Disney is releasing a blu-ray of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Hunchback of Notre Dame Blu-Ray Cover
I’m not sure what features it will have but I can’t say I like the box art. Quasimodo gets lost in it and the gargoyles should not be in the foreground. Not sure why Disney is still forcing the gargoyles on the fans, most people hate them and love the other characters. But I never studied marketing.
A fun countdown to the release date ^^
Gina Lollobrigida as Esmeralda Hunchback of Notre Dame 1956
Much like the Jetlag version the 1956 version
The film does take a lot of liberties with story and characters but did the changes that were made help the film? And is it actually a good and enjoyable movie on its own?
Next 1956 Article – Plot
Gina Lollobrigida as Esmeralda Hunchback of Notre Dame 1956
Please Note – There are two versions of this film; the French dub and the English dub. I have access to the English Dub
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yHoikdDSI0
The Hunch Marquee, The Critic
Since Today is the Feast of Fools/The Epiphany which is the day the Hunchback starts on, I thought I would take a break from Silly Sunday and review one most outstanding and most beautiful versions of Hunchback. Unfortunately this version is the shortest and it really is just a reference in a TV show but the shear masterpiece of this makes it more than a mere reference it’s a classic version on to it’s self.
Quasimodo with the Citizen of Paris in Hunch, The Critic
Of course I’m refereeing to musical version to from The Critic
Quasimodo on the Pillory in Hunch, The Critic
This version centers more around Quasimodo and the citizens of Paris. It opens with Quasimodo tied to the pillory and the citizens blaming all their problems on Quasimodo.
Quasimodo and Esmeralda in Hunch, The Critic
But Quasimodo takes it in stride and meets the lovely, innocent and kind Esmeralda. Quasimodo and her meet for a romantic picnic where they fall in love.
Quasimodo in Hunch, The Critic
However a misunderstanding occurs and Quasimodo is let alone in his stone deaf world. The silence is broken by the toll from the bells.
Jay Sherman is the luck audience member, The Critic
A bell in then lower into the audience where one lucky person is blessed to be the bell’s clapper.
Jay Sherman, The Critic
It is in this moment that Quasimodo gets the courage to save day and wins the respect and acceptance of the people of Paris.
Quasimodo with the Citizen of Paris in Hunch, The Critic
This musical has lot of memorable numbers and brilliant lyrics. It also make full use of all the wonderful word-play and sight gags that can be done with the word “Hunch.” It’s quite apparent that Disney saw this fantastic and was like “let’s copy this” but Disney fails to capture the power, the magic and the overall spectacle of this timeless version. Even the beloved Notre Dame de Paris pales in comparison the the majesty of Hunch. Clearly Hunch is the most amazing and genius rendering on Victor Hugo’s novel ever made and it’s worthy everyone love and adoration.
Watch the Glory of it here
or enjoy it as it was ment to be view on a TV
Today’s Horoscope for January 2nd 2013 was prophesied for the Hunchback of Notre Dame, the book.
Elicia MacKenzie as Fleur de Lys & Yvan Pedneault as Phobus, World Tour Cast Notre Dame de Paris, Crocus City
“Although he visited her occasionally, from a lingering spark of common respect, he felt doubly embarrassed in Fleur-de-Ly’s presence: first, because by dint of distributing is love in all sorts of places he had very little left for her and next, because amid so many stately, starched, and modest dames he trembled continually lest lips, accustomed to oaths, should suddenly lose all restraint and break out into the language of the tavern. ” (Book 7, Chapter 1 On the Danger of Confiding a Secret a Goat)
The prophesy is clear: Be sure to be mindful of who you address today, or else.
What New Year’s Resolution would the characters from The Hunchback Notre Dame make?
Hunchback of Notre Dame Character Illustration by Francois Joseph Aime De Lemud
Quasimodo – Enjoy Life More
Esmeralda – Get a Handsome Boyfriend
Frollo – Stalk her less
Gringoire – Get my tragic tale of woe published
Phoebus -Cheat on my Girlfriend less
Clopin -Get Organize
Djali – Learn a new word
Fleur de Lys – Spend more time with the loved ones
Jehan – Resolutions are too much work
Gudule -Find my Baby
Notre Dame – Go to Church more
Esmeralda and Gringoire
The Jetlag version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Next Version up for Review – It’s a secret. I’m also going to take a brief hiatus from my Hunchback movie reviews till January 8th. I’ll still post everyday but fewer articles.
There one big major glaring plot-hole in the Jetlag version of the Hunhcback of Notre Dame
Frollo attack while Esmeralda and Phoebus embrace, Jetlag version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
During the ill-fate meeting of Esmeralda and Phoebus, after Phoebus is stab by Frollo, Frollo rips Esmeralda’s necklace off and throws it in the river where it drift down to Quasimodo who seems to be in the general area during the stabbing.
Quasimodo holding Esmeralda’s Necklace, Jetlag Hunchback of Notre Dame
Why was he there? The film makes no indication of him following either Esmeralda or Frollo. Was he out taking a midnight scroll? In the words of the Nostalia Critc “Explain Movie, Explain.”
Esmeralda tells Quasimodo about Frollo
Now when Esmeralda realizes that Frollo is the one who stabbed Phoebus she runs to tell Quasimodo who doesn’t believe her. But When Quasimodo confronts Frollo at the end on bridge he says that he saw him stab the captain.
Frollo threatening Esmeralda, Jetlag Hunchback of Notre Dame
So Quasimodo saw Frollo stab Phoebus but didn’t believe it? Or he saw it but didn’t know it was Frollo but we never see him come to the realization that Frollo did it? In fact, we never see Quasimodo realize that Frollo is no longer a nice person and inflicting pain on Esmeralda, the woman he loves.
Quasimodo throws Frollo off a bridge
In the book Quasimodo sees Frollo laughing at a dying Esmeralda and throws him off Notre Dame but he does it in a fit of rage but never quite understood why he did it. In the Jetlag version he sees Frollo trying to kill Esmeralda and he all like ‘yeah I saw you stab that guy even though I never really thought about it or seemed to even care about that incident, so you’re bad guy now it’s time to get wet and inconvenienced’ and over the bridge he goes. Got to wonder how high that bridge was, I mean Frollo’s comeuppance is getting wet whereas Quasimodo and Esmeralda may get to live happy ever after but they are chased out Paris and are basically criminals. But then again searching for logic or a deeper meaning to things in the Jetlag version is pointless as it was rushed, not thought out and lazy.
Quasimodo and Esmeralda embrace Esmeralda in Sanctuary
Next Jetlag Article – The Epic Conclusion
Gringoire balancing a chair Jetlag version Hunchback of Notre Dame
Here’s a question, why hasn’t there been a well executed and accurate version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame outside of France? Is it because it just a hard book to adapted into a film? The answer is yes and no. First, the book doesn’t have a traditional happy ending. It ends with pretty much everyone either dead or unhappy in some capacity.
Louis Boulanger’s Illustration of Frollo, Esmeralda and Sachette
Typically when characters die in movie it’s for one of two reasons, either they die for someone’s else sake like Jack in Titanic
Gina Lollobrigida as Esmeralda (1956)
But there is more to it than filmmakers not wanting to deal with the death of the leading lady as the reason. Classic literature has often been tweaked by screenwriters since it allows for them to use established characters and plots but their is no pressure from the filmgoers to make the movie in line with book. Perhaps if the Hunchback of Notre Dame had the same die-hard fan-base as Twilight 
Twilight
The Hunger Games
Gone with the Wind
These three movies based on popular literature more or less capture the original book or series of books whereas Hunchback movies never do. Although Hunchback does have more complexity to plot and tone than Twilight, The Hunger Games and Gone with the Wind. But if Hunchback did have the same levels of popularity within popular culture as a book screenwriters would be less compelled to be creative with the story like making Esmeralda a champion for equality, have her pray, Frollo as a judge and a cat lover, singing semi-imaginary gargoyles who tell fart jokes etc.
The Gargoyles; Hugo Laverne, Victor Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney
Perhaps one day there will be a version that is well executed and accurate or at the very least captures the original mood of the book. Till then we have the “jazzy” Brolin movie to look forward to.
Josh Brolin
Despite all of its negatives, the Jetlag version
Frollo attack while Esmeralda and Phoebus embrace, Jetlag version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
A lot of the plot point from the original book are let in tact. Like Frollo as Priest and he starts off kind, there is the kidnapped attempt, Phoebus is a cad who tries to seduce Esmeralda even though he has a fiancée, Fleur de Lys, and does get stab by Frollo, Gringoire’s character is large let intact, Quasimodo is deaf etc.
Esmeralda, Jetlag version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Coming off the heels of the Disney movie which is very different than the book, to watch this version despite its lazy execution is very refreshing. However since Disney is a big company they couldn’t make Hunchback accurate to the book without offending people whereas Jetlag is a smaller company so they don’t have that concern. But more that Jetlag is a American-Japanese company so a lot the hang ups on making Frollo a lusty priest didn’t really apply. This also explain why Esmeralda has an anime look to her.
Quasimodo throws Frollo off a bridge
Hunchback was Jetlag’s last production under the name GoodTimes before GoodTimes turned in a new company. This version of Hunchback came out on April 30th 1996. So it beat the Disney version but it’s release was meant to capitalize off of it. However, in direct competition to Disney movie the Jetlag version’s saving grace is that it maintain the plot whereas Disney didn’t and most people seem to forgive the laziness and the slow pacing of the Jetlag version because of this. If there was a film version that had good execution and maintain the plot of book than this version would fade into more obscurity. There are some version that come close but there is also something missing.
Next Jetlag article (almost done) – a major Plot hole
Esmeralda tells Quasimodo about Frollo