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[Mairi]

Yeah, a Disney movie. But not just any Disney movie. "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" has been unfairly underlooked, IMO. It's an amazing movie with beautiful music, which is really what I wanted to share with you guys.

Unlike most Disney movies, (except for Beauty and the Beast and maybe a few I'm missing) this soundtrack is very operatic, with heavily reliance on choirs. Most of the songs are very traditional and include latin. I really hope that some of you will go and download some songs from this movie so you can experience them for yourself.
My picks:

"God Help The Outcasts" performed by Heidi Mollenhauer (get this version and NOT the Bette Midler version). It doesn't matter if you believe in God or not. Listen to this song all the way through and then tell me if you're not moved.

"Bells of Notre Dame"- the best thing about this song is at the very end when there's just this amazing crescendo where the chorus sings "sing the bells, bells, bells, bells BELLS OF NOTRE DAME" and hit these high notes that are so powerful. The instrumentation is beautiful as well.

"Hellfire"- of course HoND is rarely mentioned without this song in the same breath. The beginning has some beautiful latin chanting, and I just love the buildup when he sings "Beata Maria/You know I am a righteous man/Of my virtue I am justly proud.." and you know something powerful is coming up. There is. Instead of being a quiet number, this song swirls an convulses with horns, trumpets, and strings. It will simply ake your breath away. In the one line where he sings "Destroy Esmerelda/and let her taste the fires of hell/or else let her be mine and mine alone", not only are the lyrics powerful and dark, but there is this one extra instrument (can't put my finger on which one it is exactly) that just raises that moment to a whole nother level.

So please, check out these beautiful songs, some of Alan Menken's best, IMO (he scored most of Disney's 80s/90s movies) and you will not be disappointed.

[andersonCouncill]

I do like this movie. My nephew is about 3 and he'll sit and watch it over and over again, mezmerized. Very mature for a Disney film, almost a little too dark, the sexual tension (which is implied parents, don't worry, your tykes won't realize it well watching it) and whatnot.

[Mairi]

I watched it when I was a kid and I didn't become warped or anything, but I enjoy it more as a teenager. Now I want to read the novel.

[andersonCouncill]

It's been on my reading list for a long time. I think it's difficult as a small child to really appreciate it, it's certainly not "The Emerpor's New Groove", is it?

[Mairi]

awwwww, c'mon people!