When it comes to using historical figures for movies, you either do it right or don’t do it at all.
Pocahontas 2: Journey to a New World stands as an unnecessary and problematic Disney sequel.
Hanson and I never would have chosen this film, even as kids; as adults who understand Pocahontas’ real story, it’s clear Disney missed the mark.
I know what they were thinking. They were probably thinking that Pocahontas was a successful movie when it came out, and wanted to ride the wave of the sequel movies that were coming out during their Renaissance era.
We could have gotten a T.V. series about everyday adventures with Pocahontas, her friends and family, and the English settlers that decided to stay after the first movie.
Instead, Disney gave us a sequel loosely based on true events.
Yes, Pocahontas married John Rolfe and was brought to England to be presented to King James I, but not under the same conditions.
Historians also never confirmed if Pocahontas and John Smith had an intimate relationship. Truthfully, there was no need for romance for this film if the whole point was for Pocahontas to travel to England to stop the king from sending an army to search for gold.
Not to mention, Hanson and I felt as though the word “savage” was used in a derogatory form. It was bad in the first film, but it was used in a very derogatory way to a point where I couldn’t stand hearing it. I’m all for making the audience feel uncomfortable to make a point, but for a children’s film, Disney could have dialed it back a bit. And not to mention, we should have been calling Pocahontas and her family Native Americans, not Indians.
This movie could have been a great learning lesson for children, but instead, Disney gave us a sequel that didn’t hit like the original movie.
I think we can all guess where we placed this on our Disney Tier List, and it’s not in “Dreams Come True.” Listen to the episode to hear more and let us know what you think.
-Simone
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