Rating: 
Summary: A Breathtaking MasterPiece!
Review: Beautifully told! This is a very good movie full of drama and comedy (which I found the gargoyles unneccessary) Frollo is one of the evilest Disney characters. He considers himself religious, but all he wants is to sleep with Esmerelda. This may sound pathetic, but Phoebus is one of the sexiest animated men I've ever seen. This film is for children 11 and up. Too dark, scary, and confusing for little kids especially Quasimodo's ABC's (D is for Damnation and E is for Eternal Damnation) All in all this movies ranks as a 10 on my scale of 1-10. This movie is a classic!
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Musicals of all Time-Animated or No!
Review: This isn't a movie for kids-it is dark, religious, violent, etc....Well, what's wrong with an animated picture for adults? Ok, so it's got a few small problems, the gargoyles are nothing but annoying (with apologies to the wonderful, late Mary Wickes) and Quasi warbling "Out There" like the Little Mermaid is something we all could have done without...BUT! The rest of the music...Oh_my_God. You will cry when Esmerelda sings "The Outcasts" against the background of stained-glass at the cathedral. You will cry when Quasi sings "Heaven's Light" and softly rings the bells, which segs seamlessly into Frollo's evil song, making a nice counterbalance. THEN, to top everything off, we have the beautiful latin chants in the background throughout the movie, and the wonderful talent of Paul Kandel as Clopin (he is like the Master of Ceremonies in Cabaret). You will get shivers when you hear this man's amazing voice as he sings "The Bells Of Notre Dame" at the beginning and end of the movie. Menken and Schwartz have outdid themselves on this one. And if you think I have talked too much about the music alone, well let's just say the animation ain't too shabby either. If you are a sap for Broadway musicals, you must see this movie!
Rating: 
Summary: Purists Beware: Liberal Use of Poetic License Here
Review: It would not be hard to contemplate a more difficult story line for Disney to adapt on screen than Victor Hugo's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", but that doesn't mean it was a walk in the park either. Not only is there the conundrum of how to make Quasimodo true to his character and at the same time not so unsightly in appearance as to frighten off youngsters, but how will Victor Hugo's dark commentary of 15th Century Parisian life, capital punishment and religious bigotry be accommodated? What of Claude Frollo's lascivious desires for Esmerelda and wanton acts upon Quasimodo and gypsies? And that ending...a bit of a downer don't you think? Well, believe it or not, Disney stays true to each of these facets of the novel...with the exception of the tragic conclusion, of course.Talking gargoyles aside, the film really does not do enough to accommodate young viewers (and perhaps it was a mistake to market this as a kid's movie, but you got to sell those Burger King toys somehow!). The villain (Frollo) is among the most sinister characters ever portrayed in a Disney movie, and unlike Jafar ("Alladin") or Hades ("Hercules"), there is nothing humorous about him. On the other hand, the animators went a little overboard with Quasimodo, who kinda looks like a red-headed Chris Farley. And Phoebus has the personality of Al Gore...if he were any more wooden you'd have to check him for termites. Also, some very interesting characters from the book are regrettably absent. Where's Pierre Gringoire, Jehan Frollo, and Sister Gudule? Still, the animation is breathtaking, and the finale is nearly flawless...preferred to original version if you're a sentimental fan of happy endings. The movie contains a few hilarious subliminal references, as when Quasimodo (Tom Hulce) is dressed up briefly as Amadeus. The music is incredible and supports the film's most compelling scenes: Esmerelda singing "God Help The Outcasts" while taking sanctuary in the cathedral, the counterpoint of Quasimodo's "Heaven's Light" to Frollo's "Hell Fire," and the heart-pumping score behind the finale. Probably would have been given a PG rating if not for Eisner's influence over MPAA.
Rating:
Summary: A Disney Villain Like No Other
Review: Frollo, as voiced by Tony Jay, is probably Disney's most frightening villain. He possesses no magic powers or superhuman strength. However, he is armed with his own personal demons of lust, contempt, and hatred of others, while hiding under the guise of the church, that he is revealed to be more threatening than any "baddie" produced by the studio. Listen to the lyrics and study the animation during Frollo's solo and you will find a most adult presentation. Much more than just a reworking of the classic story, "Hunchback" is a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of hypocrisy. This one is DEEP!
Rating:
Summary: Hidden, Overlooked Masterpiece
Review: This is my favorite of the "New Age" of Disney films (which, for all intents and purposes, began with "The Little Mermaid"). It is truly not a film for the kids, but because the artists and writers were allowed to go a little darker and a little harder, the film is all the better for it. Disney's only villain who doesn't need a comic relief sidekick, Frollo ranks as one of the most evil characters ever depicted on the screen. And yet, we are allowed inside his conflicted soul in a remarkable dramatic solo song. The mood of this piece of animation is set from the frightening opening sequence and the infusion of religious overtones. The songs allow the plot to continue while still managing to be beautiful, especially Esmeralda's haunting "God Save the Outcasts." Comedic interchanges between Phoebus and Esmeralda add some light touches, while the gargoyles almost detract from the seriousness of this piece (at some point they seem added purely for marketing of toys!). But even the gargoyles grow on you by the end of the film (with a clever nod to "The Wizard of Oz"). Watch this film again. Pay attention to the tiny details of Paris. Listen to the universal themes covered by the songs. Look for the underlying adult themes of sex and the religious messages. And don't miss the cameo of "Belle" from "Beauty and the Beast!"
Rating:
Summary: Tarzan wishes it were like this
Review: Some people must have short memories. Everybody is saying how great Tarzan is, and I've taken quite a bit of heat for trashing that movie. Yet if they want to find a similar movie that's much better, all they have to do is look a few years back, and they'll see this movie, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Nevermind that it's not at all like the book, this movie has all of Tarzan's strengths and very few of its weaknesses. Tarzan has a poor story, poor characters, and a poor villain. The Hunchback of Notre Dame has a strong story, great characters, and a fantastic villain. Both are dark and inappropriate for kids. Both have fantastic animation and great action. Yet, The Hunchback of Notre Dame is clearly the superior of the two. That's pretty much all that needs to be said. Now, if only they got rid of those stupid gargoyles.
Rating:
Summary: Look Deeper Into This Great Film
Review: This Film has been mistreated and very much misinterpretted since its release. Many People have not seen the point of the story and the value that it really contains. This well known story of Quasimodo is beautifully depicted in this animated masterpiece. Some universal themes are very much alive in this picture, such as to not judge a person based on appearance. Our world today NEEDS this kind of message. So many people judge others before they even know the person and that is just never right. This film may open the eyes of some people, but others may still not see through it. Even though it is a Disney film, people really need to stop grouping a certain brand of movies together, because each film is its own (though some of the fairy tail Disneys copy each other's plots). But The Hunch Back of Notre Dame is completely different than any Disney film made so far. Adults must realize that is is definately not a children's movie, which Disney has made themselves famous for. There is violence and very dark themes, which makes this film very moving and enjoyable for adults. Disney has finally broken out of its shell and done a film that has true value in it. No film from them so far has had any redeeming value (Mulan is a small exception). This film actually is on the same scale as The Prince of Egypt, which was beautifully made as well. Dreamworks knew what they were doing with Egypt, as Diney finally did with Hunchback. As for animation, music and mood, this film ranks among the best ever made. The detail of Paris in the Middle Ages is great. There is even a scene where the characters enter the catacombs in the south of Paris, where human bones are piled abundently. The music in this film is awesome. The musical score bye Alan Menken outdoes the songs that the characters sing, but they are still great. The comic relief is funny, yet out of place. That is the only weakness to this film. People must give this film a chance, and instead of seeing an ugly main character, see a nice person under the deformed body that God gave him. The characterization goes deep in this film, and everything about it is wonderful.
Rating:
Summary: Best characters of all Disney films
Review: THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME won my heart completely from the first time I saw it. My sympathy towards Quasimodo is so deep that I always get furious while listening to Frollo whose hatred towards the gypsies is quite impossible to understand. However, I must say that I find it better to make him really disgusting than to let him be partly good like it is in the novel. I also admire and respect Esmeralda although she is very different from the original character, and the only thing I don't accept in her behavior is that she shows her love to Phoebus just in front of Quasi. Phoebus himself is so totally different from the character of the novel that it's hard to believe he is the same man. I must say that the film is not good for very small children, and it may also upset people belonging to certain minorities. In any case, no film in years has made such a great influence on me.
Rating:
Summary: A Disney Les Miz
Review: Basic moral of the movie, in the words of one of the main character: God help the Outcasts, for no one else seems to care. If you love musicals and operettas, you'll love Hunchback. Disney has really outdone itself on this one. The music is the most powerful you've heard in a long time from our friends over there in the Disney studios and the animation is flawless. Both do much justice to the plot, though altered, but we must remember that this *is* a Disney movie. Oh, did I forget to mention? This movie is dark. And when I mean dark, I mean it's *not* for kids. Yes folks, Disney has managed to produce a movie that is not suitable for children at all. But teens and adults will love it. The character that absolutely stole the show was, without a shadow of a doubt, the evil Judge Claud Frollo, voiced by Ton Jay. His scenes left me in awe, as Disney presented his internal battle between preserving the thin line between pureness and sin superbly, thanks to amazingly symbolic animation and music. Bottom line? Better than that Pocahontas swill, almost as good as Lion King and curiously similar to Beauty and the Beast. Disney will never be able to top themselves after this one.
Rating:
Summary: Best Disney Movie for Adults
Review: While entertaining for children, this movie has a tremendous amount of nuances intended for adults. The dark storyline about Frollo's obsession and his dealings with the Esmerelda as well as the old Captain of the Guard can only be appreciated by a mature viewer. The music in Hunchback is the most "Broadway quality" work they have done yet, or since. The singing talent is unmatched. The story is extremely compelling and has the viewer on the edge of their seat from the time that Esmerelda first escapes. Those that have written that the story strays too far from the book must be of the opinion that plot, and not theme or characterization, is the most important part of a novel. This story sticks pretty close to Hugo's message of immoral persecution of good, but powerless people by evil, powerful people. In my opinion, it's Disney's best.
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