HERCULES (1997) AND STORY STRUCTURE

Hercules is a 1997's film by Disney. The story revolves around Hercules, Zeus' and Hera's son, who was abducted as a baby by Hades and was forced to live among mortals, as a half-man, half-god. As a teenager, he needs to perform Labours on earth to prove to the gods of Mt. Olympus that he is worthy of being among them. Along with Philoctetes, the satyr who trains Hercules, he must learn who to use his strength to defeat the enemies.

ACT 1

Exposition: Hercules, kindhearted and with an innocent personality, lives with his foster parents Alcmene and her husband, Amphitryon, on Earth.

Inciting Incident: After Hades hears from the Fates that his plan to take over Mt. Olympus will go in vain if Hercules fights him in battle, he commands his minions, Pain and Panic to make the newborn baby mortal by giving him a potion. But Pain and Panic fail to feed him the whole bottle and this resulted in Hercules becoming supernaturally strong.

Plot Point 1: After Zeus tells Hercules that the only time he can return to Mt. Olympus is after proving that he is a true hero, Hercules leaves his foster parents' house and goes to train with Philoctetes. After being trained, him and Philoctetes go to Thebes, where Hercules saves Meg, Hades' unwilling minion.

ACT 2 

First Culmination: Hades learns from Meg that Hercules is alive and to ensure that his plans aren't interrupted, he forces Meg to lure Hercules into fighting the Hydra monster.

Mid Point: Hercules manages to defeat the Hydra monster and is proclaimed a hero. As his goal to become a hero is now achieved, he returns to his parents in Mt. Olympus.

Plot Point 2: Hades realises that Meg is Hercules' weakness. At the same time, Meg refuses to aid Hades as she is in love with the hero. Philoctetes overhears their conversation and is convinced that Meg wants to harm Hercules, so he warns the man about Meg's treachery. Hercules doesn't want to believe Philoctetes' words, something which leads the satyr to leave.

Third Plot Point: Hades threatens Hercules that if he doesn't give up his strength for twenty-four hours, he will kill Meg. The hero agrees without knows Hades' true intentions. Once Hercules turns completely mortal, he learns that Meg was indeed working for the villain, at least previously.

ACT 3

Climax: Meg wounds herself to save Hercules and his strength is restored. After managing to kick Hades out of Mt. Olympus, he goes to the River Styx in order to save Meg's soul.

Denouement: This time, Hercules proves that he is a true hero by sacrificing his life to save the woman he loves. Just before he dies though, his immortality is restored. He returns the girl's soul to her body and along with her, he goes to Olympus and reunites with his parents.

Resolution: As everything is peaceful again, Hercules decides to return to earth, as a mortal this time, so that he can live with Meg.