Pocahontas / Pocahontas II: Journey To A New World (Three-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

On August 21st, Disney released POCAHONTAS & POCAHONTAS II: Journey to a New World – 2 Movie Collection on Blu-ray Combo Pack!

I somehow missed Pocahontas when it was originally released in 1995 so I was excited to have a second chance to watch the original story as well as Pocahontas II: Journey To A New World.

Pocahontas is the first animated feature Disney film to be based on a historic character, Captain John Smith, a man who had a large role in the founding of the first English settlement in North America and also on the folklore and legend that surround the life of Chief Powhatan’s daughter Pocahontas.

This film tells the story of a beautiful Indian princess, Pocahontas, whose idyllic world is invaded by the British who are looking for gold and are intent on claiming this land as their own.  The British considered the native people to be wild savages and sought to destroy them if they interfered or resisted.  This misguided view was encouraged by the ruthless Governor Ratcliffe.

While exploring this new and unfamiliar land, British Captain John Smith meets Pocahontas and they develop an immediate bond and eventually fall in love.  John Smith believes that the native people should be treated fairly and with respect. As the story unfolds, a misunderstanding has occurred between John Smith and Pocahontas’s people, and her father plans to execute him the next morning. Pocahontas begs her father to spare his life, and to find a way to peacefully coexist on their land with the new arrivals.

Pocahontas successfully stops Smith’s execution, but an angry Ratcliffe tries to shoot Chief Powhatan with Smith intervening and taking the bullet intended for Powhatan.  In the end, the governor is captured and arrested and Smith is forced to return home for treatment.  Smith however, has the blessing of both Pocahontas and Chief Powhatan to return in the future.

Pocahontas II: Journey To A New World begins with Governor Ratcliff convincing the King that John Smith is a traitor and Smiths subsequent arrest.  John Smith is ambushed by a group of soldiers with a warrant for his arrest and presumed dead in the ensuing confrontation.

The King then decides to send an armada, lead by John Rolfe, a kind man who wishes for peace, to American to claim the gold and the land, as well as, to bring Chief Powhatan back for negotiations.  Chief Powhatan learns that the British are planning on sending an armada to their land because of the lies of Governor Ratcliffe. In a pre-emptive endeavour to convince the British monarchy that they should not start war with them, and in a twist of events, Pocahontas ends up journeying to London to represent her people.

In an attempt to impress the King by appearing “civilized”, so the armada will not set sail, Pocahontas must learn how to dress and act like the British.  At first, she delights and charms King James but Ratcliffe has set her up to fail,  conflict ensues and she is arrested, sent to jail and sentenced to death.   Pocahontas is rescued by the unlikely team of John Rolfe and John Smith, whom Pocahontas has believed to be dead.  Once she is safe, Pocahontas discovers both men are in love with her and she must listen to her heart to make the right decision and find her ultimate path in life.

Bonus Features Include:

• Drawing Inspiration:  The Lost Story of Hiawatha – Walt Disney’s never before seen tale that inspired the Pocahontas filmakers.
• Little Hiawatha – Cartoon short
• Deleted Song – “I Never Knew You”
• The Music of Pocahontas
• Deleted Scenes
• Audio Commentary
• PLUS:  Classic DVD Bonus Features

As with most Disney films, Pocahontas and Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World are filled with endearing characters, villians, wonderful animation and beautiful musical scores, including the Academy Award winning song “Colors of the Wind”.  For great family entertainment I don’t feel you can ever go wrong with a Disney film!

 

{Disclaimer:  The product or products mentioned above were provided free of charge from the company or PR firm in exchange for being featured on Older Mommy Still Yummy.  As always, the opinions expressed are my own.  No monetary compensation was received.}