Hunchback of Norte Dame Review Celebrating 30 Years of this film

 

The Hunchback of Notre Dame Review

To celebrate 30 years of this classic Disney film from the Renaissance, here is my review of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. 

Based on Victor Hugo's novel the Hunchback of Norte Dame it's about a man with kyphosis named Quasimodo voiced by Tom Hulce, a kind hearted man who wants to see the world, have friends, and live in the real world, but his cartaker Count Frollo forbidens him and tells him the world would treated him horribly because of his deformed back as he would be a monster in their eyes. 

He lives in Notre Dame in Paris, rings the bells, and has gargoyle friends Victor, Hugo, and Laverne. Voiced by Charles Kimbrough, Jason Alexander, and Mary Wickes. 

Also, Hugo is in love with Esmerelda’s goat, Djali, for some reason. 

Fun fact: these three are named after Victor Hugo and his wife. In the film, he talks to them, and a lot of people say they should have just been in his head, and they shouldn't have actually helped Quasimodo during the final battle, but it's a Disney film. Now the gargoyles encourage Quasimodo to leave Notre Dame, but Count Frollo won't allow it. 

Now, Frollo is one of the best Disney villains, if you look at my top Disney Villains. He adopted Quasimodo after he killed his parents and was advised by the archbishop to raise him as his own. However, Frollo tries to hide him and is not a good father to him. He is a judge who believes that he is doing god's work by killing the gyspys and burning innocent people. Frollo was one of the darkest Disney villains, showing no remorse and having a lust for Esmerelda. The great Tony Jay also voiced him because the song "Hellfire" was epic and evil to the core. 

Now, in the film, we meet Phoebus, voiced by Kevin Kline—a knight who Frollo hires to take out the gyspys and keep order. However, Phoebus is a noble knight and would never do that. Phoebus was one of the coolest characters in the film. He showed that even though he fights for law and order, he won't kill innocent people, and he knows the difference between right and wrong. He is also in love with Esmeralda, and he becomes a brother to Quasimoto. 

We also meet Esmeralda, voiced by Demi Moore, a beautiful Romani woman who is trying to end the hate her people face and speaks out against the injustices inflicted by Frollo. She also had a pet goat named Djali, whom Hugo is in love with it.

Fun Fact: Esmeralda was actually named a Disney princess, but after the film didn't do well at the box office, they unmade her a Disney princess. When she meets Quasimodo, she teaches him that the world is not as cruel as Frollo makes it seem. Unlike in the original book, she doesn't die, nor does Quasimodo. Quasimodo falls in love with her, but he's not sure she has those feelings for him, since she cares about him and treats him like anyone else.   

Now Quasimodo wants to go to Topsy Turvy, a fun event Frollo hates, but he decides to go, being encouraged by his gargoyle friends. He goes to Topsy Turvy and meets Esmerelda. 

When she meets him, she's friendly and thinks he's wearing a mask, but she doesn't know yet. 

However, the first time Quasi met someone who didn't judge him by his hunchback. It was love at first sight for him, but we know they don't end up together. However, if you watched Hunchback of Notre Dame 2, we all know Quasi finds love with someone else.  

During the festival, she dances, and Frollo, as you know, develops a lust for her even though he can't because she's a gyspy but we later hear that awesome hellfire song.

Now, what made Hunchback one of Disney's darkest films wasn't the hellfire song, but when Quasi is being humiliated and beaten. To see a main character of a Disney film being abused and treated like crap is something that would make us all sad for them, like when Cinderella's stepsisters ripped her dress.

This scene is so cruel to him. I wonder why Esmerdila stops this, and we get this scene. 

We all know the theme of Hunchback is not to judge someone by what they look like, but by their actions. 

Later, Quasi befriends Esmberllda and develops feelings for her, although she can’t return those feelings. She loves him like a brother and becomes friends with Phoebus. Later, Quasi and Phoebus see what type of man Frollo is, and both go against him. One of the most incredible scenes is when they plan to burn Esmerelda. Quasi, who has given up despite Victor, Hugo, and Laverine encouraging him to save her. When he sees her life endangered, we get this epic scene. 

This was epic, and we all quote this line.

The epic battle in the end was great, and I love Phoebus's speech to the people of Paris about Frollo. 

Now in the end of the film Quasi and his friends defeat Frollo and Frollo's death is actually scary. 

I remember seeing this scene; it scared me, but if you think about it, Quasi does imagine the gargoyles as real. So maybe the Gargoyles were always real, and this gargoyle is sending Frollo to hell for his horrible crimes. 

The film ends with Phoebus and Esmerelda kissing and confessing their love. Quasi accepts it as he loves both of them and wants them to be happy. 

As well, Quasi finally gets accepted and treated with respect and is a hero for saving the gyspys and the people of Paris from Frollo’s tyranny.

It's a heartwarming ending, unlike the book, where Quasi dies alongside Esmeralda. Their skeletons are found, and his bones turn to dust. This is a lot better ending. Overall, I love this film because I have a great time with it. It has some funny moments, some very dark moments, and some of the musical numbers like The Bells of Notre Dame, which, if you go to the real Notre Dame, you are going to sing that song I did when I saw it once, Out There, God Help the Outcasts, Topsy Turvy, and, of course, Hellfire. Also, the cast did a great job voicing their characters, and overall, this is a fun movie.

 I give Hunchback of Notre Dame a 7 out of 10. 

Fun Fact: Belle, Pumbaa, and the magic carpent make cameo appearances in the film.