101 Classics and lists of this nature are entirely subjective. I personally believe this makes them more interesting. Isn’t discussing pointless crap like whether Alias can really be considered a classic if most people haven’t ever heard of it the point of these things?

So, being fully prepared to accept criticism, here is why I believe Hercules is a classic movie:

1. It has a universal story everyone can relate to: Each one of us has taken a journey to get to where and who we are today. Hercules is the classic rags-to-riches story with a twist that the gold at the end of the rainbow is actually ambrosia. I like that the writers reinvented the plight of Hercules and made it relatable to a modern day audience. Some of the classical allusions may be a little skewed but the basic tale of a struggle against the odds and fate is a timeless story.   

2. Great music: Songs are a cornerstone of great Disney flicks and Hercules has it. From catchy and commercial up-tempos (Zero to Hero) to cynical love songs (I Won’t Say I’m In Love), the music is infectious but not devoid of substance and well-written lyrics. Warning: if you don’t smile at this then you may be dead inside:

3. One of the best supporting casts in any Disney movie: James Woods as the literally combustible Hades, Susan Egan as the first Disney female lead with brass and balls bigger than the hero and the remaining ensemble of Muses, gods and goddesses and repugnant bottom feeders had fair pieces of the film pie in which they outshined the main protagonist himself.

4. It was the first movie I ever saw at the cinema: Yes, I was a deprived child. The sound, the screen, the ambience and watching a movie alongside a room full of people is altogether different to viewing one in the comfort of your own home. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I want to hurl my drink at the noisy bastards who seem to want to either a) laugh at everything or b) talk to the screen as if the people were real and not actors. “Oh no, he’s behind you, oh my god, oh my god, he gonna get stabbed! Look behind you. OH MY GOD HE’S GETTING STABBED!”. Yes… On the whole though, viewing a film in the cinema enhances its effect. Seeing Hercules in the cinema is one of my fondest memories and made me appreciate the magic of storytelling – an appreciation that lasts to this day.