ariel man myself!

The is one DVD Edition I can't recommend enough, primarily because it presents a movie you've seen before as you've never seen it before, and, in this case, I think most people will find the extension to be a huge improvement. Bottom-line, even if you weren't a fan of "Pocahontas" before, do yourself a favor and check it out one more time in its extended cut. It's not the same experience. It's much, much better!

Just a quick note here - if you are thinking of purchasing a copy of Pocahontas now, just wait a little while.

On May 3, 2005, Disney will be releasing a "Special Edition", tenth anniversary, 2-disc DVD release that will be similar to thier recent reissue of Sleeping Beauty and other Disney classics.

With all of the features on that, people who buy this DVD now will be disappointed if they don't wait.

Disney will be adding the usual "Making of" clips, some pre-production art, and other features that make their "Special Editions" great, to this new edition of Pocahontas.

The Gold Collection disc is too flawed to seriously consider at this point with the "10th Anniversary{ two-disc set now out.

Gold Collection:
1. Worst DVD tranfer of a Disney film in recent memory
2. No "If I Never Knew You". Not even the rough cut.
3. Extras: a Trailer and some music videos. Not much going on here.
4. Not anamorphic

10th Anniversary:
1. Anamorphic 16:9
2. Great new transfer
3. "If I Never Knew You" in the movie and completely animated. Major addition to the last half of the movie.
4. Both versions of the film, the 1995 cut and the 2003 "Director's Cut".
5. Loads of extras including a documentary, updated audio commentary track, sections for each major character with art, concept drawings, deleted scenes, scenes that never made it past the concept stage......you get the idea.

When I first heard about Pocahontas back in 1994, I knew Disney wouldn't do the story justice. Boy was I wrong. This movie has beautifully crafted visuals, strong leading characters, and wonderful music. Though for me the music works on two levels. One, of course, the obvious "Disney" songs, which get better or worse depending on the movie. Colors of the Wind is the best Disney song to date. Also the pop song If I Never Knew You blew me away. And two, the underlying soundtrack perfomed by Alan Menken. The music was absolutly riviting, as it has to be to convey the serious emotions Disney was going for. A bit depressing in it honesty of hate and love, this movie shows that animated movies can convey more emotions than just laughter.

Pocahontas was the 1995 follow up to Disney's blockbuster success of The Lion King. Although it didn't manage to even gross half of what TLK did, it managed to pull in over $141 million domestically, which is quite respectable. Many don't care for it because of its historical inaccuracies. For a while as of late, I did push it aside and thought that I no longer cared for it like I did. However, when Disney announced a 10th Anniversary 2-Disc DVD, featuring a new extended version of the film with the previously and wrongfully deleted If I Never Knew You song, I decided to get it and gained an all new appreciation for the film, its themes, and its visual beauty...an appreciation I never had at 12 when I first saw it.

The transfer is much better than the Gold Collection DVD, which was riddled with grain and softness. There's not a speck of grain or any other video flaws. Audio is excellent. It's kind of hard to believe Pocahontas is 10 years old. And the film finally feels complete now that If I Never Knew You has been restored into the film.

While not as packed as a Platinum Edition, this DVD is thankfully void of the countless games (Instead, only one game is included here.) and cheesy pop remake videos and gets down to the MEATY stuff. The two videos for the pop songs heard during the end credits ARE here, however, but they all provide nostalgic fun while looking at videos riddled with mid-90's video cliches. Nostalgic fun. Also included is a 28-minute making-of docu produced in 1995 for the Disney Channel. It also includes cliched mid-90's touches. Nostalgic fun, yet again. It's also surprisingly not completely fluffy. Also included are various featurettes on the premiere, the making of the If I Never Knew You scene, and the music, as well as an early presentation reel featuring an early demo of Colors Of The Wind, deleted scenes, and theatrical trailers.

For a non-Platinum disc of a more overlooked film, Disney has certainly given Pocahontas an awesome DVD treatment, complete with a deleted song. I definitely recommend it, and I hope Disney does something similar in 2006 for the 10th Anniversary of another cruelly overlooked classic, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame.

This is Disney's best movie ever. John and Pocahontas love is so sweet and true. And very forbidden because of some peoples prejustice. And I think that many people don't like this movie because they have the same prejustices as Governor Racliff (The bad guy). This movie is beautiful made, has great music and a fabulous plot. John Smith are make so beautiful that one can not help but fall in love with him at first sight. As Grandmother Willow says: " He has a clean spirit. And he is handsome, too." People will remember this movie and it will make a ever lasting impression on everyone when the love ones are forced to part because of the hate in other peoples hearts who can not see that ALL people are created equal and have the same rights NO matter their colour. If you don't cry for John and Pocahontas in the end of the movie then you must have a heart of stone.

I just got this 10th anniversary edition today and I LOVE it! The additional scene with the beautiful love song "If I Never Knew You" brings the movie all together and it makes much more sense with the scene. For years I had heard that there was a 'missing scene' in this movie, and I remember thinking how the original scene in the teepee between Pocahantas and John Smith seemed so abruptly cut short and terribly truncated. About 5 years ago on ABC, The Wonderful World of Disney showed Pocahantas with this 'deleted scene', but it was not complete. At the time it featured 'live' animation of the view of the hole through the top of the teepee, and stills with voice-overs from Mel Gibson and Irene Bedard. The big deal at the time was that it featured Mel Gibson singing, and I remember seeing an interview with Mel at the time saying (sic) "I got to sing a love song but they cut the scene!" But the funny thing is that I could swear that I read that this scene was complete at the time the original was released, but cut just before the release. (Anyone know about this?) I guess it doesn't matter now because the Disney Co. finally restored this very touching and beautiful song to this anniversary version, and it makes the story so much more real and compelling. There is also a reprise of the couple singing the song just before the end and it is the icing on the cake. I'm not always pleased with Disney DVD releases, but this one they got right! Also, they had the sense to release it in the widescreen ratio so you get to see the whole, beautiful product in all of its glory! (They should do this with all their releases!--How about a widescreen special edition of MoonSpinners? Hint-Hint!)
Also, you can watch the original theatrical release on this DVD, but I don't know why you'd want to!
P.S. Mel sings beautifully!

In 1995, Disney released its 33rd animated feature, Pocahontas, having cut the song "If I Never Knew You" from the motion picture. Ten years later, the folks at the House of Mouse re-add this beautiful sweeping love ballad back to this masterpiece, and the result is a feeling of satisfaction complete with goosebumps, teary eyes, and the fulfillment knowing Pocahontas is now complete. This 10th Anniversary Edition makes Pocahontas better than ever, and after viewing it, I am proud to put Pocahontas back at the top of my favourite Disney movie list. I just hope that 20 years from now, this final and complete version of the film will be the one audiences will remember, the one Disney will be promoting, the one audiences will be watching time and time again. Of all of Disney's animated full-length features, the love story found in "Pocahontas" is the most intense, the issues the most real, and the animation and music the most breath-taking and beautiful. If you've never seen Pocahontas, or haven't watched it in years, give Pocahontas: The 10th Anniversary Edition a try, and you might end up asking yourself, "If I never knew you..."

Sadly, people expect Pocahontas to be another Lion King, which it is not. It's a much more quiet, serious, magical, more adult love story and of the recent Disney films, the one that touches me the most. Unfortunately, the DVD transfer is terrible.

At least it's presented in widescreen, but on all other counts the DVD is sub-par. The image is washed out, grainy and the colors seem to bleed a bit. Plus the sound is a bit distant sounding at times. I have the deluxe laserdic edition wich was a perfect transfer. Why they didn't just use that for the DVD I'll never know. There are a few extras included like the stroy book mode which lets you read or have the story read to you, 2 music videos, a short and simple trivia game and the obligatory trailer.

Reading through these reviews I don't understand why people expect this film to be historically accurate. First of all this is Disney. They even revise all their stories so they are more to their liking. Secondly, it was said again and again in all of the offical information for Pocahontas that it was based on the LEGEND of Pocahontas. Besides, it could never be historically accurate because historians themselves disagree on the actual events. Does all this mean that we should be deprived of experiencing a marvolous film that teaches compassion and the evils of bigotry? I think not.

This film is Disney's first serious attempt at growing up and presenting deeper, more realistic emotions into it's films. It was a courageous step taken in the most beautiful way. The songs are wonderful and moving. You're sure to be singing them long after the film has ended. My girpes with the film are it should have been longer, even more adult and the touching love song, If I Never Knew You should never have been cut. But these quibbles are just that, taken as a whole, Pocahontas is an astonishing achievement for the new Disney, topped (posssibly) only by The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Disney needs to grow to survive and this was an excellent frist step. Do not let the naysayyers or the bad DVD transfer stop you from enjoying the greatest love story ever animated. Get it on VHS if not DVD, but don't miss this film. Enjoy!

Pocahontas is a good tale that deserves to have the Disney name. While far from the most entertaining in the Disney library, this one does have some of the most spectacular animation and imagery then any of them! The film is definatley not for the very young, there is much war violence (superficial, yes, but it's still there), including some blood-free shot wounds. The story is much more mature oriented, with Pocahontas trying to end the war between her people and the white-men for the sake of her love for John Smith.

The film has many songs, but only a few stand out - -Oscar Award Winner "Colors Of The Wind" is one of them, "Around the River Bend", and "If I Never Knew You" is the other - - the rest are catchy, but unmemorable numbers.

The "Gold Classic Collection" DVD edition of the 1995 film, has a mediocre picture. There is constant grain, and it is rarely perfectly clear. On the plus side, the animation is still able to be appreciated and the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is good.

Again, this is NOT the Disney movie to show little kids (it would probably be a complete fly-by for them), but it does have much appeal to an older audience who can appreciate the animation, and the Oscar- winning music. A true modern masterpiece.