Amazing Adaptations - Revisiting Disney' Hercules

When you talk about Myths, Greeks usually always are the first to be mentioned. So clearly are they etched in pop culture that most people might be aware of who Zeus is rather than who their own harvest gods are.
One of the most underrated yet successful and sadly lost to time adaptations of the Greek god of strength Hercules (Heracles rather, Hercules was his Roman Name) has come from Disney. This 1997 animated classic is the perfect movie to be introduced to the character of Hercules. The movie was directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, both of whom are associated with other classics like Aladdin, The Princess and The Frog and the recent Moana. Hercules was one of the most well-received movies during the Disney Renaissance. The movie went ahead to not only to receive great critical success but also etch an everlasting impression of Greek gods in our heads. The humour in this movie is one of its characteristic features. From the fiendish Hades to the ever-irascible Philoctetes, the characters all come in with their own set of eccentricities and manage to keep you entertained all throughout the movie.

The movie is loosely based on the life of Heracles, and while historical or textual veracity should not be expected of the movie, you can totally expect to have fun. It is a simple and adorable story which will have you rooting for young Hercules by its end. The movie follows the adventures of the Hercules, a young boy in ancient Greece. We learn of his divine origins when he was abducted as a baby from his parents Zeus and Hela, at the behest of the scheming Hades. Hades hatching a plan to release the titans (primordial being and the nemesis of the Olympians) from their prison in Tartarus in 18 years and unleash them onto the Gods. This would allow him to overthrow Zeus and rule instead. The Fates (oracles) warn him, that was the newborn Hercules to fight by the side of the Gods, Hades' plan would fail. As a precautionary measure, Hades dispatches his minions, Pain and Panic, to abduct the baby and kill him. While the bumbling minions hilariously fail to kill the baby, they do manage to take away all but his divine strength away. Years later, struggling to fit in and managing his strength, Hercules learns of his origins and goes to the Zeus' temple to seek answers. Upon learning of his parentage, he sets out on an epic adventure to prove his worth to the Gods and regain his divinity so that he may join them at Mount Olympus.  Zeus guides him to seek the teacher Philoctetes, (or Phil), the short-tempered satyr, who was known to have taught great warriors like Perseus, Achilles and other Greek legends. What follows is one of the most entertaining - the rise of the underdog - story who goes on to fulfil his destiny through a maze of heroic deeds, pitfalls, sacrifices, betrayals and to eventual glory. In the journey, Hercules finds love, friends, enemies and all the other things a hero needs to prove his worthiness. But does he reach Mout Olympus and lives happily ever after ? Well, no spoiler here! So watch this 1-hour long-ish movie and get your dose of Greek Goodness

This movie, despite being an animated piece, served as my entry point for the Greek Mythos, and I would highly recommend this movie to everyone, irrespective of age (it's not a "kids" movie as most animated movies are often branded). If you like Greek mythology, or wish to learn more about them, why not give this movie a chance, in addition to this you get to meet the cutest baby Hercules as well, so it's a win-win ;)
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Until that keep reading, keep recommending, keep watching and keep sharing the love for more the passengers in the paperback trail, more the fun.