Pocahontas

Pocahontas

Disney's take on this historical confrontation between European settlers and Native Americans follows the paths of two future lovers. One is British adventurer John Smith, who travels the Atlantic with the Virginia Company to establish Jamestown. On the shore is Pocahontas, a typical Disney heroine: bright, beautiful, mischievous, and motherless. The two meet in the untamed wilds of America (the first meeting is quite divine), fall in love, and try to ward off the warring factions. It's Disney's version of a Native American West Side Story. Two Disney trademarks do not quite muster up: the villain isn't hissable and the score's only high point is the Oscar-winning "Colors of the Wind." Calling it "historical" is a stretch, but Disney created a very natural look at the two cultures. The Native American characters are handled especially well, and kids should be intrigued by their world; the movie is a far different lesson from the one their parents and grandparents learned. Disney has discovered a few things, though: you don't have to kill to solve your problems, and you can end the film without a happily-ever-after, illustrated by a touching final visual. (Ages 5 and older) --Doug Thomas

Director(s): Eric Goldberg
Production: Buena Vista Distribution Compa
  Won 2 Oscars. Another 13 wins & 6 nominations.
 
IMDB:
6.7
Metacritic:
58
Rotten Tomatoes:
57%
G
Year:
1995
81
5,682 Views
An American legend comes to life
Two different worlds. One true love.

[Fade to the digging site. Kocoum and his comrades are watching the settlers closely, their digging has yielded no results, but Ratcliffe, urges them on, certain that the gold they are searching for is around somewhere]

Ratcliffe:
That's it. Keep at it, men. Keep digging. It has to be here somewhere.

[One of Kocoum's friends whistles to him and holds up three fingers, meaning that he has counted 30 more settlers in his quadrant. The Native American warrior is beginning to doubt his earlier statement about being able to take them all on easily]

Native American Warrior #1:
There's thirty more of them down past the ridge.

Kocoum:
That makes more than a hundred!

Ratcliffe:
[holding a plate and a chicken drumstick] Anything yet?

Thomas:
Nothing but rocks and dirt, sir.

Lon:
Um, how long are we going to keep digging like this, sir?

Ben:
[climbing out of his hole] Aye. We're slaving apart, busting our backs day and night for––

Ratcliffe:
[interrupting] For king and country. I know, I know. And I share your fatigue. [takes a bite of his drumstick, clearly not enjoying it] Wiggins? Wiggins!

[As Ratcliffe calls Wiggins's name, we see him making a topiary sculpture of an elephant, bear, giraffe and unicorn walking in a line]

Wiggins:
[snips the last branch off the unicorn's nose] Hang on!

Ratcliffe:
[evilly gives him the drumstick] Dispose of this.

Wiggins:
[waves it in Percy's face] Uh-huh. Who's a nice doggie, huh? Who's a nice doggie? [the pug just sighs annoyingly, and he throws the drumstick] Fetch, boy!

[Meanwhile, the chicken drumstick misses one of the Native Americans hiding in the bushes. He pokes his head out to see who threw it and is spotted by Percy, who lets out a loud, anguished shriek and runs away]

Ratcliffe:
[panicked] Savages! It's an ambush! Arm yourselves!

Wiggins:
Run!

[Wiggins ducks behind the topiary sculpture he carved and falls to the ground, teeth chattering in fear]

Ratcliffe:
Arm yourselves!

[Meanwhile, Ratcliffe and the other settlers in all directions, grabbing some loaded guns to defend themselves]

Ratcliffe:
Make sure every man has a musket! Shoot! [Thomas runs past him, but accidentally trips on a log and his gun goes off, narrowly missing Ratcliffe and hitting a water barrel] Them, you idiot!

[Thomas looks over his shoulder at a ticked off Ratcliffe, afraid he has already messed up. The other settlers fire their weapons, barely missing Kocoum and his companions. Seeing this as a challenge, they pull their bows taut and fire their arrows in retaliation. As this goes on, Percy runs for shelter under a helmet as an arrow bounces away from it]

Ratcliffe:
Where's that blasted Smith if I need him?

[1 of the Indian warriors, Namontack, takes refuge in a tree and gets ready to shoot at Ratcliffe, but he evilly spots him there. He angrily fires a shot at Namontack. He groans as the bullet hits him in the leg and flops to the ground, yelling in pain]

Kocoum:
[drops his bow and runs to him] Namontack!

[As Namontack looks up, he sees Ben about to angrily do him away. But just as he gets close, Kocoum intercepts him. The two strain for a bit before the former kicks the latter apart as Lon and Roy fire off their guns twice more. Luckily for Kocoum, the projectiles miss as he picks up his fallen friend]

Kocoum:
Back to the village!

[Kocoum carries Namontack away, hopefully to get complete medical treatment. The settlers all cheer at their supposed victory, but Ratcliffe does not join in, certain he hasn't actually won]

Ratcliffe:
Shut up. Shut up, you fools! They'll be back.

[As the cheering continues, Wiggins pokes his head out of the topiary, which has several parts shot apart and arrows stuck in it as a result of the fight]

Ratcliffe:
Everyone, back to camp. Get the rest of the cannons ashore, and conclude building the fort!

Ben:
Aye, Governor.

Ratcliffe:
[angrily turns to Thomas] And you! Learn to use that thing properly. A man's not a man unless he knows how to shoot.

[Pocahontas looking a John's Helmet himself]

John Smith:
It's called a helmet.

Pocahontas:
Helmet.

[Flit tap it his Helmet, looks shocked and scares away]

John Smith:
So... what river is this?

Pocahontas:
Quiyoughcohannock..

John Smith:
You have the most unusual names here, Chechomony, Quiyoughcohannock, Pocahontas.

Pocahontas:
You have a most unusual name too... John Smith.

John Smith:
Hey! [about Meeko eating his hardtacks] Is this bottomless pit a friend of yours?

Pocahontas:
Meeko.

John Smith:
Well how do you do, Meeko? [goes to shake Meeko's hand] It's all right, it's just a hand shake. Here let me show you. [Long pauses out]

Pocahontas:
Nothing's happenin'.

John Smith:
No. No, I need your hand first. [She holds her hand out and he shakes it] It's how we say hello.

Pocahontas:
This is how we say hello. Wingapo.

John Smith:
Wingapo.

Pocahontas:
And how we say goodbye. Ana.

John Smith:
I like hello better. [Flit they start breaking off each hand, Flit an goring to him] Yeah, I remember you.

Pocahontas:
Flit doesn't like strangers.

John Smith:
But I'm not a stranger anymore. Stubborn little fellow, isn't he?

Pocahontas:
Very stubborn.

John Smith:
Hey!

[Meeko grabs a compass in the bag, and running off]

Pocahontas:
Meeko! Come back here.

John Smith:
Don't worry, he can't hurt it. [Meeko tap a compass on the rock] Hey!

[John tries grab his compass and Meeko climb in the tree]

Pocahontas:
Meeko, bring that back!

John Smith:
No, it's all right. He can keep it. Call it a gift.

Pocahontas:
[about compass] What was that?

John Smith:
My compass.

Pocahontas:
Compassed?

John Smith:
It tells you how to find your way when you get lost. It's all right. I'll get another in London.

Pocahontas:
London? Is that your village?

John Smith:
Yes. It's a very big village.

Pocahontas:
What's it like?

John Smith:
[about London village] Well, it's got streets filled with carriages, bridges over the rivers, and buildings as tall as trees.

Pocahontas:
I'd like to see those things.

John Smith:
You will.

Pocahontas:
How?

John Smith:
We're going to build them here. We'll show your people how to use this land of properly. How to make the most of it.

Pocahontas:
[confused] Make the most of it?

John Smith:
Yes. We'll build roads and decent houses.

Pocahontas:
[about the Indian's village] Our houses are fine.

John Smith:
[sarcastically] You think that only because you don't know any better. [Pocahontas angrily walks off, Flit attack away for him] Wait a minute. Don't take it that. Hey! Wait! [after Pocahontas stopping the her canoe] Wait! There's so much we can teach you. We've improved lives of savages all over the world.

Pocahontas:
Savages?

John Smith:
Uh, not that you're a savage.

Pocahontas:
Just my people!

John Smith:
No. Listen. That's not what I meant. Let me explain.

Pocahontas:
Let go!

John Smith:
No, I'm not letting you leave. [Pocahontas jumps out of her canoe and climbs up into a tree] Look, don't do this. Savage is just a word, uh, you know. A term for people who are uncivilized.

Pocahontas:
Like me.

John Smith:
Well, when I say uncivilized, What I mean is, is...

[He grabs a branch, but the branch is not strong enough to hold his weight, and John falls back to the ground. Pocahontas jumps down after him]

Pocahontas:
What you mean is, not like you. [singing] You think I'm an ignorant savage, and you've been so many places / I guess it must be so / but still I cannot see, if the savage one is me / How can there be so much that you don't know? You don't know...| You think you own whatever land you land on, the Earth is just dead thing you can claim / But I know every rock and tree and creature has a life, has a spirit, has a name / You think the only people who are people are the people who look and think like you / But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew, you never knew...| Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon, or asked the grinning bobcat whey he grinned? / Can you sing with all voices of the mountains? / Can you paint with all the colors of the wind? Can you paint with all the colors of the wind...| Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest, come taste the sun-sweet berries of the Earth / Come roll in all the riches all around you, and for once, never wonder what they're worth / The rainstorm and the river are my brothers / The heron and the otter are my friends / And we are all connected to each other / In a circle, in a hoop that never ends! | How high does the sycamore grow? / If you cut it down, then you'll never know! / And you'll never hear the wolf cry to the blue corn moon, for whether we are white or copper skinned / We need to sing with all voices of the mountains, can you paint with all the colors of the wind... You can own the Earth and still all you'll own is Earth, until you can paint with all the colors of the wind... [they hearing drums]

John Smith:
What is it?

Pocahontas:
The drums. They mean trouble. I shouldn't be here.

John Smith:
I want to see you again.

Pocahontas:
I can't.

John Smith:
Please, don't leave.

Pocahontas:
I'm sorry. I have to go. [she runs off back to her canoe and John sadly watch her, Meeko and Flit left then fades to black]

Ben:
All right! This one's ready to hoist!?

Lon:
Two on each side. Ready now? Push! Watch it! It's slipping!

Ben:
[John, Thomas, Lon pushing the fence] Come on, lads, it's only a little picket fence.

Lon:
[Meeko climbs the fence] Steady! Steady!

Ben:
There you go.

Thomas:
That'll keep everything out, eh, John? [John digs a shovel] Something wrong, John?

John Smith:
What?!

Thomas:
You've been quiet the last few days.

Lon:
[to John] Oh, he's just mad he missed all the action.

Thomas:
Ah, don't worry, John. You'll get your chance to deal with Indians.

Lon:
Yeah. We'll take care of them, like we did last time, eh, mates? [singing] We shot ourselves an injun, or maybe two or three.

Ben:
[angrily kicks him] All right, you howling nutter! Get to work!

Lon:
Come on, Ben, it's just just a little fun.

Ben:
[sarcastically] Oh, sure, we're having loads of fun. Right, look at us. No gold, no food, while Ratcliffe sits up in his tent all day happy as a clam.

Ratcliffe:
[in his tent] I'm doomed! I should be wallowing in riches right now, and I haven't found as much as a speck! [Meeko sniffing to sees Percy] Think. Think! It's got to be around somewhere. Where could it be? [Percy is seen playing with a merry-go-round that has dog biscuits, Percy begin to eat the biscuits, but then he notices Meeko eating them.] I've mined the forests and the hills and the swamps... and NOTHING! [Percy begins to chase Meeko away without Ratcliffe even noticing] Why can't I find it?! What am I overlooking?!

[He turns around and is shocked it to Wiggins apparently shot through the head with an arrow]

Wiggins:
I... I... [he takes off his headband, made from an native's arrow] I made it myself!

Ratcliffe:
[snatches it off his head] Take that silly...! [looking at the arrow] Of course. The Indians. Wiggins, why do you think those insolent heathens attacked us?

Wiggins:
Because we invaded their land and cut down their trees and dug up their earth?

Ratcliffe:
It's the gold! They have it, and they don't want us to take it from them. Well, I'll just have to take it by force then, won't I?

[Ben and Lon tired, When Ratcliffe comes lookin' Smith has disappeared.]

Ratcliffe:
You there! Where's Captain Smith?

Lon:
Well, he's... gone.

Ben:
Ay, your singing must have scared him off.

Ratcliffe:
Well then go get him, for heaven's sake!

Lon:
What if we run into the Indians?

Ratcliffe:
That's what guns are for! Now arm yourselves and get moving!

[John is imprisoned after Kocoum's death.]

Pocahontas:
I'm so sorry.

John:
For what? This? I've gotten out of worse scrapes than this. Can't think of any right now, but...

Pocahontas:
It would have been better if we'd never met. None of this would've happened.

John:
Pocahontas, look at me. [she obeys] I'd rather die tomorrow that live a hundred years without knowing you. [singing] If I never knew you / If I never felt this love / I would have no inkling of how precious life can be / If I never knew you / I would never have a clue / How at last I'd find in you / The missing part of me / In this world so full of fear / Full of rage and lies / I can see the truth so clear / In your eyes / So dry your eyes / And I'm so grateful to you / I'd have lived my whole life through / Lost forever / If I never knew you

Pocahontas:
[singing] I thought our love would be so beautiful / Somehow we'd make the whole world bright / I never knew that fear and hate could be so strong / All they'd leave us were these whispers in the night / But still my heart is saying we were right / For if I never knew you

John:
There's no moment I regret / Since the moment that we met / If I time has gone too fast / I’ve lived at last…|

Pocahontas:
If I never knew this love / I would have no inkling of / If I precious can be…|

Nakoma:
[peering in through the tent flap] Pocahontas.

Pocahontas:
I can't leave you.

John:
You never will. No matter what happens to me, I'll always be with you, forever. [singing] And I'm so grateful to you / I'd have lived my whole life through / Empty as the sky

Pocahontas:
[singing] Never knowing why

Pocahontas and John:
Lost forever / If I never knew you…|


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