Love Makes You Do Crazy Things: Hercules (1997)

Romantic Moment #8

Hercules (1997)

Hercules (1997) is based on the greek myths but given a Disneyian twist. This is one of my favorite Disney films as it is fun, hilarious, and has an awesome collection of songs.

In this story, Zeus and Hera are the parents of Hercules. When he is born they have a huge party, give him lots of gifts, like a pegasus, and have everyone come. Unbeknownst to the happy couple, Zeus’ brother Hades, lord of the Underworld, wants to dethrone him and take over Olympus and the world. He meets with the Fates and discovers that his plans will work out in 18 years as he will be able to release the titans. Only one problem…Hercules. If he fights, game over for Hades. So Hades hatches a plot to poison Hercules and make him mortal. Hades’ minions give Hercules the potion, but fail to give him every last drop, making him mortal but leaving him with super strength. Hercules is found by an old couple who were unable to have children. The couple see him as a gift from the gods and raise him.

Fast forward through the years and Hercules is a teenager. He doesn’t have very many friends and people don’t really like him as he doesn’t know how to control his strength and causes a lot of damage, all on accident. After a truly horrible mishap, Hercules’ parents tell him the truth about how they found him. Hercules travels to Zeus’ Temple in order to ask for guidance and discovers that Zeus is his father! Zeus tells him that he was stolen as a child, made mortal, and cannot return to Olympus until he becomes a “true hero”. Zeus sends him to Philoctetes, a satyr, to train him.

Hercules spends a long time training on Philoctetes’ island. As they are heading to Thebes, to put his training to good use, they make a stop to help out a damsel, Megra or Meg. Meg doesn’t want his help as she feels she isn’t really a damsel in distress.

But Hercules helps her out anyway. After he leaves, we discover that Meg is working with Hades. When Hades finds out that Hercules is alive he makes it his mission to send every kind of creature he can to him in order to utterly destroy Hercules.

After Hades runs out of creatures and as the time is getting close, he decides to try something new. He promises to free Meg from her contract with him, IF she can discover Hercules’ weakness. So Meg goes out with Hercules. Through their time together she discovers that she is starting to have feelings for him, after she said she would never love again.

Hades figures out that Hercules feels the same way about Meg and uses it to his advantage. Hades chains Meg up in order to get Hercules to agree to give up his strength for 24 hours, all the time Hades needs to take over Olympus. Now it’s up to Hercules to figure out how to get his powers back and help save the world.

********Most Romantic Moment********

For me the most romantic moment happens after Hercules has traded his powers. The trade was that as long as Meg is safe, Hercules is super strength free. So Hercules finds himself a mere man while the whole area is in peril from Titans. Hades especially sends a cyclops to ensure that Hercules is taken out. As Hercules trips the cyclops in order to destroy it, the cyclops accidentally knocks over some columns. As one is heading for him, Meg pushes him out of the way and gets hit with it; sacrificing herself for him and breaking his contract with Hades.

Perfect!

Now I know most people who have seen this movie would think that the scene when Hercules offers his life for Meg or refuses Olympus to be with Meg as more romantic, but I disagree. You see both of those actions were perfectly normal and ordinary for Hercules. He was a sweet and really nice guy. Everything he did, he always did for other people, hardly thinking of himself. That’s the type of person he is.

Now with Meg, her sacrifice is HUGE!!! First, we have to back up and tell her story. So she sold her soul to Hades in order to help her boyfriend. Now we don’t know exactly why, as the writers don’t go into it, but for her to sell her soul you know that her boyfriend has something really bad going down. Death, imprisonment, etc. Had to be some hardcore stuff.

So after she sells her soul to save him he dumps her for another woman!

I know what a jerk!

She SOLD HER SOUL!!!!

So after all that she decided she will never love again.

Afterwards she became sarcastic, cold-hearted, and uncaring. Set on doing her own thing, no matter what situation she gets into. She thinks that’s the end of the story. No more love and no more heart, but she’s wrong.

So meets Hercules and he is nothing like she has ever seen. At first she thinks it is all an act and doesn’t trust him, but after encountering him multiple times she starts to like him. And is actually pretty nice to him. She takes him out on Hades’ command and tries to get the dirt on him, but finds nothing. And by the end of it, if she had found out anything she  never would have told Hades anyway.

By the time she realizes the mistake she made, it’s too late. Hades has used her in his plot. Meg tries to warn Hercules, but is unable to. When Hades reveals how she worked for him, Meg knows that it’s over and she has no hope of changing any of it. She could just leave, she could just walk away, but she stays with him because she loves him and cares for him. She willingly lays down her life to save him knowing they had zero future, but doing it anyway because she loves and cares for him.

To start Romance is in the Air: Part III from the beginning, go to I Can See Your Beauty: The Breakfast Club (1985)

For the previous post, go to You Look Beautiful Just the Way You Are: How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)

For more on Hercules, go to Snakes on a Post: Chinese New Year

For more Disney, go to Short But Sweet: Up (2009)

For more of my favorite quotes, go to Shall We Dance?: What Happens in Vegas (2008)

For more on the All-American Rejects, go to I Don’t Wanna Be in Love (Dance Floor Anthem)

For more Boy Meets World, go to Simply Fantastic

For more Home Alone 2, go to 25 More Films of Christmas

Sisterly Roles

Ah sisters.

The joys and sorrow of having a sister:

You love them, you hate them, you love them again. Those who have sisters know the ups and downs. Those who don’t, take my word that the above song is pretty accurate.

Now I could go on about my sisters, but that’s not what this post is going to be on. Instead I am focusing on the sisterly bond between the Dashwood sisters.

With the Dashwoods we have three sisters: Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret; although Margaret doesn’t play as big a role as Elinor and Marianne.

Elinor Dashwood

Elinor is the eldest and she is the sense in the title. Elinor is only nineteen years old, but she is wise beyond her years and incredibly mature. She is level-headed, cool in judgement, and always thinks through very clearly on any decision being made. She’s pretty much the sensible older sister that has been copied and used in books, movies, TV shows, etc.

When Fanny comes in and is completely rude to the entire family, Mrs. Dashwood is eager to move out. But Elinor is able to stop her as she can keep a strong hold on her emotions as they need to stay there longer. Now she isn’t completely cold-hearted or an ice-queen. It’s just that she is a closed book.

“She had an excellent heart: her disposition was affectionate, and her feelings were strong but she knew how to govern them…”

She has sense and knows when to say something and when not to.

This is something that no one else in her family does. Now it is true that keeping feelings in can be wrong.

But on the other hand that isn’t always the best thing. Having your feelings out in the world can also cause a world of hurt.

So let’s move onto the middle sister:

Marianne Dashwood

Now Marianne isn’t just some stupid or light-hearted, fluff type of girl. She is beautiful, kind, generous, etc. The only thing is, her feelings were never held in moderation. That is, never keeping them in check. If she is happy, everyone knows. And if she is sad everyone knows.

Pretty much she’s walking around with no filter.

More like feelings than thoughts.

But such is sisters. I did a paper on sisterly roles in college for my family psychology class. When you have sisters, especially those close in age, they tend to gravitate to opposite traits in order to create their own identity, be unique, and carve a role for themselves in the family.

So we have here Sense in Elinor and Sensibility (feelings) in Marianne.

Therefore one that strives for sense as that gives her support and makes her feel completely stable in life. The younger sister sees that her older one is extremely sensible, which makes her want to be the opposite and governed solely by feelings. Also Elinor is the eldest so she also feels more of having to be dependable and responsible for the family.

Just another case of being a sister.

For more on Sense and Sensibility, go to Promises Were Made to Be Broken

More on Coco Chanel, go to Women in Black

For more on White Christmas, go to 25 Films of Christmas

For more of my favorite songs, go to It’s Fantastico!

For more of my favorite quotes, go to I Have A Problem

But It’s Alright

Yep, here we have another post in the Heartbreak series.

15) But It’s Alright by Huey Lewis & the News

So this song was only covered by Huey Lewis, but he is who I am going with as this is the version I am the most familar with and love. It was originally written by J.J. Jackson in 1966 and quickly climbed the charts, becaming the best dance song of the decade. It was actually recorded in England and had a lot of famous musicians of the day, such as Terry Smith, Dick Morrissey, and John Marshall.

So the song itself is pretty explanatory. It’s about this guy who’s girl never had time for him and broke his heart. But he’s like its alright, because I’ll be fine. You’ll be the one missing out, not me. Of course we are still in the angry section, so he’s like you’re going to meet someone who will treat as horrible as you treated me.

You don’t know

How I feel

You never know

How I feel

When I needed you

To come around

You always try

To put me down

Well I know girl

Believe me when I say

That you

Are someday gonna pay

Girl but it’s alright

Alright girl

You hurt me

But it’s alright

Hey now one day

You’ll see

You’ll never find

A guy like me

Who’ll love you right

Both day and night

You never have to worry

‘Cause it’s alright

Oh what I’m tellin you girl

And we both know it’s true

I am so mixed up over you

Girl but it’s alright

All right girl

You hurt me

But it’s alright

Oh yeah

Oh yeah

My my my baby

I said it’s alright

Alright girl

Hey now it’s alright

Alright girl

Now everything I wanna say

You’ll meet a guy

That’l make you pay

He’ll treat you bad

And make you sad

And you will ruin

The love you had

Oh but I’d hate

To say I told you so

Baby

You got to got to reap what you sow

Yeah but it’s alright

Alright girl

You are payin’ now

But it’s alright

Goodbye love

Goodbye girl

You’re payin’ now

But it’s alright

You hurt me once

You hurt me twice

Oh baby

But remember, it does not to well to dwell on the past:

After all, it’s your choice in how you deal with it:

And remember:

To start the “Getting Over a Heartbreak Series” from the beginning, go to If It Means a Lot to You

To go to the previous post, go to Put Me Out

For more of my fav songs, go to Gone Forever

For more of my fav quotes, go to Missing You

For more on moving on from the past, go to Good or Bad

Put Me Out

 

So here we are in another post on the series of “Songs to Help You Get Over a Heartbreak” or the Heartbreak series. At this point we have gone past sadness, regret, love stinks, to being furious at the person who dumped you. This brings us to:

14) Put Me Out by The Used

Now I’ve always been a fan of The Used, but I got this song off the Vans Warped Tour 2013 Compilation album as well. If I haven’t convinced you already, you really need to check this CD out. It’s fantastic.

So the album that it is originally from  is about vulnerability and renewal. Lead singer, Bert McCracken, said:

“This record’s really about becoming more than just who you are, and allowing yourself that vulnerability to be a more powerful person. It’s a lot more positive than a lot of records we’ve written in the past. I think everyone could use some positivity nowadays.”

I like how the expression in the song is anger on how the person just threw them away after everything they did, like Paramore’s For a Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic; but at the same time it is about moving on and being okay. Plus my ex was a smoker so that made an even stronger connection to the song.

You bought your smile in a corner
You paid a pretty little penny, you did.
You paint yourself in a picture
As you deny the kind of person you’ve been

You get what you feel, what you wish to be
You can’t live sarcastic sincerity
You sharpen your guilt like a guillotine
You get what you feel, you get what you feel

I gave you everything, you threw it away.
Put me out like a cigarette, out like a cigarette.
Love like a cancer, still you beg me to stay
Put me out like a cigarette, out like a cigarette.

Come on!

You pop right in to the moment,
You paid a pretty little penny, you did.
You never noticed how broken
As you deny the kind of person you’ve been

You get what you feel, what you wish to be
You can’t live sarcastic sincerity
You sharpen your guilt like a guillotine
You get what you feel, you get what you feel

I gave you everything, you threw it away.
Put me out like a cigarette, out like a cigarette.
Love like a cancer, still you beg me to stay
Put me out like a cigarette, out like a cigarette.

You kneel to pray,
Live life on your knees embrace the disease.
Stop to breathe in as you start to choke, your life begins.

YOU PUT ME OUT! LIKE A CIGARETTE!I gave you everything, you threw it away.
Put me out like a cigarette, out like a cigarette.
Love like a cancer, still you beg me to stay
Put me out like a cigarette, out like a cigarette.But you know what I’m just fine, and so you will be too:

 Yep:

To start the “Songs to Help You Get Over a Heartbreak” series, go to If It Means a Lot to You

To go to the previous post, go to Gone Forever

For more of my fav songs, go to Missing You

For more of my fav quotes, go to Pizza Power

For more song from the Vans Warped Tour 2013 Compilation CD, go to Chin Up Kid 

For more of Paramore, go to That’s What You Get

Gone Forever

So here is another post in the Heartbreak series. This one is:

13) Gone Forever by Three Days Grace

So I had heard some of Three Days Grace before I dated my ex. I remember their song Pain, when I was growing up but didn’t really get into the music until my ex lent me this CD and I listened to it, and of course loved it. Plus I love the lead singer and guitarist Adam Gontier. You know me and my weakness for tall, dark, handsome, long-haired guitarists.

Anyways the song covers what you think it would from the title. The song is about a guy who has ended a relationship, and while he is originally sad, he knows that it is better as that person is out of his life and gone forever.

I love this song coming after Missing You, as in Missing You the guy is sad and says that he isn’t missing her and happy that it ended, but at the same time it has a hint that he isn’t completely over the woman who broke his heart. In Gone Forever, the guy is stating that I’m much happier now that, that particular person is out of his life. However, when reading and hearing you can tell that he isn’t completely over the person. He is doing better, but still angry at his ex and hasn’t reached complete acceptance.

Don’t know what’s going on
Don’t know what went wrong
Feels like a hundred years I
Still can’t believe you’re gone
So I’ll stay up all night
With these bloodshot eyes
While these walls surround me with the story of our life

I feel so much better
Now that you’re gone forever
I tell myself that I don’t miss you at all
I’m not lying, denying that I feel so much better now
That you’re gone forever

Now things are coming clear
And I don’t need you here
And in this world around me
I’m glad you disappeared
So I’ll stay out all night
Get drunk and f*****’ fight
Until the morning comes I’ll
Forget about our life

I feel so much better
Now that you’re gone forever
I tell myself that I don’t miss you at all
I’m not lying, denying that I feel so much better now
That you’re gone forever

First time you screamed at me
I should have made you leave
I should have known it could be so much better
I hope you’re missing me
I hope I’ve made you see
That I’m gone forever

And now it’s coming clear
That I don’t need you here
And in this world around me
I’m glad you disappeared

I feel so much better
Now that you’re gone forever
I tell myself that I don’t miss you at all
I’m not lying, denying that I feel so much better now
That you’re gone forever
And now you’re gone forever
And now you’re gone forever

After all:

 To view the getting over heartbreak series fro the beginning, go to If It Means A Lot to You

To go to the previous post, go to Missing You

For more on Three Days Grace, go to Words That Describe Me Perfectly

For more on my fav songs, go to For a Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic

For more of my fav quotes, go to Pizza Power

For more on broken promises, go to I Don’t Love You

For more on tall, dark, & handsome guys, go to Now You’re Gone