The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) review - Movie Thoughts (Chapter 11) 🔮

Hey everyone,

I've decided to write through every second weekend while this wacky project is a thing, so for the first weekend double feature I have two of my favourite animated movies from my lockdown movie list. Today's one is an older Disney musical that often slips through the cracks of people's GOAT list for this genre. But it's so great that I would definitely recommend it for everyone as a easy 90 minutes if you want a break from all your productive lockdown shit....

(**disclaimer: the following thoughts are 100% my opinion, you do not have to agree with them - film is inherently subjective and everyone's perspective is valid! Also, there are probably spoilers in the following, read at your own risk. Now onto some thoughts....**)

Source: IMDB

One of Disney’s darkest animated offerings, the mature yet loveable story of the man living among the church bells had plenty of good music and humour. The deformed bell-ringer of the mighty Notre Dame Cathedral must finally assert his dominance against an evil government minister in order to help a gypsy girl escape execution; and there are plenty of unique and energetic characters to captivate audiences.

Arguably once of the most robust concepts in the Disney catalogue, there is a truly uplifting and well-paced storyline in amongst the dim aesthetics. Based on the classic Victor Hugo tale, it’s not linear in a way that’s predictable and it builds tension with each turn and the climax packed quite a punch cloaked in shadows and fire.

Visually, this film is incredibly striking. The animation style is simple, yet the details of even the smallest things are all intricately detailed. Notre Dame itself felt like a commanding character all on its own because it is so stunning above the city and an eerie backdrop for much of the film’s plot. The intricacies of the exterior, the complexities in the stained glass windows and the sheer size of the building created a gorgeous spectacle onscreen and affirmed its position at the centre of the Parisian community. The vibrant colours of the gypsy homes and the gloomy candles and shadows of the church and justice buildings juxtapose together to create a memorable aesthetic that encompasses the story in an enticing cultural snapshot. This story’s strength also comes from the strong spread of characters that are all unique and energetic. There’s not necessarily a weak link and everyone is written in such a way that works so well together.

Protagonist and deformed bell-ringer Quasimodo lived among the bells of Notre Dame and dreamed of a world that would accept him with all his flaws. His journey from ashamed shutaway to being a valued member of the community is quite powerful, and his kind heart emphasizes just how evil and narrow-minded Judge Frollo’s perspective on the world is. Tom Hulce voiced this gentle and friendly guy who does not deserve anything but hugs and a job as a sculptor because that man has some talented hands. His little figurine Paris in his attic is so adorable, and his kind heart makes him one of the most likeable Disney protagonists in the market; even after 35 years.

Gypsy performer Esmeralda was a wonderful female lead with such a beautiful and kind spirit. She’s incredibly proud of her heritage; willing to help out anyone in need and she has such a great role model quality to her that I think is also incredibly underrated. It’s really special that she was able to have a romantic relationship and develop a close friendship within the same narrative. She gets the best of both worlds in love and support, and her defiant courage and determination throughout Frollo’s awful torments was incredibly motivating. Her spirit only grows from the first moment, and her sweet and loyal companion Djali the super-smart goat never fails to lend a helping hand or a sassy facial expression. Voiced by Demi Moore; an arguably questionable choice for Disney in the 90's given Esmeralda is an incredible female lead of colour, she added something extra special to this story.

In the antagonist department, Judge Claude Frollo (Tony Jay) is a terrifyingly simple villain and one of the scariest potentially ever cooked up by the Mouse House. Absolute power or revenge are good motivators, but prejudice and a God complex that thrives on hierarchy and division is probably even more deadly. His rhetoric was just plain awful and by the end he’s stripped back to a bloodthirsty and venomous rage; with this venomous characterisation contributing to much of the film’s darker tones. Extra praise must be given to supervising animator Kathy Zielinski for the expressive and crazy range of evil facials that litter Frollo’s presence onscreen.

Fresh off working on the wonderful music of Pocahontas the year before, Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz knocked it out of the park with this score. The music was incredibly strong, with a majestic timbre and sweeping harmonies that sound straight out of Les Misérables. Taking a detour from conventional Disney sweetness with an atmosphere of epic choral and Gothic stylings, there is still hope, love, optimism, kindness and friendship all over the clever lyrics. Frollo’s creepy song ‘Hellfire’ is easily one of the most chilling villain songs of all time - that's a fact.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame was proof that Disney can go darker and still have success. It has such a strong story, commanding songs and a powerful message of diversity and acceptance, and more people need to get on board with this wonderfully emotive adaptation.

8.5/10, 4 STARS

Thanks for reading,

Love and giant church bells, Emily 🔮