Tried of his ugly face Quasimodo decided to lose the entire face and become of a more dignified monster.
I haven’t seen Hotel Transylvania yet so feel free to call me out on anything I get wrong. I had mentioned in another post that Quasimodo was a chef which parodies his being French rather than his role as a monster because let’s face it, Quasimodo is not a monster, he’s deformed, not a monster. Calling him a monster was just a marketing gimmick by Universal Studios. Remember Lon Chaney’s first big role was Quasimodo and was Universal’s first major film. The 1923 version started the monster trend. Putting Quasimodo in the league with Dracula, Frankenstein, and werewolves is moronic. I’m really surprised that the Phantom wasn’t shoehorned in the movie. Oh wait, a cave is shaped like the Phantom’s face so he was. Kudos movie.
However my annoyance with the movie’s representation of Quasimodo goes a step further, Quasimodo is an antagonist. What? Huh? Quasimodo is a bad guy? Well that’s certainly a new spin on the character. I mean he did throw someone off a building in a fit of rage but is that enough to turn him into more are less a villain? Consider that Quasimodo is hardly ever depicted as anything but a kind soul. But wait there is more.
Quasimodo has a side-kick rat named…. wait for it……..Esmeralda. What? Esmeralda is a rat? What? The Beautiful and Graceful Esmeralda is a rat? I can’t process this. So let me get this right Hotel Transylvania, Quasimodo is a chef and has a rat? Maybe she is a pretty rat? Oh, I get it, they’ re knocking-off of Ratatouille. So Quasimodo wasn’t funny enough on his own merits so Sony Pictures had to reference a Pixar movie all while knocking-off classic monster movies? Or maybe because the writers had no idea how to included Quasimodo in the movie but they had to as The Hunchback started the Monster movie trend so they just made him the chef. And since there is nothing in Quasimodo’s characterization in this representation of him in this film they named the rat Esneralda to link him to movie even though it makes no sense to call the rat Esmeralda. He also has Gargoyle minions which is a reference to the Disney movie.
One more thing, why is Quasimodo’s last name in this move “Wilson”? Why not give him some goofy French name, would have made more sense that “Wilson”. Or maybe there referencing something, that seems to film’s raison d’etre. I mean even the title is reference to the song Hotel California, because they both have the word “Hotel” and end in “nia.” It’s supposed to clever or something.
This isn’t Quasimodo and there isn’t enough of him to be a proper reference to any version of Quasimodo. It’s pretty clear that the writers knew of Quasimodo from the Chaney version and the Disney version but not enough to make a decent connection to the character’s legacy.
I have since writing the post seen the movie, you can read that post HERE
The Pagemaster is a forgettable little movie about a boy over coming his fears by reading books. In the boy, Richie, played by Macaulay Culkin, gets trapped in alternative library reality where he encounters three annoying books one is called Horror. Horror resembles Quasimodo. He also at one point shouts “Sanctuary” (no no real reason) and anyone who yells the word “Sanctuary” in a film is a referencing Quasimodo.
Korean Boy Band, SHINee, released a song off their 2010 Album, Lucifer, called Quasimodo. The plot of the song mirrors Quasimodo’s relationship with Esmeralda in that it‘s about guy that is in love a girl he thinks he has no chance with. It’s a lovely song.
English Translations
Your traces that my heart is filled with
Makes me able to breathe
When the long night is colored by the moonlight
Will the inescapable wait all end?
I wish for a miracle and ask and answer myself
Oh, I can’t tell you about me
Who wants to reach your heart
Like the starlight hidden behind the cold clouds
I love you, in the end, this painful confession
That lingers at the edge of my lips slide down in tears
This arrow that’s reached my heart
Feels like a part of my body now
Even though it hurts to death
I can’t remove you, who’s stuck in my heart
Because it’s love
Because for me, it’s love
*Even if I can’t have you
In the end, even when my heart is blocked
By the wall of sad connection
I love you, if it’s a place
where I can just watch you
Because you’re my everything
I stay up for so many nights
When the starlight becomes rain
That doesn’t stop like my tears
Remember that I loved you
*Repeat x2
It’s not tough, oh no
Because you have to be mine
In order for you to be you
Even if it hurts
Even if you make me cry
I love you
For the most part the Jetlag Version follows the book pretty well but a few things have been change so that it has a happy-child-friendly ending.
The movie opens with Quasimodo being left at Notre Dame by his young widow mother and Frollo adopting him. They then explain some basic details of Quasimodo by way of narration. Like Quasimodo lives in Notre Dame, he loves the bells and he is deaf. He the subject of ridicule and fascination among the common people, who in this tend to gawk at Quasimodo while he rings the bells.
The film then moves into the Feast of Fools where we meet Gringoire who is trying to get his play some viewers but the crowd in more interested in the Pope of Fool contest. After Quasimodo is crowned the Pope of Fools we meet Esmeralda, who charms the masses with her dancing. As she dances she captures the attentions of Gringoire and Frollo. Esmeralda then showcases Djali time telling trick. As Djali finishes the trick the procession of the Pope of Fool comes by and Frollo reprimands Quasimodo for his blasphemy. Quasimodo not recognizing his master attacks but after Frollo is revealed Quasimodo begs forgiveness.
As the Festival ends Esmeralda walks home. Gringoire follows her and so does Frollo and Quasimodo. They attempt to kidnap her. Gringoire tries to help but fails. As Esmeralda screams Phoebus and his guard come and arrests Quasimodo.
After that Gringoire is bought before the Duke of Egypt. Since Gringoire is an outsider he must pass a test so that he can join the Gypsies or he will die. He has to steal the purse from a dummy with bells attach to it while walking a plank standing on one leg. However he fails but instead of dying he put up for marriage. Esmeralda accepts him but only to save him.
Quasimodo then stands trial. His judge is deaf so Quasimodo is unfairly sentenced to be kept in the stocks for an extra hour. As Quasimodo is punished he ask for water but the crown throws rocks at him. Esmeralda takes pity on him and gives him water and he weeps.
The following day, Esmeralda dances while Gringoire balances a chair with a cat on it on his nose. As they perform Quasimodo looks down from a top the Cathedral and watches Esmeralda. Also watching is a nobel women, Fleur de Lys,who is Phoebus’ fiancee. Esmeralda notices Phoebus and show them that Djali can spell his name. Fleur de Lys finds this charming and wants to meet Esmeralda but Phobus dismisses the request and calls Esmeralda ordinary.
As Esmeralda walk off dejected, Frollo appears and speaks to Gringoire. Frollo wants to know why he is dressed the way he is. Gringoire tells him that he is married to Esmeralda in name only and a member of the Gypsies.
That night Frollo torments himself with thoughts of Esmeralda. He then see her outside and follows her. He follows her to the docks where she is meets Phoebus. She tells Phoebus that she has dreamed of a knight that would save her and she loves him. Phoebus tells her that he loves her too. As they embrace Frollo stabs Phobus. Esmeralda tells Frollo to kill her too but he walk alway and leaves her to take the blame.
The narration then tells us that Esmerlada has a brief trial and confessed to stabbing Phobus to death and witchcraft and for this she is sentence to death. We are then told she did that after days questioning without food or water. As she is lead to gallows she sees Phoebus. Fleur de Lys asks why the sight of Esmeralda seems to trouble him but he tells her he is fine. Fleur de Lys then asks if he loves her which say that she is the only one he has ever loved. Esmeralda hearing this cries.
Quasimodo then sweeps done, grabs Esmeralda and runs into Notre Dame and claims Sanctuary for her.
Quasimodo takes care of Esmeralda in Notre Dame. He provides her with a bed and food. Esmeralda wants to see Quasimodo in the light but Quasimodo refuses to have her look at him. He then tells her not to leave the cathedral or they will kill her and that would kill him.
The next day Esmeralda gets a knock on the door and thinks it’s Quasimodo but it’s Frollo. Frollo tells her of his romantic obsession. Esmeralda recognizes him as the one who stabbed Phoebus and threaten to tell on him. Frollo tells her to go ahead as no one will believe her. She tells Quasimodo but he doesn’t want to believe that his master would do such a thing.
Frollo finds Gringoire and tells him that Esmeralda can not stay in Notre Dame indefinitely. Frollo suggests that since Esmeralda saved Gringoire’s life that he should be the one to take her place. Gringoire tells Frollo that he is too attach to life to save her in that fashion. Frollo flashes an evil smile and tells him he has another plan.
As Quasimodo locks the Cathedral for the evening Frollo unlocks it. Quasimodo then take Esmeralda her dinner with some flowers in a clay vase. Esmeralda thanks him for the flowers and tell him that there is no need to hide his face from her. She tells him that she has forgotten Phoebus and she knows that he never loved her. Quasimodo starts to tell her that he loves her but falters. Esmeralda tells him that she know he loves her as he has proven he it to her and she know that he won’t let Frollo harm her. She then gives him a peck on the cheek.
As Esmeralda sleeps Gringoire and the Gypsies sneak through the unlock door of Notre Dame. As they sneak in Frollo sneaks out. They find Esmeralda and try to escape with her. Quasimodo begs her not to go but the Gypsies knock Quasimodo out. Esmeralda doesn’t want to leave but Gringoire forces her out of Notre Dame.
As the groups leaves Notre Dame Frollo alerts the guards of Esmeralda exodus. As the fight ensues Frollo convinces Esmeralda to follow him as she has no choice. He leads her to a bridge where tells her to be his or die. Esmeralda tells him no and as he is about to stab her Quasimodo stops him. Quasimodo then tells him he saw Frollo stab the Phoebus (Plothole). As Frollo tries to stab Quasimodo, Quasimodo lifts Frollo up and throws him off the bridge and in to the water.
Quasimodo then tells Esmeralda that he loves her and she tells him she loves him too. They then run off together and live happily ever after in the country.
Next Jetlag Review Post – Plot Review
- 2012 Asian Tour of Notre Dame de Paris
- Ian Carlye as Clopin 2012 Asian Tour of Notre Dame de Paris
- Candice Parise as Esmeralda & Matt Laurent as Quasimodo 2012 Asian Tour of Notre Dame de Paris
- Candice Parise as Esmeralda 2012 Asian Tour of Notre Dame de Paris
- Lilly-Jane Young as Fleur de Lys & Stephen Webb as Phoebus 2012 Asian Tour of Notre Dame de Paris
- Rpbert Marien as Frollo & Matt Laurent as Quasimodo 2012 Asian Tour of Notre Dame de Paris
- Dennis Ten Vergert as Gringoire 2012 Asian Tour of Notre Dame de Paris
- Matt Laurent as Quasimodo 2012 Asian Tour of Notre Dame de Paris
- Stephen Webb as Phoebus 2012 Asian Tour of Notre Dame de Paris
No, Esmeralda is not Quasimodo’s mother. Pending on what version is question Esmeralda is four years younger than Quasimodo in the book. In the Disney version while she may be maternal towards Quasimodo we know she is not because we see Quasimodo’s mother die.
But who is Quasimodo’s mother? In the Disney we see a young women who just wanted to get her child in Paris for a perhaps a better life. But what were her hopes, fears, ambitions, desires? What was her favorite color, foods, pastimes? The real tragedy is we never got to know her as a character.
In book we only know that Quasimodo’s mother was an unfeeling vile women who abandoned him as baby. But Maybe she died in childbirth and some other relative abandoned him. Maybe she was lied to and she was told her baby died at birth and then he was abandoned.
We’ll never know the truth regarding Quasimodo’s mother but one thing we do know is that she was not Esmeralda. Unless that was her actual given name and then I guess the answer is yes but what are the odds of that?
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