So many questions... Good but unrealistic plot

Rating: 6/10 (13 March 2011)

This is definitely a well-made movie, and if you can get past the fact that this is basically... about 90% fiction (Pocahontas was in her tweens when she met John Smith, who was in his late 20s etc.)then the movie should be enjoyable. It's a great story, the soundtrack is great, and it shows racial prejudice from BOTH the whites and the Indians. HOWEVER, there are so many errors to this story that,for me, it's hard to watch the movie without blurting out "WTF?" and questioning the research people did for this film.
For example... every time I watch the movie I'm always puzzled as to how they even passed up wherever the story is set as Jamestown and its surrounding areas... it's nothing like the real thing. Another question that always pops up in my head is how in hell the Indians and the whites are able to communicate (namely Pocahontas and John Smith) when supposedly the Indians have not been exposed to English and vice versa. I mean, they probably can if they spend enough time together, but the two appears to have understood each other after a few hours. Also, Pocahontas seems to be able to talk to Thomas and the others and Chief Powhatan can too with John Smith. How is this possible? It bugs me every time. I also don't really like the stereotypical portrayal of Native American spiritualism... I mean a talking tree is okay, they've had similar things in other Disney films, but "listening to the wind" seems a bit far-fetched. I mean, I don't disrespect their religion (and I'm no expert on it either) but I'm pretty sure they were smarter and more aware of life that they wouldn't go ask, say, a rock for advice. Or understand "messages" that the wind gives.
The bottom line is that, though there are so many unrealistic aspects to this movie (the ones I mentioned could have been fixed... just because it's fictional doesn't mean it can't be realistic too) it is of the same quality of animation as other Disney-Renaissance films and is worth watching. You just have to be very deeply into the movie so you don't notice some big mistakes (like how P&S can communicate). That being said, though, I recommend other Disney movies from this time over this one, like Mulan and the Hunchback of Notre Dame. I know one guy was slamming that movie as a "safe" movie, but it's actually one of the darkest and most serious movies Disney made and the score (esp. "Hellfire") is AMAZING. It's also closer to its original novel by Victor Hugo, so if you just can't like Pocahontas after watching it, watch the Hunchback instead!:)