"Now here is a riddle to guess if you can, sing the bells of Notre Dame. Who is the monster and who is the man?" — Clopin
Initial thoughts before viewing: This movie came out in 1996 when I was 8 years-old. I remember watching it in theaters and being VERY CONFUSED. Why was Frollo singing about (gasp) hell? And why did Quasimodo not end up with Esmerelda? Let's just say that this movie and its messages went way over my head as a kid.
If you have never seen The Hunchback of Notre Dame or need a refresher, here is a link to the movie's Disney Wiki page where you can read the plot summary.
Highlights:
-"The Bells of Notre Dame" is an impressive opening song. 🔔 Composed by Disney staple Alan Menken with lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, this song is sung at the beginning of the film by the jester-like gypsy leader and narrator, Clopin. This sweeping song does an impressive job as a prologue (it tells the story of why Frollo raises Quasimodo) while setting the dramatic, often dark tone of the film. It's a magnificent blend of music and exposition, and a great temperature check for how you may handle the rest of this, er, darker Disney faire. Alan Menken himself has said, "The Belles of Notre Dame" is a really rich number and I think it's possibly the best opening number I've ever written for any project".
-We need more sentimental male heroes like Quasimodo. 💖 I don't know if I have ever sympathized with a protagonist as much as I do with sweet, kind, and loyal Quasimodo. Quasimodo's yearning to be accepted by the world is such a universal goal. His "I want" song entitled "Out There" is a beautiful, hopeful expression of Quasimodo's dearest desires. Quasimodo is brought to life by actor Tom Hulce who gives an underrated, heartfelt, and tender performance as the titular hunchback. My heart breaks every time Quasimodo says "I am a monster, you know" so matter-of-factly to Esmerelda. He's a character with immense heart and soul. The best kind of Hufflepuff and Disney hero!
-We need more complex heroines like Esmerelda 💖 Esmerelda has always been a favorite character of mine because of her complexity. Smart, confident, and outspoken, she drives much of the action of the film. She also has moments of quiet doubt, contemplation, and insecurity, as evidenced by her powerful song "God Help the Outcasts" where she prays for help for her people and other outcasts of society. Esmerelda doesn't get a lot of love when compared to the popularity of other Disney heroines or princesses, but she certainly deserves it! She also wins the award for 'Best Hair' of any Disney character cuz well, her voluptuous hair is the envy of all.
Disliked:
-I think that Frollo may be *too* evil. 😈 There's nothing worse than a delusional villain. The fact that Frollo thinks his deeds are righteous is what makes him a truly terrifying villain. He seriously creeps me out. With most Disney villains, there is a sass factor or something them interesting and/or likeable. Like no matter how much you hate Ursula, you also know that she's freaking fabulous and probably low-key the real star of "The Little Mermaid." With Frollo, there are no redeeming qualities. Nada. Nothing. Zip. He's a rat bastard and deserves his hellish fate.
-We have to talk about "Hellfire." 🔥 So let's get this straight: Frollo's villain song is about how he's lusting for Esmerelda. But he also wants to kill Esmerelda. This is some misogynistic, highly demented bullsh!t. Critic Scott Mendelson described "Hellfire" as a song about "the villain’s desire to screw and/or murder the heroine because of his guilt-ridden lustings for her." That sounds about right.
The song is often rightly regarded as one of Disney's most controversial and darkest sequences. Critically, this song was pretty much universally acclaimed and hailed as one of the most stunning visual and aural combinations in animation history.
As an adult, I can appreciate that yes, it is an impressive, ambitious song. But when I saw this originally as an 8 years-old kid, this song scared me. I didn't grasp what Frollo wanted or what he was singing about. All I heard was the word "hell" accompanied by scary Catholic imagery and references to things like sin and damnation. How was this movie rated G with this song in it? HOW?
-The gargoyles are annoying and add nothing to the story. Quasimodo has 3 gargoyle sidekicks who were clearly added to amuse the kiddos in this otherwise VERY MATURE movie. These gargoyles (Victor, Hugo, and Laverne) aren't memorable and frankly give Quasimodo terrible advice (go to the festival, Esmeralda *definitely* loves you). They sing a song called "A Guy Like You" that's, well, it's a song alright. It's not anywhere near the quality or caliber of the other songs in the movie. Shame on you, Jason Alexander.
Random Thoughts I Had While Watching:
-Are we just going to ignore the fact that Clopin almost hangs the movie's heroes? Clopin is an odd character. He functions as the story's narrator and also as a true chaotic neutral figure. Sometimes he's helping Esmerelda's cause, sometimes he's trying to hang Quasimodo & Phoebus. What an odd duck.
-Quasimodo's "parents" look nothing like him. In the prologue, we learn that Quasimodo's parents were gypsies. But Quasimodo is clearly not a gypsy himself. Was he adopted? Something's fishy here...
Closing Thoughts:
-Where The Hunchback of Notre Dame cracks. The fact that this movie exists is frankly, a head scratcher. Someone at Disney actually said something like, "Hey, you know what would be a GREAT kid's movie? That Victor Hugo dramatic classic The Hunchback of Notre Dame!" Sure. Sure. Sure. That makes total sense. A Disney movie about the Catholic church, lust, sin, depravity. This is a good idea. Green light it! Pizza for everybody!
Now that's off my chest, my biggest gripe with The Hunchback of Notre Dame is the unevenness of the story. Rather than going all in on their mature, dark take, Disney tried to still appeal to the youths with some hopelessly incompetent and wasted attempts to lighten the mood (see my entry above re: superfluous cartoon gargoyles). I don't see how Hugo the loudmouthed, pig-like gargoyle can exist in the same world as Esmerelda, a character that radiates with integrity, kindness, and street smarts. Or Frollo, a seriously evil and twisted character as they come.
-Where The Hunchback of Notre Dame shines. The film has a genuine sincerity when it comes to its messages of standing up for you believe in, acceptance, and judgement against others. It makes a good case for self-esteem, tolerance, and social conscience. The film's closing line "What makes a monster and what makes a man?" is *chef's kiss* perfection.
Granted, song and dance numbers were probably not what Victor Hugo had in mind, but when they are done to the quality and artistry of "Out There" or "Hellfire", I can get on board. It's hard not to admire what has been accomplished, despite whatever reservations one might have about the plundering of Hugo's classic source material.
The bottom line: The Hunchback of Notre Dame is dramatically uneven, but its strong visuals, dark themes, endearing protagonist, and message of tolerance make for a more-sophisticated-than-average Disney film. Not really suitable for young kids, but a worthwhile watch nonetheless.
My Rating: 7/10
