Customer Reviews

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (This is NOT the Disney edition) [VHS]

5 star:		(138)
4 star:		(29)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

A risky wedding of wholesome classic animation, to adult and often dark-themed material. The risk paid off and the result is one of the greatest achievements of Disney Studios.

The animation here is first rate and the entire thing is shot like a live-action film with some incredible long shots, great theatrical panning and even at one point, during Quasimodo's song "Out There" a realistic camera flare (I did a double take the first time I saw it!) Hunchback is filled with all sorts of great "tricks" like this. Lighting effects here are nothing short of magnificent - often subtle they sometimes change in an instant dramatically altering the mood of the piece. Frodo's demonic song "Hellfire" is perhaps one the most sinister and frightening moments to emerge from Disney and the animators let loose.

The prologue to the movie alone is a minor masterpiece and, like Beauty and the Beast, marvelously prepares us for the whirlwind of a story to take place.

The complaints about the singing and dancing gargoyles Victor, Hugo and Laverne, are simply wrongheaded. I read the Hugo classic too, and know they're not in there. What the complainants fail to realize is these gargoyles live only in Quasimodo's imagination. He invented these companions to ease an otherwise tortured, lonely, friendless life. The culmination of all of this becomes obvious in the spectacular song "A guy like you" which finishes with pigeons flying and hearts and banners and ribbons and Quasimodo being celebrated and then BAM immediately upon the conclusion of the final notes, the room becomes the same dark, dank, splintering tower filled with relics, junk and heartbreak. It's one of the movie's most shattering effects.

While deserved praise goes to the animators and crew, the voice talent here is, in my opinion, Disney's very best. Tom Hulce goes to the very soul of Quasimodo and gives a performance that is as poignant and shattering as anything he has done (Hulce also happened to be the best Hamlet I've ever seen.) Certain lines ("I am a monster, you know") will ring in my ear forever. Hulce has a beautiful voice and renders "Out there" with such abandon and vigor it makes my hair stand on end. In the quiet "Heaven's light" (which sequences into a stunning shot of the bells frantically ringing the opening theme), Hulce brings a fragility to such lines as "no face as hideous as my face, was ever meant for Heaven's light" that only a heart of stone would not be moved. Switching from pathos to rage, Hulce lets us feel the hidden rage and danger that this character also possesses. It is a truly remarkable performance.

Demi Moore, Kevin Kline, Tony Jay, Paul Kandel - and the rest of the cast all sound at the top of their game creating wonderful and vivid characters.

Alan Menkin and Stephen Schwartz get to the heart of the matter with score and songs - a sound - that are as integral a part of the telling of this story as the animation and voices.

Hunchback is a miracle of a movie!

It would not be hard to contemplate a more difficult story line for Disney to adapt on screen than Victor Hugo's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", but that doesn't mean it was a walk in the park either. Not only is there the conundrum of how to make Quasimodo true to his character and at the same time not so unsightly in appearance as to frighten off youngsters, but how will Victor Hugo's dark commentary of 15th Century Parisian life, capital punishment and religious bigotry be accommodated? What of Claude Frollo's lascivious desires for Esmerelda and wanton acts upon Quasimodo and gypsies? And that ending...a bit of a downer don't you think? Well, believe it or not, Disney stays true to each of these facets of the novel...with the exception of the tragic conclusion, of course.

Talking gargoyles aside, the film really does not do enough to accommodate young viewers (and perhaps it was a mistake to market this as a kid's movie, but you got to sell those Burger King toys somehow!). The villain (Frollo) is among the most sinister characters ever portrayed in a Disney movie, and unlike Jafar ("Alladin") or Hades ("Hercules"), there is nothing humorous about him. On the other hand, the animators went a little overboard with Quasimodo, who kinda looks like a red-headed Chris Farley. And Phoebus has the personality of Al Gore...if he were any more wooden you'd have to check him for termites. Also, some very interesting characters from the book are regrettably absent. Where's Pierre Gringoire, Jehan Frollo, and Sister Gudule? Still, the animation is breathtaking, and the finale is nearly flawless...preferred to original version if you're a sentimental fan of happy endings.

The movie contains a few hilarious subliminal references, as when Quasimodo (Tom Hulce) is dressed up briefly as Amadeus. The music is incredible and supports the film's most compelling scenes: Esmerelda singing "God Help The Outcasts" while taking sanctuary in the cathedral, the counterpoint of Quasimodo's "Heaven's Light" to Frollo's "Hell Fire," and the heart-pumping score behind the finale. Probably would have been given a PG rating if not for Eisner's influence over MPAA.

5 stars and 1000 words aren't enough to tell you how great this movie is! "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" is truly Disney's greatest triumph. It has everything: the most spetacular animation, the strongest characters, the most complex story, and the best music. Okay, so it may not be appropriate for little kids, big deal. When was the last time you heard a Disney employee say they were making a movie for little kids, anyway? Think about it.

Just the movie's animation is enough of a reason to give it five stars. Almost everything, from the statues around the cathedral, to the city errupting in flames, to a sunset seen from Notre Dame's roof, to the church's interior, is absolutly astonishing. It invites you to just jump into the screen and visit 15th century Paris, and the trip is a stunning feast for the eyes. I can't believe it's all on paper and/or computer screen.

Living in this world are some of Disney's strongest characters (did I mention that already?). The audience can truly root for the three heros. Quasimodo is Disney's best guy, plain and simple. His goal starts out simple enough: he wants a day of freedom. However, it becomes far more complex after he has fallen in love. It is then when he shows the courage to give his all for another, and the strengh to sacrifice his happiness for hers. Oh gosh, when he sings the heartbreaking "Heaven's Light" about his love for Esmeralda, and the possobility that she might love him back, you will be absolutly moved. Then when the song is repeated as he watches Esmeralda and Phoebus share a passionate kiss, you may very well cry. As for Esmeralda, she is one of Disney's most intruiging heroines. She never hesitates to stand up for what's right, and never hesitates to help someone in need (to say nothing that she never hestitates to kick soldiers.)However, her true personality is revealed in an absolutely beautiful scene where she sings "God Help The Outcasts," a wonderful prayer of hope and selflessness. I still get choked up whenever I hear that song. The only thing about Esmeralda that I really don't understand is why she prefers Phoebus to Quasimodo (I don't think anyone really wants to say "Well he's got a straight back! So of course she prefers him!") As for Phoebus, he (thankfully) got the expected Disney makeover from the wicked guy in the book to a likable soldier with a heart and a conscience. I give the guy thumbs up just for that, but there's more. He refuses an order to kill innocent people, almost getting his head cut off in the process, but setting a positive example for today's boys who might become tomorrow's soldiers (and I desperatly hope tomorrow's soldiers will have better consciences than today's.)

I won't repeat what other reviewers said about Frollo, but I will say that he is Disney's most intruiging villian. Deep down, he knows what he's doing is wrong, but he can't face it, so he struggles to convince himself that what he's doing is right. Isn't that how most people will carry out wicked deeds? Oh, and when Frollo sings "Hellfire," about his burning desire for Esmeralda, shivers go down your spine. No, really.

Alan Menken outdid himself with the music for this film. From the spellbinding opening song "Bells of Notre Dame" to the closing credits ballad "Someday," the songs are top-notch, and the score adds a layer of depth to the movie (you'll see what I mean if you read what the Latin lyrics mean in the booklet that comes with the soundtrack.) I still can't believe the Oscar people picked "That Thing You Do" over "Someday" for a Best Song nomination. For that matter, I can't believe HUNCHBACK failed to get a Best Picture slot. "Beauty and the Beast" was nominated, but not this! Sometimes I don't know what those guys are thinking.

I'd like to go on like this, but I'm running out of space. Trust me, this movie is wonderful. By the time it reaches it's uplifting ending, you'll have witnessed a glorious landmark in Disney history, and for that matter, movie history.

I became enraptured with Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame after I saw it long ago back in 1996. My first impression was...WOW! Disney deviated from the normal 'warm and fuzzy' cartoon stories and daringly took on a project that was incredibly complicated and very adult in nature. The dark gothic edge to the tale should have been expected, as Victor Hugo's book was not exactly a Cinderella story. Parents should know this before taking their little kids to see it. I would say preteens would understand more than the usual toddler or grade school kids.

I consider this movie to be Disney's greatest animated film to date, even up to this year, 2004. Why? For several reasons.

First, it's hard to turn a book like Victor Hugo's Hunchback into a cartoon in which you can still find humor and drama, strong, multi-dimensional characters, and a very powerful plot and message that are not overshadowed by the characters, or vice versa. Literature fans of the book cringed when they saw the Disney-fied version, but my argument is: Disney also kept many of the strong, major themes of the book alive. People forget that a book and a film are two different forms of media, therefore, should be interpreted as such. A movie does not have to be faithful to the book, but can be, rather, an adaptation of words turned into stunning visuals, as Hunchback was.

Secondly, all the characters in the movie are believable and multi-dimensional even the slapstick comedian gargoyles, who to me, represented a hidden part of Quasimodo's personality that he was unable to express...his fun-loving side. Esmerelda's great sensual beauty was a serious change to the usual more innocent heroines...as well as her toughness, independence, and warmth. People aren't used to those kind of heroines, especially a dark gypsy who is an exotic dancer. Demi Moore's sultry, warm voice added more reality to Esmerelda's animation. Phoebus, the Captain of the Guard, is dry-humored, witty, and calmly confident, voiced by the similiar personality of Kevin Kline.

But the most incredible part of the movie was the introduction of Disney's most complicated, tormented villain to date, Judge Claude Frollo, wonderfully voiced by Tony Jay's rich, resonant powerful voice. Not merely someone out for power or wealth ( he has those already), he is incredibly sinister, manipulative, and cruel. This got a little tricky trying to explain to my little cousin 'why Frollo was destroying the city" and what his Hellfire song was all aboutl. Indeed this was a common complaint among some parents...that the storyline was too complex and dark for their kids. Well, they also should know that Hunchback was not exactly a Cinderella-story fairy tale either, and could have kept their kids at home. Frollo was multi-layered, incredibly cruel, and yet, human enough to fall in love with a beautiful woman.

Highlights include SPECTACULAR imagery and 3-D animation, breathtakingly beautiful views of Paris, Notre Dame, crowd scenes, and Quasimodo's graceful manuevering of the Cathedral he loves so much, but longs to leave to see the outside world.
I think the music was very dramatic, not much there for kids. The most compelling and powerful song sequence is the HEAVEN'S LIGHT/HELLFIRE sequence in which Quasimodo sings of his adoration for Esmerelda, and conversely, Frollo sings of his tormented lust for the gypsy he hates, but wants to possess and also love. No other villain has had such a multi-faceted personality and complex role. Frollo remains my favorite character because some of his expressions and words were absolutely priceless. And his cruelty went far beyond that of most other villains. The only other villain who even comes close to him is the Evil Queen from Snow White.

The ending is breathtakingly dramatic, fiery, very intense, and again, may be too strong for very young children. But Quasimodo's touching experience with the little girl at the end, and his facial expression, would make anyone with a heart weep tears.

Other characters include the hilarious trio of wisecracking Gargoyles, the Gypsy king Clopin, and Esmerelda's adorable pet goat, adding comic relief and colorful sequences to the story, esp the Festival of Fools gala. Disney outdid themselves with that computer animation, sweeping scenes of the Cathedral, and incredibly pyrotechnic animation work.

Great character development, a beautifully animated film, strong plot, and a very powerful message: WHAT MAKES A MONSTER, AND WHAT MAKES A MAN? Yes, Disney took a chance with a much deeper, complex story, dark and scary scenes, but also non-stop action, and the heartfelt story of a lonely bellringer who finds happiness and acceptance at last.

You will love this. Again I caution very young children from viewing it, as there are some darker and complex themes that are beyond their understanding. But, you will want to see this film. And rate it as one of the greatest animated Disney films of all time, as I have done.

This is the first video I've owned that I've had to replace because I literally wore it out by watching it too often. "Hunchback" is a wonderful adaptation of Hugo's novel. Of course it has the Disney touch. This movie has everything - from intense drama to hilarious scenes that make me laugh just thinking about them. The animation is fantastic and the story is engaging. You'll hear the voices of Kevin Kline, Demi Moore, Jason Alexander, David Ogden Stires and Tom Hulce. The music is by the award winning duo of Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz and it is captivating from the biggest show stopping numbers down to the almost subliminial latin liturgical chants in the backgrounds of some songs. As Disney videos go this one can be considered pretty intense at times with perhaps the most well developed and complicated villan of any Disney film. Watch it first before you let the very youngest kids see it just in case. You'll want to see it twice anyway. It's lots of fun for most kids and just about everyone else. If you liked Aladdin or Beauty and the Beast you'll most likely love Hunchback of Notre Dame. END

Out of all the movies I`ve ever fallen in love with and gotten mad at how underrated it was, this one makes me the most dissapointed. Reviews complain about how it doesn`t contain Disney`s classic kiddie humor. No, it doesn`t. It has a much more adult humor that had me cracking up the first time I saw this masterpiece in theatres. Phoebus is one of the most hilarious characters Disney has come up with in a long time. (Besides, I get very tired of little kid pun humor, and those obnoxious sidekicks to the villian that you feel like punching by the middle of the movie.) No, there is nothing using the kid gloves in this movie, and while others sit there and complain about it not being an exact replica of Cinderella, I find it extremely refreshing that Disney only tried something different for once, resulting in a phenomenalyl brilliant outcome.
One thing we can all stress is a good element in "Hunchback" is
the beautiful animation put in it. Compare the colorful Paris setting in this one to the way old-day France was illustrated in Disney`s "Beauty and the Beast" and you`ll see how much times have changed (Watch for Belle`s brief appearance in the town while Quasimodo is singing his first song in the movie.) There are so many beautiful images in this movie; the powerfully drawn Notre Dame "herself", the sky turning red as Paris burns, and the powerful symbolism in the scene when Quasimodo raises Esmerelda`s unconscious body over Paris`s population below to claim sanctuary in the cathedral.
The character of Esmerelda is well over enough to make you want to buy the movie. Nowadays Disney`s acknowledgement of strong female character is rustry and unrefined; you see merchandise in stores of characters like Jasmine, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Snow White, all of which do nothing to prove themselves as good characters but just sit there looking pretty while stuff happens to them. Esmerelda is not a princess, and in fact she and Quasimodo have it in common that society wants nothing to do with them. She is an outcast, but she is in my opinion the greatest heroine animation has ever seen. Never in the movie is she screaming for help, only standing up for the right thing and bravely spitting in Frollo`s face in the midst of her doom. Esmeralda sees things as they really are - she knows what kind of people are monsters and what people are good. If Quasimodo is Boo Radley than Esmerelda is Atticus Finch. She`s not a damsel in distress, but she is vulnerable and needs to be saved from Judge Frollo at the end, but it`s her who rescues Quasimodo in the beginning. Esmerelda does not marry a prince, become trapped under a spell, or eat a posion apple, but she is a very symbolic supportive character in this film. It`s easy to lay in a bed waiting for a prince to come break a spell, but it`s not easy to be as tough as Esmerelda. The fact the she is voiced by Demi Moore only adds to her sporty qualities.
"Hunchback" doesn`t only have the best Disney chick in a long time, but a very kick-ass villian. Judge Frollo would outdo Captain Hook in any match of scariness. Jafar, Ursulla, and Governor Ratcliffe were all a pain of a villian, yes, but this guy is one of those bad guys that you just can`t believe because they`re just plain EVIL. This is shown in his treatment of Quasimodo, his prejudice against gypsies, and the way his secret desire for Esmerelda leads to his out-of-control need to kill her. Some villians don`t stand for anything, they`re mean because they feel like it, but Frollo represents pure evil. I can think of no better villian (and as a final note, his horse is very cool, too).
Last but not least, I have to put a good word in for Alan Meken`s soaring music for this movie. I`m not talking about the sing-alongs, though there are some good songs in this movie that address themes of the story like "Heaven`s Light" and "God Help the Outkasts." The songs are commendable, but the score is like nothing else I`ve heard in any other films. Menken uses piercing vocals to make action scenes sound beautiful; the final scene during Esmerelda`s execution is good enough to watch over and over again just because the music in it is phenomenal. And then there`s Frollo`s trademark villian song, "Hell Fire," which is the scene you watch and then you KNOW this is not a movie for four-year-olds. Everyone agrees that this movie has a very dark mood, and I don`t think the mood would be at all that way without the cathedralesque music.
So in conclusion, it`s no walk through the park for kiddies, but for older viewers I believe "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" is one of the best full-length animated features of all time. If you do want to show it to the kids you better be ready to explain what damnation means and why Frollo`s really into smelling Esmerelda`s scarf.

I've said this before, but I guess I have to say it one more time. Why do all "great" Disney movies have to have some great morality tale to them? Why can't they just be fun movies like "Hercules" and "The Emperor's New Groove?" Why can't they be somewhat dark and even a tad depressing like this film, "Hunchback of Notre Dame?" Although "Lion King" is probably one of the best Disney films ever, it set a standard that it appears most popular critics feel that every Disney movie should attain to.

"Hunchback," much like "Lion King," really is a wonderful story. However, it takes the road less travelled in Disneyland with its depiction of cruelty toward the lead character, Quasimodo, the prejudices held against the gypsies in the hearts of the sinister Frollo, and it throws a little bit of titillation and Catholicism in to boot. All of these components mix together to make a wonderful little recipe of deception, trust, love, and, in true Disney fashion, heroism.

Tom Hulce voices Quasimodo, the unwanted bellringer at Notre Dame. Demi Moore is the sexy and seductive Esmerelda. She really gives Jessica Rabbit a run for the money with her dance moves. Kevin Kline voices Phoebus, one of the most likeable guys in Disney lore. The evil and sinister Frollo, one of the most wicked villains in Disney's catalog, is given a voice by Tony Jay. Jason Alexander, David Ogden Steirs, and Paul Kandel round out a superb cast of characters.

This dark tale starts with the death of Quasimodo's mother at the hands of Frollo. Frollo is forced to care for young Quasimodo and decides that he should stay in the belltower of the beloved Cathedral of Notre Dame. As Quasimodo grows older, he begins to long for the one thing he has never had, which is acceptance among others. Convinced by a few funny gargoyles named after Victor Hugo, he sneaks out of the cathedral and takes part of the Festival of Fools. Exposed and picked at, Quasimodo is protected by the beautiful Esmerelda. As the story rolls along, Frollo becomes somewhat enamored with Esmerelda and when he finds out that he can't have her, he forces the captain of his forces, Phoebus, to destroy Paris until she is found.

Eventually we learn that the monster isn't always the ugliest player in the game. In fact, the man can be even uglier than any physical deformity.

The music in this story is wonderful. Each song plays on the emotion of the viewer. From happiness in songs by Quasimodo, to lust and hatred in Frollo.

The animation is nice and vibrant when necessary, but there is a dark tone to this entire film. It's a breath of fresh air for a Disney film. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty to laugh at in this flick, but this movie is meant to be more of a drama than a comedy.

Overall, this film is great viewing for most of the family. If your children have tender hearts and hate to see others berated, steer clear. However, if you think that your children deserve a dose of reality and need to see just how cruel people can be towards those who aren't "normal," then "Hunchback" is the perfect film for you. I talked with my four-year-old daughter as scene after scene of cruelty to Quasimodo occurred. She quickly caught on that Quasimodo may look like a monster, but he's the most loving and caring figure in the film.

Highly recommended.

How much do I love this movie. This is no kids flick, and I'm glad. For once, Disney is displaying guts and doing a cartoon based solely on the fact that it has a good story. True, the gargoyles were put in there based on the Disney-funny-trendy-sidekick prerequisite, but they really don't upset the tone too much. Watch this movie because it has a great cast, intense story line, spectacular animation, and the music...gracious heavens, THE MUSIC! Every scene hits you right in the heart. I am glad that they didn't write the original ending for the movie, not because it would have made it worse, but because if I saw Esmeralda hanged and Quasimodo disappear from humanity forever, I don't think I could take it!

While many are of the opinion that Disney have undergone a "slump" of late, I think these same people tend to judge a film on the box office taking and not the quality of the film itself. It is true that compared to the phenomenal output of 1989-1994 (which saw The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King, among others) Disney have not had the financial success that those films provided them. However, this is not to say that the quality has slumped. 'Hunchback' is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful animated masterpieces that has ever graced the screen. You can stare at the backgrounds for hours, as vibrant and realistic as they are. Almost like going to Paris!

The DVD is pretty decent for a single disc edition as well. An audio commentary by directors Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale, and producer Don Hahn (who are always fun to listen to - check out their Beauty and the Beast and Atlantis commentaries); a 'making of' featurette, a multi-language reel (as well as the usual kiddie fluff of sing-alongs and games). There was a rumoured 2-disc, but it is looking less likely. The R2/R4 have different extras (including a deleted song), so hopefully these will pop up together with these extras on an "ultimate edition" some day.

In a time when Disney has stopped 2D feature animation, this is one that should be treasured. About as good as the craft gets - it is shame we won't see it go any further, at least for a couple of years.

I remember seeing Hunchback when it first came out to the theaters ten years ago. I really enjoyed it at the time but haven't had the chance to watch it again until recently. It is better than I remember. In fact, it is better overall than any other Disney animated film - and that is high praise indeed.

It is true, Disney's take on Hunchback of Notre Dame is not in step with Victor Hugo's original novel. The story is merely inspired by Hugo's work and the characters are greatly changed. I have absolutely no problem with this as Disney has historical dramatically changed the stories they've taken on. Frankly, Hugo's novel is a bit of a mess that merely details all the sordid happenings around Notre Dame Cathedral.

Disney's version is brilliantly animated. The story has a strong purpose, a question posed at the beginning: Who is the monster and who is the man? The audience gets to see the tale unfold brilliantly before their eyes. Esmeralda's purity of heart and kindness is apparent from the get go. Quasimodo is kindly as well, very different from the man who raised him, Frollo. Frollo is possibly the best Disney villain ever put to celluloid.

There are many lessons to be learned from this film. The music is some of Menken's best and the film is not traditional light-hearted Disney fare. I wouldn't recommend this film for small children as it deals with some pretty heavy stuff including lust. It's a shame that this film has never received the credit it deserves from Disney or the general public. Beauty and the Beast is a great film and is still the only animated feature to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars but Hunchback is an even more deserving and better film. There is no shortage of great Disney animated films and Hunchback is the best among fantastic company.