DVDizzy Forum

Hi, my name is Brianna, and I'm 14 years old. Okay, my first favorite movie, ever, was the lion king, when i was 4-6 years old, i loved it!!!! Then in 1996, when i was 6 years old, The Hunchback of Notre Dame came out. omg, this has been my favorite Disney movie ever. I knew then, and I still know, every single line and song that belong to that movie. It's a classic in my eyes.

Now, getting past all that lol, I know that this is like the "outcast" of the Disney movies, the black sheep if you will. But, I think it's wonderful. You just have to understand the characters, and what you would do if you were in their positions. And I know, that most people hate this one, because it's more "adultish" than any other Disney movie, but I for one, think it's remarkably pulled off. Anywayssssssssss, I really want to know why this movie isn't on Special Edition DVD yet. I of course, own the dvd, but I think that the regular dvd is puny compared to other greats such as Beauty and the Beast or Aladdin. I just want to know how to go about persuading the Disney heads to make this movie be Special Edition. Maybe in the year 2006, its 10 year anniversery??.... Anyways, help lol


Brianna~~~

Hi Brianna, and welcome to the forum!

Glad to see that you enjoy Hunchback. I, and many other people on this forum, are of the opinion that it is a underrated classic. You are right - although it is a little more 'adult' than most, the animation is breathtaking at times.

As for the SE DVD, there have been rumours and speculation for a while, but nothing concrete. Various editions are the world have different features to the US version, including short featurettes History of Notre Dame, Paris; CGI demo; "Someday" deleted song sequence and a Multi-language reel: "A Guy Like You" and DTS 5.1 soundtrack.

Hopefully we will see a mega combination of this, the US features and additional material one day. I'm sure it is all out there somewhere.

Glad to see that you enjoy Hunchback. I, and many other people on this forum, are of the opinion that it is a underrated classic. You are right - although it is a little more 'adult' than most, the animation is breathtaking at times.

I think it's underrated to a degree. I do like the darker tone, but my main problems with it were A) the gargoyles, B) Esmerelda, and C) the gargoyles.

It's ironic that I dislike the gargoyles, since I love the TV series But yeah, my problem wasn't that it was too dark, but that they weren't really able to find the right mix of "adult" and comedy. I just don't think that "A Guy Like You" belongs in the same movie as "Hell Fire." I think the musical is a much better compromise. The additional songs are absolutely incredible, and the ending is perfect

I, too, can't wait for a Special Edition, though. I haven't bought the single disc release because I know they'll eventually release a much better version.

Hunchback has incredible songs and music score as well as fantastic animation and design. Unfortunately, I think the film's weakness is that they should have, seeing that The Hunchback of Notre Dame novel can simply in no way be seen as appealing to kids, just given up trying to plander to kids, and focus on targetting an older audience.

As the film ultimately turned out, you ended up with a film whose plot was, despite Disney's best efforts, ultimately still uninteresting to kids, but at the same time now way too watered down (e.g. gargoyles) to really resonate with older audiences.

Funny, if they had done the gargoyles the way a la the show Gargoyles, things might have turned out rather interesting.

Depending on what mood I am in Hunchback is either my #1 or my #2 favourite Disney film! It kinda toggles between hunchback and Beauty and the Beast. I don't know why but I get the feeling that a Hunchback Special Edition will be here in either 2005 or 2006, even though nothing has been announced I think Hunchback could have a similar release date to this year's Mulan. A few weeks after the October platinum. I don't know why I just have a feeling! I'm turning into Professor Trelawney! The Grim! The Grim!

2006 seems pretty likely considering how packed 2005 is (Bambi, Pocahontas, Lilo and Stitch, Cinderella, and possibly Dumbo). I'm really anticipating a SE for this as it's my 3rd favorite Disney film after Alice and Pooh. If Disney's as faithful at porting over the laserdisc features as they were with Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Pocahontas, we can expect to see the following on the DVD:

* Audio Commentary with Directors Gary Trousedale and Kirk Wise and Producer Don Hahn

* "The Making of The Hunchback of Notre Dame"

History
* History and Background of Notre Dame de Paris
* History of the Production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
* Early Presentation Reel

Character Design
* Quasimodo
* Esmeralda
* Frollo
* Phoebus
* Clopin
* The Gargoyles
* Archdeacon
* Djali
* Miscellaneous Townspeople and Gypsies

Story Reels
* Prologue - "The Bells of Notre Dame"
* "Heaven's Light/Hellfire"

Deleted Songs (With Commentaries by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz)
* "Someday"
* "In A Place of Miracles"
* "As Long As There's A Moon"

Galleries
* Workbook and Scene Planning
* Art Design, Layouts, and Backgrounds
* Publicity

* Animation

* Computer Generated Imagery

* Multi-Language Clip Reel

* Trailers

I don't expect Disney to add much more to this except the "Someday" music video performed by All4One (I have no idea why this wasn't on the LD) and some kiddie stuff (games, sing-alongs, DisneyPedia, new trashy music video).

I am wondering when will Disney release The Hunchback of Notre Dame in the Special Edition format. I seen it last night on t.v. and remembered what a really good movie it is. I don't want to get the version that is availble on dvd now, I will hold out for the Special Edition. Thanks.

There's no word, yet, on when it'll be released, but the common prediction is next year for its 10th anniversary. Disney seemed to plan on releasing it back in 2002 when the original DVD came out. For a few hours, they had specs for a SE on their website, but that was later taken down without a word.

The good side of the delay is that now we will probably be getting a digital-to-digital transfer. Was it released alongside the original edition, I think the video transfer would be the same of the one-disc edition DVD.

Do you think that the Hunchback of Notre Dame will ever become a PE? I don't think it ever really got the recognition it deserved. It's probably because of it's darker themes. It's such a vibrant and lively movie with some excellent scores. I really do hope they give it proper treatment.

Welcome to the forum, Nicky. I've merged your thread with two others on the same topic. Don't forget the Search function that gives you access to the thousands of discussions this forum has had in the past two years.

Welcome to the forum, Brianna (Scissorhands90)!

There's no specific date as to when HoND will be released as Special Edition.

Personally, I think it should be soon! That 1-Disc ain't doing it for me and I ain't buying that. HoND deserves to be 2-Disc with lots of bonus features

*crosses fingers*
Here's to hoping!

And Enjoy the Forum!

Luke wrote:Welcome to the forum, Nicky. I've merged your thread with two others on the same topic. Don't forget the Search function that gives you access to the thousands of discussions this forum has had in the past two years.

Oops! Sorry about that.. thanks!

I like Hunchback to a degree, but I'm not a die-hard fan. I always had a problem with the gargoyles ( ) and Demi Moore as Esmerelda's voice. Every time I heard her voice, I was thinking of Demi rather than Esmerelda. --; I thought she sung "God Help the Outcasts" really good though. I like most of the music in the movie, even the Gargoyles' song "A Guy Like You." And you gotta love Frollo's voice actor.

Of course I'd get it on SE DVD. But since I'm getting all of them on SE (for my collection) that doesn't really mean much.

Disney's Divinity wrote:Every time I heard her voice, I was thinking of Demi rather than Esmerelda. --; I thought she sung "God Help the Outcasts" really good though.

Heidi Mollenhauer sang "God Help the Outcasts", not Demi Moore.

Well, I guess that explains why it was so good...

I like Hunchback Of Notre Dame alot(I had just turned 17 when the movie came out)....I love the songs (esp. "God Help the Outcasts" and "Hellfire")....I don't even really mind the gargoyles,though they do kinda take away the darkness/seriousness of the film....I do have the DVD,but I would purchase a Special Edition if it ever comes out...