Diseneycember

Diseneycember

 

So in December 2011 Doug walker  ( who plays the insanely Popular Internet Critic Character The Nostalgia Critic  on That Guy With the Glasses) reviewed all the Disney Featured Films. And Since I have a Blog about the Hunchback of Notre Dame this gives me the right to do a review of a review, clique I know. So Here we go.

Esmeralda in the dungeon of La Tournelle. Illustration by Burdet

Esmeralda in the dungeon of La Tournelle. Illustration by Burdet

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Louis Boulanger's Illustration of Frollo, Esmeralda and Sachette  picture image

Louis Boulanger's Illustration of Frollo, Esmeralda and Sachette

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first I noticed that either Walker hasn’t read the book or it’s been a while. First thing  he claims the book is “Dark and Twisted.”  Now I could I be the twisted one but I don’t find the book that dark or twisted. I mean I guess since main all the characters die and it has a tormented Priest as a main character this qualifies it as “dark” but there are darker books in the world. And dare I say there is a lot of humor. Maybe it’s because it a French story that the darker element stick out and it if were Russian it would fit in. Maybe it’s because people are inclined to thinking the book is of the Gothic Style, which it is not it’s actually Romantic. Anyway the Book will have it’s time here but I disagree with Walker, it’s comparatively darker than some Books but Twisted: No.

 

Aimé de Lemud Illustration of Phoebus Saving Esmeralda from Quasimodo picture image

Aimé de Lemud Illustration of Phoebus saving Esmeralda from Quasimodo

Esmeralda and Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Esmeralda defying Frollo by helping Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmeralda being Tortured  picture image

Esmeralda being Tortured

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another thing that made it clear he doesn’t recall the book is the mentioning of the crimes by Esmeralda and Quasimodo. He says that Quasimodo “accidently commits some sort of crime” and he claims that Esmeralda is not arrested for witchcraft. Quasimodo doesn’t accidently kidnapped Esmeralda, Frollo orders him to do it and he does no question. And Esmeralda 100% accused of witchcraft, there was a whole thing in the book where she accused of turning a coin in a dry leave and the tricks she taught Djali which are far more innocent than her trick in the Disney movie. Considering the Kidnapped attempt and Esmeralda’s trail are big portions of the plot I’m not going to let this generalization of Walker’s part go. But then again these scenes are not really in the Disney movie it’s a little forgivable.

 

Quasimodo as the King of Fools Topsy Turvy Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo as the King of Fools Topsy Turvy Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Illustration of Quasimodo as the Pope of Fools by Edouard de Beaumont 1844 picture image

Illustration of Quasimodo as the Pope of Fools by Edouard de Beaumont 1844

Shock the Priest Topsy Turvy Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Shock the Priest Topsy Turvy Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another slight problem with his fact checking is the Feast of Fools, Walker calls it a celebrations of Gypsy but the Feast of Fools was a Festival which akin to April’s Fool. Also he brings up some confusion on the way the Gypsy are portrayed. I think that in his thinking the Feast of Fool tripped him up in this explanation but when he says that Esmeralda say that they’re not all thieves but then there is the Court of Miracle where they keep there stolen stuff. However this a problem of making the Court of Miracles in a Gypsy haven which is not in either the book or actuality. In the book the Court of Miracles is where beggars and thieves lives and some Gypsy live there as well including Esmeralda. In actuality the Court of Miracles is the slums.

 

Gargoyles A Guy like you Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Gargoyles A Guy like you Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Walker is a fan of this movie however like me he did hate the Gargoyles. He bring up an interesting point about the Gargoyles being Judgmental and berating each others one looks, which goes against the point of the movie. Walker admits that he could have given the film credit if they were imaginary. The thing is they were supposed to be, if you listen to the commentary that’s what they strived for but they just forgot and there are too many inconsistencies. The film tried they just failed to make that aspect come out.

 

Molten Lead over Notre Dame Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Molten Lead over Notre Dame Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Frollo Hunchback of Notre Dame groping Esmeralda Disney picture image

Frollo groping Esmeralda

Notre Dame of Paris Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Notre Dame of Paris Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walker likes the look of the movie, how grand everything looks and the shear scope. He likes both Frollo and Quasimodo but really didn’t mention the other character except the Gargoyles. He did mention Esmeralda and Phoebus’ romance being boring. He like Hellfire and The Bells of Notre Dame. He like that the film tackles the issues of faith, Good, Evil, Heaven, Hell and Lust. Which if you’re going to do Hunchback of Notre Dame you need to handle the lust, I mean that drives the plot.

 

Frollo and Baby Quasimodo bells Disney Hunch back of Notre Dame picture image

Frollo and Baby Quasimodo during the Bells of Notre Dame Disney Hunch back of Notre Dame

Esmeralda as a fire demon dancing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Damepicture image

Esmeralda as a fire demon dancing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Frollo singing Hellfire Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walker admits the film is clunky but on the whole he loves it.  He can understand why it wasn’t a be hit and he admires it for the risks it took.

Djali licking Phoebus with Esmeralda Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney picture image

Djali licking Phoebus with Esmeralda Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney

The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Clopin, Phoebus and Quasimodo Court of Miracles Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Clopin, Phoebus and Quasimodo Court of Miracles Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The thing about it is if you’re a fan of Hugo’s book, you can still like it, I think you just have to accept it as a different story, which it is. I’ve commented enough on this version   (6 months) but it’s not a bad movie for what it is: a children’s version of Hunchback of Notre Dame, it works, so I agree with Walker, just wished his fact checking had been better. (Though I’m not a big fan of Quasimodo)

Quasimodo reacting to the craziness Topsy Turvy Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quasimodo reacting to the craziness Topsy Turvy Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

Quasimodo accepted by the people Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney picture image

Quasimodo accepted by the people Disney Hunchback of Notre dame

After Frollo dies, the hellish lava goes away and the masses are happy.  This is when Quasimodo, the lovable abet not too pretty hero emerges from the darkness and silence of Notre Dame to be  greeted with the acceptance of the people. Why is he now welcome? I think for saving Esmeralda and saying  “No” to Frollo. It’s not for killing Frollo, Notre Dame and Frollo’s haste took care of that.

Clopin, Frollo Puppet, and Girl Bells of Notre dame reprise Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Clopin, Frollo Puppet, and Girl Bells of Notre dame reprise Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Quaismodo Bells of Notre dame reprise Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quaismodo Bells of Notre dame reprise Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So as Quasimodo is being cheered, Clopin reprises the Bells of Notre Dame. Just in case you’re a complete moron the movie clearly shows the audience who the Monster was, the Frollo puppet. To think this whole time I just thought it was Frollo, Twist ending here; it was the Puppet! The man was Quasimodo, no surprise there.

 

Clopin Reprise of Bells of Notre Dame Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Clopin Reprise of Bells of Notre Dame Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

If you like Bells of Notre Dame, you’ll like the Reprise. It is sung well by Clopin (as to be expected now from Paul Kandal). It’s a bit repetitive though, not sure how times the word “Bells” is uttered but it’s a lot. The lyrics are also a little strange;

Whatever their pitch, you
Can Feel the bewitch you
The rich and ritual knell

 

The True Villain, The Puppet Disney Hunchback of Notre dame picture image

The True Villain, The Puppet Disney Hunchback of Notre dame

Big Marie, The Lead Bell Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Big Marie, The Lead Bell Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

He saying  that the Ringing Bells have an effect of people. So was it the bells that made Frollo crazy with lust? I mean it says the Bells bewitch. Quasimodo did ring the bells right before  Hellfire, and you only see him doing it once in the movie. So the Bells were the Frollo puppet accomplice.  Of course, it all makes sense. The Puppet couldn’t stand that Frollo had all the power, so he harnessed the ancient Deus ex Machina power of the Bells to make Frollo crazy which would led to his death  by Notre Dame, of course! I figured you out, movie. This makes the Bells and the Frollo Puppet the heroes and villains. Touché Disney, I didn’t know you were so complicated. Truly this twist rivals M. Night Shyamalan.

 

Quaismodo Bells of Notre dame reprise Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quaismodo Bells of Notre dame reprise Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Gargoyles - Victor, Hugo and Laverne at the end Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Gargoyles - Victor, Hugo and Laverne at the end Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Djali, Esmeralda, and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Djali, Esmeralda, and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On an unrelated note, the song is a good ending, you get a curtain call: Quasimodo is happy to be “out there” “in the sun” with the “ordinary men.”  The Gargoyles are happy that the people now love  “a guy like” Quasimodo.  Esmeralda is happy because Notre Dame (Mary) “helped the outcasts”. Phoebus is happy because his ex boss is dead and he has a hot new girlfriend. Djali and Clopin are happy because the sanction of street performers had lifted with Frollo’s death and now they don‘t have to pay the Busker Tax. The only person who isn’t happy in all this is the Old Heretic, he fell into a sewer and was never to heard from again. They say on quiet nights you can heard an old man saying “Dang it.”

The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 Final Shot Bells of Notre dame reprise Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Final Shot Bells of Notre dame reprise Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

Beauty and the Beast Ending Shot Stained Glass Disney picture image

Beauty and the Beast Ending Shot Stained Glass Disney

Genie page Peel, Final shot Aladdin Disney picture image

Genie page Peel, Final shot Aladdin Disney

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since the film ends with the same song as it began with, it’s only that it ends with a pull away though the sky above the Notre Dame.  It’s appropriate yet a little cheesy but it’s better that ending on a stain glass window that show all the main characters, a la Beauty and the Beast  or a stupid page peel by the Genie in Aladdin. Though it would be funny to have the Genie pop up in random Disney Movies saying “made you look” at the end.

 

 

Next Time – Someday, the Credit song and Delated Song.

A Picture from the demo reel of Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame image

A Picture from the demo reel of Someday Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

So I found this video a while ago. It a video of the Hunchback of Notre Dame to “why is the Rum gone”. There two videos like this on youtube but I find this video more fun, plus  ye olde heretic is in this one ^_~ so I thought I’d share

video starts at 0:20 Enjoy

The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

A Memorable Character who has no affect on the plot is The Old Heretic (voiced by Gary Trousdale one of directors who as did non-baas for Djali). The guy who yells “I’m Free’ after getting out of some form of confinement but then immediately gets into a new one and then proclaim “Dang it” because they can’t use the word Damn.

The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame  picture image

The Old Heretic is free Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame  picture image

The Old Heretic falling Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame  picture image

The Old Heretic railing against the cruel hand of fate Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So why I’m I bothering with this character. Well, he’s funny, he’s a running gag done well. You see him twice, it the same joke but it’s funny. And though the film goes out of it’s way to do this joke, it feel natural and not forced. Mainly because of control freak Frollo it’s believable that an old guy would be locked away in a cage for X number of years. But odd that a stock would left open during a festival.

The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame  picture image

The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame  picture image

The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Old Heretic looks likes Jafar from Aladdin in his disguise (this make four cameos by other Disney characters, others are  Belle (Beauty and the Beast), Carpet (Aladdin), Pumbaa (The Lion King) and the Baker (Beauty and the Beast) . Maybe the Jafar Disguise is the default  look for Disney’s prisoners. If Disney made  a version of the Count of Monet Cristo, Abbe Faria  would probably look like Jafar/Old Heretic too.

Jafar Disguise Disney Aladdin picture image

Jafar in Disguise Disney Aladdin

Belle, Carpet, Pumbaa Disney Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Lion King picture image

Belle, Carpet, and Pumbaa

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baker Figurine Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Baker Figurine Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Baker Disney Beauty and the Beast picture image

The Baker Disney Beauty and the Beast

 

 

 

 

 

 

Little is known about the Old Heretic. We have no idea why he is a heretic or even how old he is. You don’t even learn that he is supposed to be a heretic. One thing that we do know is this; he has a Confinement Destiny*.  He just a gag no more no less. But in the scope of  a running gag it’s enjoyable.

The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame  picture image

The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

The Old Heretic Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

 

 

 

 

 

*This is a lame joke relating to Ananke (very simply it means Death Destiny). Ananke plays a big part in the novel and I’m making up another type of destiny, it’s a lame joke, I have a Lame Joke Destiny ^_~.

Next Time – It’s a surprise ^_^

Quaismodo and Hugo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Quaismodo and Hugo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame