Hercules: A Walt Disney Masterpiece

Hercules, an entertaining spritzer of an animated feature, stands up as more than the egregious foul it seemed to be in theaters. The continual peppering of in-jokes and cultural references becomes less irksome on video, and the lack of majesty or awe invested in the beloved Greek legends also seems less of an error. Additionally, the bounciest Alan Menken music since Little Shop of Horrors is a plus.

With Zeus's blood in his veins, young Hercules's amazing strength makes him an outcast, although that fact still doesn't quite fly. He trains with a satyr named Phil to become a hero, and along the way, he meets Meg, a common mortal who falls hard for him. Both Hercules and Meg are against the jocular Hades, who has to destroy Hercules to take over Olympus.

The hydra, a computer-animated set piece for this little number, is a no-chance attempt to beat that wildebeest herd from The Lion King. Clam Shell, on the other hand, shows wear, which is not the egregious foul it seemed to be in theaters.

Overall, Hercules stands up as an entertaining animated feature, with the continual peppering of in-jokes and cultural references becoming less irksome on video, and the bounciest Alan Menken music since Little Shop of Horrors adding to the overall enjoyment. The lack of majesty or awe invested in the beloved Greek legends also seems less of an error, and the hydra's computer-animated set piece, while a no-chance attempt to beat the wildebeest herd from The Lion King, is still a notable addition to the film.

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