Toon Talk: Hunchback of Notre Dame 2 - Mar 22, 2002

Toon Talk: Hunchback of Notre Dame 2
Page 3 of 3


(c) Disney

Animated mostly in Japan, the sloppy animation doesn't even come close to capturing the grandeur of it's setting. Character animation is of the stiff, Saturday morning variety ... for example, couldn't they have given Esmerelda something else to wear? She appears in the same old gypsy frock throughout the film (one would imagine that Phoebus' Captain of the Guard salary could afford dressing the wife in some new duds).

Lugubriously paced, The Hunchback of Notre Dame II wears it's moral on it's sleeve: you must look inside to see a person's true worth. And if you don't get it, the film hits you over the head with it with the overt symbolism of Le Fidel, dull and ordinary on the outside, gloriously beautiful on the inside. If only the same could be said about this bargain-basement follow-up.

DVD Bonus Features
  • The Festival of Fun Activity allows young viewers to learn about music while helping Quasimodo ring the "Bells of Notre Dame" and show Djali how to dance in the "Puppet Theater".
  • The Behind the Scenes with Jennifer Love Hewitt Featurette is hosted by the Disney Channel's "Movie Surfers" ... don't worry, it's short. Hewitt is just the latest Party of Five alumni to provide their "talent" to a Disney DTV. After Neve Campbell in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride and Scott Wolf in Lady & the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure, what's next? Lacey Chabert as the fairest of them all in Snow White II: The Apple Bites ???
  • Truly, truly strange ... Jason Alexander's Hugo goes all Kureuac with a beat poem titled "It's Not Easy Being a Gargoyle" in the A Gargoyle's Life featurette.

Toon Talk Rating: D

•  •  •

Toon Talk Trivia:
  • Haley Joel Osment is not a stranger to Disney DTVs ... he voiced Chip in Beauty & the Beast: An Enchanted Christmas.
  • Not to worry, Clopin fans: Paul Kandel returns as the crafty gypsy king, popping up here to once again sing the opening number.
  • Frank Welker returns, voicing Phoebus' horse Achilles and Djali the goat.

Coming Soon in the Next Toon Talk
See how it's really done with the DVD debut of the contemporary classic The Hunchback of Notre Dame, now available.

Discuss It

Related Links


-- Kirby C. Holt

Kirby, a former Walt Disney World Resort Cast Member (and Trivia Champ), is a lifelong Disney fan and film buff. He is also an avid list maker and chronic ellipsis user ...

Took Talk: Disney Film & Video Reviews by Kirby C. Holt is posted whenever there's something new to review.

The opinions expressed by our Kirby C. Holt, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.

-- Posted March 22, 2002

 

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