The Hunchback of Notre Dame
1996
I don’t like shoes. Really. I have claustrophobic toes. They don’t like to be enclosed in tight spaces ever. If forced to wear footwear, I’ll always go for flip flops, even in winter. But I’d always prefer to be barefoot. So would Esmeralda, the resident gypsy of this movie. I think I’d make a good gypsy. I’ve already got the whole anti shoe thing down. And if it means I’ll get a pet goat, sign me up!
Once upon a time in Paris, a gypsy is running away from the law with her baby. She attempts to go to Notre Dame Cathedral, but is stopped by Frollo, a judge, then promptly killed by him. Frollo is a bad man. So bad he takes the woman’s baby and nearly drops it down a well, because Frollo finds him ugly. Jerk.
Fortunately for the baby, the archdeacon for the church tells Frollo dropping babies down wells is a really bad thing to do, and commands him to raise the baby, since he killed the mother. Reluctantly, Frollo agrees to do this, as long as he can keep the “monster” in the bell tower at the cathedral. He names the baby Quasimodo, which means “half formed.” Jerk.
Quasimodo grows up to be a big strong man, due to the fact he spends his days ringing heavy bells. He’s also grown up to be extremely deformed, with a hunched back, and uneven face. But inside dwells a beautiful, gentle soul, somewhat content with his life. He would like to leave his bell tower though. He is a little bit tired of staying inside all the time, and he really wants to go to the Festival of Fools, but once he asks Frollo, who he believes saved him as a baby, Frollo says no. Jerk.
After consulting his gargoyle friends, Victor, Hugo, and Laverne, Quasimodo decides it’s an excellent idea to sneak out and visit the festival. There he meets the beautiful Esmeralda, and becomes quite enchanted with her. He’s not the only one. Phoebus, the captain of the Guard in Paris, also becomes quite enamored with the lovely girl. So does Frollo, but in a super creepy lustful way. Jerk.
While at the festival, Quasimodo is crowned the King of Fools, because he has the most hideous disguise.
What the crowd people don’t know is that his actual face is the ugly thing. Once they find out, they begin to fling rotten fruit at him. Frollo looks on, pleased at their actions, because he believes it will teach Quasimodo a lesson. Jerk.
As she watches the crowd’s response, Esmeralda becomes appalled. She scolds everyone, Frollo included, saying that they should leave him alone. This makes Frollo mad, and he orders her arrest. Jerk.
Before she can be arrested, Esmeralda runs into Notre Dame, and is informed by Phoebus that she may claim Sanctuary. Once she does Frollo is unable to arrest her, but he can threaten to do so if she ever leaves the cathedral. Since she is a gypsy, Frollo knows that Esmeralda cannot stay inside forever. Jerk.
Esmeralda needs not worry. Quasimodo helps Esmeralda escape, as payback for helping him at the festival. In return for his help, Esmeralda gives him a map to the Court of Miracles, where all the gypsies dwell. Meanwhile, Frollo, driven by lust, orders a search for Esmeralda. He even burns down houses of innocent people. Jerk.
Phoebus can take no more of this, and he stands up against Frollo. Frollo reacts by ordering his death. Jerk.
Luckily for him, Phoebus is not killed, just injured, and Esmeralda rescues him. She takes him to Quasimodo so she can heal him in safety. As she is healing him, they begin to bond. A very, very tight bond. While they are developing this special bond, Frollo returns. Thinking quickly, Quasimodo hides Phoebus under the table, and Esmeralda escapes. Frollo tells Quasimodo he plans on attacking the Court of Miracles at dawn to get rid of the gypsies. Jerk.
Quasimodo wakes up Phoebus and together they find the court to warn everyone there that the Guard is coming. They race off, only to find it was a trap to lead Frollo to the court. He captures Esmeralda, and prepares to burn her at the stake. Jerk.
In a blur of events, Quasimodo and Phoebus save Esmeralda, and Frollo falls off the cathedral. Yay! Bye jerk! All of the citizens learn to be more tolerant of people who are different, and Esmeralda and Phoebus kiss. The end.
Okay. I have decided that I like this movie. Kind of. Maybe? I’m not sure. I’ve decided that I have mixed feelings on this film. On the one hand, I do like that it has a deep message, that lack of tolerance (of religion, race, disabilities, ect., ) can lead to ones destruction, and I love that it’s okay with using dark themes and imagery to get this point across, even in a “children’s” movie.
On the other hand, they butchered the original story Victor Hugo created many a year ago. In the book, everyone dies. EVERYONE. Not just Frollo; Quasimodo, Esmeralda, Clopin, and many other gypsies and random people. Also, the actual characters themselves were messed up. Phoebus was one of the more evil people in the book, as he didn’t care about Esmeralda whatsoever and just wanted to sleep with her. Esmeralda herself was quiet and meek, nothing like her bold, loud personality in the movie. So as an avid book lover, this movie hurts me a little. But not badly enough, as it does have some redemptive qualities that make this not a total waste of ninety three minutes.
Movie Watching Budd(y)(ies): I don’t think anyone watched this with me. This is getting depressing.
Best Song: “God Help the Outcast.” For a Disney movie, this song is surprisingly deep and profound.
Best Part: Hmm. I’ll get back to you on that one.
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