| The Hunchback of Notre Dame | | Cast : | Demi Moore | | Director : | Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise | | Studio : | Disney Studios | | Format : | Color, Animated, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound | | Released Date : | June 21, 1996 | | DVD Released Date : | January 25, 2005 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed), English (Original Language), English (Subtitled) | | Audience Rating : | G (General Audience) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | July 06, 2005 | | Summary | One of Disney's Best | Content
 | This is one of Disney's best movies that I have seen. The opening song, "Bells of Notre Dame" is a lovely song and I really like the guy who sings it, Clopin Trouillefou. In fact, most of the songs in this movie were great. I really like Clopin's songs becasue he seems like a great and fun-loving guy. The gargoyles also bring joy in a somewhat dark movie. The old gargoyle with the birds is the best gargoyle of Quasimodo's three friends. I don't reaaly care for Peobus because even though he has some funny moments. I think that he was put in there merely for the serious soldier part. Quasimodo might be the main character, but the others are delighful and fun. This is a must hav for any Disney collector. It is also a great family film that both kids and parents will enjoy so long as the kids don't talk through the entire like my family does. Kids will treasure for many years.
I think that it is unfair to Quasimodo that Esmerelda went off to join Peobus because Quasimodo wants to be loved. Clopin brings comic relief and a few great songs along with feathers, bells, vanishing powder, and lots of other great stuff up his sleeve. Even if kids don't really pay atention to him, Clopin is a great guy, but then again, so is Quasimodo and Pheobus, they just aren't as happy.
All in all, if you see this movie when you are a kid, you wil want to see this movie when you are older too. I hope that you will find this movie as enjoyable as I did. |
| Rating | | | Date | June 29, 2005 | | Summary | Someone a little different | Content
| Really, I only rate this movie a five star because of one character. This character is not Poebus, Esmerelda, Quasimodo, and deffinatley NOT Frollo. I love the least likely character of all. He is the leader of the gypsies, a children's puppateer, and a happy street performer. This character's name is Clopin Trouillefou! That's right, most haven't even heard his last name, but I am notorious for finding out the weirdest things when I am atracted to a character. Like age, height, last name, father, mother, etc. and if you look closely, he has fangs. Heh heh, no more from me, I won't spoil any of the moive. All I will say is that it is an interesting tale with many colorful characters, but I still like Clopin Trouillefou the best! |
| Rating | | | Date | June 14, 2005 | | Summary | Beauty and the Beast....only darker and with issues | Content
| What a problem classic Disney style animation had in the last half of the nineties. No animated film could surpass the success of The Lion King, the new style of computer animation began winning over audiences with Toy Story, and the creative team was pushing for more "serious" and "realistic" stories even as some people were begining to lament the dour, political correctness of Pocahontas.
But lets talk about THIS film. How to describe this unusual entry in the Disney movie cannon? It's Beauty and the Beast...only darker and with issues.
It follows the story of Quasimodo, the shut-in abused child (like Cinderella) who's dream is to be accepted by the world. The movie opens in grand operatic style, as Judge Frollo (a judge with some religious status, I'm not up on church hierarchies of the time) kills Quasi's mom right in front of a church's (almost) deserted steps. The film has lots of such heightened theatrics that are very effective...and too intense for some youngsters.
Frollo is forced to adopt Quasi by the priest who witnesses the act. There's strong pathos for Quasi as we witness the disturbing views of Judge Frollo pushed on him in daily lessons about the "cruel world" that can only see him as "deformed and ugly." Frollo tells him to never venture out of the cathedral, but of course Quasi listens to his heart and does anyway. He then falls for the gypsy girl Esmerelda (who, just like Pocahantas, is quite sexy for a Disney heroine. Considering Frollo lusts after her through much of the movie, it makes sense). Esmerelda is voiced by Demi Moore, and Pheobus, the captain of the guard who also falls for her (hey, the girl's got it) is voiced by Kevin Kline.
The wise-cracking gargoyle sidekicks and the street performer that narrates (sings) the introduction and gets the showstopping "Feast of Fools" number, round out the cast.
I was really taken with this movie when it was first released and I still admire it, but now I see it as a product of this difficult period in classic-style animation. It's skill in animation and it's heavier dramatic themes make it some kind of unique achievement, but the mood to watch it doesn't strike me as much as it once did.
The good thing is the wisecracking sidekicks are kept in check for the sake of better drama. I like sidekick characters. Aladdin's genie and Mulan's Mushu certainly added great appeal to those films, but some movies pile on the gags when I just want to see what the human characters are thinking. But where's the magic and fantasy? Not every animated film has to be Aladdin, but the "serious and realistic" trend that Disney (and Dreamworks with Prince of Egypt) was following at the time really seems misguided in hindsight. But Hercules, which followed this movie, wasn't widely appreciated either. Disney eventually went to broader comedy like The Emperor's New Groove or cheaper productions like Brother Bear and straight to video. Dreamworks made a good effort at resurrecting fantasy with Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas. But the moment for classic-style animation was fleeting. Computer animated fare like Shrek and the Increbibles are the rage now. I would like to see this style make a comeback. Maybe it's due for one.
If you want an animated musical with darker than usual themes and done with great skill, this movie is a must see. But if you're like me, most of the time you're more in the mood for something like Aladdin or Sinbad. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 24, 2005 | | Summary | A Good Movie | Content
| The 1st time I saw this movie was when I was a sophomore in high school because we were singing the music to it in my chorus class as a part of a show that we were doing for elementary students, and the teacher wanted us to hear the songs in the movie to let us hear how they were supposed to sound. When I saw the movie, I really liked it and knew that I had to buy it when it came out. I finally got it for Christmas and was glad. I have to say that this is a good movie and is recommended to any huge Disney fan. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 01, 2005 | | Summary | Rated G? | Content
| This should be rated PG-13 for violence ( the scene when
esmerelda is burning ), cursing ( there Is a song with cursing
in it ), and other very innapropiate scenes. And THAT'S only
half an hour of this dreadful movie. This could also be rated
R, which could very well be possible. It has a very creepy
setting for everyone, young and old, and should be ignored
by every family in the country. This movie has the horrible
music from the same song-writer as the little mermaid. Walt
Disney would be terrified if he viewed this movie. There hasn't
been a good disney movie that wasn't directed by Walt Disney
since Mulan, Mulan II, and the Emperor's New Groove.
Disney should stop using Europe as a setting. It's booooriiing.
At this point, seeing Europe is like seeing a pencil. Been there,
done that.
If you are planning to watch this movie, don't. It really should
be rated PG-13, or even rated R. Thank you. |
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