The Hunchback of Notre Dame
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DVD details
Actor: Demi Moore, Tom HulceBrand: Disney
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: Anamorphic, Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 91 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-03-19
Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Video
DVD Reviews of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
DVD Review: The Most Amazing Disney Film to Date
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie, it is fair to state, took a great number of artistic liberties as far as adherence to the original plot as set by Victor Hugo, the author of the original work titled Notre Dame de Paris.
I would like to state, however, that one should expect Disney to take such liberties when attempting to animate such a masterpiece. Although Hugo's work is absolutely magnificent on its own, the Disney film compliments it in astounding manner. It serves as an introduction to the work itself for the lovers of the film who are not yet mature enough to read Hugo's work.
For those who posted negative reviews regarding the distortion of the story--I would like to remind these people that Hugo's work was over 500 pages long. One could therefore deduce, by simple common sense, that the hour-and-then-some movie is going to have to cover the "bare essentials" and leave out some details. It is also my regretful duty to remind that this IS Disney, so they won't be showing Frollo's attempted murder of Phoebus or anything which bears graphic nature of that caliber on a childrens' film. One can draw said conclusion without needing to view the film--so don't bother to give it a bad review because of that.
The positive aspects of this film are numerous and valid. The main purpose this film serves is, in my opinion, as an introduction to Hugo's work. It is an incentive to seek out the literature which would be otherwise forgotten.
Such is the state of the human condition. In our Twilight-infested era, literature is [for the most part] forgotten unless it is forced down our throats in high school/college. Anyone who finds personal reading to be a pleasurable activity can sympathize with the resistance students exhibit at the forced literature. Yes, most of this literature is of magnificent quality and most of these children are too moronic to appreciate its beauty. It is safe to state that most of these children would not glance upon the canon books if they weren't required to do so by their curriculum.
This "required" feeling, however, engenders resentment in the child. He shall not learn to appreciate this priceless literature. He will instead liken it to a chore--something tedious to be dealt with in order to move on with his life. This is the tragedy of our modern era--an era where "Dross is Gold", as Clopin so cleverly sings in "Topsy Turvy".
By providing children, while young, with beautiful animated adaptations of timeless tales, one is discouraging the "requirement" attitude and inspiring in the mind of the young child a pleasurable sentiment regarding literature.
Disney, in making this film, attempted to draw attention to classic literature in a format which most children would appreciate. Hunchback, with its exquisite animation and spectacular, rich selection of memorable music, is quite possibly Disney's last production of something worthy of bearing its name. Although they make attempts to "water down" certain scenes, omit some characters and change the plot considerably in order to fit time/content requirements, the Disney team ultimately produces a certain masterpiece.
Quasimodo's story in the Disney film is a touching one, whereas in Hugo's novel he was not given the privilege of hearing, thus stealing from his element. Esmeralda is not as focused upon in the film as in the book, however, she provides young viewers with lessons on acceptance and courage. Frollo, although not as multi-faceted as in the Hugo novel, proves himself to be THE most complex and human of all Disney villains. Unlike most villains in Disney films, Frollo possesses no magical powers. His sort of terror is a more realistic one which history has witnessed throughout the ages. Moreover, Frollo is enamoured with Esmeralda, the dancer who belongs to the "heathen race" he so despises--and this longing for her love whilst hating everything she is ensures an intersting inner conflict experience.
Frollo is a fascinating Disney villain largely because of that--inner conflict. Inner conflict is usually reserved for protagonists in children's stories, whose authors for whatever reason prefer to make the villain one-dimensional and plain. Frollo is none of these things. The man is cruel, wicked and clever to the end, however, he is weak in the innermost fibers of his being. He puts forth a facade of strength and righteousness, yet in the dark hours of the night, he makes it known to his own hallucinations how weak, powerless and lost he truly is. Flawed as he is, Frollo attributes his lack of righteousness to Esmeralda and her "spells", yet one believes him to know that it is he and not she who is at the bottom of his own undoing.
Overall, the story is more complicated than the average Disney viewer would be accustomed to. It is this quality which renders Hunchback as unique among the Disney cannon and it is for that wonderful complexity that this movie goes down as my favourite Disney movie of all time.
I highly recommend it, especially for older children who will better understand the storyline and appreciate the content of the film. It serves as a great introductor to the world of classic literature and shall hopefully inspire a whole new generation of intellectual youth [an endangered species].
For the parents who are purchasing this film for older children [young teens], I highly encourage you to purchase Hugo's original work as well. I make the same recommendation to those who find pleasure in viewing this beautiful film and are mature enough to read Hugo's novel. I highly encourage you, no matter what group you are part of, to read and watch and then compare the two in the end. This shall ignite the spark which causes critical thinking to manifest. This shall provide one with an enlightening reading/viewing experience and improve one's ability to recognize artistic license, question the choices made by the film maker, appreciate the changes, and --most importantly-- appreciate the original work.
Ultimately, I wish for this film to be the vessel through which Hugo's work makes its presence known to the modern world. I am a fan of both the film and the book, as I have undoubtedly expressed. :)
Description of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Inspired by Victor Hugo's classic novel, Disney brings the heroic adventures of Quasimodo, the gentle and lonely bell ringer of Notre Dame, to spectacular life. This critically acclaimed Disney masterpiece is an "uplifting, thrilling story with a heart-touching message that emerges from the comedy and song" (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times).
At the urging of his hilarious gargoyle pals Victor, Hugo, and Laverne, Quasimodo leaves the solitary safety of his tower, venturing out to find his first true friend, the gypsy beauty Esmerelda. The most unlikely of heroes, Quasi fights to save the people and the city he loves and, in turn, helps us to see people for who they are, rather than how they appear. The star-studded voice cast includes Jason Alexander, Tom Hulce, Kevin Kline, and Demi Moore in a magnificent Disney musical from renowned composer Alan Menken.
- Product Measures: 0.61" x 5.34" x 7.5"
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