Disney's Live Action Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a American live action musical fantasy drama film directed by David Fincher, produced by Guillermo Del Toro and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. The majority of it is based on the 1996 Disney animated film, the 1999 - 2002 Berlin Disney stage musical and the 2013 King's Academy Florida Disney stage musical, with some elements of the 2014 - 2015 American stage musical and Victor Hugo's Novel. The script was written by James Lapine (who wrote the 1999 - 2002 Berlin stage musical and the 2013 King's Academy Florida Disney stage musical) and Andrew Kevin Walker. The film stars Christy Carlson Romano as Esmeralda, Nicholas Hoult as Quasimodo, Armie Hammer as Captain Phoebus Gringoire, Kyla Pratt as Djali, Sacha Baron Cohen as Clopin, Bryan Cranston as Victor, Jason Alexander reprising his role as Hugo, Jessica Walter as Laverne, Terence Stamp as The Archdeacon and Alan Rickman as the evil Judge Claude Frollo in his final role. Given it's darker than usual tone, it is the first live action Disney remake to be rated PG-13.

The film received positive reviews, with praise going to the script, the music, the costume design, and the performances of Romano, Hoult and Rickman. It grossed over $995.9 million worldwide on a $245 million budget.

Plot
The film opens in 1482 Paris and are introduced to the film's narrator Clopin (Sacha Baron Cohen)telling the story of the bellringer of Notre Dame. The story flashes back to 1462 with four gypsies sneaking into Paris but are ambushed by a squadron of soldiers working for Judge Claude Frollo (Alan Rickman), the minister of justice and de facto ruler of Paris. A gypsy woman named Gudule (Salma Hayek) is suspected of stealing stolen goods. Gudule flees with her baby and Frollo's Soldiers hunt her down. She makes it to the Notre Dame cathedral claiming sanctuary. Judge Frollo's soldiers catch up to her. Gudule gets into a struggle the soldiers while Frollo catches up to her and gets into a struggle with the woman. Judge Frollo kicks Gudule to the ground. Gudule coughs out blood and dies. The judge discovers that the "stolen goods" is a deformed baby and attempts to drown the baby, until the Archdeacon (Terence Stamp) stops the minister from murdering the baby. Judge Frollo tells the Archdeacon the baby is "an unholy demon that needs to be sent back to hell where it belongs". The Archdeacon accuses him of murdering an innocent woman. Frollo replies that he is justified and the baby cannot have a life. The Archdeaon replies to Judge Frollo that he lie to himself all he wants but he cannot hide his crime from the eyes of god. Fearing for his soul and to atone for his sin, Frollo reluctantly agrees to raise the deformed child in the Cathedral's bell tower as his son, naming him Quasimodo (meaning half-formed). He notes that someday the child may have use for him. We than cut back to 1482 and cuts back to Clopin and asks the audience what makes a monster and what makes a man. (Bells of Notre Dame).

Twenty years later, Quasimodo (Nicholas Hoult) has developed into a kind yet isolated young man with three imaginary Gargoyles, Victor (Bryan Cranston), Hugo (Jason Alexander), and Laverne (Jessica Walter), as his only friends, constantly told by Judge Frollo that he is a monster who would be rejected by the uncaring outside world (Out There Part I). Frollo tells Quasimodo, how in his past he was a once priest than became a Judge to "purge the world of vice and sin" and how he should be thankful for his sanctuary (Sanctuary I). Quasimodo apologizes to his master. Frollo reminds him that the cathedral is his sanctuary. Quasimodo reflects on his solitary life and decides to sneak out of the cathedral despite Frollo's warnings (Out There Part II).

A young soldier, Captain Phoebus Gringoire (Arime Hammer) on his way to the palace. We are than introduced to two beautiful Gypsy women, Esmeralda (Christy Carlson Romano) and Djali (Kyla Pratt). Esmeralda in particular catches the hearts of many men. The two gypsies are distracted and run into two guards. Lietuenant Jacques Charmoule (Clancy Brown) and Sergeant Tristan Coppenole (Mark Rolston). Jacques and Tristan harass the two gypsies. Esmeralda and Djali kick them in the groin and escape. Phoebus interrupts the two guards and asks them a way to the palace of justice. Phoebus than heads back to the palace of Justice and reflects on the trauma of the war (Rest And Recreation Part I). Phoebus meets Judge Frollo and is appointed to the Captain of the guard. Frollo is impressed with his record and expects nothing but the best from Phoebus. The judge tells him that his previous Captain of the Guard (Sean Bean) was a dissapointment to him. Frollo's jailer tortures the previous Captain of The Guard to his death, which disturbs Phoebus. Judge Frollo discusses with Phoebus with their "mission" to rid the world of gypsies" and how they must be stopped. Frollo emphasies how important it is to stick to their mission (Rest And Recreation Part II). They head off to the Festival of Fools.

Quasimodo attends the Feastival of Fools, and is confused and curious at the same time. He accidentally trips into Esmeralda's dressing room. Esmeralda helps Quasimdo and escorts him out of her dressing room. She kindly reminds him to next time to be more careful and compliments him on his "mask" (not knowing that it is his acutal face). Judge Frollo and Captain Gringoire arrive at the festival and Clopin introduces Esmeralda to the crowd (Topsy Tuvry Part I). Esmeralda appears in a red dress dancing with catching the hearts of Phoebus, Quasimodo and even Frollo (Rhythm of The Tambourine). Esmeralda continues to dance erotically and heads to Judge Frollo and teases him and gives him her handkerchief (Esmeralda's Dance). Esmeralda changes back into her normal dress, with her and Djali encouraging Quasimodo to "join the competion". They attempt to take off his mask until they realize that it's his face. The public is surprised and Frollo is shocked that Quasimodo decided to disobey him. Clopin calms the public down and Quasimodo is crowned the King of Fools and is celebrated by the crowd (Topsy Turvy Part II).

Judge Frollo is furious that Quasimodo is being celebrated and is concerned that Quasimodo may catch onto his lies. The judge orders Jacques and Tristan to throw Rocks at Quasimodo and encourages the crowd to continue to torture Quasimodo. The hunchback begs his master to help him. The Judge turns away as punishment for disobeying him. Phoebus requests permission to stop the cruelty. Frollo tells him that a lesson needs to be learned. Esmeralda decides to free Quasimodo, but Djali tries to talk her out of it. Esmeralda defies Djali and decides to comfort Quasimodo and apologizes to him. Esmeralda give him water to drink. Judge Frollo demands Esmeralda to get off the pillory. Esmeralda openly defies the Judge and frees Quasimodo. She calls out Frollo for his lies and hypocrisy and throws the crown at Frollo and his guards. Judge Frollo orders Captain Gringoire to arrest the gypsy girl. Esmeralda and Djali use Witchcraft and escape Frollo and his goons. Judge Frollo scolds Quasimodo for disobeying him and lies to him about the world being cruel and wicked and commands him to go back to "his sanctuary" with Esmeralda and Djali eavesdropping on them feeling sorry for the Hunchback (Sanctuary II).

Esmeradla and Djali sneak into the Notre Dame cathedral. Djali scolds Esmeralda for "not minding her own buisness". Esmeralda fires backs at her by saying she couldn't stand by there and let Quasimodo be tortured. She explains to her that she's seen nothing but cruetly (Cruelty and Heartlessness). Captain Phoebus Gringoire pursues them and gets into a flirtatious fight with Esmeralda. Esmeralda beats the Captain fairly easily. Djali gloats by claiming "he got his ass kicked by a woman". Phoebus tries to introduce himself and assures the two gypsies that he is not out to arrest them. He also reminds them that he can't arrest because they have sanctuary. Esmeralda and Djali appreciate the Gringoire is nothing like the other soldiers. Judge Frollo and his guards enter the church and attempt to arrest the gypsies. Phoebus tells Frollo that he can't arrest them because they claimed sanctuary. The Archdeacon stops the Judge from defying the laws of sanctuary. The soldiers exit the cathedral and Frollo pretends to leave. Judge Frollo sneaks up on Esmeralda and grabs her butt and sniffs her hair. Esmeralda breaks free and punches Frollo in the mouth, causing the Judge to cough out blood. Frollo wipes the blood off his mouth. Frollo walks out of the sanctuary trapping Esmeralda inside the cathedral. By having her arrested if she decides to leave. Esmerald and Djali wonder why "they treat" people who are different and The Archdeacon encourages them to ask god to help. Esmeralda gives a prayer to help her people and outcasts a like to be treated as equals (God Help The Outcasts).

Esmeralda notices Quasimodo and follows him. Djali catches up to them. They enter Quasimodo's room and are impressed with decorations. Esmeralda apologizes to him for allowing him to be tortured at the festival. Quasimodo gives Esmerald and Djali a tour of his home and show them the top of the Bell Tower. The gypsies are in awe at the veiw of Paris, The Gargoyles try to convince Quasimodo to express his feelings toward Esmeralda (Top of The World). Quasimodo helps the two gypsies escape the cathedral. Esmeralda thanks him gives a kiss on the cheek.

Quasimodo heads back to the Cathedral and encounters Captain Phoebus and is wonder where Esmeralda went. Given that Gringoire is a soldier, he believes he is there to arrest Esmeralda and Qausimodo attacks him. He than realizes that Phoebus only trapped in her the cahtedral in order to save her. Gringoire tells the The Hunchback that Esmeralda is lucky to have a friend like you. Quasimodo than begins to question if Frollo is lying to him about the world being cruel, givent that things were going fine until the soldiers started the torture at the festival and that Esmeralda, Djali and Phoebus showed him kindness. The Gargoyles congratulate him for befriend him and try to tell him that Esmeralda has romantic feelings for him (A Guy Like You). Judge Frollo is riding on his horse heading his way back to the palace of justice and hears whispering voices saying Esmeralda coming from an abandoned Tavern. Frollo investigates the abandoned tavern. The judge sees ghost like hallucinations of Esmeralda flirting with him. One of them trips Frollo and steps on his head. Judge Frollo attempts to get the gypsy off of him but realizes the hallucinations ghost like abilities. They begin to offer him wine and torture and seduce the Judge, causing Frollo slowly descenting into lustful feelings for Esmeralda (The Tavern Song (Thai Mol Pyias)).