Since Christmas is right around the corner: Here’s a Christmas Hunchback Fan-art by Doomimus
Yay for X-mas Chibiness by Doomimus
Der Glöckner von Notre Dame
Der Glöckner von Notre Dame is a German musical based on the Disney version. It premiered in Berlin in 1999 and it’s music and lyrics were written by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz respectfully. This was the first musical Disney produced that premiered in another country and it was one of Germany’s longest running musicals, it ran for 3 years.
What makes the musical great is that it does a great job of mitigating between the Disney version and the original book. The characters are more fleshed out and the childish tone is taken away even with the gargoyles (yup they’re in the musical too).
Both Menken and Schwartz have confirmed that there will be Broadway version of Der Glöckner von Notre Dame and it will be called The Hunchback of Notre Dame even though Der Glöckner von Notre Dame doesn’t mean “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” it means “The Bell-ringer of Notre Dame” but whatever, I’m sure it’s a marketing thing. This talk of an American version has been in the works since 2008, so don’t get excited till some casting has been announced. Other question is how much are they going to revamp for the American version. I hope they don’t change the ending.
Broadway version of Beauty and the Beast
Broadway version of The Little Mermaid
Broadway version of The Lion King
With American version on Broadway it will follow in the other Disney musicals like; Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Aladdin; Mary Poppins and the upcoming The Jungle Book and Dumbo.
Disclaimer- I just wanted to say that for this review keep a few things in mind, #1 I don’t speak German (I can read translations but translation are not always great) and #2 since there is no official performance recording (at least that I know of), pictures will be minimal. I’ll try to find some but can’t promises lots of pictures in every post I do on Der Glöckner von Notre Dame.
Next Time- Plot
Frollo and Quasimodo Der Glöckner von Notre Dame
Madeline and Quasimodo laugh about Dumb Topics... again
What else can I say about the sequel; it’s uninspired, mindless dibble that isn’t even good enough to baby-sit babies. It’s sole purpose way to get people to buy it, not to watch it but if people were to watch it, it was meant to show people that if you’re as ugly as Quasimodo, persistent enough and you say all the right things maybe you’ll the get the door mat who is right for you. Because this movie thinks everyone should be in pairs, even Achilles get some cheap floozy erm Filly at the end, Djali submits in to Hugo’s obsession, and there is “sexy” puppey show.
Achilles and a random filly Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney 2 sequel
Djali giving Hugo a Kiss Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Clopin's Sexy Puppet Show Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
The real problem with this movie is it’s not bad enough to be good, it just exists in this realm of mediocrity. However there is one positive thing about this movie and that is an exchange between Victor, Hugo and Quasimodo and it’s funny.
Quasimodo, Victor, Hugo Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Victor – “What does one wear to carnival event?”
Quasimodo – “Nothing”
Hugo – “Daring!”
That’s pretty much the highlight of the movie.
This isn’t a love story, it’s romantic superficiality wrap-up in blatant commercialism. It’s a horrible sequel and the people who made it should be ashamed that so many trees had to die for this piece of expleteive deleted.
Madeline and Quasimodo Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Esmeralda and Phoebus Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney Sequel 2
Zephyr sums up the movie "yuck" Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Next Adapation: Der Glockner Von Notre Dame
Der Glockner von Notre Dame German Musical of Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Madeline and Quasimodo kiss Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Phoebus and Esmeralda Kiss Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Stupid La Fidèle Hunchback of Notre Dame II
In the case of Disney’s Hunchback sequel, this was Disney’s chance to give Quasimodo a love story as they didn’t in the original movie because Esmeralda and Phoebus are made for each other and pretty much the some person. However the whole plot with the bell was stupid. What Disney should have done was used the sequel to mitigate between the book and the movie instead of creating a villain who was pretty much universally despised by the masses, an idiotic impractical bell and not utilizing the more beloved main characters -Esmeralda, Clopin, and Djali.
Bruno Pelletier as Gringoire in Notre Dame de Paris
Djali Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Madeline Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Here what they should have done, since Disney is in the business of contrived romances we’ll keep the Madeline character but instead of working for a vain magical bell thief she’ll be in league with Gringoire whose is a poet and a goat thief. Gringoire is original to the book and he does steals/rescues Djali. But having Djali as a focal point it would have been easier to incorporate Esmeralda and Clopin. Plus Djali was a smart Goat who could spell, tell time and do numerous of other tricks, plus Disney could have marketed more Djali toys instead that stupid Bell. Plus there would have been no lame Sarousch or hopefully no Zephyr. (Did anyone like either of them? Seriously I wanna know.)
Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
However, I think Disney should have forgone the whole Quasimodo story line and done a prequel with Esmeralda because I can tell you right know more people search for Esmeralda than Quasimodo, she is just more popular. I think an Esmeralda backstory who have been a better waste of time. Who agrees? I mean we know nothing of Esmeralda’s childhood, parents, how she came to the Court of Miracles, or anything. I guess this makes her mysterious but it would have been more interesting to watch than watching Quasimodo force a girl into liking him with a jewel-crusted bell that isn’t even in the first movie. An Esmeralda origin tale would have mitigated the Disney story of Hunchback and Hugo’s Notre Dame de Paris, I mean Esmeralda is the titular character and the book revolves around her and Disney trying to downplay her in favor of Quasimodo just didn’t work. So they should have done a Prequel full of Esmeralda and not the sequel that they poop out.
Next Time – Conclusion Time for the Sequel
Frollo hates the Hunchback sequel and is happy to watch it burn
The Music in the Hunchback Sequel
Sequel in-between frames
Madeline looking scary in a in-between Frame of Hunchback of Note Dame II Disney
In Between Frame of Phoebus Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
In Between Frame of Sarousch Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
VS.
Original in-between frame
In Between Frame of Esmeralda Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney
In Between Frame of the Oafish guard Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney
In Between Frame of Phoebus Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney
The movie was animated by Walt Disney Animation (Japan). And as it happen that Disney Japan expertise lies in there action scenes, which is an odd pairing seeing how the climax of this movie is a woman picking up a child. No battles, no fights. No wonder the animators appear not to interested in this project, they probably wanted to get it over and done with.
Madeline saving Zephyr Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
I think the animation is one of the biggest problems with this movie along with many of the other Direct to release Disney movies. If a movie is terrible you can forgive it if it’s pretty, but if it lacks any redeemable qualities how can people like it? Actually there is a question, Does the Sequel have any redeemable qualities that makes it enjoyable? People may argue Quasimodo and Madeline finding love, but is the love interesting and good?
Next Time -Let’s answer that question. L’histoire d’amour de Quasimodo et de Madeline
Quasimodo Creepy Look Hunchback of Notre Dame II
Madeline looking weird Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Special Bonus Picture;
This is joke, Yoko and Ono are common Japanese names…just thought it was a little funny that a Yoko Ono worked on the movie.
Sequel Animators Feature one Yoko Ono
I saw it and as a fan of Little Kuriboh’s Yu-gi-Oh the Abridged Series I had no chose to feature it. It’s awesome! ^^
Yugi as Clopin from The Hunchback of Notre Dame by ARCatSK
Artwork by ARCatSK
To kick off the Holiday Season I made an anti-motivational poster.
Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving (to those in the USA). If you wish to use this picture be sure to give credit, the wording is mine.
Quasimodo and Zephyr I’d Stick With You Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Madeline I’d Stick With You Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Quasimodo and Zephyr I’d Stick With You Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
I’d Stick with you is a Buddy song sung by Zephyr and Quasimodo. Zephyr is feeling his pal, Quasimodo is pulling away from him because he was staring at a girl (or maybe just ignoring his prattle). Quasimodo tells Zephyr that they’ll always be pal. Zephyr via song poses a hypothetical situation, about if he caught by a witch and is suspended over a kettle of blue glue and he falls he if Quasimodo would still be his pal even if he was sticky. Which Quasimodo says he would still be his friend because it’s not that big of a deal, kid. As the song is being sung, Madeline (who changed out her pink costume and into her casual garb in record time) watches and judges Quasimodo to be a nice loyal sort, because I guess loyalty to someone who is sticky is an important trait in a lifemate for her. So surprise the song is a plot device for the Quasimodo/Madeline pairing. This fact is compounded when you think this the last time Quasimodo and Zephyr speak to each other.
Quasimodo, Madeline and Zephyr I’d Stick With You Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Quasimodo, Madeline and Zephyr I’d Stick With You Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Madeline I’d Stick With You Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
So is the song bad? Yes, yes it, I originally thought another song was worse but I feel this song is the far worse. The music is lazy and the lyrics are stupid. Visuals on it are terrible too. Let’s start with the music. You know those songs you make up as you go, more less sing-song in natural that’s all this is. I’m not sure if it’s because it was written this way because a child was singing it, but either Haley Joel Osment couldn’t sing very well or the composer had little respect for children. If the later is true than shame on the composer because children are capable of singing very well.
Quasimodo, Madeline and Zephyr I’d Stick With You Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Madeline I’d Stick With You Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Quasimodo and Zephyr I’d Stick With You Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney Sequel 2
The Lyrics in the song are awful too. It’s just mostly rhymes to the word “stick”. This leads to some stupid lines. Like being as close as Frick and Frack. Does Quasimodo mean the Figure Skaters from the from the 1940’s? Since he says “closer than Frack and Frick” or does her mean the slang for two people being so close that they’re indistinguishable or does he mean it as a term of derision for any two people, on par with calling one person a “Bozo” or three people “Stooges” ? In any case the line doesn’t work, it’s just for a rhyme. The clock line is an anachronism too because a clock can’t tick without a minute hand and that was invented in 1577 by Jost Burgi. But anachronism isn’t in Disney’s dictionary and who can tell when Disney’s Hunchback was supposed to take place. My guess is Disney operates setting like The Epcot World Pavilions, representation of a place but not accurate (it’s all fun for the children and tourist). Anyway the Lyrics are stupid. How can one be Sticky and Slick? Tell me song!
Quasimodo and Zephyr I’d Stick With You Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Quasimodo and Zephyr I’d Stick With You Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Quasimodo, Madeline and Zephyr I’d Stick With You Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
The Visuals for this song are dull. It’s practically Quasimodo and Zephyr walking around the circus while Madeline is stalks them. That’s it. The song ends because Zephyr gets bored and falls asleep. So one positive I have for it is; At least it’s short, it’s just under two minutes and there is some dialogue in there.
Quasimodo and Zephyr I’d Stick With You Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Quasimodo and Zephyr I’d Stick With You Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney Sequel 2
Madeline I’d Stick With You Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
I would say I’d Stick With You is the worst song in the movie maybe in all of Disney (as far as original versions of songs are concerned, don’t get me started on the pop covers). Whether it’s the worst remains to be seen, I haven’t seen all the sequels Disney made but I’m sure one of those movies must have their own honorable distinction of pure awfulness for a song, but it would have to abysmal to rival I’d Stick With You. I may eat those words with the next song.
Next Time- Fa la la la Fallen In Love
Madeline and Quasimodo in the rain Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Quasimodo singing Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II
Ordinary Miracle is Quasimodo sweeping solo number in the Sequel. It’s akin to the “I want something more” type of songs but it focus on Quasimodo’s desire to be loved by preferably a good-looking lady. He relates people falling in love as miracle but just an ordinary everyday miracle like lightning, architecture and growing-up. I’ve read that people like this song and they think it’s powerful. I disargee though, I find it clumsy in every aspect.
Quasimodo singing Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Quasimodo singing Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Madeline Figurine Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
The Background Music is fine, the orchestra is quite nice but the medley and lyrics really kills it. Melodically the song has three parts, Quasimodo first bit where he imagines having someone love him, the second part where he discusses the “Ordinary Miracle” and the the last bit is Quasimodo’s singing about how’s he in love. Then the song goes back to being about miracle and ends on the imagine how great it would be if someone loved him. The trouble with these parts is the don’t flow nicely into each other. The worst offender is Quasimodo singing about love and how it’s a volcano of emotion and gypsy potions can’t undo it. That part seems like it’s from a different song
Quasimodo singing Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Quasimodo singing Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Quasimodo singing Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
That brings us to the next point; the Lyrics. Quasimodo’s references to love and being in love with someone else as a common place miracle and that for him that would be extraordinary miracle. However he says that it would that it would “extraordinary if an ordinary miracle happen to him” now I know he’s referring to love but the line is written “an ordinary miracle” meaning any of the other aforemention miracles in the song would be extraordinary. However one of those miracle has already happen to him- “A Baby starts to walk or talk one day then shockingly he’s grown and in love“, Quasimodo is adult and is in love again, so an “ordinary miracle” happen kinda weakens his arrgument. Plus he sites, a natural occurrences like Lightning and Cathedrals being Miracles. Perhaps Quasimodo needs a dictionary but since he never master the alphabet maybe a dictionary is beyond him. Lightning, Architecture, and aging are not Miracles. A Miracle is an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs or an extremely outstanding or unusual events, things, or accomplishments. Given the examples and how Quasimodo ruins his point I’d say the lyrics are weak.
Quasimodo does a Hand Stand while singing Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Victor and Hugo Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Quasimodo singing Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Hulce does a decent job with vocals, it’s not a different song to sing but I do feel he didn’t perform to his full capability.
Laverne Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Quasimodo singing Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Quasimodo singing Ordinary Miracle Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Is this song the worst in the movie? No, it’s not, but it’s not a good song either, it’s barely an adequate song. It’s just weak. Dare I say, Ordinary.
Next Time – I’d Stick With You
Quasimodo and Zephyr Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Disney is known for many things; Music, Animation etc. Conversely what Disney is known is thrown out in their sequels. So let’s tackle the music of this monstrosity of a money-making scam ( their direct to relase sequels). This first song on the list; the opening song, Le Jour D’Amour or Not Topsy Turvy – it’s the festival song.
Clopin Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Clopin and Quasimodo Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Clopin and Quasimodo Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
It’s Clopin’s one and only song. But Wait, it’s not just Clopin’s song it’s a duet with Quasimodo. Remember in the original film when Quasimodo was shoved down our throats, it’s even worst in this film. And also the Gargoyles get in on this song (eye roll).
Djali Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Phoebus and Esmeralda Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Clopin with an extra Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of of Notre Dame II Disney
This song introduces us to the fact that this movie is about love. Le Jour D’Amour is supposed to a Valentine’s Day-Love is great- and a pox on you if you don’t have love in your life Day. The premise of the day, in that people yell declarations of love while some bell rings. And for some reason yellow Roses are the flower of chose for Le Jour D’Amour. Yellow Roses are yet one of many, many, fun anachronisms in this movie. The Yellow Rose wasn’t discovered till the 18th century. Yellow Roses are a very stupid chose because according to the meaning of flowers they mean Friendship, Joy, Get Well, not very good chose for a festival of love. If only roses came in other colors, a color that denotes Love and Passion, a “Lover’s Rose” if you will. Darn if only rose came in RED! Stupid movie!
Quasimodo with Zephyr and some little girl Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Clopin and Quasimodo with Puppets Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Extras Dance Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Now compared to the actual movie, the songs are bad. I probably could have just end my music discussion of the sequel right there but that’s too easy, plus Le Jour D’Amour is the least guilty. It’s somewhat period appropriate, uplifting, and at least you can sing along to it, through why you want to is beyond me. I think the worst part musically is the Gargoyle’s part and I’m not fond of Quasimodo’s solo right before that. But this is my least hated song of the movie (I hesitate to use the word favorite). Don’t get me wrong it’s a stupid song about a stupid festival with stupid people dancing around like dumdums. And despite it being the best in my opinion, I’m always forgetting it. ( in my last article post when I said what would be next, I used a picture from Ordinary Miracle instead of a picture from Le Jour D’Amour)
Hugo and Victor Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Laverne as Esmeralda Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Quasimodo Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
And I would like to point out that the lyrics try to justify this festival (maybe even the movie) as the “best of all” over the the original and certainly over Topsy Turvy, but Topsy Turvy would win with both hands tied behind its’ back and little pieces of duct tape covering its’ eyes and Le Jour D’Amour can have a spear even. No contest. (Hey, two points go to the person who knows what I just referenced with that little battle scenario comment if you know what it it)
Quasimodo with dancing extras Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Sad Quasimodo Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney
Clopin Evil Smile Le Jour D’Amour Hunchback of Notre Dame Sequel Disney
Since Le Jour D’Amour is the best of the songs in this explicit deleted fest, this is only going to get worse for me.
Next Time – Ordinary Miracles (bleh)
Quasimodo with Madeline Figurine Hunchback of Notre Dame II Disney