Pocahontas: The Legend (1995)

Undescribable Perfection

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

hyped garbage

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

This is the legendary story of English settlers arriving and establishing the settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. Pocahontas is the daughter of Chief Powhatan. She befriends Captain John Smith and even saves him after he's captured by the tribe. It's a romance set with a backdrop of a clash of cultures. Smith often clash with the other leaders including the arrogant Sir Edwin Wingfield (Tony Goldwyn).First of all, I do praise the use of real native actors. I don't think Sandrine Holt is native but there are many others in the cast. It is questionable about the historical accuracy and the movie covers that by naming it "Pocahontas: The Legend". It tries not to portray the natives as savages. However, it doesn't really have the gritty realism. Lead actor Miles O'Keeffe doesn't have the charisma and it would have been much better to have Tony Goldwyn play the part. The Canadian production doesn't have much in terms of value. This is a limited film.

Film starts: The year is 1607 when a ship sales into what was to become James Fort ( James Town ) Virginia. The ship is flying a version of the Union flag not adopted until 1801. Well at least Pocahontas didn't greet the settlers with the Stars and Stripes. Am I being picky may be but such gaffs are inexcusable. However I did enjoy the film which is probably worthy of a remake with greater authenticity. My biggest problem with this DVD is that it has clearly been heavily edited (hacked to pieces) scenes leap forward. One only has to watch the trailer which shows parts of scenes not available on the DVD. I would like to see the WHOLE uncensored film not the edited version.

Maybe it is just the history major in me but this film is terrible. If you are going to write a love story and put it in the form of film then great, but don't destroy the sanctity of history. The whole manipulation of reality for a "fine historical romance" would be funny if people did not think that it was the true story.The fact of the matter is Pocahontas did not love John Smith and John Smith was too in love with himself to think otherwise. The whole notion of "their love" comes from his personal journal. Most historians now believe that the whole event of Pocahontas throwing herself on John Smith "to save him" was an ceremonial ritual, adopting the "white tribe" (Jamestown) into the whole Powatan Alliance. Of course, John Smith, being a clueless foreigner, would not know the difference. If anything, they were just friends.I mean seriously, he was even shot in the back by one of the Jamestown settlers because they were all sick of him (which is when he returned to England and never came back). The whole notion of John Smith being the savior of Jamestown and being in some fairy-tale relationship makes me sick, because not only does it destroy history, it takes away the credit of the people who actually worked to survive in the settlement.

Didn't think it could get worse than the Disney version? Guess again. This version is just as far from history, but it lacks even the fantasy and characterization that were the only worthwhile attributes of the Disney animated film. The acting is awful, dialog and scenes both are corny, every character except Pocahontas and her little brother are idiots. Miles tries to carry the whole film on his trademark smirk and good looks, but...well...even if you find this at a yard sale in the FREE box, don't bother.