Conference koolit::disney

    I've seen the pre-production art (quick trip to Disney/MGM studios). 
    The overall theme seems to lean toward horror.  Quasimodo is NOT a
    pretty character.

    Good!  Quasimodo is not SUPPOSED to be a pretty character!  I was
    telling my sister about this one yesterday, and she is psyched!  She
    doesn't get excited about Disney stuff, like I do, but this one she
    can't wait for!
    
    
    Susan

I saw the preview when I took the kids to Toy Story.  I really thought
that Hunchback didn't have the "feel" of the usual Disney animated
film.  Anyone else?

Liz

    Liz,
    
    	I agree with you...Hunchback doesn't have the "feel" of the usual
    Disney...EXCEPT...it will be a love story with a "beast" as the central
    male character.  Let's leave Alex, Rachel and Catherine home and see
    the movie.
    
    kathi.

    I guess I've learned that a "Wait and See" attitude is the best way to
    approach these films. I enjoyed "Toy Story" more than "Pocahontas" but
    I expected more out of the latter movie.
    
    "Hunchback..." and "Beauty..." are somewhat twins in that the settings
    (France) and the main characters (Beast and Hunchback) are similar
    regarding how they see themselves and the realization of their true
    selves. Esmeralda and Belle are very stong female characters but this
    is a very much welcomed trend by the Disney animators. They've come
    a long way since Ariel.
    
    The combination of story line and music will determine how successful
    the film becomes and the Disney marketing power may not guarantee the
    movie a successful run.
    
    Pocahontas has always been a bit of a disappointment to me...except for
    a few tunes.
    
    Mike

    Re -1:
    
    Mike,
    
    
    I agree with you on Pocahantas...
    
    I'm looking forward to "Hunchback". I was suprised to hear that David
    Ogden Stires (SP?) will also be one of the character voices once
    again. That's 3 out of the last 4 Animated Features that he's been in.
    
    I haven't seen any merchandise as yet at the Disney Store. That should
    be coming soon I'd imagine. They did say that "Toy Story" would be
    released in October on video.

    Well if you like "Les Miserables" you're gonna love "Hunchback.."
    
    The soundtrack is vintage Menken and sounds like a major Broadway
    Musical.
    
    There's no doubt that this film is a candidate to follow "Beauty..." to
    Broadway.
    
    Some of the songs are sung by performers who have extremely seasoned
    voices. Tom Hulce and Jason Alexander bring charm to their showcase 
    songs; and Heidi Mollenhauer (sp) sings a song called "God Help the 
    Outcasts". You'd swear it came right out of "Les Miserables". You may be
    hearing this song on the radio...sung by Bette Midler.
    
    And for the teenagers there's a song called "Someday" sung by
    All-4-One.....probably what we'll hear as the credits roll by.
    
    If the storyline is as good as the music then Mr. Eisner will see mucho
    revenues coming in for this one.
    
    Does anyone want to take a shot at what makes this film different from
    all the previous Disney films of the 90's? It's this difference that
    will make Eisner's smile a bit wider.
    
    Mike

No Katzenburg influence?

    Yep...first time this decade.

    
    When does this film open..?
    
    Andy..

>    When does this film open..?

It opened here in the U.S. on June 21.

-- Nina

    Just to comment further on the similarity between "Beauty" and
    "Hunchback" as noted in 448.5 -
    
    A cast-member at the Disney Store in the Square One Mall in Saugus
    pointed out that Belle appears in one of the crowd scenes as Quasimodo
    is singing "Out There".  She is walking thru the square, what else,
    reading a book.  The cast-member also said that Puumba and Winnie the
    Pooh can also be spotted at some point in the movie.
    
    Took both of my kids, who are huge Disney fans, to one of the special
    early morning showings "sponsored" by the Disney store.  We all loved
    it.  There were some folks there with very young children who were
    disappointed.  The movie does have a rather dark tone to it and is a
    departure from the more recent Disney fare, but all in all the three of
    us thought it was much better than Pocahontas.  The music is terrific
    and the hero and heroine are much more realistic characters than the
    typical Disney heroes and heroines.
    
    I'm surprised that there hasn't been any discussion of the film in here
    since it's release - there has been some discussion of it in the MOVIES
    conference, but I figured for sure that this note would have numerous
    replies by now.  Can't believe that I'm the first, especially since I
    don't reply in here very often.
    
    Steve

    Steve,
    
    I had head that Belle shows up in the lower right hand corner of a
    crowd scene and she walks off the screen while reading a book. I don't
    know what scene but it will be fun to look for Belle. 
    
    Mike

True, my wife & I caught it 1st time through (opening night).  Also Pumba,
but didn't see Pooh (hadn't heard about that one anywhere else).  Also
listen for Goofy's voice at one point and watch for a possible Jafar cameo.

    Can anyone comment on whether this movie is "appropriate" for a 4 year
    old?  I've heard much discussion on the movie's dark quality and
    violence.  I'd like to go see it over the 4th of July weekend, but
    would love to hear comments from people who have actually seen the
    movie.
    
    Sharon

    Sharon,
    
      I took my son who is 5 and he loved it... I didn't find it violent.
    In fact in one part of the movie which seemed to be violent the whole
    place started laughing.... I say take the 4 year old and enjoy..
    
                   Tom Zilinsky
               aka Bartender
    

Sharon,

I brought my 2 year old niece to see it this past weekend.  While 
there were a couple of places where she crawled into my lap, that
may have had more to do with it being past naptime.  She always
positioned herself so that she could still watch the movie.  She 
is the type who doesn't seem to be easily scared.

Maryellen

re:  .13

Mike,

The scene Belle is in is at the end of the song called, I think,
"Out There" sung by Quasimodo relatively early in the movie. 
This song is also on the Sing Along video although Belle is much
harder to see on the video.  I didn't think she was easy to spot
on the big screen either but my 6 year old nephew spotted her
right away. 

Maryellen

    I took my 5 year old to see the movie over the weekend.  She LOVED it. 
    And, yes, she found Belle!  I wasn't even looking....The only time she
    was upset during the movie, is when the soliders are VERY mean to
    Quasimodo.  She told them to "stop it".  Over all, I liked the movie.
    
    Yes, the music is wonderful....we had to go out and buy the sing-along
    tape....
    
    Kathi
    

    I took my 4 year old to see this over the weekend too.  I loved it, but
    my daughter wasn't completely captivated.  The Lion King held her
    interest much more.  The only part she was a little uncomfortable with
    was the end and I think it was more due to the very loud music rather
    than the actual scene.  Although she wasn't particularly fond of all
    the fire.  It really didn't really seem to scare her too much, but she
    wanted to sit in my lap at that point.
    
    Otherwise, definitely a "thumbs up"!

    re: .14
    
    Where are Pooh, Pumba and goofy supposed to show up?  My husband said
    that he thought he saw Jafar in the 'fire' scene....I guess I'll look
    again....I promised my little one that Daddy would take her to the
    movie again next week....(a theater in town has $.75 shows for kids at
    10:30A m-f...parents are only $3.00 when accompanied by child!)
    
    I watched the sing-along tape last night, not really looking for Belle,
    but I found her easily.  
    
    My 5 year old liked this movie better than Lion King, but not better
    than "Poco" (as she calls her).  We "just had" to buy her a Esmarelda
    (sp?) swim suit....after all, Belle/Minnie are "old".
    
    Kathi
    

    Puumba spotted - 
    
    spoiler
    
    
    My son spotted Puumba during the final battle with Frollo in the tower-
    he appears as a gargoyle on the wall.
    
    I was also told by one of the cast members at the Disney Store that he
    also appears earlier on during a crowd scene - he's being carried on a
    platter with an apple in his mouth.

>    platter with an apple in his mouth.

heard that too, but didn't see it... saw a sign with a picture that I
supposed was him.

Goofy isn't spotted but heard (hint: as someone falls).

No clue about Pooh (not sure I believe that one myself).

    Thanks guys....I may take little one to see movie (again) today.  It
    has been raining for 2.5 days and she is getting a little "antsy".
    
    Kathi
    

	I took my 2.5 yr old son to see it on the 4th.
	He loved it and has asked to go see it again!
	of course we saw it at the drive-ins. Next time
	I'll bring him to a theater. 


	Toby

My family I went sunday nite and all enjoyed it. My 4 year old as well as my
9 and 11 year old all laughed out loud several times as did Dad and Mom. Was 
it just me or did the overhead shots from the top of the cathedral panning over
the crowd like a helicopter look like real people painted over to give a cartoon
effect? Either the animation has gotten a lot better for that effect or I'm
reliving the early seventies......

;^)

mike

ps. much better than Pochontas imo but not even close to the Jungle Book...

    Animation: What can I say? The crowd scenes are far different than 
               what we've seen before...adds a realistic touch.
    
               Backgrounds are drawn so well you forget you are watching
               an animated film.
    
               At one time there was a scene with a bell ringing...looked
               real...not animated.
    
               At the end of Esmeralda's "God Help the Outcasts" she looks
               like a real person...not an animated figure.
    
    Story:     I'm not that familiar with Hugo's novel so I can't comment
               on any "butchering" but I thought they pulled it together
               pretty well. 
    
    Music:     It's a "10". I find myself looking forward to all Mencken
               work and this musical score is topnotch...sounds like it's
               definitely something that could transition easily to 
               Broadway.
    
    Misc:      The connection between "Heaven's Light" and "Hell Fire" 
               works well.
    
               The gargoyles worked better than I thought they would.
               Anyone catch the little "Wizard of Oz" thing?
    
               I thought the Goat (Djali) would play a more prominent 
               part in the movie.
    
               Esmeralda's eyes...wow!
    
                
    

    re: -1
    
    On the Music....I went out and bought the sound track CD.  I really
    like Bett Midlers version of the "God help the outcast"...There is a
    little bit more feeling in her version.  
    
    Kathi
    

>               The gargoyles worked better than I thought they would.
>               Anyone catch the little "Wizard of Oz" thing?

Yes, indeed!  What a hoot!  A few other hilarious touches as well (e.g.,
"Achilles, heel!" :-) ).

I just saw this last night and I loved it!

-- Nina

    B.J.'s => $16.29

    I still think the best deal around is The Disney Store's pre-issue
    offerings for these films.  Yes, the price is $21.99, but you get the
    lithograph and either a watch or a $5 certificate.  The $5 certificate
    can be credited to your order in most stores immediately, which brings
    the actual price down to $16.99.  

    I happen to be in B.J's yesterday and noticed that they brought their
    price down to $15.99. Sheesh; next time I'll wait.
    
    Mike