The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)by Tristi Pinkston | More from this Blogger 28 Mar 2007 10:39 AM
Twenty years later, Quasimodo is the bell-ringer in the cathedral and has the entire upper floors to himself. But this is the entire range of his life; he has been forbidden to leave the cathedral for any reason. Frodo visits regularly to remind Quasimodo what a monster he is and to shame him into total obedience. Quasimodo believes that Frodo has been kind to him and is his only human friend. I say "human friend" because he does have other friends, of a less human variety. Three of the gargoyles atop the cathedral come to life when no one else is around and offer some of the rare humor to be found in this grisly story. Daring to defy his master, Quasimodo goes down to join the villagers in their feast of fools, only to be tied with ropes and taunted. Rescued by the beautiful gypsy Esmeralda (Demi Moore) he later comes to her rescue as she is hunted by Frodo, but theirs is not to be a romance. She falls instead for the captain of the guard (Kevin Kline) and they live happily ever after. I really hated this movie on so many levels. In the first place, it never should have been adapted into a children's film; it's not a children's story. There is so much violence and hatred; we see Frodo throw Quasimodo's mother down and kill her, we see him dangling the baby over the well, we see him emotionally abuse Quasimodo. Later on in the movie, Frodo is lamenting the fact that Esmeralda has awakened lustful desires in him and he decides that if she's not his, she will have to die. Toward the end, we see Esmeralda nearly burned at the stake. When I think of small children watching this film and seeing these images, I cringe. I did find the music beautiful. Esmeralda sings a lovely song in which she expresses her hope that God watches over all the outcasts. Later, Quasimodo sings a heart-wrenching song about being in the sunlight. I can't fault the music at all; it was touching and well-done. I know that there are those who enjoy "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" with their families. I'm not one of them and I never will be. I encourage you to watch it first without your young ones and see how you feel about it yourself; I don't recommend that they see it without your prescreening. Related Blogs: Disney's Wild Hogs Come in First! Kevin Kline: Actor of Distinction Learn more about Tristi Pinkston  I've been a blogger for Families.com since August of 2006. Relevantmovies tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags animation, disney, gypsies, intolerance Discuss this article
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Quasimodo was born to gypsy parents in the Paris area. As the law enforcement officials gathered up the gypsies to be put to death on false charges of thievery, Quasimodo's mother held him tightly and ran through the streets until she was hunted down and killed on the steps of the Notre Dame cathedral, despite her pleas of "sanctuary." When Frodo, the official who was hunting her, examined the bundle she held, he found a baby, a misshapen infant with a hunchback. He was on the brink of throwing the baby in the well when the priest from the cathedral stopped him and reminded him of the threat of eternal damnation for his actions. The only way to atone for his sins would be to raise the child himself. Always seeking a loophole, Frodo gave the baby to the priest to raise in the church, paying for his needs but doing none of the work himself.
