HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME is already an underrated Disney movie, which is too bad. I too think the musical should come to the States. Its one of the best Disney movies ever made, in my opinion.

A couple of points:

-I love to get an official, double disc edition of Song Of The South.

I really hope this gets released.

-I enjoy Soarin' at Epcot, and don't mind he Cali. movie, simply because the ride is so breathtaking. But the cue needs to be fixed badly..The cue in California Adventure is so much better (which is something I never thought I'd say =P)

-The John Carter of Mars series would be AWESOME.

//Don't ask me why, but Eisner just loved "Hunchback."//

Perhaps it's just that, y'know, Hunchback really is quite a good movie.

As for it being on stage...well...for a while, one of my favorite "Must See" attractions at WDW was the Hunchback stage show, which I actually saw before I saw the movie, and I instantly adored the music.  It's a very theatrical score, perfectly suited for the stage.  I remember watching both that show and the Beauty and the Beast show at MGM, and realizing just how much Hunchback outshined Beauty and the Beast, at least in terms of their Disney theme park productions.

I think that "Aida" should be animated!  I'm not too familiar with the story, but I think I read before that the themes are more adult-oriented in "Aida"...but that didn't stop THoND.  

Jim, I hope you're right with the SOTS on DVD rumor/news...it seems that there are so few people who don't want the movie to come out that it's silly to withhold it from everyone else who wants it.  I'm sure there have been other Disney movies that certain individuals don't agree with, but there hasn't been as much vocal opposition to those other movies.

I saw Hunchback/Der Glockner in Berlin a few years back, and it was quite good.  And, despite Jim's indication, I don't think the play was fundamentally different from the film.  In fact, it seemed quite faithful to me.  I have been frankly surprised that they haven't moved the play to the U.S.  The production used a very postmodern, fluid set, with these giant blocks that could move up and down to create different shapes on the stage.  It reminded me of the newer Cirque du Soleil sets in Vegas.  All of the characters were there, and true to their film counterparts.  My guess is that if it does come someday to the U.S. it will get a new director and a new vision.  But I would guess that with The Little Mermaid coming, that it might be a while before Hunchback comes to the U.S.

Maybe Beyoncé's shoeless cameo at Bergdorf Goodman last week was in preparation for a barefooted movie role.

I think Aida would be very difficult to do as a traditional Disney animated film. The story is a dark tragedy The heroes are both put to death at the end of the film! Not exactly the family friendly fare most consumers expect from Disney.

EpcotFan said:

"I think Aida would be very difficult to do as a traditional Disney animated film. The story is a dark tragedy The heroes are both put to death at the end of the film! Not exactly the family friendly fare most consumers expect from Disney."

True, true. But maybe they can release the movie as a Touchstone release or (even better) as a Miramax release. When I think Aïda, I think culture, theatre, art. Miramax used to be that, and sometimes still is. Why not make a Walt Disney Animation film that is released by Miramax Animation, or just Miramax is fine too.

I agree on Hunchback .... its one of my favorite Disney animated features and does feel and sound like a stage musical already. I hope it is revived stateside someday.... or even in England ... where we could at least get an english soundtrack.

As far as Song of the South on DVD?  I understand that they may want to find something thats not been out before in order to make cash.... well ... thats good ... but I have an idea for another little piece of work that a few people may want to buy on DVD as well. A little something called CAPTAIN EO !!!

On the sibject of PIXAR and live action ... great news ... but if Disney is thinking of doing anything with live action / animation again .... please ... PLEASE ... let it be a green dragon with purple hair. I'm talking a PETES DRAGON comeback. Imagine a PIXAR version of Elliot?  Perfection.

Whle they are at it.... make a stage musical of Petes Dragon.... it if works with Mermaid, Lion King, Mary Poppins, and Beast ... then I think the truly magical music of Petes Dragon would also do well.

Pete's Dragon?!?

I saw that movie once when I was really young, and all I remember is that it scared the crap out of me!  I think it was the part where the kid gets captured or something.  Oh, and I do remember the song "Candle on the Water."

Can somebody give me a brief plot review of Pete's Dragon?

Thanks

Disney is apparently working on a big-screen version of their Broadway musical version of the classic

I can't stand Beyonce. I really hope they don't cast her in Aida. She oversings and overacts in everything I've ever seen her in. Did anyone watch her sing "Silent Night" at the Walt Disney World Christmas parade? Classic Beyonce. My family and I actually began laughing at her vocals. It was embarrassing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coCTah1kYq4

(The first half starts out OK, around 1:50 she begins her vocal aerobatics)

<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/coCTah1kYq4"></param><param">http://www.youtube.com/v/coCTah1kYq4"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/coCTah1kYq4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>

Holy hell! A big screen adaptation of Aida? That is my favorite musical, I'd love to see that!

I'd say Der Glockner Von Notre Dame is markedly different from the Disney film if it ends with Esmeralda's death.

But it is very much fitting with the French musical melodrama genre that had 3 examples running on B'way around when Hunchback hit theatres: Les Miz, Phantom and Scarlet Pimpernel (the lightest and least successful of the group)... I mean, Hunchback has parts comparable to Javert, the Phantom and Raoul- all in one show.

Jim Hill's back with even more answers to your Disney-related questions. This time around, Jim talks about which "High School Musical" star is being recruited for "Aida," why California Adventure may seem somewhat familiar to Disney's America fans as