Um, I just like him because he's simliar to me, along with Flynn. He's self-aware and funny and deadpan, but also brave and dedicated. I love guys with a sense of faith and dedication.

Nemo:

Let's touch the butt!
*is infected.*

MY POOR UNDERRATED BABY!

John Smith is shown to have his jerkish moments, like the fact that I still can't get over that he might have killed Pocahontas is she wasn't so hot (How could blame him?)

Other than that, I find him sweet and kind and always up for an adventure. He's playful with animals he doesn't know about so it kind of makes me think he wouldn't have killed Pocahontas either way. John Smith learns from all his mistakes, from Colors of the wind and always listens to those around him which I love. In the end after almost getting murdered by Powhatan John still risks his like for him. And that passion he and Pocahontas have...

I think he is the first prince who is not as brave as his princess which is a good thing. He is very humble but also close minded at the beginning. It takes a smoking hot Native American who can speak English to change his views. I cut him slack because I think his love for Pocahontas is so strong.

I think he genuinely falls for Pocahontas. He isn't as attractive ( physically) as Eric, but he makes up for that in quiet strength of character. He has a certain rugged nobility about him. I like him and Phoebus for many of the same reasons.

^yeah, I love Phoebus too. :)

This is the way the historical John Smith would want to be remembered. As a tall, dashing, daring, manly, golden-haired Adonis whom every man wants to be like and every woman wants to be with. Not the short, portly, hairy, bearded, brown-haired, ego-maniacal, slightly delusional racist who was a nuisance to everyone who met him. Plus this guy is voiced by Mel Gibson, the renowned anti-Semite and misogynist, further showing what a romantic lie this movie pushes on kids.

I know, I know. Pocahontas is not meant to be historically accurate. The problem is most little kids are introduced to the Pocahontas story (which was written years after it supposedly happened, and after she died so she couldn't collaborate the story) and/or this chapter of American history through this movie. And yet, it white-washes it, and pushes a comfortable lie onto little kids. Sure, eventually most of us learn the truth as we get older, but I think that's another part of the problem. I think movies like this (and Anastasia) help push the cultural "value" that it's all right for adults to lie to kids, and for white people to white-wash parts of history that make us look and/or feel bad, and thus lead kids to grow into a more cynical generation, and for Texas text-book publishers to think it's all right to take out parts of American history that make white people look bad. (link)

What's more, I've actually read a lot of colonial American literature. There were a lot of great, morally upstanding, truthful heroes who lived during that time. Yet, their stories are largely forgotten or untold, while some self-centered nutball's utter lie keeps being perpetuated and glorified.

Plus, within the film itself, John Smith is indeed an egotistical, racist, colonial, imperialist jerk before he meets Pocahontas. He's about to kill her for being a d*mned dirty Injun, but then he sees how hot she is and spares her life even though I'm SURE he wouldn't have done so if she were homely and/or male. (That's the mark of a good person. Spare someone's life because you hope to get something from them later.) After she tells him off for his condescending and ethnocentric attitude, he is easily swayed to respect other cultures and the environment, and becomes a generic good guy for the rest of the film.

I don't get him. One just doesn't go from being a racist to being all tolerant and understanding in one song.

^Are you familiar with Disney, at all? That's EXACTLY what happens!

Not without any proper built up. Look at the Beast. He changes too, practically in one song, but the groundwork for it is laid beforehand. Plus, Belle was the first young woman who reached out to the Beast. John Smith meet natives before. And now he suddenly changes his mind? After years of looking down on their way of life?

You know, John Smith may have his problematic side, but I can appreciate his real personality. No other prince, really, is as adventurous as John. And, even though he had an unfortunate view on the natives for awhile, it still didn't take much to sway his opinion--so he's open-minded, too. And brave. (I tend to like the classic 'hero' types, which he fits into pretty well.)

I just wish he was more attractive in those blasted close ups. And what is that hairstyle? He had so much potential! Ah well... Can't win 'em all...

I know quite a few people hate him, but I think he's great and actually prefer him to Pocahontas,(whom I adore).

He sacrificed himself for the native people of the new land. He defied his own country, and faced the consequences head on. Bravo!