notre Dame | The Hunchblog of Notre Dame

29Nov 2024

Gift Ideas for a Parisian Themed Game Night

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It’s Christmas Time and Notre Dame is set to re-open on December 8th so I thought for this post why not do a list of Notre Dame/France themed games that you can get for yourself or gift to someone for your next game night.

This is the classic Rio Grande Games Notre Dame. I haven’t played this one myself but it’s not based on the book/movie. Instead “players take on the roles of the heads of influential families in Paris at the end of the 14^th century. ” boardgamegeek.com

It does sound like fun, if not challenging.

Now this one I have played and I’m quite bad at it but it’s fun. Wizards of the Coast Guillotine has players picking which nobles get sent to lose their heads. There is a strategy as players can change the order of the line to collect more points and mess with other players which is part of the fun.

Kronologic Paris 1920 is a “who-dun-it” much like Clue but with smoother game play. And while there are lots of board games that are murder mysteries this one is set in Paris at the Opera house in 1920, so it has a great aesthetic.

I’ve played another version of this game which has players building and connecting train lines.
Ticket to Ride Europe takes the concept and sets it in Europe, so you know Paris gets a lot attention in this game. There are dozens of versions of Ticket to Ride though because who doesn’t love a good train?

Ravensburger Castles of Burgundy Board Game looks tough to me but it does look like fun especially paired with a bottle of burgundy wine to complete the vibe. “The game is set in the Burgundy region of High Medieval France. Each player takes on the role of an aristocrat, originally controlling a small princedom. While playing they aim to build settlements and powerful castles, practice trade along the river, exploit silver mines, and use the knowledge of travelers.” – from boardgamegeek.com. Remember in the book Phoebus had Burgundy look because it was the style at the time

Now I’m a BIG fan of the original version of Dixit so imagine my delight to learn that there was Disney Dixit Edition. Players have a hand of cards with dream-like images on them. Each turn one player is the storyteller, they pick a card and say a sentence about it without showing the card. The other players pick a card from their own hands that best suits the sentence. Each player has to guess which card is the storyteller’s. Points are awarded based how the players guessed.

It’s a lot of fun. And Hunchback does a card as each of their animated movies has one up to Encanto plus Pixar. It did take me a minute to find Hunchback’s card in the card list picture BUT I found it and it’s Esmeralda surrounded by candles, vert pretty.

Worthington Games: Levee En Masse Deluxe: The Wars of The French Revolution, 1789-1802 2022 Board Game might be out-of-print given how much it goes for online. “This solitaire game, suitable for group and classroom cooperative game play, tells the story of the French Revolution through its key events and decision points. You must stop the advances of foreign armies and the counter-revolutionary forces within France itself to defend the virtues of Republicanism.” – boardgamegeek

There are also Notre Dame Adult Jigsaw Puzzles and of course the impressive and imposing Notre Dame de Paris Lego set. That would be something to attempt. I have no lego game but it’s mighty tempting. Update- I actually did the lego Poinsettia kit so now I have a little lego game now I want the Notre Dame set even more.

Have you played any of these games? Which one would you want to play?

Happy Christmas Shopping!

Christmas!
by Hunchstore

25Dec 2021

Merry Christmas 2021

by jess

Art by WarlikeSwans https://www.instagram.com/warlikeswans

17Apr 2018

Conclusion to the 1977 version of Hunchback

by jess

Michelle Newell as Esmeralda & Warren Clarke as Quasimodo 1977 The Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Warren Clarke as Quasimodo & Michelle Newell as Esmeralda

If you like the 1977 version, I understand. I get the appeal of it. As of now it is the most book accurate movie version that exists. But being book accurate does not necessarily make for a good movie.

Accuracy to the source material can’t hide that this version is dull. From the sets, to the cinematography, to the depictions of the characters; everything is underwhelming.

Even when I first saw this movie is my early Hunchback obsession days, I thought this version was a Feast of Snores.

The good news is that I don’t think this version was out to be a seminal version. How could it be when they don’t even have even a model for Notre Dame? Or any exterior sets. It was just a version made for TV with a limited budget. I don’t think the bar was terrible high on this version. They did the best they felt like with their resources and got out another version of Hunchback.

Would I recommend you watch this? If you’re some weird Hunchback completionist, like I try to be, then yes but you might get bored like I do every single time I watch this version. And for the purposes of this review series that was a lot mostly because I forgot a lot of it even with repeat viewings.

06Apr 2018

The sets of The 1977 version of Hunchback

by jess

Set from 1977 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Perhaps it’s mean to really be that judgmental towards the sets in this version of Hunchback. After all this is a BBC made for TV two part miniseries from the late 70’s, and based just on the look and the fact that they used a painting for exterior shots of Notre Dame, it points to them just not have any budget for sets.

Kenneth Haigh as Frollo

As it stands this movie looks like it was shot on a single soundstage that was dressed to fit the scene, more like a play but necessity is the mother of invention so we can and will judge like the cold-hearted judgmental bitch critic we wish we were. Honestly, I started out this review wanting to go easy on this movie for its sets but then I watched it again.

David Rintoul as Jehan

The sets are a awash of dull dark browns and ashy grays. There is not much color to these sets. This could be an attempt to showcase the urbaness of medieval Paris but just comes off as boring, like the rest of the movie and what this reviews series as devalued into. How many ways can I articulate this movie is dull? Turns out I don’t need to the sets do it for me.

Set from 1977 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Let’s look at the first set of the movie, the place where Gringoire has his play performed, it a stage with a carpet on it, some chairs, some candles holder and what look like stone frames. The walls, or a dropcloth, which are really far back are painted in red tones. Now I always assumed that this was an interior BUT now that I look at the set and consider it more this is supposed to outside space given the red background and the stone frame things. But given that I just can’t really tell, how effective is this set at conveying the where this scene takes place?

Hetty Baynes as Fleur de Lys with Richard Morant as Phoebus

I don’t think the sets are badly made, they look like they were well executed and they look competently constructed but given how dark everything looks and that the lighting isn’t helping you can’t really tell. Everything just fades into mediocrity.

06Feb 2018

Phoebus 1977 version of Hunchback

by jess

Richard Morant as Phoebus de Chateaupers

Ultimately, there is not that much to say about this version’s treatment of Phoebus. He is book-accurate. He’s a soldier and a slut, that’s it for his characterization. He makes it clear he’s only marrying Fleur de Lys for her money though they are well suited for each our but that could just be the actor’s chemistry.

That’s really all there is to say on this version of Phoebus.

30Jan 2018

Jehan of The 1977 version of Hunchback of Notre Dame

by jess

David Rintoul as Jehan

Jehan is this version gets a lot of screen time because he actually has a functional role within the narrative. He is a plot exposition machine, if something is in need of explanation he is there to explain it to the viewer. Like how The Pope of Fools is crowned and Quasimodo’s deaf judge as well the implication what that means to the Parisian justice system which he doesn’t think highly of.

David Rintoul as Jehan

Jehan also in his capacity for explaining is a bit of philosopher in this version, more so than Gringoire. He has this whole speech on storming Notre Dame for the “People” as it just as excuse for people to horrible things in the pursuit of wealth.

David Rintoul as Jehan

He also doesn’t join the Court of Miracles, he just joins in impulsive as they are in the act because it looks like fun and the promise of treasure before he unceremonious stab by a soldier.

David Rintoul as Jehan

All in all Jehan is in keeping with his book counterpart as he is Frollo’s leech of a younger brother. He does has more of a role in this versions but he also means less to Frollo in terms of affection. Frollo just seem annoyed by his brother all the time and Jehan even mention that Quasimodo was a somewhat replacement brother. So Jehan has jealousy for Quasimodo for his brother’s affection.

David Rintoul as Jehan

Jehan’s character is never at the forefront of these adaptations so there is less expectation of the character, he’s not important and quite unlikable so while in this version he is in keeping with book he at least entertaining in this version.

22Jan 2018

Gringoire of the 1977 version of Hunchback

by jess

Christopher Gable as Gringoire

In many ways this version of Gringoire is on point with the book. He does pretty all the action in does in the book with the same attitude. He has a high opinion of himself with regards to his work, he does want Esmeralda but backs off when he rebukes with awkward attempt at seduction, he cowardice about dying for Esmeralda, he doesn’t want to die in her place. Although he didn’t steal Djali, would have been easy for him to do but he doesn’t. In fact he pretty damn callous in that scene since Esmeralda is begging not to leave and he like “laters.”

Christopher Gable as Gringoire

In fact this Gringoire is very callous at the end of the movie. After Gringoire makes off with Djali we don’t hear from him again but we hear that he went on to write tragedies, so happy ending for him. This version seeks to give the viewer closure on Gringoire, so after Frollo and Esmeralda die, Gringoire looks around at their bodies in the square and he says “And only I spared to tell the tale” then he smiles. At first before he says that line he does seem a little sad but the smiles after the line is said. It gives some credence to the story but it makes Gringoire look unlikable in this version. It does beg the question, was Gringoire unlikable in the book?

Christopher Gable as Gringoire

I’d say no. He was fairly relatable. He didn’t want Esmeralda to die but he didn’t want to die either plus he had no idea what Frollo’s motivation were regarding Esmeralda. But it’s amazing how that one line that the movie adds in to give Gringoire an ending made him look like such a jerk. It’s not even the line itself it that smile and the fact that right after said smile he says “there is a god in heaven.” Such a massive jerk-face.

Is there anything good about this version? And don’t say adherence to the book, many Hunchback versions adhere to the plot so they don’t have to add anything else to make it good for a visual medium.

09Jan 2018