Major fun. Less celebrated than some in the Disney Animation Renaissance that began with THE LITTLE MERMAID/’89, it now plays better than most. Frequent partners John Clements & John Musker get visual style & gags (rarely stooping to hip/contemporary references) from mythological sources & ancient pottery, but lard the main story of how young Herc finds his true heroic self in stopping Hades & his unleashed Titans from taking over the world with generous lifts from PINOCCHIO, SLEEPING BEAUTY and SUPERMAN. Something of a magpie narrative, but a solid structure and strong personalities help it play well. And quite the grand villain in James Woods’ Flaming Hades. Plus an exceptional song score from Alan Menken (David Zippel’s lyrics less consistent) with the usual ballads & comic numbers (Danny DeVito’s mentor going full Jimmy Durante), divinely held together by an All-Girl Greek ‘Gospel’ Chorus. Animation heads get a rare chance to distinguish between FIVE and FOUR fingered characters in a single film and can spot a rare Left-Handed deal clincher if they look sharp.
DOUBLE-BILL: Pairs nicely with LILO & STITCH/'02, which is also less pushy & formulaic than other animation of the period, possibly last in the great ‘hand-drawn’ Disney Renaissance line-up.
ATTENTION MUST BE PAID: Naturally, the Gods & Goddesses up in the heavens have a tough time competing with Golden Age Disney animation as seen in the Beethoven Pastorale Symphony section of FANTASIA/’40. (Goblins out of that film's NIGHT ON BALD MOUNTAIN also referenced.)
No comments:
Post a Comment