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The wonder is that it took Disney so long to get to the gods of Greek mythology. "Hercules" jumps into the ancient legends feet-first, cheerfully tossing out what won't fit and combining what's left into a new look and a lighthearted style.

Starting with a Day-Glo Olympian city in the clouds, and using characters based on the drawing style of the British illustrator Gerald Scarfe, this new animated feature has something old (mythology), something new (a Pegasus equipped with helicopter blades), something borrowed (a gospel singing group) and something blue (the flaming hair of Hades, which turns red when he gets mad--it works like a mood ring).

Hercules, known as Herc, is a rather different character here than in the pages of "Bullfinch's Mythology." There, you may recall, he murdered his wife and children. Here he's a big cute hunk who's so clumsy he knocks over temples by accident, but you gotta love the guy. In fact, as film critic Jack Mathews has pointed out, the Disney storytellers have merged the Hercules of myth with the modern-day superhero, Superman: In both "Hercules" and the Superman story, the hero has otherworldly origins, is separated from his parents, is adopted by humble earthlings, and feels like a weirdo as a kid before finally finding his true strength and calling.

It's getting to be an in-joke, how Disney shapes the story in every new animated feature to match its time-tested underlying formula. The hero is essentially an orphan. There is a colorful villain who schemes against him. There are two twirpy little characters who do a double act (in " The Lion King ," they were the friendly Timon and Pumbaa; here they're the scheming Pain and Panic). There are trusted sidekicks and advisers (not only the faithful Pegasus, but also a little satyr named Phil who signs up as a personal trainer). And there's a sexy dame who winds up in the hero's arms, although not without difficulties.

Is Disney repeating a formula? No more than mythology always repeats itself; as Joseph Campbell taught George Lucas , many of the eternal human myths have the same buried structures, and Disney's annual animated features are the myths of our time.

Although I thought last summer's " The Hunchback of Notre Dame " was a more original and challenging film, "Hercules" is lighter, brighter and more cheerful, with more for kids to identify with. Certainly they can care about Herc (voice by Tate Donovan ), child of a god and a human, who must leave his father, Zeus ( Rip Torn ), in heaven and toil among the mortals to earn his ticket back to paradise. Herc stumbles through adolescence as the clumsy "Jerkules" before a statue of his father comes to life and reads him the rules. His tutor will be the satyr Philoctetes ( Danny DeVito ), who like all the best movie trainers advises his student to do as he says and not as he does.

Playing on the other team is Hades, Lord of the Underworld, voiced by James Woods with diabolical glee and something of the same verbal inventiveness that Robin Williams brought to " Aladdin " (Hades to Fate: "You look like a fate worse than death"). Hades is assisted by the two little form-shifting sidekicks Pain and Panic ( Bobcat Goldthwait and Matt Frewer ), who are able to disguise themselves in many different shapes while meddling with Herc's well-being. Another one of Hades' weapons is the curvaceous Megara ( Susan Egan ), known as Meg, who is assigned to seduce Herc but ends up falling in love with the lug.

The movie has been directed by John Musker and Ron Clements , who inaugurated the modern era of Disney animation with the inspired "Little Mermaid" (1989) and also made "Aladdin" (1992). The look of their animation has a new freshness because of the style of Scarfe, famous in England for his sharp-penned caricatures of politicians and celebrities; the characters here are edgier and less rounded than your usual Disney heroes (although the cuddly Pegasus is in the traditional mode). The color palette too, makes less use of basic colors and stirs in more luminous shades, giving the picture a subtly different look that suggests it is different in geography and history from most Disney pictures.

What " The Little Mermaid " began and all of the subsequent Disney animation features have continued is a sly combination of broad strokes for children and in-jokes and satire for adults. It's hard to explain, for example, why a black female gospel quintet would be singing the legend of Hercules in the opening sequence (returning later to add more details), but the songs (by Alan Menken and David Zippel) are fun, and probably more entertaining than the expected Greek chorus. Other throwaways: Lines like "get ready to rumble"; images like Pegasus outfitted by Phil like a Los Angeles police helicopter; Herc's promotion of his own prehistoric exercise video; an arch saying "Over 500,000,000 Served"; Hades offering two burning thumbs "way up for our leading lady"; Hermes (Paul Shaffer) observing the preening gods and quipping "I haven't seen so much love in one room since Narcissus looked at himself,'' and quick little sight gags like a spider hanging from the nose of Fate, who disposes of it in a spectacularly unappetizing way.

Will children like this subject matter, or will they find Greek myth unfamiliar? I think they'll love it. And in an age when kids get their heroes from TV instead of books, is Hercules any more unfamiliar than Pocahontas (or Aladdin or the Hunchback, for that matter)? A riffle through "Bullfinch's Mythology'' suggests dozens more Disney plots, all safely out of copyright. Next: "Ulysses"?

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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Film Credits

Hercules (1997)

Tate Donovan as Hercules

James Woods as Hades

Rip Torn as Zeus

Susan Egan as Megara Meg

• Don McEnery
• Irene Mecchi

Directed by

• John Musker
• Ron Clements

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June 13, 1997 Hercules By JANET MASLIN elcome to Disney Olympus, where Zeus (forget the Bulfinch) is now a proud papa and devoted family man. And when the supreme Greek deity wants a gift for his tiny Hercules, he just stirs up a cloud puff and comes up with white-and-turquoise Pegasus, as adorable a plaything as any celestial baby could imagine. Ancient gods and Disney animators happen to share a taste for such miracles, as the latest Disney effort demonstrates with such delight. On any level, earthly or otherwise, the ingenious new animated "Hercules" is pretty divine. After a run of relative disappointments, Disney animation is back in top form with this happily bastardized mythology lesson, one that could well have the post-"Beavis and Butt-head" generation collecting many-headed Hydras and contemplating Grecian urns. With inspired intuition, "Hercules" brings together ancient lore, gospel singing, girl-group choreography and lots of free-floating mischief into a jubilant pastiche of classical references. Will it charm children and vastly amuse their parents, teachers and friends? "In a Peloponnesian minute," in the words of one of the film's typically wisecracking, not-so-ancient Greeks. Infused with wild new visual ideas thanks to production design by Gerald Scarfe, and directed with immense glee by the "Aladdin" and "Little Mermaid" team of John Musker and Ron Clements, "Hercules" has cleverness to spare. It also has hoopla: festive overkill on a par with the Central Park debut of "Pocahontas" will bring it to Manhattan on Saturday night with a parade and premiere, a limited run (including Disney stage show) at the refurbished New Amsterdam Theater starting Sunday and a wide commercial opening June 27. But this time the film is worth the fuss. The one Achilles' heel to "Hercules" (and, of course, there are some prime Achilles gags here) comes with the familiar sound of its hero, one more questing teen-ager who delivers a power ballad about his hopes and dreams. (Is there any doubt where Michael Bolton, who belts out the song over the closing credits, will be on Oscar night next year?) Alan Menken once again supplies a varied and catchy score, this time with lyrics by David Zippel, who has occasion to find out what rhymes with sinew. ("Continue" and "what's in you.") A fabulous five-woman Greek chorus wittily materializes on crockery and under pediments to sing of Hercules' accomplishments in soulful "Dreamgirls" style. Just as Charlton Heston begins intoning the film's opening narration, these Muses make their first appearance by jumping off the frieze on an urn. "You go, girl," says he. Though the legend of Hercules has been trivialized and shoehorned into a familiar Disney mold, this film easily finds other ways to show off its no-holds-barred imagination. With settings that range from a gorgeous pastel Olympus to an underworld whirlpool of lost souls, and with mythic characters so well drawn and read that they seem real, "Hercules" covers enormously varied terrain. It begins with Hercules' birth among the gods, who have glowing auras and are presented as the celebrities of the ancient world. ("I haven't seen so much love in one room since Narcissus discovered himself," namedrops Paul Shaffer as Hermes.) Then Hercules is sent down to earth, where he grows into an awkward lad nicknamed Jerkules by other boys. No wonder: when Hercules throws a Frisbee at a specimen of colonnaded Greek architecture, it might as well be made of dominoes. Just as Hercules' sensitive self-doubts threaten to knock down the movie, too, along comes a satyr nicknamed Phil to train the young hero and groom him for stardom. "Nymphs! They can't keep their hands off me!" insists Phil, who could be none other than lovably irascible Danny DeVito. DeVito sings like Jimmy Durante and hollers, "Hey, I'm walkin' here!" a la Ratso Rizzo when the action moves to "the Big Olive," or Thebes. Once again (as with Robin Williams in "Aladdin") sensationally matching animation to familiar actors, the filmmakers also make superb use of James Woods. Cast as a Hades, who is now a fast-talking show-biz megalomanic ("Name is Hades, Lord of the Dead, howyadoin?"), Woods shows off the full verve of an edgy Scarfe villain. Literally flaming, with a corona of blue fire as a coiffure, this Hades presides over a colossal battle sequence (as Hercules fights a spectacular, computer-generated Hydra) and schemes for Zeus' empire in what he calls "my hostile takeover bid." Rip Torn plays Zeus with the grandiose lordliness of John Huston. Even the Disney ingenue, Megara (Susan Egan), is hipper this time, a sardonic burgundy-haired vamp who sounds like the Veronica Lake of "Sullivan's Travels" when she calls Hercules a big lug. When these two come home from a date, the filmmakers have Hercules declare: "And that play, that Oedipus thing? I thought I had problems!" Then he skims a stone at a statue, leaving behind an armless Venus. "It looks better that way," says Megara. "No, really it does." The kidding of "Hercules" even hits close to home: "It's a small underworld after all," announces Disney's latest villain, as he leads Hercules to the realm of the dead. And the film's snappiest musical number, "Zero to Hero," zips through Hercules' labors as it teases about his hot new celebrity status. Success brings him mosaic billboards, sandal endorsements, a "Buns of Bronze" workout scroll and a column-shaped soda cup bearing his portrait. This time Disney has good reason to joke about hucksterism. After all, a hot new classical franchise is born. HERCULES Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements; written by Clements, Musker, Donald McEnery, Bob Shaw and Irene Mecchi; edited by Tom Finan; music and score by Alan Menken with lyrics by David Zippel; production designer, Gerald Scarfe; produced by Alice Dewey, Musker and Clements; released by Walt Disney Pictures. Running time: 87 minutes. Rating: This film is rated G. WITH THE VOICES OF: Tate Donovan (Adult Hercules), Joshua Keaton (Baby Hercules), Roger Bart (Young Hercules' singing voice), Danny DeVito (Phil), James Woods (Hades), Susan Egan (Meg), Rip Torn (Zeus), Paul Shaffer (Hermes) and Charlton Heston (the Narrator).

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• DVD & Streaming
• Action/Adventure , Animation , Kids , Musical

Content Caution

In Theaters

• Voices of Tate Donovan, Joshua Keaton, Roger Bart, Danny DeVito, James Woods, Susan Egan, Bob Goldthwait, Matt Frewer, Rip Torn

Home Release Date

• Ron Clements|John Musker

Distributor

• Walt Disney

Movie Review

Trivia question: Name the last animated Disney film in which the main character had both a mother and father who lived to see the end credits.

You may have to go back a few years. Keeping families intact hasn’t exactly been a Disney strong point. In Hercules, however, the tale’s hunky hero belongs to not one, but two loving, enduring two-parent families. Disney’s 35th animated feature also makes terrific statements about perseverance, friendship, self-control, chivalry and the heroism of virtuous character. That’s the good news. The bad news is that such positive messages are combined with dark imagery and a muddled spirituality totally inappropriate for the younger end of the “children of all ages” continuum.

Born on Mount Olympus to Zeus and Hera, baby Hercules is welcomed into the family of gods. The one party-pooper is Hades, disgruntled god of the dead. When he learns that the child will grow up to thwart his evil plans, Hades orders him killed. The deed is done. Almost. Two bungling demons snatch Herc and sap his divine nature, but before they can finish the job, a mortal couple finds the infant, adopting him as their own.

Herc grapples with the awkwardness of adolescence, learns about his true identity and tries to earn his way back to Olympus by becoming a hero. Aided by his winged steed and a surly satyr named Phil (the lusty half man/half goat mentor of would-be heroes), he battles hideous beasts including, in an intense scene, the multi-headed Hydra. His exploits lead to instant celebrity. But when Herc mistakenly equates popularity with heroism, Zeus sets him straight (“Being famous isn’t the same as being a true hero”). That’s a great lesson for young viewers, especially in this age of rock stars, athletes and actors long on talent, but short on character.

Cupid’s arrow hits the mark when Herc meets Meg, a cynical beauty with a complicated past. She’s bitter. She’s anti-male. She’s also trapped in Hades’ debt. Meg tries to resist her feelings for Herc, but falls hopelessly in love with him. The pair proceed to make extreme sacrifices for one another. In fact, Herc ultimately declines immortality in order to remain on earth with his woman—a noble act, but a disquieting example for young Christians tempted to choose between holiness and hormones. Furthermore, wiggling hips and allusions to Meg’s other Aphroditic charms seem a bit immodest.

When Disney first announced it would revisit the legend of Hercules, parents braced themselves for a film awash in polytheism. After all, the ancient Greeks had a god or goddess for just about everything. Hermes. Aries. The Muses. But what makes things even worse is that this film teaches mythological “history” in a rousing three-part musical number called “The Gospel Truth.” Young viewers may be further confused by references to “praying to the gods” and Herc’s longing to “please the gods.” Whether intentional or not, Disney reduces Christianity to the level of folklore by blending spiritual counterfeits with biblical orthodoxy.

Hercules’ other Achilles’ heel involves Hades’ dreary Underworld. It’s populated by disembodied, tormented souls that float in the River of Death, deteriorating over time. Three witches (grim reapers called The Fates) share a single, mucous-covered eyeball, passing it back and forth as they gleefully snip the final threads of human lives. When Meg dies trying to save Herc, her soul enters the River of Death before it is rescued and returned to her body for a climactic “resurrection.” More than dark and ominous, it’s spiritually unhinged.

On June 18, 1997, the Southern Baptist Convention called for a boycott of Disney and its subsidiaries. A courageous move. The denomination responded to numerous Disney policies and products inconsistent with the Magic Kingdom’s reputation as a pro-family enterprise. Parents deciding to join the campaign may want to begin by giving Hercules the cold shoulder. Though artfully done, this occasionally inspiring motion picture includes significant weaknesses that keep it from going the distance.

Bob Smithouser

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He's the strongest man in the world and a darn nice young fellow to boot. "Hercules," Disney's latest summer animation, certainly displays the muscle and charm to dominate family and kid biz for the season. It's a winning tall tale, cleverly told and wonderfully voiced that should bolster the company franchise following the box office erosions of "Pocahontas" and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame."

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He’s the strongest man in the world and a darn nice young fellow to boot. “Hercules,” Disney’s latest summer animation, certainly displays the muscle and charm to dominate family and kid biz for the season. It’s a winning tall tale, cleverly told and wonderfully voiced that should bolster the company franchise following the box office erosions of “Pocahontas” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”

Drawing liberally from Greek mythology, the film relates how Olympian gods Zeus (Rip Torn) and Hera (Samantha Eggar) begat the ever-so-cute Hercules. Meanwhile, lord of the underworld Hades (James Woods) has been told by the Fates that the only thing that could undo his plans to vanquish the folks on Mt. Olympus is Zeus’ spawn.

So, he dispatches his reptilian henchmen Pain (Bobcat Goldthwait) and Panic (Matt Frewer) to kidnap the tyke and put poison in his milk bottle. Of course, they botch the job, but the child drinks enough of the venom to render him mortal. As flesh and blood, he cannot live among the gods, and grows up unaware of his true lineage.

The legend has been tidied up for general audiences, retaining the era, setting, characters and Herculean strength. And there’s considerably more humor and music than one would find in the vintage Steve Reeves or contempo Kevin Sorbo incarnations of the character.

The narrative thrust of the Disneyized version is that Hercules learns as a young man that he’s adopted and goes to the temple to pray for a clue to his past. Zeus gives him the lowdown and tells him he must become a hero to be reinstated with the gods. To that end, he sends him to the satyr Philoctetes (Danny DeVito), aka Phil, for grueling Rocky-style training to prepare him to combat all manner of evil.

Here, the source of peril is not human frailty but all manner of mythical monsters — and bad girl Megara (Susan Egan), aka Meg, who’s really a good gal forced to do Hades’ bidding to secure her freedom.

Triumph in the field of battle accords Hercules the hero status of a modern athlete, and soon everything from Grecian urns to sandals bear his likeness. This humorous barb about product placement seems rather misplaced, considering the studio’s mastery and thoroughness in marketing cross-fertilization of its family movies.

The bigger-than-life nature of the ancient myths make them both ripe for parody and ideal for the kind of freewheeling musical adaptation that’s been Disney’s stock in trade for six decades. As in “Aladdin,” the melding of character animation with the screen personae of the actors voicing the roles provides forceful and amusing entertainment, particularly in DeVito’s turn as a physical trainer and the acid wit Woods brings to his villainous role.

The song score favors tunes that propel the story rather than focusing on character enhancement. That provides the yarn with a zing missing from the more recent, sober-sided ani features.

The music itself, while serviceable, is not at all distinctive. Turning a Greek chorus into a Motown quintet is a clever idea but needs something more soulful than the recurring ditty “The Gospel Truth.” There’s simply not a song in the piece that has you humming as you exit the theater, and ballads such as “Go the Distance” will require aggressive repetition to register as playlist material.

Composer Alan Menken — who enlivened the form when he was enlisted for “The Little Mermaid” in 1989 — is hitting too many tired notes in his sixth animated score. It may be time to muster a new musical sensibility to bring a little “Heigh-Ho” to the genre.

Directors John Musker and Ron Clements, who’ve collaborated on “Mermaid” and “Aladdin,” here combine smooth, state-of-the-art animation with a funky razzledazzle. They bring “Hercules” the vitality and insouciance that make Disney an undisputed champ in the arena.

• Production: A Buena Vista release of a Walt Disney picture. Produced by Alice Dewey, John Musker, Ron Clements. Directed by John Musker, Ron Clements. Screenplay, Clements, Musker, Bob Shaw, Donald McEnery, Irene Mecchi.
• Crew: Music and score, Alan Menken; lyrics, David Zippel; associate editors, Jeff Jones, John K. Carr; production design, Gerald Scarfe; art direction, Andy Gaskill; story animation supervisor, Barry Johnson, production stylist, Sue C. Nichols; layout, Rasoul Azadani; background, Thomas Cardone; supervising visual effects animators, Dorse A. Lanpher, James DeValera Mansfield; associate producer, Kendra Halland; casting, Ruth Lambert. prints by Technicolor. Reviewed at Disney Studios, Burbank, June 13, 1997. MPAA Rating: G. Running time: 92 min.
• With: Voices: Hercules - Tate Donovan Young Hercules - Josh Keaton Young Hercules (singing) - Roger Bart Phil - Danny DeVito Hades - James Woods Meg - Susan Egan Pain - Bobcat Goldthwait Panic - Matt Frewer Zeus - Rip Torn Hera - Samantha Eggar Alcmene - Barbara Barrie Amphitryon - Hal Holbrook Hermes - Paul Shaffer The Fates - Amanda Plummer, Carole Shelley, Paddi Edwards Narrator - Charlton Heston

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Friday, January 11, 2013

Hercules (1997) - disney movie about this really strong guy...., hercules: in this disney movie, he's just a big ol' loveable hunk, no comments:, post a comment.

Hercules Review

10 Oct 1997

The more they re-promote the back catalogue, the easier it becomes to draw a line between Old Disney and New Disney. Stick on The Aristocats (1970); then watch The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1996) - they're both set in Paris, it's fair - each is beautifully drawn and contains virtually the same horse, yet one is charming, simplistic and compulsive, the other noisy, intellectual and relentless. Hercules, Disney's 35th full-length animated feature, falls in with the latter.

A Greek myth from the Aladdin/ Little Mermaid crew, it charts the to-hell-and-back odyssey of the heroic son of Zeus, kidnapped by minions of Underworld boss Hades (a show-stealing Woods), and - after a bungled attempt to rub him out - stranded on earth as a mere mortal. In order to climb the stairway back to heaven, he must become a true hero, assisted by cloven-hoofed Philoctetes or "Phil" (DeVito), cleverly styled on a down-at-heel Hollywood boxing trainer. Throw in Pegasus, mythical beasts aplenty, and a poisoned-chalice heroine Megara ("Meg"), and you have steroid-pumped good and intense, Satanic evil. With a soul-singing Greek chorus to boot.

Disney have always delighted in jazzy adaptation, and now, they've "done" Greek mythology. But while the sources of the other films were - to the kiddy viewer - immaterial, a full enjoyment of Hercules requires a basic understanding of classical studies for its gags about Narcissus, Achilles, Nymphs, etc. Technically, the drawings are springy and delightful (the hand of British nib-punisher Gerald Scarfe looming loose and large), and the songs are fulsome and camp, if again hard to follow if you're under ten - which hints at the film's basic flaw: it works too hard for the grown-ups.

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2014, Adventure/Action, 1h 37m

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Critics Consensus

Hercules has Brett Ratner behind the cameras and Dwayne Johnson rocking the loincloth -- and delivers exactly what any reasonable person reading that description might expect. Read critic reviews

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Hercules videos, hercules   photos.

Though he is famous across the ancient world for his larger-than-life exploits, Hercules (Dwayne Johnson), the son of Zeus and a human woman, is haunted by his tragic past. Now, he fights only for gold as a traveling mercenary, accompanied by a band of loyal followers, including Amphiarus (Ian McShane) and Autolycus. However, when the benevolent ruler of Thrace and his daughter seek his help in defeating a savage warlord, Hercules must find the true hero within himself once again.

Rating: PG-13 (Epic Battle Sequences|Brief Strong Language|Partial Nudity|Suggestive Comments|Violence)

Genre: Adventure, Action, Fantasy

Original Language: English

Director: Brett Ratner

Producer: Beau Flynn , Barry Levine , Brett Ratner

Writer: Ryan Condal , Evan Spiliotopoulos

Release Date (Theaters): Jul 25, 2014  wide

Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2016

Box Office (Gross USA): $72.7M

Runtime: 1h 37m

Distributor: Paramount Pictures

Production Co: Radical Studios, Flynn Picture Company, Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Mid Atlantic Films

Sound Mix: SDDS, Datasat, Dolby Atmos

Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Cast & Crew

Dwayne Johnson

Ian McShane

Rufus Sewell

Aksel Hennie

Ingrid Bolsø Berdal

Reece Ritchie

Tobias Santelmann

Joseph Fiennes

King Eurystheus

Peter Mullan

Rebecca Ferguson

Irina Shayk

Brett Ratner

Ryan Condal

Screenwriter

Evan Spiliotopoulos

Barry Levine

Executive Producer

Sarah Aubrey

Ross Fanger

Jesse Berger

Dante Spinotti

Cinematographer

Mark Helfrich

Film Editing

Jean-Vincent Puzos

Production Design

Jany Temime

Costume Design

Fernando Velázquez

Original Music

Jason Knox-Johnston

Supervising Art Direction

Robert Cowper

Art Director

Bence Erdelyi

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Critic Reviews for Hercules

Audience reviews for hercules.

Someone had the incredibly stupid idea of showing Hercules' infamous tasks within the first five minutes and then tell a somewhat conventional story of antique battles and rebellion. The Rock is a charismatic hero and his team works, too. Without this cast this movie would have fallen to pieces. As it is, the action is decent, the result entertaining enough and thankfully it doesn't take itself too seriously. But still, whoever came up with this simplistic plot should be smacked over the head.

I like that the movie commits to it's "revisionist" take on Greek myth by going so far as to make the main characters all skilled liars. While that material is fun, the rest is perfunctory and a little dull.

Ratner tries to do something different with the character only to end up ticking off every cliche by the end.

Director Brett Ratner looks at the man behind the legend in the big-budget action film Hercules. Based on a graphic novel, the story follows the Greek warrior Hercules and his band of mercenaries as they come to the aid of the King of Thrace to help him fight off a warlord. The film features an impressive cast that includes Dwayne Johnson, Ian McShane, Rufus Sewell, and John Hurt. However, the performances are a little weak; as the characters come off as one-dimensional stereotypes. Still, that's about par for an action film, and it's made up for by the exciting fight sequences. And, the score brings a lot of energy to the film. While Hercules doesn't exactly live up to expectations, it's alright for a sword and sandals style adventure.

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Common sense media reviewers.

Predictable adventure has lots of violence, decent actors.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Amid the many violent battle scenes, this take on

Hercules and his crew are all extremely loyal to e

Lots of fight scenes and battle sequences that lea

Brief flashbacks to Hercules' dead wife kissin

A singular, meant-to-be-humorous use of the word &

People in the background eat and drink at a feast.

Parents need to know that Hercules stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as an older and more experienced version of the legendary warrior. Directed by Brett Ratner and based on a comic book, the movie has lots of action/fantasy violence, a high body count (people are killed in battle, as well as by…

Positive Messages

Amid the many violent battle scenes, this take on Hercules has a valuable lesson about the importance of protecting the disenfranchised and oppressed -- and also of having your friend's back when he needs help.

Positive Role Models

Hercules and his crew are all extremely loyal to each other, even though they're mercenaries who fight for gold.

Violence & Scariness

Lots of fight scenes and battle sequences that lead to a hefty body count. People are killed with weapons (spears, arrows, knives, scythes, etc.) and by wolves and falling structures. There are also potentially jump-worthy scenes in the flashback when Hercules defeats the lion, hydra, and boar. Although many people die, there are only a few emotional deaths or moments: A boy's life is threatened, a woman is nearly executed, and a family is killed by hungry wolves.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Brief flashbacks to Hercules' dead wife kissing him; in one scene, she's shown nude from the back (her behind is shown, but it's a fast glimpse, and the memory turns to bloodier thoughts). Some innuendo/double entendres.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

A singular, meant-to-be-humorous use of the word "f--king," as well as occasional (but not frequent) use of the words "s--t" and "ass."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Hercules stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as an older and more experienced version of the legendary warrior. Directed by Brett Ratner and based on a comic book, the movie has lots of action/fantasy violence, a high body count (people are killed in battle, as well as by wolves and crushed by falling structures), and a scene in which a boy's life is threatened. There's also occasional but not frequent strong language (mostly "s--t," plus one "f--king") and brief flashbacks of Hercules' wife looking sultry, kissing or even disrobing (her behind is shown). People unfamiliar with the legend will learn about certain aspects of it -- like Hercules' "twelve labors," including fighting the Nemean Lion, the Lernaean Hydra, the Erymanthian Boar, and more. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Community Reviews

• Parents say (11)
• Kids say (19)

Based on 11 parent reviews

It is really violent

What's the story.

Based on Radical comic Hercules: The Thracian Wars by Steve Moore, HERCULES doesn't focus on the mythology of the character as a demigod so much as the "legend" of him as famous warrior. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson plays Hercules not as a buff young man (like Kellan Lutz in The Legend of Hercules ) but as a a well-paid mercenary with a crew of specialized fighters -- his best friend, Autolycus ( Rufus Sewell ); seer Amphiaraus ( Ian McShane ); Amazon Atalanta (Ingrid Bolso Berdal)' and mute but deadly Tydeus (Aksel Hennie). Hercules' young nephew, Iolaus (Reece Ritchie), is brought along as a young storyteller. When the beautiful Ergenia (Rebecca Ferguson) pleads with Hercules to meet and take up arms for her father, Lord Cotys ( John Hurt ), against a demonic enemy, Hercules agrees. But things aren't always as they seem for Hercules, who has a painful past and a soft spot for the oppressed.

Is It Any Good?

The story and the action sequences, while mildly entertaining, are nothing spectacular -- or nothing you haven't already seen in countless similar movies. Johnson is one of Hollywood's most charismatic action stars -- he commits to his roles and generally plays likable heroes who are easy to root for in every movie -- but his Hercules is considerably broodier than other characters Johnson has played, and he leaves the humor to his co-stars, especially McShane and Sewell. These three actors are basically the chief reasons to see this popcorn action flick.

The dialogue is so formulaic that moments that should be serious or poignant are eye-rollingly obvious and almost laughable. And the flashbacks to Hercules' sexy (and dead) wife disrobing and looking sultry take away from the emotional impact of her death. When Maximus in Gladiator remembered his wife , it wasn't about how sexually attractive she was but about the fact that she was his wife and the mother of his child. It's a shame that since there's no outright romance in Hercules , the director chose to add in those unnecessary scenes, as well some off-the-mark double entendres about long swords and tongues and the like. These fall flat, unlike the many subtle jokes that McShane's Amphiaraus delivers. In the end, McShane's quiet, wise, and funny seer and Sewell's sarcastic realist steal the show, but they still can't save the movie from being just another forgettable action flick. At the very least, it's better than The Legend of Hercules .

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about Hercules ' violence . Does the fact that the battle scenes show so much violence at once make it easier to watch in some ways? Would you consider that desensitization?

Compare this version to other movies about Hercules. Which one(s) do you prefer, and why? Does the movie make you want to learn more about the legend?

Why are myths and legends so popular in pop culture?

Movie Details

• In theaters : July 25, 2014
• On DVD or streaming : November 4, 2014
• Cast : Dwayne The Rock Johnson , John Hurt , Ian McShane
• Director : Brett Ratner
• Studios : Paramount Pictures , MGM/UA
• Genre : Action/Adventure
• Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Adventures
• Run time : 98 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG-13
• MPAA explanation : epic battle sequences, violence, suggestive comments, brief strong language and partial nudity
• Last updated : February 22, 2023

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Hercules Parent Guide

A hero prepared to go the distance..

Hercules represents the classic recipe of 1990s' Disney animations: A hero, a sexy girl, a seemingly unbeatable wicked enemy, and the world's fate hanging in the balance.

Release date June 27, 1997

Run Time: 92 minutes

Official Movie Site

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The guide to our grades, parent movie review by rod gustafson.

Hercules represents the classic recipe of 1990s’ Disney animations: A hero, a sexy girl, a seemingly unbeatable wicked enemy, and the world’s fate hanging in the balance.

The story begins when baby Hercules (voice of Tate Donovan) is kidnapped by the evil Hades (voice of James Woods), the god of death. A poisonous potion is fed to the little lad, but alas, he misses the last drop, thereby becoming mortal but maintaining his super strength. All Herc can do now is be a big help on the farm of his foster parents. But one day he discovers that his real father is the super god Zeus (voice of Rip Torn), and that he can become a god again if he does something truly heroic. With Philoctetes (voice of Danny DeVito) as a coach, Herc learns how to fight an assortment of evil beasts. But his greatest challenge is Meg (voice of Susan Egan), a bombshell of a babe, who is a secret agent of Hades.

Sex plays a prominent role in this movie, too. Meg tries to seduce Herc and keep him from doing anything heroic, while Hades completes his plan of world domination. She’s a curvy vixen who seems to be the next link in Disney’s evolving depictions of increasingly scantily clad women. See Esmeralda from The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), Pocahontas (1995) and Jasmine from Aladdin (1992).

Although Zeus tries to teach Herc what a true hero is, all young viewers are likely to learn is that (quoting Herc’s own words):“A hero is only as good as his weapon.” But as a parent, I expect more from Disney. With the studio’s preoccupation with needless violence and sultry females, and with other companies producing animated features (such as Toy Story from Pixar, An American Tail from Universal, and Sinbad from Dreamworks), Hercules’s fall from godhood may be ironic foreshadowing of Disney’s fate as the god of animation.

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Rod Gustafson

Hercules parents' guide.

Learn more about the Greek and Roman demi-god Hercules .

The most recent home video release of Hercules movie is August 12, 2014. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes:

Release Date: 12 August 2014

Disney is releasing Hercules to home video (Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy) with the following extras:

- The Making of ‘Hercules’

- ‘No Importa La Distancia’ Music Video with Ricky Martin

- ‘From Zero to Hero’ Sing-Along

Related home video titles:

Hercules has many incarnations on the big screen. Look for this mythological character in the live-action The Legend of Hercules and Hercules .

Hercules: 6 Reasons Why The Disney Animated Movie Is Still Underrated

From zero to hero!

Many Disney animation studios movies are awesome, but the Disney Renaissance, from the 1980s to the late 1990s, was full of some of the best. Beauty and the Beast came out during this time. So did The Lion King . Aladdin , Mulan - many of these titles received their own live-action remake from Disney years later because they were so popular. But, today, I’m talking about a movie that deserves way more hype. 

And that is the 1997 animated musical, Hercules. 

While it did release during the time period of the classic Disney Renaissance, and received positive reviews, Hercules didn’t do as well at the box office as its predecessors. In honor of a live-action version being in the works , I’m going to talk about why Hercules is an underrated Disney movie and deserves more praise. 

First Off: The Animation Is Stunning, From The Gods To The Mortals 

3D animation has taken over Disney since 2010, when Tangled first came out. While I do love some of the effects these great movies have used in the last eleven years, a part of my heart will always be devoted to the wonderful world of 2D animation. Hercules was one of those 2D animated movies, but felt different from the other Disney animated films, in a good way. 

Many of the standard princess movies at the time had the same animation, with not much of a difference. Same heroine with big eyes and a beautiful smile. Same shapes and colors; same everything. But, Hercules took a step out of the box. Their characters were shaped differently than many of the other classic animated Disney characters, sort of leaning more into triangles, squares, and other shapes to create otherworldly figures like the Gods.

Not only that, but the colors felt so much more vivid. Just looking up at the Gods on Mount Olympus was mesmerizing, because they truly looked eternal with that glow and with bright colors that emphasized just how godly they were. 

The Casting Is Fantastic - Especially Danny DeVito As Philoctetes/Phil

I could go on for ages about the casting in this movie, but I’ll sum it up easily and say I really believe they nailed the voices for Hercules. Tate Donovan is great as Hercules, Susan Egan is awesome as Meg, James Woods rocks it as the sarcastic Hades, but no one else takes the cake like Danny DeVito as Phil. 

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There’s something about Danny DeVito’s voice that fits Phil so perfectly , and I feel like the character was truly animated around DeVito’s personal interactions and movements, creating a character that not only fits his voice but his personality as well. He’s funny, grouchy, and heartfelt all as the same person. Truly, there is not a better fit for this character. 

It’s A Classic Rags To Riches Story With A Mythical Twist

I mean, who doesn’t love a good underdog story? Hercules is all about one man trying to understand who he is in life; to, dare I say, “go the distance” and figure out his purpose. 

Once he finds that purpose, he almost lets it get away, getting lost in the glory of being a hero, but soon, he realizes that it’s not about the fame or the glory or the need to succeed. It’s about the journey, the growth, finding the people that you care for the most, who will always stand by your side. 

It’s such a great example of someone wanting to become a better version of themselves and actually putting in the effort to get there. It takes him a long time, but he’s willing to do anything to prove that he’s not just some weirdo - he’s a hero. And, I think that’s a beautiful thing. 

Speaking Of Characters - Hades Is Actually One Of The Best Disney Villains, Hands-Down

Sometimes, Disney villains are completely iconic, like Scar or even the evil Frodo from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. And, Hades is one of my favorite villains, for a couple of reasons. 

First of all, he’s the literal God of the underworld. He controls everything after death. While the Fates call the shots on who dies, Hades gets to dictate where you go. Also, because he is the God of the underworld, he is freaking scary. The moments he gets mad, he gets mad, his blue flames changing to those of orange, and it creates some scarily cool animation moments.

At the same time, Hades is someone I’d love to get a drink with. Hades stole the show .

He is hilarious. I mean, him basically talking to Meg about all men being trash because she has a crush on Hercules, him treating his fight with Hercules like a game, using vases as target practice - he has this sardonic humor that I can get behind. 

While he’s terrifying, he’s hysterical at the same time, and it makes me smile every time I rewatch the film. 

Meg Is One Of The Strongest Disney Leading Ladies

Before there was Elsa from Frozen, Moana from Moana - heck, even before Mulan from Mulan , there was Megara from Hercules. She walked so that all these independent, strong Disney women could run. 

Megara was a young woman who sold her soul to Hades in order to save her boyfriend’s life, but when said boyfriend left her for some other woman, she became a prisoner of Hades. Does that stop Megara’s charm and personality? No way. 

She’s distrusting of most men - for a good reason - but when she finally starts to see the good in Hercules, she stands up to Hades. Let me tell you how important this scene is. 

Hades literally owns her. He owns her very soul. She knows that if she goes against him, he could take her soul and her life just like that. But, she still stands up to him, knowing that Hades is wrong for what he is planning by ruling the Cosmos, and for killing Hercules. And, she will be taking no part in that. 

That is one of the strongest, bravest moments I think any Disney character has ever had. Meg is staring the God of the underworld in the face and telling him to basically “buzz off.” That takes some serious guts, and Megara has them.

She may be a damsel, and she may be in distress, but she can handle anything. Have a nice day.  

The Soundtrack Is One Of My Favorites 

Move over “Let It Go,” the Hercules soundtrack is by far the best Disney soundtrack, as far as I'm concerned. 

We start off with a banger in “ The Gospel Truth ,” we get the beautiful ballad, “ Go the Distance ,” we hear the mighty story of a “ Zero to Hero ,” we feel the heartbreak in Megara’s “ I Won’t Say I’m In Love ” - song after song, Hercules doesn't miss. Every single song is perfect and deserves so much praise.

All I’m going to say is that this upcoming live-action remake better have these iconic songs, because if it doesn't, I am going to sue someone. I mean, even Danny DeVito’s “One Last Hope,” which is arguably one of the lesser known songs from the movie, is catchy and played over an awesome Hercules-training montage. 

This soundtrack deserved all the awards, and it’s a shame it didn’t get the treatment it deserved. If Jennifer Hudson gets her wish and sings in the live-action version, I’d simply die.

If you haven’t seen Hercules let, watch it now. Watch it by yourself, with your kids, your friends, your significant other - just watch it. 

While we are waiting for plenty of great upcoming Disney movies , Disney+ is right there to watch many of these previous hits. And, hopefully, if you’ve never seen Hercules before now, you’ll come back and thank me for your new favorite Disney movie. 

Stream Hercules on Disney+.

A self-proclaimed nerd and lover of Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire, Alexandra Ramos is a Content Producer at CinemaBlend. She first started off working in December 2020 as a Freelance Writer after graduating from the Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Journalism and a minor in English. She primarily works in features for movies, TV, and sometimes video games. (Please don't debate her on The Last of Us 2, it was amazing!) She is also the main person who runs both our daily newsletter, The CinemaBlend Daily, and our ReelBlend newsletter. 

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Hercules (1997)

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This Disney animated feature about the myth of Hercules takes a lighthearted, humorous approach, similar in tone to 1992's Aladdin . (Not surprisingly, this film and that had the same two directors, John Musker and Ron Clements.) The humor is slightly less reliant on current cultural phenomena, which means it may not date itself as much as Aladdin will, but it won't go down in the history books as one of Disney's highly respected, time-tested family classics, either.

Not to say Hercules isn't a truckload of fun. It is. This movie is packed with colorful characters, rousing action, and laughs of all kinds. Liberties are taken with the specifics of the myth (curiously necessitated by the same problem that plagued Disney's previous production, The Hunchback of Notre Dame , namely that their protagonists were killers in their real stories), but the story remains true to the spirit of the legends of heroes, while, at the same time, poking fun at the modern take on heroes.

On one level, Hercules is an enjoyable romp about the traditional mythic hero. born in a utopia that becomes lost to him, he must strive to gain it back. He errs in his approach, but in the end learns the fundamental truth of selflessness and is redeemed. This much is always a constant in any story of a true hero. The joy is in the journey.

On another level, Hercules knocks itself without compromising itself -- not an easy thing to do -- in more ways than one. It knocks itself as a hero story, as Hercules encounters a damsel in distress that doesn't want his help and a villain who refers to his master plan as a "hostile takeover bit." It also knocks itself as a Disney film, making fun of the shameless merchandising that capitalizes on the popularity of cultural icons such as the Disney films themselves.

The combination of solid adventure and funny parody generally dilute each other, but in Hercules they complement each other admirably.

As mentioned before, the characters are one of Hercules ' main attractions. Hercules himself has an advantage over Disney's other shy yet aspiring heroes; he's already insanely strong but also a bit clumsy, which leads to some nice moments of physical comedy. The villain, Hades, is the comic highlight, voiced by (and resembling) James Woods, who steals all his scenes. The villain's henchmen are the fumbling Pain and Panic. The hero's sidekick is the spirited winged horse Pegasus (who whinneys rather than snores when asleep). Phil is a curmudgeon of a satyr, Hercules' teacher and guide, voiced by Danny DeVito, and has many of the film's best lines. Meg, the heroine, is the only (minor) weak link among the main characters. The scriptwriters were too preoccupied with making her a strong, politically correct character in spite of her role as a damsel in distress. Unlike most attempts to be politically correct, this one is not annoying, but with all the effort made making her independent and capable, none was left to make her a real character with emotions we understand. She goes through her character's requisite transformations somewhat mechanically. We're familiar with the formula, so we accept the character, but her motivation doesn't bear close inspection. Nonetheless, it's to the film's credit that a non-irritating modern spin could be put on the character without sacrificing her vital role in the story.

Compared to recent Disney features, the animation in Hercules looks a little primitive, yet it has its share of redeeming charm, due, in large part, to the slight change in the color palette, which resembles the ancient pictorial representations of the ancient myths more than it does Disney's usual. And, as with every Disney animated film since Beauty and the Beast , one outstanding scene demonstrates how stunning fine animation can be. In Hercules , this scene is an action-packed duel with a multi-headed beast. While it's impressive in its own right, one drawback is that it highlights the lesser quality of the rest of the animation. ( The Hunchback of Notre Dame , for instance, was unrelentingly innovative with its cinematography, yet that of Hercules is routine more often than not.)

The bottom line is that Disney has done better, several times, yet this is still a charming, enjoyable romp with much to offer.

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Having endured his legendary twelve labors, Hercules, the Greek demigod, has his life as a sword-for-hire tested when the King of Thrace and his daughter seek his aid in defeating a tyrannic... Read all Having endured his legendary twelve labors, Hercules, the Greek demigod, has his life as a sword-for-hire tested when the King of Thrace and his daughter seek his aid in defeating a tyrannical warlord. Having endured his legendary twelve labors, Hercules, the Greek demigod, has his life as a sword-for-hire tested when the King of Thrace and his daughter seek his aid in defeating a tyrannical warlord.

• Brett Ratner
• Ryan J. Condal
• Evan Spiliotopoulos
• Steve Moore
• Dwayne Johnson
• Ian McShane
• 345 User reviews
• 228 Critic reviews
• 47 Metascore
• 2 nominations

• King Eurystheus

• (as Nick Moss)

• (as Chris Fairbank)
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Rock On: The Life and Times of Dwayne Johnson

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Did you know

• Trivia During shooting of the scene where Hercules breaks free of his chains, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson stated that he "blacked out" after every take, "I asked the prop department to lock me in with real steel chains that I couldn't break, so the performance would be real. When Hercules finally accepts his fate of being the son of Zeus, it's the epic moment of the mythology, and our movie. We shot this scene eight times. I blacked out every time. Down to my knees. Well worth the pain. This moment is iconic. I'm excited for you to see it."
• Goofs Rhesus and his men all have stirrups, which were not used in Europe till well after the fall of the Roman Empire.

[from trailer]

Amphiaraus : No matter how far you go, man cannot escape his fate. Who are you? Are you a murderer? Are you a mercenary who turns his back on the innocent? We believe in you! We have faith in you! Remember the deeds you have performed, the labors you have overcome! Are you only the legend, or are you truth behind the legend? Now, tell me, WHO ARE YOU?

Hercules : I AM HERCULES!

• Crazy credits When the credits roll, there is a 3d animation sequence going over Hercules' labors against the beasts which shows how his companions helped him to slay them.
• Alternate versions The theatrical version was pre-cut following advice from the BBFC to remove "bloody detail" in three scenes, in order to obtain a 12A rating. These cuts persisted into every theatrical version worldwide and was the version also released on DVD/Blu-ray in the UK.
• Connections Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Dwayne Johnson/Mel B/Chronixx (2014)
• Soundtracks Jungle Written by Jamie N. Commons (as Jamie N Commons), Mike Del Rio (as Michael Gonzalez), Alex da Kid (as Alexander Grant) and Sam Nelson Harris (as Samuel Harris) Performed by Jamie N. Commons (as Jamie N Commons) and X Ambassadors Courtesy of Interscope Records Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User reviews 345

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• Nov 4, 2015
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• What are the differences between the Theatrical Version and the Extended Cut?
• July 25, 2014 (United States)
• United States
• Official Site (France)
• Official Twitter
• Origo Film Studio, Budapest, Hungary (Studio)
• Paramount Pictures
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
• Flynn Picture Company
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $100,000,000 (estimated)
• $72,688,614
• $29,800,263
• Jul 27, 2014
• $244,819,862

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 38 minutes
• Dolby Atmos

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Reviewed by: Beverly Nault CONTRIBUTOR

T his is one of the most colorful, pretty, witty animation spectacles that Disney has produced. It is fun to watch—its characters are likable and appealing. (We saw it in Disney’s New Amsterdam theatre in New York, which was worth a trip just to see the beautiful restoration the theatre has undergone.)

Hercules first appears as a babe-in-arms, cute and cuddly, the center of all attention on Olympus. But soon, the evil “Hades” gets wind of his birth and plots to have the infant killed. However, unbeknownst to Hades, the plan to have Hercules killed only serves to render him mortal, while leaving him with superhuman strength. Hercules grows up with his Earthling foster parents, an outcast who can’t quite control his own might or fit in with the “Earthlings.” With the help of a “hero-trainer,” (voice talent of Danny DeVito ), Hercules works on his control, bravery, and plans to become a hero on Earth. Soon he is faced with danger, trickery and Hades’ endeavors to thwart Hercules’ efforts to earn his way back into immortality to live on Olympus as a god.

One part that I found slightly offensive from a Christian perspective was the Muses’ song, “The Gospel Truth,” which was of course, far from it. Patterned after a gospel singing group, the Muses’ role was to nararate the story’s events. Another weakness is that Hercules' powers come from within, not his faith in God. On the positive side, virtues worth remembering are that hard work and determination are necessary to overcome evil and help those who are in trouble. Also, there is no profanity.

Though ugly, Hades was not too threatening. However, there are several scenes with a monster/dragon that could be quite frightening to pre-schoolers and young grade-schoolers. The most frightening scenes will be the ones of hell, which show helpless faces swirling in an eternal pool of despair. According to the plot, after death you are in Hades' control, unless you happen to be lucky enough to have Hercules save you in his own effort to gain entry into Olympus/Heaven.

The message of the movie is mixed, but should provide earnest Christian parents with a few great “teachable moments.” Point out what a great Redeemer we have in Christ. Point out that He selflessly paid the price for our entry into Heaven (shed his pure, sinless blood to cover our sin), and remind them of the hopeless eternity of those who die without His salvation. (Hercules is sadly limited in the salvation department.)