Tuesday, February 8, 2011

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) Review

This film has the same basic idea and moral as 1991's Beauty and The Beast. Adapted from the classic by Victor Hugo it tells the tale of Quasimodo (Voiced by Academy Award Nominee, Tom Hulce), The deformed bell ringer who has been locked away in the bell tower of Notre Dame by his cruel master Judge Claude Frollo (Tony Jay). Frollo tells Quasi that he is a monster not a man and that the world would never accept him as anything more. Urged on by his friends the Gargoyles, Victor (Charles Kimbrough), Hugo (Jason Alexander), and Laverne (Mary Wickes with additional dialog by Jane Withers). Quasi disobeys his evil guardian and ventures into the city on the day of The Festival Of Fools. The crowd rejects him and tortures him because of the way he looks. After being disgraced and mistreated Quasi meets Esmeralda, the beautiful kind gypsy girl voiced by Demi Moore, and the heroic and often humorous Captain Phoebus (Academy Award Winner Kevin Kline).

Quasimodo finds himself battling his master (and his band of guards) to save the city and the people he loves and through all of this he finds out the truth about his past and is able to rise above evil and Judge Claude Frollo is destroyed in the fiery pit.

This film is a masterpiece. Alan Menken's original score sets the mood for the film while Stephen Schwartz's lyrics always tell the story that needs to be told.

It is at times darker and more violent than it's thirty-three predecessors. Still children of all ages will adore the songs and hilarious characters and parents will love the uplifting and thrilling story with a heart touching message that emerges from the film's dark undertone

I recommend it

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