Hercules

• Cat.no: PLFEB 37331
• Cert: U
• Running time: 90 minutes
• Sides: 2 (CLV)
• Year: 1997
• Pressing: 1998
• Chapters: 20 (12/8)
• Sound: Dolby Surround
• Widescreen: 1.66:1
• Price: £24.99
• Extras : None
  

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  Directors:

  John Musker, Ron Clements

Production Design:

Excluding the Pastoral sequence in Fantasia, Disney have never previously based an animated feature on Greek mythology. But while such subject matter makes Hercules something of a Disney first, it blazes a far more important trail for the Studio in the remarkable collaboration between their in-house animation talent and Britain’s own Gerald Scarfe.

Disney’s rigorous technical expertise applied to the artist’s unique visual style have produced visually breathtaking results. Scarfe’s extraordinary (and gut-wrenchingly violent) animated sequences a decade ago for Pink Floyd – The Wall worked as incredible metamorphoses but neatly sidestepped the challenge that the Disney artists have confronted head on herewhich is, how on earth does a non-metamorphosing Gerald Scarfe character move? Humans, often the weakest elements in Disney animation, prove impressive here.

Of course, the Studio’s pedigree helps (but remember, it didn’t save the dire Pocahontas) and the presence of directorial duo Musker and Clements (here helming their fourth Disney feature after their likewise groundbreaking earlier efforts on Great Mouse Detective, Little Mermaid and Aladdin) should not be overlooked. The piece packs another secret weapon in James Woods‘ voicing the villain Hades – for those unaware of his masterful, wormlike roles in the likes of Videodrome and Salvador, he’s likely to be a revelation. It’s dream voice casting: Hades is an archetypal slimeball who even looks like Woods. If what’s left is a hit and miss rollercoaster ride, Hercules’ more innovative elements mark it out as must-see Disney.

So how does this, the first disc to bear the new Pioneer logo on its sleeve, rate as a disc? Well, mixed. It looks pretty good, but by no means the best transfer we’ve ever seen (ultramarines and deep pinks seem to show a lot of noise, although oranges, greens and yellows look beautiful) – which is saying a lot given the high standard of Buena Vista transfers for Pioneer generally (check out Cop Land, one of the nicest transfers to disc ever).

So the transfer is okay, but it’s not staggering, which is more than a little surprising. Ever since pioneering multi-directional sound on Fantasia back in 1940, Disney have been at the forefront of sound technology and Hercules continues the tradition – plenty of activity in all surround channels throughout and a rollercoaster musical score to boot. The side break is dramatically unobtrusive – indeed, it’s hard to think of an improvement on the one around 53 minutes – but it does mean that both sides are in CLV when 30 minutes in CAV would be a possibility for an 90 minute film. As with most other Pioneer/Buena Vista titles, there are no trailers and no extras – a shame, because the unique nature of the Disney/Scarfe collaboration cries out for something like a featurette. All the same, a decent little Disney movie and a decent little disc.

Film: 4/5
Picture: 4/5
Sound: 5/5