WITH "If I Never Knew You": 10/10. WITHOUT: 6/10.

Rating: 10/10 (12 August 2006)

My review of this film will definitely be met with some disagreement due to its controversial consensus: that if the song, "If I Never Knew You," had been in the movie as originally planned, this would be a masterpiece 10/10 film, and without (which is what happened), it is a 6/10 film.
A little history, to explain this.
At the end credits, there is a pop song entitled "If I Never Knew You." Although without research one would think that this is just a pop song meant to market the movie, that is not true. In fact, that song is based on a song that was originally in the movie, sung by Pocahontas (Judie Kuhn) and John Smith (A surprisingly mature-sounding Mel Gibson) on the night before his execution. The scene was cut because the test audience Disney used, consisting mostly of impatient youngsters, got restless during the song. So as not to seem uninviting to children, Disney cut the song. One would wonder why they did this considering that they wanted "Pocahontas" to have a more mature, more adult feel than their previous films anyway. They were literally hoping for a "Best Picture" nomination.
So, without the song, what do we have? A film with superb animation, music, acting, dialogue, and characters, but a weak and unbelievable romance. This is crippling to the film because the romance is central to the story. The film is ABOUT that romance. I remember seeing this movie in its original cut, without the song, and thinking that the romance was stupid because it seemed weak. Why would Pocahontas be in love with some guy she met just a few hours ago and who, quite frankly, expressed curiosity in her culture more so than love towards her? This would be a good friendship, but not a good love because there's no emotion in it. The romance comes across as an obligatory, "make-the-film-complete" romance that many people feel has to be in every major Disney movie. The romance feels like it's there because it has to be, not because it's real. This earns the movie a less-than-stellar 6/10.
With, "If I Never Knew You," however, it is a whole different story. It is beautifully written, animated, and sung. It does not further the plot, but it definitely does further the emotion. One can definitely believe that Pocahontas and John Smith are in love, rather than forcing us to take their word for it. In this cut, there's also a reprise of the song at the very end before Smith leaves which echoes this love.
At the end of the first version, my reaction was, "meh." At the end of the second version (the one that includes "If I Never Knew You"), I was uncontrollably sobbing.
I had cried over a film that I had known the lines to forward and back when I was younger, but never had an emotional reaction to. This song makes the movie feel much more complete, and I would even venture to call this Disney's best film if one includes the song. Some people, especially those who haven't heard the song, might think I'm overreacting, wondering what kind of difference a single song can make. I know I felt that way about people who said this before I viewed the second version. Trust me, watch the second version. It's like watching a different film. For that reason, my final grade for "Pocahontas" is 10/10.