The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

Pretty decent, but couldn't they have taken bigger chances with this?

I have read "Notre-Dame de Paris (a.k.a. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame)" by Victor Hugo, and it has become one of my all-time favorite books. When I saw the Disney adaptation, I was a bit disappointed. Let me start with the good.

THE GOOD SIDE: I admire the beautiful animation (especially the accurate rendering of the Notre-Dame cathedral). It's all been done very splendidly. The songs "Topsy Turvy" and "God Help the Outcasts" are very enjoyable. The gargoyles Hugo, Victor, and Laverne will provide excellent comic relief for the kids. And finally, I'm glad they took a very dark approach for a Disney film like this . . .

THE BAD SIDE: Unfortunately, this isn't dark enough. My main complaint is changing much of Victor Hugo's adult novel into a G-rated family film.

Here are some major examples:
-Clopin is not a jester of the Festival of Fools in the novel, rather he is a protector of the outcasts.
-La Esmeralda is sixteen years old in the novel.
-Phoebus does not have a friendly relationship with the outcasts.
-Claude Frollo is the actual Archdeacon.
-Quasimodo is deaf.
-Jehan does not appear in the film.
-Pierre Gringoire does not appear in the film.
-The novel does NOT have a happy ending.

I mean, come on, the creators of the Disney version could've at least taken some chances with this, make the audience see that animation isn't all about happy animals and dancing trees and etc. etc. But instead, we still get the same family-friendly atmosphere (except the Shrek films) in animated movies (The Incredibles, Mulan, Finding Nemo, Chicken Little, Hoodwinked, etc.). Ugh, what next? Skunks finding success in pop music? Snails becoming superheroes? The animators of today should adapt Miguel de Cervantes's "Don Quixote" or the Finnish epic "The Kalevala" or the Indian Epic "The Ramayana" and bring some dramatic approaches towards animation (whether it's 2D or 3D). Or maybe I could create that dramatic approach myself, since I want to become a director of animation myself.

But who knows? The future still holds many myseteries. We'll never know what's going to happen next. July 8, 2008

The worst, worst, worst of all Disney!

I was appalled at this film. The female main character of this story is a gypsy woman, which wouldn't be a problem but given her attire and manner, she acts more like an exotic dancer and is by no means a role-model for little girls. Her dress looks like it will fall off during much of the show and the hunchback has a bunch of stone character friends that come to life. They do one skit where they make a joke of the Catholic pope and the pope figure head pops off. The only good character in the film is the side priest who tries to defend the hunchback in the beginning.

The film is also very long for children and I just thought given the female character manner, it is not proper for children to watch. I don't have problem with most kids films but this one had too many problems in my opinion. Little ones might not get the immoral treatment of the lady in the film but it does stick in memory without realizing it. Kids tend to mimick everything they see at some point and so the reason for my rating. June 15, 2008

The Best Movie EVER made by Disney

Yes, it was darker than other Disney movie but I think without the darkness it would be horrible and make no sence. Let your children watch it! I had it on tape when I was 5 I didn't understand Hellfire or Frollo lusting for her but I loved the movie still. It all can't be super happy, sooner or later your going to have to tell your children that the world can be horrible. Besides compared to the book it is quite "happy". May 16, 2008

Hunchback of Notre Dame

Disney has done it again with another hearwarming and adventure movie. There is,love and all the elements that make a super great movie. This movie is great for the whole family, or even watching by yourself. I highly recommend this movie for everyone.
Leslie May 11, 2008

Hunchback of Notre Dame

One of Disney's finest, alway an adventure and an example of goodness for us all. January 22, 2008

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