Customer Reviews

Hunchback (1982) [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have to say ever since I read Victor Hugo's masterpiece, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, I've been waiting for a great adaptation. Although this film doesn't follow the original path of the book, it's still very entertaining. You'd think that with all the adaptations they've had they could have at least gotten one right. Maybe someday it will happen.

Ever since I was a kid I enjoyed watching this movie. It's strange but I always thought of it as a sad and wonderful movie. Probably the best thing about this film is the protrayal of Quasimodo. Anthony Hopkins has an amazing performance that, in my opinion, will never be toped. Besides Hopkins though, the acting is very sub-par in the film. The film all in all is well made and very enjoyable.

The BIG question your probably asking yourself right now is, What's going on with that expensive price?

Well the thing is, this film was never popular. Even when it first came out. So naturally it's gone out of print. This in turn causes the price of used copies to go up a lot. It's also very hard to find. I've never seen it in a store.

Another question your probably asking yourself is, why isn't it on dvd?

Basically for the same reason as above, it was never popular. I seriously doubt that it will ever be released on dvd.

If your really wanting an entertaining adaptation of the Hunchback of Notre Dame, look no further than that expensive copy on the New & Used page.

I felt that this movie was one of the best! As an actress and heavy movie critic I can safely say that the story had all of the elements that a GREAT movie needs! Esmeralda was not the best of actresses, but got better as the movie went on. Derek Jacobi was one of the best Frollo's and Anthony Hopkins was AMAZING as Quasimodo. I cried!
Another reviewer of this classic film was obviously dissapointed by the way they cast such an adaption saying that "any math teacher could play Frollo"... Well, as an actor and a huge fan of Derek Jacobi's I would like to point out that if the reviewer in question really read into the book she would find that Frollo is one of the most complex characters to portray because of the grey areas of his mind. (Does he want Esmeralda more or to forget about her?)His obsession and madness run deeper than you could ever know!
That aside this movie was beautiful and I highly recommend it!

I saw this movie on youtube and I love it! I absolutely love the actors including my favorite, DEREK JACOBI! This movie took a little longer arriving then I expected it to, but the seller apologized for the delay.

I have watched many versions of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME and I must say that this is the best! I was in awe of the wonderful work put into this faithful adaptation of Victor Hugo's tragic tale. Quasimodo (Anthony Hopkins), the deaf bell ringer of Notre Dame, felt no kindness or love to anyone except his adopted father, Frollo (Derek Jacobi). That is until a beautiful gypsy girl, Esmerelda, comes into his life. She becomes his savior when he is being tortured by an angry mob, and he becomes her savior when Frollo plans to destroy her.
Leslie Anne Down (Esmerelda) was, in my opinion, a miscast, though she plays her part well enough. My only dislike about this movie (or any version, save the 1957 version.)is the fact Esmerelda lives. In the book she is recaptured and hanged, then, several years later, two skeletons were found in a crypt; they were, of course, Esmerelda and the hunchback. I think that ending is much more touching than any of the film's endings.
Still, this is well worth watching. It seems that I was lucky when I purchased my copy, for I only paid eight dollars for it. I see now it is going for sixty dollars and above, though, this movie is worth it!

This is a very good movie! It is one of the better tales of the HUnchback of Notre Dame. The characters Anthony Hopkins and Lesley-Anne Down both play their parts really well.

If you're looking for a presise adaptation of the book, this is it. The movie's pretty good, the end a bit depressing, and the character of Frollo is almost *likable* at times. Indeed, had his lust for Esmerelda not taken over, we might have liked him! All in all, excellent preformances by all the players!

I am still waiting for someone to make a movie that's faithful to the original novel - even if it means making it 3 hours long. The producers think that the audiences can't handle Hugo's embrace-in-the-tomb ending. Tuchner's version was a bit darker than the 1939 version with Laughton. Still, I am waiting for a Quasi who actually 20 years old, and an Esmie who looks 16. Thankfully, Leslie Anne Down is not a redhead like Maureen O'Hara, but she's a bit too old to play a naive virgin. There are so many young talented actresses with naturally dark skin and dark hair. As far as Frollo goes, any average math teacher could play him. When will the producers gather the right cast?