Ariel-28

This version of the Victor Hugo story was good as a whole. Quasimodo wasn't particularly ugly, and it was amazing that he had read so much. Esmeralda was sweet, and it was no wonder she rejected Frollo since he looked very old and was far from attractive. However, at the beginning he really wanted to protect Quasimodo.

I was surprised that the art of printing books was so important in the film. It was incredible that Frollo was even ready to kill the King's minister rather than to let the people have books!

The public humiliation of Quasimodo and Esmeralda was shocking. It was touching that Esmeralda tried to appeal the King for the bellringer. I was very delighted that those two became friends, and again, it deeply touched me to hear Quasimodo talk about his appearance.

I had never before seen a version in which Quasimodo addressed Frollo as his father. He wanted to get him to confess his crime, but still, he tried to save him from death. And he was even strong enough to defy his guardian when he said: "You are a freak."

At the end, it was touching to see Esmeralda ring the bells for Quasimodo - at least, he was happy at the moment of his death.

BABE is a really well-done family film, suitable for all who are fond of animals. The characters are lovable and credible, and the dialogue is really good. Babe is so friendly and polite that any of the animals can't help liking him, and Fly gives him good advice. I also understand why Rex is cross when Fly tells Babe about the flood accident. It's also good that even Babe can be furious when he needs to defend the sheep against the "wolves". And it's quite incredible that Babe - a pig! - wins the great sheepdog competition! A really good film, no doubt!

I wanted to see King Kong because I have just read a book on researching real gorillas. Of course, King Kong is a fantasy film, but in any case I was curious to see if Kong behaves somehow similarly to real gorillas - and I noticed his breast-pounding!

As a story, King Kong is an interesting version of "Beauty and the Beast" to which there are quite a lot of references in the discussions of the characters. However, the contrast between Ann and Kong is almost too big: think about if a man really could hold his sweetheart in his hand! And Ann was screaming too much, although Kong was indeed a bit frightening because he was so huge.

I rather pitied Kong when he was in chains and thousands of people came to stare at him. But it was incredible how he could cause such destruction in New York.

In fact I realised only in the Empire State Building scene that Kong was in love with Ann, for he protected her not to fall down when the planes were flying right above them, and when he himself couldn't avoid his fate any longer he first made sure that Ann was safe. However, I think it was quite tactless for Denham to say at the end that "it was Beauty who killed the Beast".

At least I will remember all my life how Empire State Building looks, although I would never have the possibility to go to see it!