One of the more mature Disney films

Rating: 8/10 (14 October 2008)

When Englishmen come to her land in search of gold, Pocahontas finds love in the arms of John Smith.
This Oscar winning romantic drama from Walt Disney is one of the warmest and adult themed animations in the genre, and has a heart warming story and some beautifully crafted songs.
The narrative centres around the beautiful independent Pocahontas, who we first see diving off a hill into a gorgeous river, and viewers are instantly thrust into her life as we see what's on her mind. Pocahontas is a great central character to have, as she embodies a very strong woman with her own mind. Her thoughts and feelings are well executed and are inspirational to women of all ages and is one of the strongest Disney characters ever created, right up there with Snow White.
With ideologies of love and war, this is one of the most mature Disney pictures to date with plenty of adult themes and a strong sense of realism.
The concept of love is excellently observed by director Mike Gabriel as we see the central character in many close shots, and a careful approach is used when she sees John Smith for the first time.
The idea of loving the wrong person has been covered in many films before, and here Pocahontas falls in love with the enemy, a man who has come over with a group of men in search of gold and wish to take over her people's land. This battle of minds is also a fight over culture and humanity a very strong and issue driven drama which really makes you think come the end of the film.
Slight disappointment as the narrative lacks at points and the ending feels rushed but thankfully isn't as daft as some other animations which rush into clichÃ©s.
This film is also memorable for the fantastic soundtrack, and particularly the Oscar winning Colours of the Wind, which is the best part of the film by a mile, a really strong sentimental moment in the character's lives, and dives deep into the romantic genre and will make the weak at heart shed a tear or two.
Not the most entertaining Disney, but the different approach and the strong adult focused themes of love and war are strong and engaging.