It is one of the most spread messages that parents and teachers send to kids: beauty is only skin deep... And so is ugliness.
Disney already used this phrase only 5 years before making "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". It was in "Beauty and the Beast", which was an adaptation of an old French tale. Coincidentally, the directors (Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise) are the same for both movies.
Here, Disney creators stay within the same culture, but they use a more mature and serious title instead: Victor Hugo's "Notre Dame de Paris". And that's where the danger was. How can you take a very serious, mature and dark story and make it suitable for young children? We can say, once we see the final product, that is a success, but it is far from being a masterpiece like "Beauty".
Some very serious themes remain from the original story. The characters (at least those who are portrayed on screen) are the same and they're very well pictured. Quasimodo, who is one of the best animated interpretations of physical ugliness since a very long time, never sends a doubt that he is one of the most gentle men of Paris. Gypsy dancer Esmeralda reveals her hot beauty without sinking into the too-sexy or the scandalous. Courageous captain Phoebus is nice too, as he shows himself as somebody who do the right thing instead of instinctively obeying to the orders.
Evidently, gypsy-hating judge Claude Frollo is here too, but as a much darker and creepier role than portrayed in the book. There isn't a single moment in the movie where Frollo isn't accompanied by darkness, rain, fire, or any other element which portrays evil. Sometimes, he is simply too much dark and terrifying to be cast in what is supposed to be a children's/family movie. In a sense, he recalls me Judge Doom in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit".
Such a movie wouldn't have been released by Disney if there weren't any comic stuff inserted. This time, the mood enhancers are the three gargoyles who accompany Quasimodo in his bell-tower. They mostly succeed in their laugh delivering mission, but they often say ridiculous lines, such as "You're human, with the flesh, and the hair, and the navel lint." and act in ridiculous situations, such as a poker game which is an excuse for a freewheeling love song.
Talking about the songs, they're not astonishing. They're often located in the wrong moments and the soundtrack won't get any Billboard hit. It's a serious downfall after the success of songs belonging to previous movies. In "Little Mermaid", there's "Under the Sea". In "Beauty and the Beast", there's "Be my Guest". In "Aladdin", there's "A Whole New World". In "The Lion King", there are "Circle of Life" and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (thanks Elton). In "Pocahontas", there's "Colours of the Winds". In "The Hunchback", there is... That's the point: there's nothing.
Animation is good, but not everywhere. The city of Paris lacks of a magic touch, but Notre Dame is superb. The basilica is drawn on a monumental scale and becomes a divine entity, with the help of some quotes, particularly from Phoebus' part. The Gothic architecture and the windows are a feast for the eyes. Fire effects are also remarkable.
"The Hunchback of the Notre Dame" is not a disaster, but it's a sign that Disney has jumped the shark. That's what happens when you run out of fairy tales or children's books in order to get a storyline. But the message is here and children should have lessons to learn here.
Disney already used this phrase only 5 years before making "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". It was in "Beauty and the Beast", which was an adaptation of an old French tale. Coincidentally, the directors (Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise) are the same for both movies.
Here, Disney creators stay within the same culture, but they use a more mature and serious title instead: Victor Hugo's "Notre Dame de Paris". And that's where the danger was. How can you take a very serious, mature and dark story and make it suitable for young children? We can say, once we see the final product, that is a success, but it is far from being a masterpiece like "Beauty".
Some very serious themes remain from the original story. The characters (at least those who are portrayed on screen) are the same and they're very well pictured. Quasimodo, who is one of the best animated interpretations of physical ugliness since a very long time, never sends a doubt that he is one of the most gentle men of Paris. Gypsy dancer Esmeralda reveals her hot beauty without sinking into the too-sexy or the scandalous. Courageous captain Phoebus is nice too, as he shows himself as somebody who do the right thing instead of instinctively obeying to the orders.
Evidently, gypsy-hating judge Claude Frollo is here too, but as a much darker and creepier role than portrayed in the book. There isn't a single moment in the movie where Frollo isn't accompanied by darkness, rain, fire, or any other element which portrays evil. Sometimes, he is simply too much dark and terrifying to be cast in what is supposed to be a children's/family movie. In a sense, he recalls me Judge Doom in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit".
Such a movie wouldn't have been released by Disney if there weren't any comic stuff inserted. This time, the mood enhancers are the three gargoyles who accompany Quasimodo in his bell-tower. They mostly succeed in their laugh delivering mission, but they often say ridiculous lines, such as "You're human, with the flesh, and the hair, and the navel lint." and act in ridiculous situations, such as a poker game which is an excuse for a freewheeling love song.
Talking about the songs, they're not astonishing. They're often located in the wrong moments and the soundtrack won't get any Billboard hit. It's a serious downfall after the success of songs belonging to previous movies. In "Little Mermaid", there's "Under the Sea". In "Beauty and the Beast", there's "Be my Guest". In "Aladdin", there's "A Whole New World". In "The Lion King", there are "Circle of Life" and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (thanks Elton). In "Pocahontas", there's "Colours of the Winds". In "The Hunchback", there is... That's the point: there's nothing.
Animation is good, but not everywhere. The city of Paris lacks of a magic touch, but Notre Dame is superb. The basilica is drawn on a monumental scale and becomes a divine entity, with the help of some quotes, particularly from Phoebus' part. The Gothic architecture and the windows are a feast for the eyes. Fire effects are also remarkable.
"The Hunchback of the Notre Dame" is not a disaster, but it's a sign that Disney has jumped the shark. That's what happens when you run out of fairy tales or children's books in order to get a storyline. But the message is here and children should have lessons to learn here.