OK: Parents stop putting it down!!! Personally this is my favorite Disney film. The violence is a little much: lots of fire and darkness, but the sex is like for five seconds: little kids aren't gonna get the meaning of Hellfire they just think it's a villain wanting to kill a girl and unless you're like Frollo and keep your kids locked away in a tower they see girls wearing less then Esmerelda does (altough her dance is suggestive) Despite these minor details it has comic relief through the gargoyles, absolutely amazing music, and a great moral. Watch this movie, it's amazing

well, I was afraid of this movie as a kid, and I used to watch horror movies with my family all the time. This movie features possibly the most evil villain in Disney history: Judge Claude Frollo. It is a frightening film for younger kids, but it has a very good message to it. It's up there with "The Lion King" for being a great Disney movie.

I absolutely LOVE this movie. The visuals are phenomenal. The overall message, which is about accepting people, is very good. The outcasts win in this movie. This film is widely regarded as Disney's darkest movie, though. The antagonist, Frollo, is probably the most evil Disney villain out there. Frollo might be scary to little kids, seeing as he kills several innocent people, burns down houses, etc. Frollo has one of the best songs ever put in a Disney movie, called "Hellfire" in which he confesses his lust for Esmeralda and that if he can't have her, the fires of Hell will. Frollo's lust for Esmeralda goes right over little kids' heads. Quasimodo, the protagonist, is a very likeable character, and proves that looks aren't everything. Esmeralda, the female protagonist, is a strong character with a great personality. I like the narrator Clopin also. My favorite line in the movie is during the opening song:"Who is the monster and who is the man?" Overall, excellent movie that might be a little scary for kids.

Since sexuality seems to be a major theme on this website, I'm surprised that this movie isn't totally being panned. The basic plot revolves around lust. It's even stated pretty explicitly in the review above, but in spite of this comment: "he sings a song of desire about her and asks for her destruction" it's ok for 6 year olds?? Really? To me, this just was never meant to be a story for children. I cannot understand the thought process at Disney that lead many someones to saying "Yes, let's make a movie for small children about lust!!" And I don't understand how this got anything besides a big, fat OFF here at Common Sense Media. Blech.

Firstly, I do understand the message being portrayed here. Yes, Quasimodo & Esmerelda are both outcasts and heroes in this film, and that is indeed a good thing. I also liked the fact that (spoilers!) Esmerelda does not fall in love with Quasimodo at the end, because that would have been just a little too unrealistic for me. I liked the ending. I also didn't have any particular problem with Esmerelda's dress or behaviour, as this could easily be explained to a child as a type of cultural dress (although some parents should be aware that they may find Esmerelda's dress and dancing very provocative). BUT, I will not be showing this film to my daughter until she is a teenager, and frankly probably not at all (she probably won't be interested by then anyway). The reason for this is largely because of the villian of the piece, Frollo, and his violent obsession with Esmerelda. As adults, we can watch and more or less understand (though hopefully not identify with!) a character whose obsessive desire leads them to viciously hate the object of their lust rather than to love her. But I do not feel that this is something a child can deal with or understand, nor do I feel they should be expected to. I have seen that some reviewers have spoken of this element of the film "going over kids' heads", but I suspect a lot less goes over our kids' heads than we would like to think. I think the Hellfire song would be very confusing and disturbing to most small children, and even some older ones. I can't imagine why they put it in, to be honest - it just isn't appropriate for a children's movie in my opinion, and it wasn't necessary to the plot at all. If you do let your kids watch this movie, be well prepared for questions on this issue. The film is also quite violent for a kids' movie - in one scene, an innocent family (with children) is locked into their home, which is then burned down (much screaming etc) - although they are rescued from the house, they still lose their home, which I think would scare my daughter a lot. The scariness/violence level may be okay for some kids, I don't know - my daughter is still little, and even for her age is quite sensitive to scary things. But seriously, this movie should NOT be G-rated. You should vet this first, and make your own judgement for your own kids.

Sure, there have been others that didn't make all that much money and a lot of classics got far worse critic reviews than this, but this one is just so overlooked simply for being, ahem, "too different". I can understand it's a lot darker than other Disney films before it and it kinda shocks me that Disney would even choose an adult novel (Then again, these are the same people who attempted to make Greek Mythology for kids) and I know the ending was changed drastically, but who cares? I loved it just for going past Disney's boundaries, even if it wouldn't be considered way past nowadays. It had very intelligent writing, an excellent message and what's more, it features quite possibly one of Alan Menken's best scores, which says a lot considering this was the hardest for him to make. And hey, why doesn't the voice of Clopin appear in more works? I envy the man who can hold a high note for as long as he did.

I thought it was most increadible, well done! It shows couarge and interesting parts of history, It also shows not to judge anyone by their appearence becuse they are truely good at heart. Quasi is a very sweet person, I want to hug him because he's so sweet. Esmerelda is daring, fights for rights, and doesn't judge Quasi ( at least not purposly ) once she said "great mask" because it was the 'festival of fools'. Frollo. . . well, he will be punished for his deeds. I know people may think this movie isn't for young ones, in a way I agree. But I've watched this movie sinse I was very young, and it never scard me, although all children are differen't. I must give a few fair warnings ( spoilers ) - I must warn that there is some scary parts of this tale, fire, falling to death. . . and others. There is some lust too . . like Frollo feels lustful feelings towrd Esmerelda and at the end makes her choose him, or death. And Esmerelda does wear some revealing clothes, but not anything HORRIBLE or anything, and her and Phebus do end up in love. . poor Quasi. As for drugs, nothing of horrid expence. Like some wine is being poored, and smoking, but the smoking isn't like. . really smoking it was a discise. Love this movie, it is truely remarkible. I miss the days when Disney wasn't afraid to explore other cultures, now its 'teen' vised. I'm a teen, and I dislike what they've done. Love this movie! Oh, also there is words such as 'hell' 'damnation' and stuff like that, but not that of 'cursing'

This movie is a masterpiece in every sense of the word and one of the best that Disney has ever produced. The animation is stunningly beautiful, same for the songs which also tell the story in the most effective way since the Beauty and the Beast. It's also as dark as the Beauty and the Beast, heck, it's as good as Beauty and the Beast. Frollo is (in my opinion) the best villain Disney has put in a movie. This is where the inappropriate stuff comes in. Frollo lusts after Esmeralda, attempts to kill her, offers her freedom to 'be his'. It also has the battle scene against Notre-Dame herself! All this mixed in with themes of the Catholic Church make this Disney's darkest tale, and not suitable for young kids. But if you do happen to show this film to the kids there is the extremely out of place gargoyles who try to lighten up the story with some pretty weak comic relief. Not for young kids, but above that age that you decide is too young, then they can enjoy.

Quasimodo's appearance always scared me off from watching this film, and I think I appreciate better now than I would if I was 7. Tons of adult themes like religion, righteous punishment, and choice of love and ostracizing others. It really is a rich film, you have to appreciate that great quality of animation. I'd say let kids watch it, but tell them to rewatch it once they're tweens.