Originally Posted By Doobie This topic is for discussion of the June 19 article: Jim on Film at <a href="News-ID180330.asp" target="_blank">http://LaughingPlace.com/News-ID180330.asp</a>.
Originally Posted By Disfan1022 Extraordinary analyzation. I think Frollo was the most evil of evil characters... I'm glad he got his in the end. "God Help the Outcasts" and "Someday" were extremely touching songs setting the tone for the message that was portrayed. I think I'll watch my VHS copy this weekend... haven't seen it in a few years.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Great column, Jim! Hunchback is right at the top of my list of Disney animated feature favorites for all the reasons you discussed.
Originally Posted By SFH Thanks for the extensive examination of one of my favorite Disney movies of all time. "Hunchback" has some tremendous artwork and animation, and powerful songs. I saw the film several times in the theater, probably more times than any other film I've seen. The whole "Heaven's Light/Hellfire" sequence is among the finest moments in animation history. Again, thank you. Ken "SFH" Pellman sfh[at]flash[dot]net
Originally Posted By Dznygrl It's nice to see an article like this. Hunchback is by far one of my favorite movies of all time, and I've always felt that it never got the respect it so greatly deserved. How can anyone NOT see the breathtaking beauty of this film? On a related note, I just finished reading the original novel, and I have to say I'm amazed that Disney was reading the same material and ended up creating something so different from the original text! This does not however lessen my enjoyment of the movie. After all, Disney has been altering original stories since the beginning.
Originally Posted By TomSawyer Thanks for a great article. I had a conversation with someone about this movie a few weeks ago, and I'm going to send him your article so he can see what I was trying to say. You said it better than I could have. Frollo is the most evil of all of the Disney villains in my book, too. And I agree that Heaven's Light/Hellfire is the most powerful musical sequence in any animated movie, period.
Originally Posted By irishfan Fantastic article, Hunchback is probably my favourite of the modern animated films, with stunning visuals and amazing music.
Originally Posted By pammywood Thanks for the article! This is my most favorite animated Disney film, but I don't think I ever gave it quite so much thought. I'm going to have to go watch it right now and find all the symbolism you talked about. Also, I can't say enough for the soundtrack. It's so awesome! I still listen to it even to this day! I was getting tired of people belittling this movie and saying it was the worst animated feature Disney ever made. I guess they just didn't get it. Thanks again!
Originally Posted By utahjosh Great article about an even greater movie. I was not able to see Hunchback in the theatres, but i've seen it countless times at home. I wish SO BAD that it would be re-released on the big screen.
Originally Posted By Sir_Clinksalot Thank you. I totally love this movie, and I feel that it was not as respected as it should have been. I did see it on the Big Screen and loved it from then on. Great Article.
Originally Posted By DL56 I would add to the list of praises for the film the overall use of color, particularly the various pastels, and the way color complement was used, such as Esmeralda in her gypsy costume. Altho I feel a certain nostalgia for the old hand-painted cels, this film is the best argument I've seen for the use of computerized coloring.
Originally Posted By MouseBear Salutations Jim, I've always thought this was a beautiful film if a bit too much for young children. Thank you for your research and analysis. Your comments will make my next viewing of the film much richer. Lee
Originally Posted By maniac_disney Thanks Jim! Hunchback is one of my favorite Disney films. Congrats for the great column.
Originally Posted By CuriosWolfSo "Well, What can I say? I hope I don't upset people over what I have to say. Just remember not everybody likes a movie the same way (and not just the Disney movies)." "Yes, I saw it on the big screen when it first came out and was stunned at the rich visuals and the treatment of the story was very mature for a Disney animated movie, definitely not for children because it's just too much for them to take it in despite the presence of the 3 Gargoyles and Esmeralda's pet goat, Djali." "And the music really make the film by setting the many moods of the tale and using the Latin lyrics to give it the feeling of being authentic to the period" "You do really sympathized with Quasimodo through his trails and his longing for acceptance in the outside world just beyond the bell tower which he has lived in for years and you get touched by his joy when he finally got out and receiving a hug from a little girl who wasn't afraid by his looks." "But I seriously think the film doesn't really need the 3 Gargoyles. I understand they were there for the comic relief for an otherwise dark story. Still the clownish action of the gargoyles often felt forced and shown at the unappropriated times like singing a happy song right after a very serious moment." "While I applaud Disney for doing a very risky movie and doing a good job on it, it's not I want to watch all the time because it's pretty heavy and solemn at times. Also the actions of Follo can be hard to take because he's so unlikeable and immoral. The song 'Hellfire' pretty much sums him up and he wanted to kill Esmeralda and later Quasimodo just beacuse they don't comform to his way of the world should be run according to his 'religious' thinkings." "Overall, not a bad movie but isn't one of my favorites"
Originally Posted By SFH The film suffered from the "It didn't make as much money at 'The Lion King'" syndrome, which I'm tired of. It did better at the box office than hundreds of films people consider smash hits. Honestly... we don't call all live-action films that didn't bring in as much as "Titanic" disappointing. SFH
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Hunchback was one of those movies I liked so much I wish I could have liked it more, if you know what I mean. Jim ran down many of the reasons the film is as good as it is, so I won't repeat them. But I think they'd have had a home run if they'd just trusted their instincts a little more and let it be the movie it wanted to be - primarily by not worrying about "lightening it up." IMO the gargoyles were a mistake. I understand the rationale for them, but I think they throw the tone off. Especially in their design (very cartoony - they could have been designed more like actual gargoyles) and by using such recognizable voices. Without them, the tone could have stayed consistent and the feeling could have steadily grown throughout the movie. With them, everything just gets thrown off. I also could have dealt without the (too) happy ending. The novel and the Laughton film get the theme across just as well (or better) without it. If they'd had the guts to go for an even MORE "non-Disney" Disney film, I think it would have been even better than it is (which is quite good indeed). And yes, it was ridiculous to consider it any kind of "flop" box-office-wise.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 It's also interesting to compare the "Hellfire" song with the judge's song "Joanna" from Sweeney Todd (cut from the production but always available on the soundtrack album). I'm not saying it was ripped off or anything (Hellfire is definitely its own song) but the parallels are pretty cool if you know "Joanna." (And there are three songs of that title in the show - I'm talking about the one where the hypocritical judge alternates between lust for/guilt over Joanna, and ends up rationalizing it all in his own mind and deciding that no one shall have her but him.)
Originally Posted By SFH The only time I felt the gargoyles got out of hand was with the "A Guy Like You" song. That went over the top and felt a little out of place. If that had been done with different tone, still showing Quasi getting his hopes up about Esmerelda's feelings for him, I'd have no complaints about the film at all. It is a minor stumble in an awesome film. SFH
Originally Posted By JenniBarra I really liked the column, Jim! I, too, am a "Hunchback" fan, so the article was very much appreciated. : )
