 "the best disney movie of the decade" | 2010-07-19 |
| - Reviewed By Bertha Carrillo |
I know when you see the caption you'll think Oh this guy is in love with Disney, While that statement it could be true watch this movie and you'll see the description is exactly right because it combines the author novel and yes some disney style stuff nevertheless it does not cheapen it.
So go ahead watch it and buy it. |
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| "Fast, friendly and in great condition!" | 2010-07-15 |
| - Reviewed By Norman's friend (Los Angeles, CA) |
| The DVD was delivered quickly and in the condition promised. They're also very friendly. Thank you!! |
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 "QUASI ...BUT NOT QUITE." | 2010-06-30 |
| - Reviewed By Paco Calderón from Mexico City, Mexico |
Quasimodo and James Bond share the same problem: each time around they grow more "politically correct" and thus less interesting.
Not to offend anyone, Quasimodo here is no longer ugly, retarded, or deaf. He's not much of a hunchback even. Lucky for him there's no bellringers lobby, or he'd be out of a job too! Instead, he's now "Quasi", a cute red-haired fellow with winning buckteeth smile, amiable manners, average intelligence, and -give or take- the body of a swimmer. He's so impossible to fear or hate, he's not even flogged at the wheel! Where's the drama after that? Girl tells boy she wants them to "remain friends"?
That's another nugget: Esmeralda follows the same path Bond Girls have. No longer a damsel in distress, she's evolved from self-suficient gal to WonderWoman. Honestly, she tells God "I ask for nothing; I can get by", and is not kidding; voiced by Demi Moore, she's a medieval G.I.Jane (G.I.Gypsy?) so athletic and resourceful she can disappear at will, jump over rivers, swoosh down tall buildings, stop a platoon, keep a mob at bay, walk through flames, and presumably chew Paris whole and spit it out as an Orlando themepark. Who does she need to save her from poor horny Frollo?
Frollo, he's no longer a priest but a "judge" (to bypass the religious fringe, I guess). But he's not a fearsome villain either. He's so repulsive there's nothing about him to like, and no great villain can do without charm. Not in a Disney movie, they don't. True, the original Frollo was also a bore, but at least he was somewhat pitiable. Here, he's just a self-righteous bigot. Captain Phoebus -Esmeralda's beau and a vain scoundrel in the book- appears as a klutzy good guy who takes the girl away from Quasimodo in the end. Only Djali the goat stays true to her character.
As for the gargoyles, what can I say: comic sidekicks are a Disney tradition. As such, they work just fine. It's the movie itself that doesn't ring a bell. It's halfway between a kiddie's movie and one for grown ups. I believe Disney, once it decided to go with this somber story, should have taken the risk whole, pushed the envelope altogether, and made this its first adult animated movie -humps, blood, warts and all.
P.S.: Those who complain that Disney takes too many liberties with Hugo's novel should take into consideration that -in their original stories- Mowgli skins Shere Kahn, Hercules kills Megara and their children, Prince Philip rapes Aurora in her sleep, and Pinocchio squashes Jiminy Cricket with a hammer. Who wants to see Quasimodo starve to death next to Esmeralda's corpse; their embraced skeletons turning into dust?
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| "Loved Since I was Six" | 2010-06-04 |
| - Reviewed By Tana Goar from Seattle, WA |
This has been my favorite Disney movie since I first saw it when it came out when I was six years old. Although I agree with reviewers who warn that the material might be too heavy for some children, I loved this movie when I saw it as a young girl and love it to this day. I believe that NO child should just be plopped down in front of a movie of this depth without parental guidance ready to have the conversations this movie's material can begin. I was fascinated by discussions I could have because of this beautifully animated, wonderfully sung, fun and frightening Disney movie.
I never liked "scary" or darker movies as a kid. I couldn't stand to watch two seconds of Jurassic Park, the Scary Movies, or even Titan: AE. But I DID love this movie. Don't just dismiss the movie as adult entertainment in an animated package. Yes, exercise SOME caution when deciding whether or not to show this to your young child, but also be aware that some children ARE capable and willing to handle this material at a young age. |
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| "One Of The Underrated Disney Films" | 2010-04-19 |
| - Reviewed By The Movie Critic from Elkton, MD USA |
| I only recently re-discovered this one. While a success, this didn't reach the level that Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King and (to a lesser extent) Pocahontas had achieved, which is a real shame. It seems actual effort was put into this one, making it a definite stand-out among the Disney Renaissance films of the 90s. It wasn't really a kids film compared to the others, due to its darker storyline. Now don't get me wrong, the previous Disney films had effort as well (but I don't think anybody payed attention in history class for Pocahontas) and are good in their own way (though a trifle overrated in my opinion), its just that this, other than the musical numbers and annoying comic relief characters, doesn't have that predictable Disney formula. Quasimodo is a likeable but flawed character. His appearance aside, he isn't the usual lead character who tries to be the hero. He literally believes that everything Frollo says about him and the outside world is true, even as he watches him burn Esmerelda at the stake. Heaven's Light is his standout song, as he wants to be with the gypsy, he fears that she will not love because of his looks. Likewise, Frollo isn't your usual Disney villain, in fact ranking higher than Jafar and Malificent on my list of Disney villains. Though not an Archdeacon in this version, he still considers himself a religious man, doing many evil deeds while proclaiming to do it all in the name of God. His musical sequence, Hellfire, is one of the best to come out of any animated Disney musical in years. Whilst most Disney villain songs proclaim about they're evil schemes and ambitions, Frollo's is a song of inner turmoil, struggling with his "religious" views and his lust for Esmerelda, saying she must choose between him or the fiery pits of Hell. A step up in my opinion from songs like "Gaston" and "Mine, Mine, Mine". Again, Esmerelda isn't your usual Disney heroine. She isn't a princess and she's not a hapless woman who gets in the way of the story. She's able to handle herself in a situation and can hold her own against a man without losing her femininity. Phoebous is your usual good-looking male character but, due to Kevin Kline's voice talent, he doesn't come across as a jerk when he eventually wins over Esmerelda. The gargoyles however are the only annoying point of the movie. Yes they provide someone for Quasimodo to talk to (and it is Mary Wickes' final role) but they feel superfluous as they only serve to interject useless pop culture references in 1480s Paris. The other voice actors, Tony Jay, Tom Hulce and Demi Moore imparticular, add depth, compassion and menace to what some actors would turn into one-dimensional characters. The set pieces (the final battle imparticular though the "humorous" interjections hurt more than help an otherwise great sequence) and the animation are standouts in the Disney canon. With its deep, emotional characters and darker storyline, its a shame Disney hasn't relied on this method in recent productions, The Princess and the Frog just looking like the usual Disney fair with their predictable plot lines (I haven't seen it yet, I'm just judging on what the previews have presented to me but the villain does look pretty cool). |
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| "You Go Quasi" | 2010-03-21 |
| - Reviewed By Michael Patrick Boyd from Waukesha, WI |
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is one hour and twenty-seven minutes and was released in theaters on June 21, 1996. The movie tells about a deformed man, named Quasimodo, who lives in the bell towers of Notre Dame. The movies begin with Claude Frollo is arresting a group of gypsies and on of them flees. She tries to save her, but in doing so dies due to Claude Frollo chasing her. Frollo is about to throw the infant down the well when a priest spots him. The priest forces Frollo to save the child but in exchange for the child¡¯s life he most live in Notre Dame and away from people can not see the child. Fast forward twenty some years and Quasimodo is the bell ringer of Notre Dame and the town folks of Paris thinks a monster lives up there. Quasimodo yearns to be out from the bell tower and wants to be accepted among the people, but Frollo has told Quasimodo that it is a cruel world out there and because of his deformity would not be accepted among the people. Longing to be out of the bell tower, Quasimodo sneaks out and attends the Feast of Fools festival. He is crowned King of Fools but Frollo orders the guards to tie him down to a wooden turntable and the crowd throws rotten food at him. Quasimodo begs for his master help, but Frollo will do nothing because Quasimodo disobeyed his orders. Finally Esmeralda comes and unties Quasimodo and insults Claude Frollo. Frollo is upset with the insult and accuses Esmeralda of witchcraft and orders her arrested. Esmeralda flees with her pet goat named Djali. I know I am skipping about ¨÷ of the movie, but in the past I have been accused of giving out too much information. Frollo orders a city wide search for Esmeralda, even if Paris has to burn to the ground. When Frollo, Captain Phoebus, and the guards reach the home of family accused of hiding gypsies Phoebus finally sees the true Frollo. When Phoebus leaves the house Frollo, Frollo closes the door and secures it shut. Frollo orders the house to be burned with the trapped family inside it. Phoebus disobeys the orders and put out the lighted torch. Frollo sets the home on fire and Phoebus goes in to rescues the family. Frollo orders the guards to arrest him and Phoebus flees the guards by jumping off a bridge into the river below, but not before he is severely wounded in the chase. Esmeralda rescues Captain Phoebus and takes him to Quasimodo to hide and care for him. The two later team up and look for Esmeralda and the Court of Miracles to warn the gypsies that Claude Frollo is planning to attack this place at dawn. Unbeknownst to Phoebus and Quasimodo, Frollo and the guards were following the two to the Court of Miracles. The next day Frollo orders the execution of the gypsies and Phoebus. Frollo gives Esmeralda one last chance at life to be with him, she refuses and is burned at the stake. Our hero, Quasimodo, comes down and rescues Esmeralda and this turns the people of Paris against Frollo and the guards and a mini revolution begins. Phoebus is able to escape from the cage he is in and join the people in the fight. Claude Frollo goes after Quasimodo to kill him. In the fight between Quasimodo and Claude Frollo, Frollo reveals to Quasimodo that he is the one responsible for the death of his mother and that his mother did not abandon at all. Claude Frollo death comes when one of the gargoyle spouts comes to life and breaks off and this sends Frollo to the molten metal below. The Hunchback of Notre Dame deals with a lot of social issues like religious hypocrisy, prejudice, and social injustice. The Hunchback of Notre Dame gets an AAA+++.
DVD FEATURES
Chapter Selections
Set Up
Bonus Features
A) The Making of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
B) Audio Commentary
C) Topsy Turvy Underground Game
D) Topsy Turvy Sing-Along Song
E) ¡°A Guy Like You¡± Multi-Language Reel
Sneak Peeks
A) Beauty and the Beast
B) Tarzan & Jane
C) Max Keeble¡¯s Big Move
D) The Hunchback of Notre Dame II
E) Disney DVD
F) The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
G) Schoolhouse Rock
H) American Legends
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