Hercules (1997 film): Difference between revisions

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After Zeus fights and sends the Titans to the Underworld, he becomes the ruler of Mount Olympus, home of all Greek gods. Hades is sent to rule the underworld, but he makes plans to throw Zeus out of Mount Olympus with the Titans' help. The three Fates warn him that his plans would be endangered if Hercules, Zeus and Hera's newborn child, is still around by the time he tries to take over Mount Olympus. Hades sends his minions Pain and Panic to turn Hercules into a mortal and kill him, but they fail in their attempt and leave him on earth with his divine strength to be raised as a human. Hercules grows up but later learns he is the son of Gods, and in order to return to Mt. Olympus he must turn into a "true hero". He is trained by Phil the Satyr and becomes the most famous hero in ancient Greece after battling monsters of all kinds. He even saves Mt. Olympus from being taken over by Hades, but he only becomes a god again after he offers to exchange his life in order to save Megara, his love, from Hades' underworld and shows that a true hero must have a strong heart and not only physical strength.

While the film is considerably [[Bowdlerization|Bowdlerized]] from the original myths, there [[Pragmatic Adaptation|really was no alternative]] if you want to make a family film out of [[Greek Mythology]]. The result was a widely praised film, which despite not reaching the critical success of ''[[The Lion King (Disney)|The Lion King]]'' or ''[[Beauty and The Beast (Disney)|Beauty and The Beast]]'', is considered by many to be one of the [[Disney Animated Canon|Canon's]] [[Funny Moments|funniest films]] along with ''[[Aladdin (Disney)|Aladdin]]'', ''[[The ~~Emperors~~ New Groove (Disney)|The Emperors New Groove]]'' and ''[[Lilo and Stitch]]''. Plus, it's one of the only times [[Everyone Hates Hades]] has improved a work rather than dragging it down, mainly due to how genuinely [[Affably Evil|likeable]] and [[Deadpan Snarker|funny]] he is. For myth buffs, keep the [[MST3K Mantra]] in mind, and you'll find a solid, [[Rule of Funny|funny]] film with a lot of literal [[Mythology Gag|Mythology Gags]] that show that they did, in fact, [[Shown Their Work|do the research]] - they just couldn't make said research work in a G-rated family film without bumping the rating up a few notches. After all, in what other animated film is [[Oedipus Rex|Oedipus]] mentioned as a passing gag?

While the film is considerably [[Bowdlerization|Bowdlerized]] from the original myths, there [[Pragmatic Adaptation|really was no alternative]] if you want to make a family film out of [[Greek Mythology]]. The result was a widely praised film, which despite not reaching the critical success of ''[[The Lion King (Disney)|The Lion King]]'' or ''[[Beauty and The Beast (Disney)|Beauty and The Beast]]'', is considered by many to be one of the [[Disney Animated Canon|Canon's]] [[Funny Moments|funniest films]] along with ''[[Aladdin (Disney)|Aladdin]]'', ''[[The Emperor's New Groove (Disney)|The Emperors New Groove]]'' and ''[[Lilo and Stitch]]''. Plus, it's one of the only times [[Everyone Hates Hades]] has improved a work rather than dragging it down, mainly due to how genuinely [[Affably Evil|likeable]] and [[Deadpan Snarker|funny]] he is. For myth buffs, keep the [[MST3K Mantra]] in mind, and you'll find a solid, [[Rule of Funny|funny]] film with a lot of literal [[Mythology Gag|Mythology Gags]] that show that they did, in fact, [[Shown Their Work|do the research]] - they just couldn't make said research work in a G-rated family film without bumping the rating up a few notches. After all, in what other animated film is [[Oedipus Rex|Oedipus]] mentioned as a passing gag?

Over a year after its release, the film [[Recycled ~~the~~ Series|spawned a cartoon]] that ran both in syndication and on Disney's One Saturday Morning on [[ABC]], from 1998 to 1999. It was a Midquel series that presented Herc's life in High School and had him hanging out with fellow Greek characters Icarus and Cassandra. It also presented a plot hole in that Hades was still trying to get him killed, despite the fact that in the movie he didn't know Herc was still alive until he was an adult, but that didn't seem to matter much to the viewers.

Over a year after its release, the film [[Recycled: The Series|spawned a cartoon]] that ran both in syndication and on Disney's One Saturday Morning on [[ABC]], from 1998 to 1999. It was a Midquel series that presented Herc's life in High School and had him hanging out with fellow Greek characters Icarus and Cassandra. It also presented a plot hole in that Hades was still trying to get him killed, despite the fact that in the movie he didn't know Herc was still alive until he was an adult, but that didn't seem to matter much to the viewers.

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=== The film features examples of: ===

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* [[Deal With the Devil]]: Megara - she sold her soul to save her boyfriend... who promptly dumped her. Also, Hercules. He gave up his [[Super Strength]] to set Meg free. This worked out for him just about as well as could be expected...

* [[Death By Cameo]]: Sort of. [[The Lion King|Scar]] makes a cameo [[Nemean Skinning|as the skin of the Nemean Lion Hercules wears]] for a <ref> photo</ref> shoot. This is an in-joke to the fact that both Herc and Scar are animated by Andreas Deja.

* [[~~Deaths~~ Hourglass]]: This film has one with the Fate Sisters and the threads of life: if the person is close to death and the thread of life gets cut, said person dies, and their listless soul ends up on the River Styx.

* [[Death's Hourglass]]: This film has one with the Fate Sisters and the threads of life: if the person is close to death and the thread of life gets cut, said person dies, and their listless soul ends up on the River Styx.

* [[Defrosting Ice Queen]]: Megara again.

* [[Disaster Dominoes]]: Young Herc's market scene.

* [[Disneyfication]]: A crapload. Most noticeably, Herc's original [[Big Bad]] was Hera trying to kill him because he was the product of Zeus' adultery with a mortal.

** Then again, if they didn't remove/change that part, how on Earth would the script as a whole pass?

* [[Disney Death]]: {{spoiler|Megara. She is literally crushed by a pillar before Hercules lifts it up to free her}}, and as he returns after saving Mount Olympus, we see her [[~~Deaths~~ Hourglass|thread of life]] get cut and her hand goes limp; and this is one of the rare times Disney has ever shown an actual dead body on screen, as Herc weeps over her pale, limp, lifeless, and yet totally undamaged corpse, cradling it in his arms.

* [[Disney Death]]: {{spoiler|Megara. She is literally crushed by a pillar before Hercules lifts it up to free her}}, and as he returns after saving Mount Olympus, we see her [[Death's Hourglass|thread of life]] get cut and her hand goes limp; and this is one of the rare times Disney has ever shown an actual dead body on screen, as Herc weeps over her pale, limp, lifeless, and yet totally undamaged corpse, cradling it in his arms.

** [[Justified Trope]] because {{spoiler|Hercules reverses it by going to the Underworld and reclaiming her soul, thus proving himself a true hero, restoring his godhood.}}

** And before that, in the middle of the film, it happens ''twice'' in the same scene during the epic fight between Hercules and the Hydra; once the audience within the film thinks he's swallowed, the next time they think he's crushed.

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* [[Diving Save]]: Meg pushes Hercules out of the way of a falling pillar, {{spoiler|being crushed herself.}}

* [[Does Not Know His Own Strength]]: Before his training with Phil, Hercules' [[Super Strength]] [[Dojikko|caused him trouble]]. Even afterwards he has some trouble with it.

* [[Does This Remind You of Anything]]?: Hades and Megara's interaction really makes you think of an abusive boyfriend with a girlfriend who is having trouble getting away from him.

* [[Does This Remind You of Anything?]]?: Hades and Megara's interaction really makes you think of an abusive boyfriend with a girlfriend who is having trouble getting away from him.

* [[The Dulcinea Effect]]: Invoked, since according to Phil it ''is'' a hero's job to save a [[Damsel in Distress]].

* [[Eagleland Osmosis]]: [[Played for Laughs]], and actually adds a [[Genius Bonus]].

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* [[Faux Affably Evil]]: Hades again. The guy has not a single redeeming feature of his personality, but he's just so ''good'' at being a hammy [[Classic Villain]] (and a [[Deadpan Snarker]] comedian) that we love him anyway.

* [[Finger Snap Lighter]]: Hades.

* [[Finishing Each ~~Others~~ Sentences]]

* [[Finishing Each Other's Sentences]]

* [[The First Cut Is the Deepest]]: Megara, as a result of her slime of an ex-boyfriend.

* [[Fog Feet]]: Hades' robes dissolve into wisps of smoke.

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** Notable because Disney would never get away with "Oh my God", but that one little 's' that makes it a plural makes it a-okay.

** Pain's whole "my intentions were pure, I really was attracted to [[But You Screw One Goat|you]]!" thing.

** Pain's whole "my intentions were pure, I really was attracted to [[But You Screw One Goat!|you]]!" thing.

** Look at how Hercules finds out Nessus is a sir.

*** Most of Nessus' scene, in fact.

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* [[Groupie Brigade]]

* [[Hair On Fire]]: Hades is probably the [[Trope Codifier]].

* [[Hair Trigger Temper]]: Hades, who over the course of the movie has constant difficulty keeping his smooth demeanor with his generally-annoyed-at-everything attitude leading to a tendency to snap into a rage at the slightest provocation. Minor explosions are common, major meltdowns are a sight to behold. Bonus points for having his hair literally go off when he gets angry.

* [[Hair-Trigger Temper]]: Hades, who over the course of the movie has constant difficulty keeping his smooth demeanor with his generally-annoyed-at-everything attitude leading to a tendency to snap into a rage at the slightest provocation. Minor explosions are common, major meltdowns are a sight to behold. Bonus points for having his hair literally go off when he gets angry.

* [[Happily Married]]: Unlike the mythology, Zeus and Hera are quite happy together. Hercules' human parents qualify as well.

* [[Harpo Does Something Funny]]: After James Woods was cast, the script was essentially re-written to allow for his ad-libbing. Most of the dialogue between Hades and Megara was simply made up.

* [[Hey ~~Its~~ That Voice]]: Numerous examples. For starters, [[Danny De Vito]] is Philoctetes and [[James Woods]] is [[Large Ham|Hades]].

* [[Hey It's That Voice]]: Numerous examples. For starters, [[Danny De Vito]] is Philoctetes and [[James Woods]] is [[Large Ham|Hades]].

* [[Heroic Build]]: Hercules, following his training with Phil. Just look at the picture!

* [[Hijacked By Jesus]]

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** "He's just another <ref> [[Ambulance Chaser|ambulance]]</ref> [[Ambulance Chaser|chaser]]."

** "...but I could see through ''that'' in a <ref> New York</ref> minute."

* [[Honest ~~Johns~~ Dealership]]: Literal (the man who tries to sell sundials to Herc) and figurative (James Woods modeled Hades after a used-car salesmen).

* [[Honest John's Dealership]]: Literal (the man who tries to sell sundials to Herc) and figurative (James Woods modeled Hades after a used-car salesmen).

* [[Honey Trap]]:

{{quote| '''Megara:''' Wonderboy is hitting every curve you throw at him.<br />

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* [[Impossible Hourglass Figure]]: Four of muses and Aphrodite, especially Aphrodite given that she's the goddess of love and has a waist so tiny she could practically wrap one hand around. Artemis and Megara have [[Hartman Hips]].

* [[Ink Suit Actor]]: In addition to short, portly Danny [[De Vito]] as the short, portly Philoctetes, you've also got Hermes, who shares the same features and trademark shades of his voice actor Paul Shaffer, best known as David Letterman's bandleader.

* [[I Want Song]]: ''Go The Distance'', which also became an [[Award Bait Song]].

* [["I Want" Song]]: ''Go The Distance'', which also became an [[Award Bait Song]].

* [[Kaleidoscope Hair]]: Hades's hair turns from blue to bright orange whenever he is angry. Since his hair is made of fire, this is justified.

* [[Kubrick Stare]]: Herc's [[Moment of Awesome (Sugar Wiki)|Moment of Awesome]] ensues.

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** Herc's origin story bears a striking similarity to the backstory of [[Superman]].

* [[Shown Their Work]]: The sheer number of references to ''actual'' Ancient Greek Religion makes it clear that the writers ''did'', in fact, do the research.

* [[Shut UP Hannibal]]: Swiftly delivered to Hades from Herc after climbing out of the pool.

* [[Shut UP, Hannibal]]: Swiftly delivered to Hades from Herc after climbing out of the pool.

* [[Silk Hiding Steel]]: Though crossed with [[Femme Fatale]] and [[Broken Bird]], Meg fullfills the trope in her ability to manipulate like a damsel and her [[Heroic Sacrifice]] inner steel.

* [[Slave Mooks]]: Meg (by contract) and Pain and Panic (implied) to Hades.

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* [[The Stinger]]: Stick around after the credits and hear the lamentations of Hades.

* [[Surrounded By Idiots]]: Hades; And to a lower extent, Phil.

* [[Tailor Made Prison]]: The Titans are imprisoned in an undersea vault.

* [[Tailor-Made Prison]]: The Titans are imprisoned in an undersea vault.

* [[Terms of Endangerment]]: Hades: " Meg, my sweet, my flower, my little ''nut'' Meg."

* [[Those Two Bad Guys]]: Pain and Panic (even though they [[Harmless Villain|aren't that good at evil]]).

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* [[Ungrateful Bastard]]: Meg's former lover. She gave Hades her soul for him, and he repays her ''by running off with someone else.''

* [[Villainous Breakdown]]: Hilariously subverted after Hercules survives the River Styx and frees Meg's soul from Hades.

* [[Well Excuse Me Princess]]: Megara.

* [[Well, Excuse Me, Princess!]]: Megara.

* [[What the Hell Hero]]: Phil {{spoiler|calls out Hercules for being too distracted by love to see that Meg is using him. Hercules takes a flying leap to avoid the hint, takes his rage out on Phil and disowns him as his trainer, leaving Phil to mumble one last admonishment and leave him to his darkest hour.}}

* [[What the Hell, Hero?]]: Phil {{spoiler|calls out Hercules for being too distracted by love to see that Meg is using him. Hercules takes a flying leap to avoid the hint, takes his rage out on Phil and disowns him as his trainer, leaving Phil to mumble one last admonishment and leave him to his darkest hour.}}

* [[Win Your Freedom]]: Megara.

* [[World of Snark]]: The only other Disney Canon entry that rivals this film in the amount of [[Deadpan Snarker|Deadpan Snarkers]] is [[The ~~Emperors~~ New Groove (Disney)|The Emperors New Groove]].

* [[World of Snark]]: The only other Disney Canon entry that rivals this film in the amount of [[Deadpan Snarker|Deadpan Snarkers]] is [[The Emperor's New Groove (Disney)|The Emperors New Groove]].

* [[X Meets Y]]: The movie is basically the [[Theme Park Version]] of Greek mythology meets the origin story of ''[[Superman]].''

* [[Yiddish As a Second Language]]: Phil and Hades. We're aware that that doesn't really make any sense. [[Rule of Funny|Most of us don't care]].

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* [[Icarus Allusion]]: Icarus himself appears. Naturally, he has a permanent tan and lightning bolt-shaped hair.

* [[In the Style Of]]: "Hercules and the Golden Touch" is a ''[[James Bond]]'' spoof.

* [[It Is Pronounced Tro-PAY]]: Trivia. "Actually, it's 'try-VEE-ah'."

* [[It Is Pronounced "Tro-PAY"]]: Trivia. "Actually, it's 'try-VEE-ah'."

** [[Fridge Brilliance]] / [[Bilingual Bonus]]: 'Tri' means three, and 'via' means street or way. Trivia is mentioned as also being the god of where three streets meet.

* [[Jerkass]]: Adonis. He can't qualify as a [[Jerk Jock]] if he's too lazy to play sports.