Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame is perhaps the most ambitious animated film the studio ever attempted during its Renaissance era. Based on Victor Hugo’s dark and tragic novel, the film dares to tackle mature themes such as religious hypocrisy, persecution, lust, and genocide, all within the constraints of a Disney musical. Yeah, that was…
Tag: musical
The Mighty Kong (1998) – Reviews
Once upon a time, someone had the wild idea: “What if King Kong… but for kids… and with songs?” Thus, 1998’s The Mighty Kong was born, a direct-to-video animated musical that dares to retell the classic 1933 monster story through toe-tapping tunes and awkward animation. And by “daring,” I mean it swings from the Empire…
Cinderella (1977) – Review
It’s hard to believe there was a time when you had to leave the house, buy a ticket, and sit with strangers to watch something naughty. Long before OnlyFans, streaming tabs, and the infinite scroll of regret, erotic films were a legit theatrical business. 1977’s Cinderella is a leftover artifact from that era, when soft-core…
Can’t Stop the Music (1980) – Review
In what can best be described as a glitter-smeared trainwreck, Can’t Stop the Music tried to ride the disco wave just as it was collapsing into a rhinestone-studded sinkhole. It’s a musical fantasy loosely inspired by the formation of the Village People, and more accurately, a monument to what happens when camp, chaos, and coke-fueled…
Xanadu (1980) – Review
With financial musical flops like Doctor Doolittle, Camelot and Hello, Dolly! losing millions at the box office, studios became wary of green-lighting more of the same, but then along came a smash hit called Grease, starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta. It must have seemed like a great idea to cast Olivia in another musical,…