Question: Why did Pain and Panic run and leave baby Hercules on the ground when they hear Alceme and Amphitrion instead of grabbing the baby and running?
Answer: When the couple turns the corner, startling Pain and Panic, they proceed to...well...panic. Pain and Panic didn't want to be found out. And while carrying a baby, they couldn't hide as quickly or as nimbly. It was an impulsive act which they might not have committed if they had time to think it out rationally. Besides, had they not panicked and run, baby Hercules would have ended up in the hands of Hades and the movie would have been over before it began.
Answer: I always assumed one of the gods told him how to get there after they won the battle. The underworld in Greek mythology could be traveled to by mortals, albeit extremely ill-advised.
Question: Why is it too nutty that Orpheus arranged the flowers?
Answer: Orpheus was the greatest poet and musician of Greek mythology, his music could charm wild beasts and even persuade rocks and trees into movement; the idea of him arranging flowers is probably just a pun on his normal pasttime of 'arranging' music, or alternatively a reference to how he could have used his magical music to make the flowers spontaneously arrange themselves.
Question: Since Hades guides souls into the underworld, who takes over after he goes down?
Answer: I don't think Hades guides souls into the underworld - I think he rules over it. For instance, part of the mythology is that Charon ferries souls across the river - I don't think Hades was a part of this process but simply welcomes the souls at the end of their journey.
Question: Two questions: One, wouldn't Hades had been able to figure out that Hercules wasn't a mortal, not only by his obvious strength, but also by not dying immediately from every monster he faced? Wasn't the point of Hercules turning mortal was so his strength would be gone? Second, when Hercules makes the deal with Hades towards the end, all Hades had to do to take away his strength was basically just to touch him with the handshake. If it was that easy to take away his strength, why didn't he try this years ago?
Answer: Just because Herc still had his godly strength doesn't mean he wasn't mortal, he was still able to be killed, which is why he started to die when he went to rescue Megs soul. Hades thought that his monsters were strong enough to kill him but he was wrong. Herc had to give is strength up willingly with Hades deal in order to lose it.
Answer: Other heroes of Greek mythology have beaten monsters and not been divine. Doesn't mean that it's always a god. As for the second point, Hercules willingly gave up his strength as part of a bargain.
Answer: They went on with their lives without Hades' abuse.
MasterOfAll