I’d Lay Down My Life for You: Pocahontas (1995)

Most Romantic Moment #8

So it is time for our annual animated film. Every year I have picked at least one for my Valentine’s Day countdown. The previous years I have done Shrek 2, Anastasia, & Hercules /Up.

I know a lot of people don’t like Pocahontas because it is not accurate, is based on a story that might be a lie, the characters were not the right age, etc. Well I don’t care!

I think Pocahontas is not only one of Disney’s best films, one of the most beautifully animated films, but one of the most poignant race relations stories. In here we see the good and bad of two very different races; and how most of issues develop from miscommunication and fear.

Pocahontas is the chieftain’s daughter, but unlike how her father wishes; she has a bit of an unruly and unsettled spirit. Her father would like her to marry the best warrior, Kocoum, but Pocahontas wonders if that really is the best life for her.

Which way should I choose?

Everything changes when the English settle the colony of Jamestown, and Pocahontas befriends one of the sailors, John Smith. The two learn a lot about each other, and fall in love, but they must keep everything a secret.

When a Kocoum is killed on accident, John Smith takes the blame and is sentenced to die.

What can Pocahontas do?

Most Romantic Moment: No Greater Love to Lay Down One’s Life

This most romantic moment for me comes at the very end of the film. Dawn has come and John Smith has been brought out to be killed. As the  know this will mean war with the colonists they are prepared for the following battle. The colonists are lead by the evil Governor Ratcliffe who has been just waiting for an excuse to attack the Native Americans, they arrive at the execution site ready to slaughter the Natives with their guns.

Pocahontas will not let him die and runs to him; throwing herself on his body to protect him, and die alongside him if necessary.

Noooooooooo!!!!!!!

This is a huge act because Pocahontas has no idea how her father would react. She already has tried to speak to him, but he would not listen only thinking of revenge. She has no idea if her act will stop her father, or if he will be so bent on his path, and spurned on by his men, that he won’t hesitate and kill her.

Besides that, anytime a person is willing to die for one they love is truly amazing. Just the fact that she was willing to die for him, really shows her love and strength of character.

To start Romance is in the Air:Part IV from the beginning, go to I Can’t Pretend, I Have to Be: Casual Sex? (1988)

For the previous posts, go to It’s Not What You Buy, But the Reason Why That Matters: Playing Heart to Get, Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse (2013)

For more on Pocahontas, go to If I Never Knew You

For more Disney, go to Waiter, There’s Some Disney in My Jane Austen

For more Disney heroine’s, go to The Little Moreland

For more animated films, go to You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch

For more bible verses, go to A Cautionary Tale

Color Blind

 

From “I Am the Night-Color Me Black”, The Twilight Zone

This year I decided to honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday by devoting a post to the ideals that he stood for and tried to bring across America. Hatred of others needs to stop.

I love this quote, because so often people forget that racism, bigotry, and prejudice crosses all boundaries; color, age, sexual orientation, gender, etc. And these things should not be tolerated.

We may never be able to eradicate these things from the world, but if we all try to stand against we can make a difference, no matter how small that difference may be.

Remember we each can make a difference.

After all, his did.

To read more of my favorite quotes, go to Promises Were Made to Be Broken

For more on The Twilight Zone, go to A Trip to the Mall Turns Into the Twilight Zone

He’s My Brother

Day 21) A Disney Film That Makes You Cry

This is like the only film that ever makes me almost cry. You see I hardly ever cry, hardly ever.

It always drives my friends nuts that I don’t cry at films or TV shows, they are always like “do you have a heart?”

Well yes I do, and the one Disney film that really gets me is Remember the Titans.

Remember the Titans is a film based on the true story of story of an African American coach Herman Boone (Denzel Washington), as he tries to bring together a racially divided team at the T. C. Williams High School in 1971 Virginia. I think it is one of the best Disney films, Sports films, and films based on a true story ever made.

So the film is about a town that going to have an integrated school, of which many  of the students (black and white) don’t agree with. Coach Boone is putting together a football team, and won’t stand for having anyone think they are better than another because of the color of their skin. He takes them away to train before school starts, and by doing so is able to stop the division and form a cohesive group. They however face a lot of challenges when they get back as people in the town don’t approve. In the end, all the team members are able to work through their own judgements, issues, and racism; fulling bonding and being life-long friends.

So the part that always tears me up comes near the end of the film. Gerry (white), the team captain, and Julius (black) have become best bros. Gerry’s girlfriend doesn’t approve of this and gives both the cold shoulder. As she doesn’t want to hang with him, and Julius is taking out his girlfriend, Gerry decides to go cruising around town. Unfortunately, he doesn’t pay attention to where he is going and crashes.

We see him in the hospital where it is discovered that he can never play that kind of football again as the injury to his legs are too massive. The whole team goes to see him, with Julius trying to get in, but the nurse won’t let him as only family is allowed. Gerry stops her by saying:

“[Julius visits Gerry in the hospital]

Nurse: Only kin’s allowed in here.

Bertier: Alice, are you blind? Don’t you see the family resemblance? That’s my brother.”

Gets me every time!

For more on Disney, go to The Boys Are Back in Town

For more on racial films, go to The Right Path is Not the Easiest One

For more on films having to deal with car crashes having a significant impact on a character, go to Anything Can Happen