Hunchback of Notre Dame & Hercules

Okay, so this should be a loooooooong post, but it needs to be one post because it'll be my 99th post and I wanted to do something a bit more special for 100 than just another Disney post.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

First of all, let's set one thing straight. Disney knows how to create a happy ending when the original writer kills everyone. Hunchback is a weird movie, full of sexual references and innuendos and yet still rated G. One of the main songs is about lust and yet Disney greenlit this.

The story opens with Judge Frollo killing a baby's mother. The archdeacon of Paris (David Odgen Stiers, the bad guy from the previous movie) threatens Frollo with eternal damnation if he also murders the baby. Frollo argues that the child is a monster and should be put to death. The archdeacon insists and for once, Frollo is actually frightened by religion and damnation. He agrees to raise the child as his own if the child can be kept in the bell tower. The archdeacon agrees and the scene changes.

Religion is an interesting character. It can be used to frighten but also to comfort and soothe. It can be used as a torture device but also as a mother and father. I'm not completely sure which it should be used as in literature, but I suppose it depends on the direction of the story and who the protagonist is.

In any case, years go by and we see the festival of fools being put on by the gypsies. One of these gypsies is the beautiful Esmeralda, who in Victor Hugo's book is the daughter of the King of the Gypsies, Clopin. Which by the way, since Disney does not refute this, officially makes her a Disney princess, and certainly the one with the most attainable body. Should we reinforce this for our girls? Your thoughts would certainly aid me.

The mutant child has grown and Frollo has named him Quasimodo or half-formed. Frollo forbids him from going to the festival of fools, telling Quasimodo that he is a monster and should never be seen in the public. Quasimodo goes against his master's decree and goes out into town for one day, to see what it is like. Even the fear of religion, damnation and a horrible parental figure cannot stop the rebellion that all children have. An interesting footnote.

Esmeralda challenges Frollo who sits idly by while Quasimodo is viciously attacked by the townspeople. Frollo is enchanted by her and enraged by her. Here she is, a beautiful, heathen, gypsy woman, and he a God-fearing, law-abiding man who is supposed to rid the city of Paris of the gypsies. Esmeralda helps Quasimodo escape and claims sanctuary in Notre Dame after Frollo tries to have her arrested. She sings a song asking "God Help the Outcasts" and she is seen wandering through the Church, asking for God, whatever or whomever it might be, to help her people while the rest of the worshipers are asking for wealth, riches, etc. It shows her caring, her compassion and her beauty to see what is important in the world. It shines a beautiful light on the gypsies, a misunderstood group of people just trying to get by, and a terrible light on the Catholics, a group of people expecting worldly possessions. While this might have been better used in a different setting, it is an interesting topic nonetheless.

Quasimodo helps Esmeralda escape and is forever worried for her safety. The new captain of the guard, Phoebus, is at first going along with what Frollo wants. He wants to catch Esmeralda and he wants her to burn at the stake. Why I'm not fully sure. She had not been convicted of being a witch although she had used trickery. In any case, Phoebus finally comes over to the correct side of things and Esmeralda and he fall in love. Quasimodo has already fallen in love with her but realizes that they could never be together after she falls in love with Phoebus.

Frollo realizes that he's not getting anywhere with his search for Esmeralda and he gets angry. He realizes he is in love with her but, because of the rules of the law and his own religious thoughts, knows he cannot have her. He is enraged that his thoughts go to her and he realizes he must save her or let her burn (with the song Hellfire, which is incredibly not rated G). Frollo then tricks Quasimodo into showing him where the hiding place of the gypsies is.

With Quasimodo being duped, Esmeralda is set to burn. Quasimodo is in chains and is forced to watch. Frollo gives Esmeralda one last chance at life and she spits in his face. What an amazing woman. She chooses who she is over her life. Wow.

Quasimodo breaks free and saves Esmeralda. In the end, Frollo dies by falling from the steeples of Notre Dame and Quasimodo and Phoebus are in love. Everyone is happy, including Quasimodo.

What I thought was really weird was that the people are lead in revolt by Phoebus against Frollo to save the gypsies. They don't like the gypsies. They never have. So why all of a sudden are the down with helping them? Really odd.

Also, not going too much into this, but um, burning lava firey stuff falling from Notre Dame? Yeah, not happening, never ever ever.

Talking gargoyles? Eh, it's Disney, what else do you expect?

Interesting movie. Not one of my favorites and while Sweetie loves Clopin, not enough to let our imaginary children watch it.

Hercules

Everyone knows this story. A child of the gods is stolen, turned mortal except he retains his god-like strength. He is raised by mortal parents because only gods can live on Mount Olympus. At 18, he is told that he is the child of the gods but was stolen away. He becomes a god by the end of the story but chooses to remain a mortal to be with his human lover.

Okay, yes, this is the story, but let's add to it. First of all, the Titans are an interesting brood. They are angry at Zeus for imprisoning them and when the planets align, Hades allows them to come out and wreck havoc. Okay, kinda cool. Except they seem really really dumb. And there were no female Titans. Which makes absolutely no sense because that's where the rest of the gods came from. Remember, Cronus kept eating all his children because he had heard that they would overthrow him? Rhea kept Zeus a secret until he was old enough to overthrow his father?

Megara. Now there's an interesting woman. She saved Adonis from death by giving her life to Hades and then he fell in love with another woman. She has sworn off love and men, living only with Hades by her side. When Hercules (or Wonderboy as she calls him) comes along, all that changes. She is truly a headstrong woman, who has made some bad choices, but seeks to rectify them. In the end, she wins the guy by being herself, which is all anyone can ever ask for.

In the end, an interesting take on the Greek myth. The muses were interesting as well. 4 of the 5 muses are pencil thin and one is large and plump. She seems content with herself but it seems unfair that there is no one in the middle, size-wise.

James Woods does an amazing job as Hades. I rarely mention the actor who provided the voice for the character but James Woods does a wonderful job.

Okay, next Disney flick is Mulan, which I love. Til then, enjoy post #100 which should be something extra special. :)