Hercules 1997 Film
Hercules is a 1997 animated feature produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures on June 14, 1997. The thirty-fifth animated feature in the Disney animated features canon, the film was directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, and stars the voices of Tate Donovan, Susan Egan, Danny DeVito, James Woods, Bobcat Goldthwait, Matt Frewer, Rip Torn, Samantha Eggar, Josh Keaton, Lillias White, Paul Shaffer and Charlton Heston. The movie depicts the adventures of Heracles (known in the movie by his Roman name, Hercules), the son of Zeus, in Greek mythology. The storyline also draws much of its inspiration from Superman: The Movie, as well as The Karate Kid and Rocky. Though Hercules did not match its predecessors, it still took over $103 million in domestic revenues and over $252,700,000 worldwide. The movie was later followed by Hercules: The Animated Series, focusing on Hercules during his time at the Prometheus academy and Hercules: Zero to Hero, a direct-to-video movie.
The film begins with a group of the five membeers of the gospel quintet "Sisters in God" telling the story of how the almighty Zeus came to power and prevented the monstrous Titans from ruling the world ("The Gospel Truth"). This leads to the day Hercules is born to Zeus and Hera, much to the pleasure of the other Gods... all except Hades, who receives word from the Fates that Hercules will one day rise to power and prevent Hades from taking control of the world. He sends his minions,Pain and Panic, to kidnap Hercules and feed him a potion that will strip him of his immortality; however, they are interrupted and, while Hercules becomes mortal, he retains his God-like strength.
Hercules grows up to be a misfit, challenged by his incredible strength and unable to fit in with other people ("Go the Distance"). His adoptive parents finally tell him that he was once a son of the Gods and that he must go to his father, Zeus. Zeus tells him that he must prove himself a true hero before he can join the others Gods on Mount Olympus. Along with his flying horse Pegasus, Hercules goes to Phil, an unhappy satyr who has failed to train a true hero yet; he decides to take on Hercules as his final attempt ("One Last Hope").
After training with Phil, the three of them attempt to save Meg, a damsel in distress, from a monster. A smitten Hercules barely succeeds and Meg returns to the forest, where she is revealed to be a negative girl who sold her soul to Hades in order to save her lover's life; in turn, her lover abandoned her and now Meg must do Hades favors in order to avoid an eternity in the underworld. When Hades learns that Hercules is alive, he is enraged and plots to murder him again.
When Hercules tries to save a town from a landslide, Hades sends a hundred-headed serpent after him, which he ends up defeating. He soon becomes a national, multi-million-dollar celebrity as a result ("Zero to Hero"). Realizing that his plans are jeopardized, Hades sends Meg out to discover Hercules' weaknesses, promising her freedom in return. Hercules is disappointed to learn that he isn't really a hero and then spends the day with Meg, who finds herself falling in love again ("I Won't Say I'm in Love"). When Hades intervenes, she turns from him, much to his dismay.
Phil learns of Meg's involvement with Hades and tries to warn Hercules, who ignores Phil. Discouraged, Phil plans to leave for home. Hades arrives and makes Hercules a deal: If he surrenders his strength for the next twenty-four hours, Meg will remain free of harm. After making the deal, Hades frees the Titans from their prison and sends them to attack Olympus; one Titan, however, is sent to kill Hercules, but ends up killing Meg. As a result, the deal is broken and Hercules' strength is returned. Hercules, along with Pegasus and Phil, saves Olympus from certain doom and Hades returns to the underworld.
Hercules arrives and demands for Meg to be revived, but Hades shows him that she is currently trapped in the River Styx, a river of souls. Hercules makes a deal with Hades, hoping to return Meg's body to the surface before he is killed within the river. Hercules jumps in and his lifeline runs out, but his amazing courage proves him a God, and he successfully returns Meg to the surface. Hades tries to talk his way out of the situation but Hercules punches him, knocking him into the Styx. The other souls grab him and pull him down into the stream.
Hercules revives Meg and goes to Olympus, but when Meg's entrance is denied, Hercules chooses to become mortal and stay on Earth with her. Nevertheless, Phil is remembered for being the one to train Hercules, who is still remembered as a hero ("A Star is Born"). Soundtrack
