5 Historical Inaccuracies in Classic Disney Movies

One of my largest pet peeves is historical inaccuracies. It is generally known I am unable to watch shows like The Tudors because of the overall wrongness of it. Maybe I'm supposed to get past that, but I can't because history is awesome and changing it to make your story more sexy...or fit with what you want irks me. Disney has done this a lot, and has also been fcriticizeforit. Look, I realize the writers and animators are taking "artistic" liberites and catering to a younger audience who really doesn't give a shit as long as there are singing animals and everyone is happy with rainbows shooting out their ass in the end, but it's almost laughable how wrong they can be. This is the extreme side, some of these are little things so, no, I'm not calling for a boycott of Disney because they got an outfit wrong. That's only a crime against fashion.

5. Sleeping Beauty: Are you having sex on the dance floor?

At the end of the movie Sleeping Beauty, our hero and heroine, aka Prince Philip and Princess Aurora, aka the best Disney couple of all time (in a matter of severely biased opinion) share a victory dance because the Princess was awaken from the curse, the evil fairy is dead, and that dress is FABULOUS.

It's so iconic and romantic. Nothing could possibly be wrong with it, except for the fact that in the during the time period Sleeping Beauty takes place...

Because a GIF is a credited source

...the 14th century, THAT dancing would be more or less considered THIS

"Awe yeah baby, I'll prick you with my spinning needle"

Waltzing, or even just ballroom dancing dates only from the eighteenth century, and most medieval dances in Europe were circled dancings, court dances, or line dances of some sort. Nothing to the point of touching body parts or, gasp! holding a waist. Even when waltzing was first introduced it was seen as scandalous. Of course, those 18th century critics had no idea what was coming, because I'm fairly certain in the my children will be friends with at least one kid who was conceived from his parents "dancing" to a Flo Rida song...

"Shawty had them apples in her basket, and friends made of fur...MADE OF FUR!
The whole forest looking at her!"...

4. Hercules was a demi God and he killed his wife and kids...OPPS

The Disney version of Hercules is the story of a young, naive man who used to be a god, but then went to be raised with a human couple after a botch kidnapping/murder that really only left him with super strength, you know, NBD. It was all some plot of the god of the underworld, Hades, to be able to "rule everything" or something, because that is every single villains end goal, obviously. Hercules was the only person who would defeat him according to a prophecy, so he tried to have him killed.

Wrong movie motherfucker!

Anyways, Hercules is an outcast as a human because he's considered a freak and he can't live with the gods because his skin doesn't have a gold tint to it. Life is not fair, bro. I guess the story is how you should "Go the Distance" and go from "Zero to Hero"...and the price of fame and what is really important in life...

like getting some sweet mortal ass

All jolly and good. Except for the actual Greek mythology story is kind of actually different...like really different. Like for example, it wasn't Hades who wanted to kill Hercules, it was Hera, who in the Disney movie was the loving BIRTH mother. In mythology, Zeus (Herc's dad) had many affairs with mortals, Hercules being one of the results of that, and Hera was just his jealous stepmother.

"Bitch, I'm fabulous"

So, correct, Hercules was not able join the Gods on Mount Olympus, but not because he lost all his god juice as a baby. He was just a demi god from birth and lived the  playa life on earth. He only got to live with the Gods and be granted immortality when he died from a botched love potion attempt, so basically a reversal of the movie.

Also, he had a wife named Megara...which I'm pretty sure there's a nickname for that (god dammit, make the connection). However, due to his bitch step mom (again), he took a drive to crazy town and killed Megara and their three children...but it's good because he then performed his 12 labors to make up for murder...you know how it is

how else do you live the play life?

3. Aladdin is Politically Incorrect

I'm not some huge PC advocate, and this is the only one that's not necessarily "historically" inaccurate, but more playing on stereotypes. In the titles song "Arabian Nights" the orginal lyrics are

"Where they cut off your ear

If they don't like your face.

It's barbaric, but hey, it's home"

I mean, yeah it's a little violent for a childrens movie but it also plays off a stereotype and impression western culture has that the Arabic world is full of uncultured, violent barbarian killers. Now, the middle east may be a violent place now and has been in the past as well...

IM PRETTY SURE IT WAS THE WHITE GUYS INVADING ANYWAYS

But you know, it IS a place rich in history and the birthplace of three major religions, blah. blah. This isn't a political statement or teaching you to be tolerant about other cultures. It's the fact that Aladdin gave off a vibe of the setting being some crazy place where they cut someones hand off for stealing an apple or some shit because that's how it's "done" it the Arabic world. 

"Shawty gave the apple to that kid"

It pissed people off and didn't sit well with a lot of people, because that type of scene was only in a movie taking place in the "barbaric" middle east, and not in other Disney movies that have a setting where it probably was perfectly acceptable to cut off someone's hand for stealing. Then again, it is a Disney movie, it is not a REAL place...because it should be all butterflies and rainbows AND WHY IS THERE EVEN DISCUSSION ABOUT CUTTING OFF BODY PARTS? 

And we aren't even gunna talk about the sequels

2. Mulan is a clusterfuck of history that sounded "good enough"

Take three ingredients: The main character, Mulan,The Imperial City, and The Huns. Mix it all togethervand you have a Disney movies about a kick ass girl who joins the army and becomes a hero...and SHES A GIRL DID YOU KNOW THAT GIRLS CAN DO ANYTHING GUYS CAN DO TOO?!?!

I didn't

Anyways, let's take the first of these ingredients...Mulan. Hua Mulan is heroine in Chines folklore from a poem ranging between 386-534 AD. That that places her time period in the dark ages/early middle ages, even with tales being told later on that elaborate more.  So, that brings us to our next ingredient...

The Imperial City. Basically, a section of what is now the city of Beijing, with it's center being The Forbidden City or the Imperial palace. This was the setting to the end of the movie where big yellow eyed Hun leader is trying to assasinate the Emperor of China. Well, the title of "Emperor" in China only existed a hundred-ish years before the first tale of Mulan, and the Imperial City has only existed since the early 1400s, and was the seat of the Ming and Qing Dynasty. That time period of about 500 years does not fit into the early middles ages timeline we set Mulan. Furthermore, the Great Wall of China, which in the movie the Huns invade wasn't built to the magnitude we know it as until the 1400s either. At best, it was a small "not so great wall".

Now I'm sure you're like "homie, Mulan isn't historical fact, it shouldn't matter what the time period Mulan is set in. It's not based on fact. It's like how Robin Hood can be a fox and nobody cares" BUT let us then take it to the third ingredient...

THE HUNS!!!!!

Otherwise known as "hunny buns"

The Huns were a nomadic peoples who originated somewhere in Russia. They can sometimes be contributed to the great migration and collapse of the Roman Empire. They were invading places and ruining empires from about the 4th to 6th century. Maybe a little after Mulan first appeared, but way before the Imperial City was the happening spot. Also, the Huns barely tapped into Asia, they originated in  central Asia (which only parts of China are SOMETIMES included in) and moved against Germanic people and the Romans. There are some who believe they may have tapped into China, and so be it...but for goodness sake...

DECIDE IF YOU'RE DARK AGES CHINA MULAN OR LATE MEDIEVAL/IMPERIAL CHINA MULAN!!!

1. Pocahontas is just wrong
I remember when I was in grade school I read this non fiction book on Pocahontas and my world was rocked forever.

So, you're saying she DIDN'T actually model for
Powhatan Vogue?

Some of the stuff that happened are historically linked, like scholars believe she did actually save John Smith's life...but again, they had to go and make everything sexy. The real John Smith, who I think looks pretty fly, doesn't nearly have as much appeal as the clean cut, blonde, strong jawed Disney counterpart.

Ginger jokes are cheap jokes

Pocahontas was also, like 12, and not the full grown, big boobied lady we see on the screen. Most likely (and god, I hope so) they were not linked romantically, and that's not why Pocahontas is an important figure in history.

Now, if you have not seen the direct to video sequel, which you shouldn't since it is so horrible you can't even watch it to laugh. It's just bad, and punny...


Anyways, Pocahontas has a new love interest, John Rolfe...and when I first saw it I called bullshit, because obviously she is supposed to be with John Smith! History, that dastardly wench, shows a different tune. John Rolfe (aka Poppa Tabacoo) was the real Pocahontas's husband (first recorded interracial marriage in America!).

"Pocahontas, more like poke a hot ass, if ya kno what I mean"
-actual quote from John Rolfe

Who she met after being kidnapped as basically a political prisoner by Jamestown officials. She converted to Christianity and took the name Rebecca, and got married and through her son is the ancestor to quite a few notable Americans in history.

Of course, she also died in England at the age of 21, probably from some European disease she couldn't fight because of her immune system...so basically like every other Native American.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Great Gatsby

I remember when I first saw the trailer for the 2013, Baz Lurhman adaptation of F. Scott Fitgeralds 1925 novel The Great Gatsby. It was about a year ago and I rushed to discuss it with my AP Lit teacher at the time, and I remember her saying something along the lines of:

"I think it's going to emphasize and concentrate on the wrong things."

That stuck with me as I was going into the movie, yet as the movie began everything went out of my mind. I tried to take away all the bias from the buzz around the film and only think about what was being set before me. However, the problem with all movie adaptions of classic novels is that you aren't only going to have people who have read the book criticizing the film by saying "The book was better" (which happens with even the most recent of books to be adapted into movies) but you also have many years of analysis from critics, professors, teachers, and most importantly (IM KIDDING) students mixed in with that, so nobody is really going to pleased no matter what you do.

"BELLA IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE FACIAL EXPRESSIONS!" *SOBS*

That means, as you watch the movie all you're going to be thinking about is "this didn't happen in the book" or "WHAT THE HELL JORDAN DOESN'T HAVE BLACK HAIR". Adaptions cannot be judged solely on the film itself, but rather how it represents the original work. Of course, there is also the people who haven't read the book, but let's be honest, most people read The Great Gatsby in high school...or at least Sparknoted it.

I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE, ASSHOLE

Basically, what I'm trying to get at is that it's impossible to watch The Great Gatsby without comparing it to the book and comparing it to everything you know about the book. So, how does The Great Gatsby measure up to one of the greatest books of the 20th century AND was my lit teacher correct in her guesses about what direction the film was going to go?

 ***

As I've already said, everyone knows the story. Nick Carraway (Tobey McGuire) moves to New York to be a bonds salesman in the summer of 1922. The economy is booming and everyone likes to drink, dance...and drive fancy cars (we find this out in a little montage to a Jay Z song). Nick goes to visit his second cousin Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan) , who married unfaithful Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton) aka "the polo player" who he went to Yale with. This is when the mysterious Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio) is first mentioned. He is found to be Nick's neighbor in a giant house in the town of west egg (where the nouveau rich live) across the bay from east egg (old money). Gatsby is known to throw some pretty bitchin' parties every Saturday night, yet nobody has ever seen Gatsby or knows anything about him. There are many rumours surrounding him and his wealth, but nobody really knows who he is, just that he can throw a good party.

Ain't no party like a Jay Gatsby party cuz a Jay Gatsby
party is built on broken hopes and dreams!

Soon enough, Nick is invited to one of these parties and finally meets Gatsby. He then finds himself in the middle of a long kept passion between Daisy and Gatsby, who met and fell in love five years before when Gatsby was in Louisville as a young officers, and never got to rekindle their romance after Gatsby left for the war. That's where I'm going to end on my synopsis because...spoilers? (No, I really just have no desire to write about the plot, THIS ISN'T A MEDIOCRE ESSAY, DICKS!)

Teacher remarks: "You literally just retold the story"

Gatsby is classic Luhrmann. Fast paced with incredible visuals, and an eye for detail. Every scene is greater than life, grotesque and unbelievable. I found myself wondering "how does that much money exist?". It was very pleasing to the eye with all it's pomp and grandeur. However, watching the movie felt a little empty. It's like Gatsby had lost all it's soul. At first this was irritating, but towards the end of the film I found it almost ingenious (though I'm sure unintentionally). A big part about the novel is that on the surface these people live luxurious and extravagant lifestyles but then as you get to the core you realize these people are empty. Daisy, for how beautiful and dazzling she is, is quite unappealing and selfish. Gatsby is enigmatic at the beginning but we find he is just a lovesick puppy dog.

Gatsby wants Daisy as much as Leo wants an Oscar
HEYO!

The book is called The GREAT Gatsby...from afar Gatsby is so mysterious and untouchable, yet as the story progresses we see he is just a naive guy full of hope and loss. There is nothing great about Gatsby except from the illusion (tricks are what whores do for money) that everyone has of him, including Nick, in the beginning. The movie itself appears great, dazzling, and exciting in the first scenes but as it progresses to the heart of the film you realize there is no magic at it's core.

Another problem with this adaption is that it plays absolutely no emphasis on the 1920s. The reason so many generations of readers have been drawn to The Great Gatsby is that it is the epitome of "the jazz age". You could get such a good idea of what the peak of the 1920s were with the careless partying, living it up, and drinking was. Yes, this movie definitively showed all that, but with a modern soundtrack and no real reference to the 20s, it felt like a costume party with an invitation that read "Wear your best flapper attire!"

The viewer was not transported back to the 20s...we were treated to a pretty show with the 20s as an afterthought. It's like That 70s Show after season 1. Yeah, they were still living in the 70s, but it could have just as easily been the 21st century as well. Maybe this isn't a bad thing in most cases, but so much of the appeal of Gatsby comes from the glimpse the modern reader gets into this age that was so short lived yet so glorified. Gatsby IS the 1920s in our eyes. The Great Gatsby is the 20s from a man who actually lived it. The Great Gatsby 2013 style is NOT the 1920s. Hell, at one point Tom kept talking about whiskey. WHISKEY. I almost wanted to scream "IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE GINNNNNNNNNN!".

"It should have been you Gin, not Whiskey"
exceprt from a love story between a glass of
gin and vodka, where whiskey tore them apart

I also mentioned the soundtrack. To be quite honest, I liked it. In relation to my point above, it was quite a garbage idea...but from a period piece stand point I have always liked unfitting music. Take for instance A Knights Tale, set place in medieval France and England, it's sound track is completely 1970s. I thought it added so much to a film that didn't take itself too seriously. Any movie BUT Gatsby this would have worked , but like I said, it took away from a big part of what the story is all about. It's a shame actually because it made for some really cool scenes.

Another really annoying thing about the film was that it would just throw the answers at you. It would tell you what everything meant. There was no room for someone to be like "ahh, I see the green light represents..." because they told you. It was like someone wanted to let the world know "I READ THE BOOK BAHHHHHHH!!!! SEE I'M SMART!"

"I read Romeo and Juliet, too"

Performance wise, there isn't too much to complain about. I thought Leo made a decent Gatsby, and there were times where I could see the pure emotion on his face. I liked that a lot, and to that I give Leo a lot of credit. I'm unsure how I feel he was in comparison to  Robert Redford's 1974's version, who made Gatsby so desperate and hopeful that you kind of wanted to puke a little. Leo's Gatsby got to that point as well, but you could still see him clinging on to keeping some mystery still.

I actually was impressed with Carey Mulligan as Daisy. She is a hard part to play but I think Mulligan did it to the best of her ability. Slightly less annoying than Mia Farrow, you could see the confusion, longing, and uncertainty that she had when it came to being with Gatsby. There was a small window of time where yes, she maybe would have gone to Gatsby, but then in an instant that's all gone and it's heartbreaking.

"So, just to be clear, just HOW much money do you have?
It's for...uhm...a survey."

I might be harping on this movie a little too much, but there are a few things I did enjoy. I liked that there were direct quotes from the original novel. It helped remind the viewer that this is an actual book, and that the director respected that fact. As mentioned earlier, the visuals were amazing. It was visually quite pleasing, and the party scenes were very, very cool. For the most part, the plot followed the book. Content wise, this was great, but like the 1974 version I found the movie dragged on and almost stopped caring at a certain point. However, my interest stayed because I really wanted to see how the end of the story played out. That's the funny thing about adaptions of books you've read, even though you know what happens, the end is still going to be a surprise.

Leo, this is going to be you in 39 years (spoiler)

I liked this movie, I really did. Despite all my criticism I was entertained and engrossed in the film. It was beautifully made and to a point, an achievement. I have no problem saying that. I was not disappointed,  especially since I had such low hopes. I'm still waiting for a perfect Gatsby movie though. It's like different adaptions get certain things right while missing some crucial parts. That's why in high school you always watched different versions of movies for the books you read. Nobody ever gets it truly right, and you cant really expect that. Books are classics for a reason, and trying to recreate that is impossible, so that's why I am not going to be too hard on The Great Gatsby. I'm going to take it with a grain of salt as a good effort to make a good movie, but a horrible effort to capture what Gatsby really is. For some reason, I'm okay with that.