movies/tv Hunchback of Notre Dame. Does it not get enough recognition?

[ManaMinori 4,149]

I know it's an old movie compared to Frozen, but I swear, the musical numbers are absolutely phenomenal, and if put up against Frozen's "let it go", in spite of the movie's old age, could blow it right out of the water, even today. Quasimodo's song, "Out There", and Clopin's "the Bells of Notre Dame" which was sung/ narrated the movie's opening sequence are both stellar numbers with ridiculously talnted singers. (Though they're shorter, less powerful songs, Court of Miracles, Topsy-Turvey, and Heaven's Light are also wonderful)

 

Any thoughts on Disney's ghe Hunchback of Notre Dame, it's musical numbers, and how it can hold up against questionably acclaimed, overhyped movies from Disney, today? (Like Frozen).

 

Am I the only one wanting a sequel based around best character, Clopin, and his story of how he came to be the king of gypsies?

[Guest]

I definitely think it is one of the more underrated Disney movies. 

 

My favorite Disney song of all time is from the Hunchback.

 

[Castle Bleck 19,461]

It's the Disney movie that: A.) got the most crap past the radar and B.) introduced me to Tony Jay (R.I.P.).

 

How could I forget?

Edited December 21, 2015 by A.V.

[Megas 28,156]

Still one of my favorite Disney Movies of all time. Compared to other movies, I'd say it could use some more love, but otherwise people still seem to love it

[Mesme Rize 15,692]

OMG, a discussion about an animated disney movie.

 

*Leaves everything on the table and jumps on*

 

Hunchback is indeed the most underrated disney movie ever, simply for the fact that it's source material is so dark and disturbing, that it seems impossible to be disneyfied. But behold, Disney pulled it off and even kept some of it's darkness, eventhough

compared to the book, where every main character dies, this one has a happy end.[/spoilers].

 

The reason why it didn't made so well back then, was because parents weren't sure if children should watch it, so the movie didn't made as well as previous Disney movies.

 

But the movie has a great story and a great soundtrack, which is standard for every movie that Alan Menken did.

 

But if i would give one critique to the movie, is that the gargoyles where getting on my nerves sometimes. But it didn't ruin the movie for me.

[ManaMinori 4,149]

I definitely think it is one of the more underrated Disney movies. 

 

My favorite Disney song of all time is from the Hunchback.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NP-RsRGzVo

I seriously didn't like the Hellfire song. Or Frollo. A song about how this seriously old guy has sexual desires for this 16 year old girl, then he sets all of Paris ablaze, looking for her, not caring of the casualties? Deranged perv-o-meter radar is off the charts!

[Mesme Rize 15,692]

I seriously didn't like the Hellfire song. Or Frollo. A song about how this seriously old guy has sexual desires for this 16 year old girl, then he sets all of Paris ablaze, looking for her, not caring of the casualties? Deranged perv-o-meter radar is off the charts!

 

But that makes him such a great villain. He is real and, again, not one of your typical Disney villains. People who have a power and want even more power, will do everything to get what they want, even if it means that other people suffer around him and that was even the case in the middle ages.

[ManaMinori 4,149]

OMG, a discussion about an animated disney movie.

 

*Leaves everything on the table and jumps on*

 

Hunchback is indeed the most underrated disney movie ever, simply for the fact that it's source material is so dark and disturbing, that it seems impossible to be disneyfied. But behold, Disney pulled it off and even kept some of it's darkness, eventhough

compared to the book, where every main character dies, this one has a happy end.[/spoilers].

 

The reason why it didn't made so well back then, was because parents weren't sure if children should watch it, so the movie didn't made as well as previous Disney movies.

 

But the movie has a great story and a great soundtrack, which is standard for every movie that Alan Menken did.

 

But if i would give one critique to the movie, is that the gargoyles where getting on my nerves sometimes. But it didn't ruin the movie for me.

I found the gargoyles pretty unnecessary. They took away from the serious moments, like in the middle of "heaven's light", they're acting like children and providing comic relief that isn't necessary as Quasi's singing a sad/ uplifting song. And same at the end of the movie, as the camera zooms out over Paris, There's all these pigeons that land on The older one, and she's yelling at them, and that distracts from the serene view and feeling of peacefulness of a happy ending, when some old lady gargoyle is fussing at flying rats.

 

I agred the movie is dark, and something I can agree with parents not letting their children see (I certainly wouldn't want to expose my kid-if I had one- to a story about pedos killing people and burning cities to the ground, for lust of a sexy 16 year old girl; or good guys who have no qualms about killing the main charas (though it is justified, as the gypsies are only trying to protect themselves and their own kind, so I can't blame Clopin for that)

[CoffeeBeard 76]

I seriously didn't like the Hellfire song. Or Frollo. A song about how this seriously old guy has sexual desires for this 16 year old girl, then he sets all of Paris ablaze, looking for her, not caring of the casualties? Deranged perv-o-meter radar is off the charts!

I really loved the Hellfire song, the only thing little thing I didn't like about Frollo was that they changed him from him being a priest in the original story, to a judge in Disney's version. Although Hellfire is good in english, I actually prefer it in Swedish, because Frollos voice is a bit darker and because the rolling of his "r" is awesome

 

Here it is in Swedish by the way

 

Edited December 21, 2015 by RockingIron

[ManaMinori 4,149]

But that makes him such a great villain. He is real and, again, not one of your typical Disney villains. People who have a power and want even more power, will do everything to get what they want, even if it means that other people suffer around him and that was even the case in the middle ages.

I know. I know. And I appreciate the fact that he wasn't a villian who had a tragic backstory, or evil for the sake of being evil. I do. But stars above, the deranged, lust-driven, holier than though mindset and character just gave me Starlight-Glimmer level villain unsetling willies.

[Seraph 128]

If you had asked me this back in 2009 I'd say "Yes Absolutely." now however, not so much especially with the rise of appreciation of Hunchback in recent years. Even when it came out it did extremely well it just faded a bit more from the public consciousness a little faster than I think anyone expected. It's had such a large resurgence in the most recent years in popularity I don't think the words "Underrated" should be applied to it.  

 

The ratings for the movie were still high critically wise and it did very well box office wise. Disney made about 500 million on merchandising alone for the film and it ended up as ranked number 5 in 1996 for how much money it made at the box office managing to make it's money back domestically and doubling it with foreign gross. It was also nominated for several awards including an Academy award for animation which is something that Atlantis The Lost Empire didn't get nominated for or remotely make the same amount of money.  Most critics praised the film for it's themes and this is one of those children's films I can think of where the religious controversy surrounding it didn't hurt the sales or affect the production that much, unlike The Golden Compass which is another kettle of fish.

 

I wouldn't call it underrated though, maybe just forgettable movie wise but not musically wise. I'm not sure, but Underrated doesn't seem to fit.

Edited December 21, 2015 by Seraph

[Melon Blitz 423]

Hunchback is one of my favorite Disney films of all time. Heaven's Light represent!

[cmarston1 5,965]

It definitely one of the most interesting Disney Movies and is pretty great.

And It really deserves to be recognized as such.

[ManaMinori 4,149]

It's the Disney movie that: A.) got the most crap past the radar and B.) introduced me to Tony Jay (R.I.P.).

 

How could I forget?

yeah, I can't see it having done well if it was released in this day and age, with all the politically correct SJW's, and themes the movie has. Kudos for it all getting past the radar back when it did

[joanro 247]

This is one of the few Disney movies I have actually never seen. I'm not sure why, but I guess it just never really got my attention.

[Fawkes The Phoenix 737]

It's interesting how I found this thread, considering I just watched the movie some days ago. I remember seeing it when I was a kid though, but it was never something that kept me interested. After re-watching the movie I simply love it now. 

 

Everything from the story, to the music, the beautiful animation and the moral is simply perfect. A lot of people seem to dislike the gargoyles, but they work as a comedic relief and I like to think they're just inside Quasimodo's imagination, which actually works and I think that's what was intended in the first place.

 

I'm guessing it's underrated because most of us saw it as kids, and well, I don't think most kids can truly appreciate the depth of the movie, and the religious and sexual connotations it has (Specially in Hellfire).

[Seraph 128]

yeah, I can't see it having done well if it was released in this day and age, with all the politically correct SJW's, and themes the movie has. Kudos for it all getting past the radar back when it did

 

That doesn't make any sense, by that logic a movie like "God's Not Dead" wouldn't have been made or countless other films that deal with the exact same subject and themes after The Hunchback of Notre Dame was released in theaters. 

[redaxted 1,765]

It's one of my favourite Disney movies! I certainly agree that it deserves more recognition. I think it's a good deal better than Frozen, personally. I think it is quite underrated.

Edited December 24, 2015 by Wolves

[Hephzi 10]

I don't think it is underated. Most people who have seen it seem to have enjoyed it. The gargoyles though... Anyway the ending wasn't that great and the battle scene could have been really good but the gargoyles...

In my opinion the original ending where Esmerelda dies and Quasimodo locks himself in the dungeon with the corpse and starves to death would have been better than what we got, but meh.

[Seraph 128]

I don't think it is underated. Most people who have seen it seem to have enjoyed it. The gargoyles though... Anyway the ending wasn't that great and the battle scene could have been really good but the gargoyles...

In my opinion the original ending where Esmerelda dies and Quasimodo locks himself in the dungeon with the corpse and starves to death would have been better than what we got, but meh.

If the Gargoyles were just downplayed the film would have been better for it. Also, I'm glad I found someone else who read the book, though I think the books ending would be more suitable in a live action adaptation. It actually was in a few of the live action adaptations and it did work fairly well. Perhaps they'll make a more updated version of it in the future. 

Edited January 2, 2016 by Seraph