Playing Favorites: Thomas (Christian Bale--Pocahontas, 1995) Part Two
Part One is here.
What I Like About Thomas
Like many characters he's played, Christian brings a lot of sympathy to Thomas, even when the character does something rash. There's nothing hammy about the performance--as is his acting style in most films--but I think the movie would lose something if he weren't there and if Christian weren't portraying him. It's just nicely subtle. Also, Christian has a lovely speaking voice, which he should use more often in films. *swoons*
Ken Duncan and his team of animators give Thomas a wonderful range of emotions--from happiness, frustration, annoyance, guilt, sadness; many of my favorite aspects about him are the things he doesn't say. I also like that he was made to subtly stand out from the settlers; while most of them are in blues, grays and dark greens, Thomas is wearing a light green tunic, which I take to symbolize his innocence.
On first watching this movie, I liked Thomas very much, not just because I was biased. He's shy, a bit clumsy, kind, loyal (and how!), sensitive, eager to please, a hard worker, and (eventually) takes a stand against his opressor and takes a leader position when no one else will (more on that a later). On my more recent viewing, I liked that he seemed to go on a Hero's Journey: He leaves his family behind (I imagine he lives near or in a Poor Provincial Town and yearns for More) with naive aspirations and when he arrives in Virginia comes to see the reality of the situation: not only the hard work but also hunger, exhaustion, the added pressure of learning to defend himself in battle. He comes to understand that just because the natives are different doesn't make them "savages" and that becoming a man means doing what's right.
It's sort of like an extreme version of the Disney Hero, in that on the way to learning his lesson, he... kills someone. Plus, both his parents are alive, so he's immediately disqualified from the start, really.I love characters who lose their innocence in unfamiliar settings. I guess that's why years later I was so taken with Charlie on Lost. I also think his devotion to John is touching. I don't think it's a physical attraction, more of a deep admiration, but I can see why some think it's unrequited love. It is these qualities that make him, for me, the most interesting character in this movie.
Thoughts On the Movie
First, let me start out by saying that I don't like this movie--but not for the one that generally comes to mind. It kind of gets on my nerves when people say that they don't like it solely for the fact that it's historically inaccurate. Since when is Disney accurate in anything they do? This movie is not based on fact, it's based on the legend that was begun probably in the 19th-century about how Pocahontas and John Smith were in love, and that she saved his life. The tagline on the its poster says "An American Legend Comes to Life.," and even in the making-of documentary, they admitted that research was done, but that they preferred to stick with the legend's story. This legend was built up well into the 20th-century ("Fever", anyone?) and Disney wasn't even the first to make a movie featuring the relationship., but they get all the blame, because they're an easy target; you don't hear people complaining about the even worse historical treatment Fox gave to Anastasia. Yes, the movie that presents us with a sorcerer Rasputin aided by a talking bat. I also didn't notice any outcry of the Terrence Malick film The New World, which was much more historically accurate, but also featured the Pocahontas/John Smith romance.
Besides, why bother hating on it only for the historical inaccuracy when there are other reasons to not like it? The leads, for all their adventurousness are perhaps too dull for me to really be interested in them. I thought the "leaves as translator" explanation was too much hand-waving away a major obstacle, even if it was convenient, Also, couldn't Mel Gibson at least try to do an English accent? The saying goes that heroes are only as good as their villains, and while he is a greedy, racist douche, it's kind of hard to take Ratcliffe seriously, what with the flamboyant costume (and the hair bows, can't forget those) and David Ogden Stiers doing a typical Pompous English Guy accent. As for the settlers, most don't really seem evil (well, not totally)...they're ignorant and greedy themselves, but not necessarily evil. The songs aren't the worst featured in a Disney movie, they're just not memorable. The antics of the animal sidekicks feel out-of-place, as though they're from another movie I also wish that it didn't present such a one-sided view of things, where the Powhatan people are wise and spiritual, whereas the English are greedy and ignorant. Pocahontas feels stuck between what it wants to be--a serious love story--and what it feels it should be--an animated musical, like the ones Disney has always churned out.
So after all this bitching, was there anything I liked? Yes, in fact. I do like that John and Pocahontas are curious about each other, and they're probably the most physically active and most mature main couple in a Disney animated film. The animation palette is lovely, mainly using shades of blues, pinks and reds, and I like the character animation, not just of Thomas, but of our heroine; Glen Keane must have had a ball animating her hair, it's like it's a character all its own. While I'm on the subject, I seem to be seeing more people parroting the Nostalgia Chick's claim that Pocahontas has no nose, just two slits, which I find an unfair complaint, considering that other characters in Disney movies have similar designs.Having the animal sidekicks unable to speak is actually kind of refreshing, as are the other moments of humor provided by other characters--it's neither topical nor puerile--and considering what was to come in later animated fare (and what had already been seen in Aladdin and Lion King), it's nice not seeing any self-referencing winks (although I did like Lon's suggestion that Ratcliffe's singing scared the warriors off--nice lampshading there). I also liked the ending, because there's no way it would end happily, even if the two had gotten to stay together; there's always that looming specter of tragedy.
I think it would have been better to just ditch the sidekicks, make Grandmother Willow her actual grandmother rather than a spirit in a tree, and change Ratcliffe's voice actor to make him more effective as a villain. And keep the unhappy ending, which is based partially on fact, since the real Capt. Smith left Virginia to seek medical care for an injury from a gunpowder explosion. Can you imagine the bitching that would have occurred if the lovers had stayed together (as they do in a 1953 version, where they get married!). Such a move would have made it less kid-friendly, but at least it wouldn't be struggling as far as overall tone.
Observations and Lingering Questions
I've decided that Pocahontas is set in a sort of magically realistic alternate universe, where there are cliffs on the Virginia coast, where moose wander down from Canada, and where people automatically understand each other if they listen with their hearts...or something.
Just why didn't the Virginia Company have some sort of system in place in case something happened to Ratcliffe?
I missed Capt. Newport.
The kiss between Pocahontas and John is possibly the longest one in a Disney animated film. Maybe even counting non-animated.
Historical stuff they got right: Ugly Jacobean high fashion; crappy matchlock rifles (Thomas was very lucky, since those things tended not to do well near water); the Union Jack; the Powhatans' houses facing East (according to Russell Means); and, as was mentioned, Smith leaving to seek medical attention.
Chief Powhatan's costume has raccoon tails on it.
Speaking of costumes, Thomas' collar is uneven on one side. Probably to emphasize the fact that he's a peasant, I think. It's a nice touch.
I disagree about the complaints about Pocahontas' nose, but I agree with everyone else (ever since before I saw this movie) and ask, why are her eyebrows such a different color from her hair?
When she sings, "You'll learn things you never knew/You never knew," is she repeating herself or telling me that I'll learn things that I didn't know I didn't know?
And now...PICSPAM!
I don't know why, but I love that dog. It looks as if he was just thrown in at the last minute.
I'll just let this speak for itself.
This whole scene is very well-done, especially this shot...
...and this one.
I guess if you're in tune with nature, a mother bear won't maul you for taking one of her cubs.
I like the juxtaposition here.
"...and stop asking me to 'use the Batman voice.'"
This shot could be seen as an illustrated representation of Christian's and Mel Gibson's current careers.
I actually like the very last shot of this scene (the painting), but can't find it.
Extras
To all who say how awful this movie is, they're wrong. This is the worst version of the Pocahontas story. It was most likely created by the same company that does cheap knockoffs of Disney/Pixar movies, and then people who don't know any better buy them.
There's also this version released in about June/July 1995, starring Sandrine Holt and George O'Keeffe as the lovers. I saw it. I was not impressed.
The Nostalgia Chick's review.
Pocahontas: an extended retelling, by best-obsessed: Exactly what the title says, this fic is a more realistic look at the film. It's well-written, and I liked how she delved into the characters' backstories and emotions, giving them much more depth.
A short piece detailing Glen Keane's inspirations for Pocahontas' look. I wish I had the original article available, because Dyna Taylor really does look similar.
Fall From the Vessel, by FikFik747: Another retelling, this one is a one-shot from Thomas' point of view. Nicely done. My only quibble is that his eyes are blue not green.