Disney vs. Ovid

I'm sure many of us have seen the 1997 Disney movie, Hercules. It is one of the most popular Disney movies of our time. The strong, good looking guy, the beautiful girl he is in love with, and the evil temptation. Disney seems to get it right on whenever true stories or tales need re-telling. Take Pocahontas for instance, in the 1995 Disney movie, she was probably 20 or 21 and John Smith was about the same age, give or take. They had a wonderful romantic relationship roaming the Virginia hills, until he was shot and sent back to England for recovery. She followed him there and then fell madly in love with John Rolfe and it was a happy ending.  In real life, Pocahontas was about 12 when she saved John Smith-who was about 30 at the time. Historical records show that there was no romantic affiliation between the two. She did marry John Rolfe (whether she wanted to or it was against her will, we will never know) and they had one son, Thomas Rolfe. This is the same scenario with Hercules, or Heracles, whichever you prefer. In the movie, he is born to Hera and Zeus. Hades, the god of the Underworld has a grudge against him and puts a snake in his crib which Hercules smothers. He is also given Pegasus (a colt at the time), which is to be his longtime friend and sidekick. He is sent to live in Rome with foster parents and finds he amazingly strong, he uses his strength to help his fellow villagers and mankind. Eventually he meets Megara and falls madly in love with her and has to set her free from her master, Hades. He does and its a happy ending. In the legend of Hercules, he is born to Alcmene (not Hera) and Zeus (one of his many illegitimate children). He does kill the snake that was in his crib, but Hera put it there, not Hades (who has nothing to do with the legend of Hercules). In one version, Zeus has Hercules nurse from Hera's breast to become immortal, she finds out and hates Hercules from that point on. Never in the stories is he partnered with Pegasus, but he does marry Megara and they have several children. Hera turns him mad for a while and he kills all his children, he then goes on his many adventures because he feels remorse for what he has done. He does not have a happy ending with Megara.
Disney makes wonderful, fun and happy movies that are made especially for kids. The one problem is if they are retold stories, the true part of the story is usually forgotten. Pocahontas is a famous American story that is true, Disney did tell the story, just not exactly the same as it is in historical records. Same with Hercules, his trials he goes through are the same as in the legends, but his personality and his character aren't the same.