The Hunchback of Notre Dame II

Rating:
Summary: A touching and emotional sequel, especially good for kids
Review: I must admit that I shed a tear or two during this unlikely but well-told love story. The story is a lot more simple and straightforward than the original 1996 film, but that seems to be a necessity considering that the Disney videos are targeted at a younger audience. I think the adults watching with the kids will find a lot to enjoy, and the message (not to judge a book by its cover) is told beautifully and convincingly and is a very good one for kids. And the bonus features on the DVD are a plus, for both the adults and kids.

Rating:
Summary: Poor Mediocrity.
Review: I only rented THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME II because the previews reminded me of my relationship with a close friend. That part of the movie stood up. Unfortunately, that's about all the movie has going for it. The story revolves around Quasimodo. Several years have passed since the end of Disney's HUNCHBACK. Esmerelda and Phoebus are married and have a son, Zephyr (Haley Joel Osment). The boy has become Quasi's best friend. Paris' annual celebration of love is about to occur and Quasi is feeling lonely. The circus comes to town and the ringmaster, Sarouch (Michael McKean) has plans to steal Notre Dame's most prized Bell, La Fidel (get it, fidelity), a bell rung once a year and covered in diamonds and jewels on the inside. However, Sarouch's beautiful assistant, Madellaine falls in love with Quasimodo.

I was really hoping for much more from this flick. After all, almost all of the original cast was reprised to do voices and that is a rare occassion and usually signs good things (like in TOY STORY). Alas, that is not the case. The animation is lousy, looking like paper cut outs pasted upon the screen. The songs are horrible and the story, though it has some good points, is uninspired. Unless you are a huge Disney fan, a Hunchback nut, or have personal reasons for seeing this movie (like me), don't waste your time. And even though the film is aimed at younger audiences, don't let them watch this unimaginative work and fill their heads with any more mediocrity. The world is filled with enough of that as it is.

Rating:
Summary: Short and Sweet
Review: I perfer this one much more than the first for a child. I think the first one had too much depth for the target age. This one had much more simple understandings. Short... sweet and over! A+ and amen to that! :) My son loves this and after watching this one hardly ever asks to see the 1st one anymore.

Rating:
Summary: A true Hunchback movie for kids.
Review: I still remember that old, silent movie (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) and shivers cover my back. The original Disney movie was also dark, sad, and definitely more for adults than children. It was a very good rendition of the original story but again, despite the fact that I've bought it for my daughter (just to make sure she owns it before Disney puts it to vaults), I will not allow her to watch it until she is at least 8. The new sequel is not a great story for adults but very enjoyable for kids. Yes, the story is not very inventive, the music and songs are rather ordinary, and the cartoons and animation of poor quality (in comparison to original Disney movie). On the other hand, my 3 year-old girl loved the movie and watched it probably a hundred times. She enjoys the simple and light story, laughs with Quasi and Zephyr, follows the story of Madeline, and sings with Gargoyles. I must admit, I prefer to see my daughter laughing and learning about friendship and forgiveness (Quasi helping Madeline to discover true feelings for the other human being), than scuttling around, and asking me to speed forward the scenes of fear and cruelty, one can find in so many present day and older (Disney) children movies.

Rating:
Summary: Buy on VHS
Review: I thought this was a very good story, but the story wasn't as good as the first. There was no action or adventure, only romance.(A lot of kids will flinch at the mushy parts).I was glad with the happy ending, though. I was dissapointed with this movie a little. None the special features are good! If you want to buy it, buy it on VHS, there is no point of getting it on DVD. Save your money!!

Rating:
Summary: Disney insults fans of the first Hunchback.
Review: I'll be the first to admit that I collect anything Disney. So, it's easy for them (Disney)to make money off of people like me! They KNOW we'll buy it.

I was really excited to hear Disney would include the Hunchback of Notre Dame while going through their sequel faze. It's not as bad as most of their other sequels. I can honestly say I'll watch it again...(Ok, in a year or so) Most of their "part 2's" are shoved somewhere out of sight, the exception being Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas(Alright, just because Tim Curry talked for Forte)
and Lion King II: Simba's Pride (which I liked as much as the 1st) I loved those.

Honestly though, would it have sent Disney hurrying to shred their documents if they spent a little more time and money on their sequels? and not treat them as a episode of some spinoff series?

Where is the monastic vocalizing in the background?
Where's the archdeacon?
Where's Clopin's antics?
Where's the pumpkin pie?! (sorry, wrong show)

With this show, the characters seem different. Phoebus, is throwing out stuff like "those people" he didn't act like that in the first one! They all seem to have lost characteristics that made the first show what it was.

The animation, looks not too far from a cheap Sony Wonder cartoon video at times. I know that's expected in sequels, but it's sad because the first was so rich in color.

and the villain....my stars. He reminds me of the villain from The WB's animated movie The Scarecrow. Great promise, but just thrown together....real fast!
Didn't Frollo have some crazy relative or admirer that could have sought revenge? Predictable I know but come on! At least show a flash back of the guy.

All the subplots are raced through:
Madellaine, wanting more to do in the circus.
Esmeralda, getting testy at Phoebus' comments about the gypsies.
Zephyr, needing rescue.
The real story of Quasimodo and Madellaine developing a friendship is rushed too.
I do give Disney credit for being realistic. It took a second try for Madellaine to realize Quasi for the great guy he is.

The action of the story centered around the bell is silly. There is no way Sarousch could take it unless 3 fairies put the whole town to sleep, while they broke their backs getting it.
(and, what happened to the plot someone told me would happen with Sarousch kidnapping Quasi to make him work in the circus!)
hmm..I would have liked that better.

Alas though, this movie would be fine for children. Great for parents who didn't like the first for being dark. (but most like the 1st Lion King, go figure)

And, I won't discourage Disney fans from buying it since I KNOW you're going to get it anyway. Heck, even I bought Lady and the Tramp II(Ugh!)

But once again Disney doesn't care about their integrity. and takes advantage of fans of the original movie.
but overall 3 stars out of 5 for it being one of their better sequels and letting Quasi have a life (and a kiss at the end!)

I'll still hope Mulan 2 due out within a couple of years will be great. Until then Disney here's a quote my sister always throws at me.

If a task is once begun, never leave it till it's done. Be the labor great or small do it well or not at all-author unknown...at least to me.

Rating:
Summary: Winning score, story create a winner
Review: In the often spotty category of direct-to-video sequels to its animated features, Disney has scored a winner this time around, in more ways than one: The movie is great fun, wonderful for kids, almost as good for adults, nicely animated, and those songs! Trust me: "An Ordinary Miracle" is one of the best ballads for a Disney movie in years, and the other numbers are similarly first-rate. (The "ordinary miracle," by the way, is when two people fall in love). Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Just horrible..
Review: It's always a dilemma when deciding wether you should buy a Disney sequel or not. On one side, you might be a huge disney fan and/or curious of the sequel, on the other hand, you've seen many others of those cheap Direct-to-video sequels disney is sadly producing at the moment. Not all disney sequels are bad, mind. But you should better read some reviews or rent the movie before buying it, just incase it turns out to be one of the bad ones.
This movie here is definitely of the bad ones. In fact, I think it's the cheapest one I've seen so far. It has absolutely none of the magic the original movie had, so don't be fooled by its title. Sure, it might be nice that Quasimodo finally gets a girlfriend as well, but frankly, it seems a little like the makers of the movie just thought that it was absolutely necessary that every character gets a lover. Even Phoebus' horse got a girlfriend!
The moral ("don't judge things by their appeareance") might be nice, but I think it's already come across well enough in the first movie. It's kind of forced here. There are so many situations where a character judges something by its outside and then is proven wrong, like the bell which looks ugly on the outside, but has jewels on the inside, and the herb Quasi gives to his girlfriend, not cause it's pretty, but cause it smells good.
The story is rather ridiculous. The feast of love, where everyone shouts out their love's name, is a cheesy idea. And Quasi's "love story" with Madeleine starts with her seeing him and running away screaming in fear. After that, Quasi already starts singing a song about how they may fall in love, even though he doesn't even know her.
The Animation is pretty bad too. There was even a scene that wasn't drawn completely! In the beginning, as the couples walk over the stage singing, they start disappearing before they reach the end of the screen.

THIS sequel is definitely not worth your money. I bought it because I heard so many negative comments on it which made me curious, but even that wasn't worth it.

Rating:
Summary: Disney STOP!
Review: It's hard to believe parents would allow their son to hang out with the town freak. Why didn't Disney just stop with the theater version of the Hunchback? To make a few more pennies on this SAD sequel? The story is weak but what is worse is the horrible animation. Where do they get these animators?? The old Bugs Bunny cartoons were animated 100x better. It must have taken them a whole half an hour to start and finish production of this film. Do yourself a favor and watch the original film instead of watching this waste of money.

Rating:
Summary: Sweet story, kid friendly
Review: More kid friendly than the original. Although the animation is not as good , it is better overall than the original. The story is very sweet with a message about seeing the beauty within a person rather than making judgements about their appearance. The song "Ordinary Miracle" is one of the best songs to come out of Disney in quite a while. Adults as well as children will enjoy this movie.