Abuse in The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Boy oh boy, is the world mess up? Yes, yes it is.
Just watching some movies because I have little else to do, actually a lot but I’m so stress that I cannot do it.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, a kids movie that should not be a kids movies because of all the mess up and more than real life themes it has. The point of the day is how mess up the world is, and how a few words can just F-up a person.
Frollo, that SOB who unfortunately was the only father figure to quasi was so wrong, and yet right, and that is the worst part. Let’s start.
Frollo is a judge in France and very religious (actually fanatic) who beliefs he is god send to purify the city. He is a fanatic because he only believes what he wants to believe, not a true religious person. So, for a fanatic person like him, anyone who does not follow his religious they way he does is a pagan. Now a pagan is just a person of the world, who usually follows other religious believes, but for many people or religious sects a pagan is usually identified as a person who worships worldly materials or even satanist. Any who, being classified as pagan in a world dominated by a certain religion, and religious fanatics is just not good.
Then Frollo kills a gypsy woman who ran to seek sanctuary for her and her baby, Frollo thought she was running away because she stole something and didn't want to give it back. When he realizes it was a baby he also saw that the baby was deformed (his words not mine), and in this instance we see why else the gypsy ran. She ran, yes because she is a gypsy and has a baby to protect, but also because she knows that in that time and place, her baby was bound to a cruel life. Him being different, a gypsy and a ginger was more than enough to get problems. Remember, red was the color of evil and red-heads were seeing as
Also, if you pay attention, the other gypsies that Quasi’s mom is traveling with could be relatives, or one of them could be Quasi’s dad. Now think about it, really think about it. Most if not all gypsies were brown/tan skin, dark hair, dark eyes. And then Quasi comes with light skin, red-hair, and green eyes. Yup, he was product of either an affair between the gypsy and a non-gypsy, or of rape, or maybe just a game of genes. Be what it may, he was just the perfect target for bullying.
So, Frollo comes to kills the mom, and because there was a witness, he becomes the evil step… I mean guardian/master of Quasi. Quasi does not have contact with anyone but Frollo. First step for abuse, isolation, which also turns to financial because Quasi is dependant on Frollo. Then, Mental, Emotional, and cultural abuse come in.
Frollo: Remember what I taught you, Quasimodo. You are deformed
Quasimodo: I am deformed
Frollo: And you are ugly
Quasimodo: And I am ugly
Frollo: And these are crimes for which the world shows little pity




Frollo has drill into Quasi’s head and heart that all that and a bag of chips. He constantly tell him he is unwanted by all, and makes sure he has no self esteem. Also, he makes sure that his heritage is either forgotten or hated, leaving Quasi with no identity of his own.
In the awesomely frustrated words of Esmeralda “what do they have against people who are different anyway?”
Why do they show all this pain and abuse in a kids movie?
Oh, yeah because they don’t understand yet all of it… and it has a happy ending.

Baahubali, and female power

Let’s talk about bad-ass female figures in movies.
I saw a bollywood movie, they are usually awesome specially because of some exaggerated effects. The movie was actually two in one, the story was nice, the main character male but there were some awesome badass female characters that really wow.
The movie was Baahubali. If you can watch it, both of them, although the guy ends up saving the day, the portrayal of female power and respect they demanded is something to really look for.
Let’s just talk about one, Sivagami Devi, Rajamatha (Queen Mother), was good, then bad, then manipulated but overall just a real good representation of female power. She was not perfect and one of her main flaws was her pride, thus easily manipulated. 

The story begins with her running away from some soldiers. She is wounded, with an arrow sticking from her back and carrying a baby. Then she sees the soldiers gaining on her. She hides, and when the soldiers are close she stabs one with the arrow she took from her back, takes his sword and kills the other. later she is trying to cross a river, but the current of the river and her weak state did not make it, she died while holding the baby long enough for someone to find. 

Skip to the time when the story is narrating another story about the beginning of the story, in other words watch the movie.

The story explains how Sivagami takes over the kingdom until either her son (Bhallaladeva) or nephew (Baahubali) are ready and worthy to take the throne. When Baahubali is born, his mother dies and she without questions takes him has her own son. Then she goes to have conference with the lords of the kingdom, some of them wanted her gone, but she was cunning and was prepared for that. In an attempt to kill her, one of them charges with a sword toward Sivagami carrying her baby boy. She just pulls her dagger from her dress and kills him without a blink. Woman, mother, carrying a baby kills a guy, gets blood on her face and only moves when baby starts making noise. She sits and starts breastfeeding her own baby and the one she decided to adopt.  Doesn’t care about the blood of bodies in the floor. No armor, no war appeared, her beautiful regular female clothing, one baby on each side and her gaze, daring them to say something. Later, people ask her to assume the throne but she decides that that one of her sons will assent, she is just there until they are of age, and just so no one questions her she says:
“My word is my regime!”

And then just sits there to see if there is any other idiot who wants to defy her command.



There are other instances where she just stares at people and that’s enough to have everyone quiet and in fear. She seems cold, calculative, which is a little understandable given the circumstances. She is the regent queen, raising two boys so one of them can take the throne, and walking around the politics of a kingdom. Then we also see her mother soft side when she is only with her sons, taking care of them or worrying for them.

I see that I'm not very good at describing the movie, but seriously watch the movie.
There are other female characters who are beautiful, strong, smart and definitely don't bow to man’s comment just because. They fight alongside each other. They make their demands very clear and unquestionable.

If you don't want to watch the movie just look for a summary of the story. However the summary would most likely leave some of the female strong scenes out and focus only on the main male character.

Nightingale syndrome

Disney
The most lovable and hate-able company of make-belief and dreams come true for peoples of all ages.
It’s so often praised and criticized for its fragile princesses, damsels in distress, and wishes of true love. Lately it has been more praise for its change from fragile D.I.D. to femme fatale, or something seemingly independent, but that is for another post.
Among a favorite to criticize, in my opinion, is Beauty and the Beast (my sister’s favorite).
now the analysis could go both ways if you really want to point out different points of view, but for the sake of argument and just this post, let's stick to just one, the illusion of love.

It is often pointed that Stockholm syndrome is the main reason for Belle to stay and fall in love with the Beast. Some more romantic opinions are that it is indeed true love which connected them. Be what it may both sides of the balanced can be argued, however being the devil’s advocate, let’s use a third one.
My opinion this time is that there was a different syndrome playing here.
To start let me say that she was not really the helpless captive and victim. She chose to stay. She was treated nice by everyone but the Beast, (in the Disney adaptation, in the folk story the Beast continually shows love and affection). Later when she went to the west wing she was basically kicked out of the castle. No one stopped her, not that they could anyway, they just begged her not to go. She ran out and was free basically. But, because the Beast got injured saving her reckless behind from wolves she decided to go back and help him heal.

The Beast goes from frighting creature to helpless injured soul. Now, Belle being the gentle kind person stays with him because he saved her and he needed someone to take care of him.
There, caregiver falls in love with helpless patient, and vise versa. The Nightingale syndrome.

Belle stayed and helped him while he was weak, saw him when he was down and saw his soft side. In her mind, and others, she stilled saw herself as a prisoner of an enchanted castle, which was way better than her poor provincial town (the one she didn't like either). Remember, she always wanted adventure in the great wide out there, well in an enchanted castle with a Beast who just got injured for her, that's plenty of adventure.
So, she connected with the Beast because both are misfit, misunderstood and prisoners of an enchanted castle. It could be many things but she got to know the Beast better when he was injured.
Also, the Beast had some advice from the servants who would try everything to help him fall in love for the sake of everyone in the castle. With those advises and an injured self, the Beast only had to make puppy eyes, and give her a library.

romantic? yeah right...

Soooo since it's vacations time (yay) I'm watching more movies (double yay)
I was enjoying the movie and I remembered one of themes some schoolmates and I were discussing about Disney- Ok, I admit we were just making fun and criticizing some princesses who are completely ridiculous.
Today's movie: 

 Mulan

One of my favorites, she is strong, breaking the rules, saving the day, the emperor, the 'hero' and the whole China, and she doesn't need to be a pretty feminine girly princess. She had to go through a whole male army training and got her butt kicked by the main male character, who at the end she likes, (I know, I know, what kind of person falls for the guy who hits her- could be masochism) not the ideal way to fall in love but remember she was dressed as a guy and joined the army in her father's place, and she didn't just see him and was in love, she saw him, and trained, and saw him grew as captain and person, and they don't end marry and happily ever after- at least not in the first movie. 

Well while getting beat up by the male-"hero" she also learned to fend for herself, became strong and survived male training -- maybe a bit extreme there, but hey we're talking Disney here, somehow rules of logic don't apply.

Anyway, with my friends we were talking how it seems only white princesses (no offence) were the ones who needed the hero for everything.
Mulan, Pocahontas, Tiana (the princess and the frog) they are the ones who save the day; and until lately they have been not ignored, but really unpopular.
Snow White, Aurora (sleeping beauty) well they get a nice beauty nap, as if they actually need it,
Cinderella, well the animals helped,
Jazmin, mmm well Aladdin actually saved the day with his wit, but she was brave, same with Ariel and Belle, it was a mixture of both, and well Rapunzel saved by the guy, but then she saved him. 

Now, just for the heck of it lets mention other female character, not really princesses, but among the Disney girls: Megara, from Hercules, doesn't save the day, but she is a motivation for her hero, as well as Jane, for Tarzan. Lady Miriam (Robin Hood), Esmeralda, Nala,

Tere is an understanding that being rescued is a bit romantic especially if the guy is cute, (which is an understatement because Disney guys are cute)but some of the princesses situations were just ridiculous, and some princes were not even the heroes (Snow White prince-what's his name?) or got help from other beings (prince Philip from sleeping beauty) so that's not really that romantic...
Seriously is kind of pathetic sometimes, like in Tarzan's case (I do love Tatzan anyway) they love each other, but well I don't know if it is because so many things in common, or because Jane is the only human female he's ever seen... 
I'm not done but I have a little pest (nephew)who doesn't understand the meaning of stop... 

A girl worth fighting for... maybe not...

Movie night, everyone enjoying, me? Criticizing, since like my nephew (thanks Ricky) so finely pointed out I don't have a "girl worth fighting for" ... my answer - I don't want one thank you very much, I'll rather have a boy, but anyway, back to the song...

"we've been
marching off to battle...
Our aching feet aren't
easy to ignore
Hey, think of instead
A girl worth fighting for"

Ok, so, they are going to battle, are tired, and do realize their chances of getting hurt or killed are high, thinking of a girl worth fighting for makes it more bearable, so far so good, but then...

"I want her paler than the
moon with eyes that
shine like stars"

Here comes aesthetics, his girl worth fighting for have to be describe physically, I wouldn't mind much if later he said she's smart and funny, or something about her personality instead of just physical, but no...

"My girl will marvel at
my strength, adore my
battle scars"

She has to praise the guy for his strength, is that what matters? Does the guy has nothing of personality to offer, just his strength...

"I couldn't care less what she'll
wear or what she looks like (good... Until)
It all depends on what
she cooks like"

Food...Well after all the way to a man's heart is through his stomach...

"...You can guess what we
have missed the most
Since we went off to war
What do we want?
A girl worth fighting for"

Ok you do, and that is nice, but why do you miss her? Just because she is pretty and since you have been with a bunch of guys training for war, you haven't seem amything pretty? or because no one has marveled at your strength since all are warriors, or because their food sucks.

"My girl will think I have no faults
That I'm a major find
(Yeah righ)
How 'bout a girl who's got a brain
Who always speaks her mind?"
Yes please... But they say
"NAH" ...

"My manly ways and turn of
phrase are sure to thrill her"

Mmm no honey, I don't think so...
Well actulally maybe if you only want a pretty face in your girl.

Well, though I do love Mulan, and this song, I still think is a bit ridiculous in the description of 'a girl worth fighting for'. In total we have a pretty girl, who admires strong guys and knows how to cook, in other words not me, I’m useless in the kitchen and hate when I go  to the gum amd see the eanna be strong shoeoff guys. Definitely not my ideals for a boy worth fighting for either... What you think

Phantom

Yet another proof on how society's obsession to categorize everything makes us either a stereotypical imitation of everyone else, or an outsider. (Outsider not necessary in a Bad sense, could be a genius, a superstar, but still out of societal norms of standard)
Today's movie was The Phantom of the Opera. I have some critics in various topics, but I'm too lazy today. 
So, I bet you know that "humans are afraid of the unknown," right? 

 Well we are, we get scared, or intimidated by what we don't know, hear, see, or understand, that's an easy given, why do you think people hate exams. Anyway in the movie everyone is afraid of the 'Phantom' why? Because they don't see him. He is just a voice, or an action that happened and no one saw anything till it was over. (Break) let's take into consideration that they live in an opera house, which is full of props for plays, hidden passages, doors and many connections that help make the illusions and effects for the plays, that of course makes it the perfect place to play psycho-hide-seek game if you like to get your last scream scared out of you. Thus the stage is on, the actors are on and the play is on with only one person knowing the truth but won't tell because she is in too deep to be out of it with her hands clean. 
Ok, back to the plot (and for and back and for) the Phantom, doesn't really look so scary, genius and mad yeah, but just the sight of him not really; maybe because in the movie they didn't make the 'deformity' of the Phantom so gruesome, but well I don't see how can that be so scary, some guys with tattoos look uglier and scarier that the Phantom (not hating on guys with tattoos, well maybe yes but only on those whose tattoos are ugly or stupid). By the way if you see the picture you have to agree that the 'Phantom is not scary at all, and in my sister's (Mery of course) words (or sights) he is hot. Think about it, we are indeed afraid of the unknown, but also we are attracted to the mysterious; and attractive voice (Angel of Music), in an opera house, a man who is well dressed (in the movie) and uses a mask… it screams mystery not scary…

They are in Paris, in those old times when the oh-so-awesomely-stupid Euro-centrism made them believe to be above all, including their own kind if they were just a bit different. Going in chronological order, the Phantom is a poor 'deformed' child in a gypsy traveling circus, the gypsy are portrait here as greedy, dirty, mean SOB's and the kid is beat and mock for his difference till he's had enough and kills the guy. A little going-to-be-ballerina girl sees it and helps him out of trouble hiding him in the opera house.
(Another break) society does nurture us, but it is inevitably up to oneself who/how we end up being, society does make a big deal into steering us one direction, or pushing us certain way, in the end the decision remains with the person, to go with the flow or against. Since people treated him really bad for his difference he grew up hiding, believing he'll be treated just as bad. It surprises me that being so genius, and in an opera house full of costumes and what not, he didn't just took a wig and a mask or something to cover the deformed part and took part of everyday society. I've not read the book, so I bet there's more to take in consideration. So back to the movie, everyone is afraid of him, and he has a temper and genius madness that makes him dangerous. He is obsess with a girl who grew up believing he was an "angel of music," and when she finally sees him she is so afraid as if everything she's ever seen was so perfect before. In the movie he is not really that scary, probably in the book he is, anyway everyone seems really REALLY scare. So because he is different he is scary; mmm... mmmm....

Sorry I lost my train of thought, till later...
NEV

What's Wrong With People‏?

Society that is what's wrong...
Well let's go to my 2nd Disney movie critique, well 3rd if u count Aladdin, though now that I think about I only talked about the song...anyway... So today's movie was Beauty and the Beast, I don't have a theme in specific (maybe bullying and egocentrism) so we'll just roll with the movie. So what's wrong? And what is illogical? Start with there is was a prince right, where are the parents? And why on earth would a prince, seemingly too young to understand not to judge a book by its cover, would open the door himself and talk to an 'ugly' stranger. Maybe didn't do alone but it's imply so. And wouldn't anyone who is not elite be asking for shelter with the service people instead of with the prince?

By the way what is the prince/beast name? Anyway the prince is too egocentric, arrogant, narcissistic and superficial and turns into a beast, and the whole castle and inhabitants ended enchanted as well. Why are the people punished as well for the prince's attitude? Can't really say whether they had fault or not in his attitude, but again it would've been the parents’ main fault.

Ok enough of him... For now...
So we go to the little village, where Belle resides, but as she so eloquently sang (I'll just paraphrase) she's sick and tired of the "quite little village with its little people." Why is she tired of it, you may ask? Well obviously because she "wants adventures in the great wide somewhere", and not only that but she is being bullied by the whole town. How come? Well she is "odd" "funny" and her dad is "crazy" or a genius depending on what's your point of view of inventors. She wants something "so much more than this provincial life", something the town's people find odd, she likes to read and think for herself, again in a little town that's odd for a girl (specially a pretty girl), and she is so not interested in Gaston (the town "handsome, attractive, best hunter, etc., etc., guy). So, this pretty girl likes to study, is not interest in stupid ("handsome") guys, has higher expectations in life, and is consider odd by everyone in town. Is it just me or we have another clear portrait of stupidity here, which by the way sound terribly familiar to high school. So Belle wants adventures and is being bully (don't tell me that people singing behind your back "what a pretty but funny (and odd) girl" she is, is not being bully)

obviously she wouldn't mind switching places with her father in an enchanted castle. Let's rewind a little; her genius father is an inventor, right? Sure why not, at least he tries, but he is so into it, that he kind of forgets/ignores his daughter is being criticized by his actions, and then when he finally gets one right he "goes off to the fair" to show it and leaves her all alone (where is the mother in all of this? Who knows?) But he ends up lost and later locked in a cell for trespass an enchanted castle. Meanwhile Gaston and the whole town prepare Gaston's wedding with Belle. Why the town would participate in such stupidity? Oh yeah because they are just following like (allow me to repeat myself) good-brainless-asses they are. Let’s fast forward a bit and we have Belle switching places with her father (why wasn't she taken as a prisoner too if she also trespassed the property?) So she is a prisoner, separated from her father, belongs to the castle and its beastly master and any expectations of something more gone or not? Well she did say she wanted more and she wanted adventures.

There is much more bulling and way, WAY, more egocentrism in the movie, but I don't feel like writing anymore, so maybe I'll fix it later.

About Humanity's Stupidity

Any similarities with reality is probably true.
So, the other day my sister (Mery) wanted to watch The Hunchback of Notre Dame(just like everyday), obviously I couldn't stop my criticism once the movie started. First, they are really giving a bad, evil portrait of 'justice and law', not that it wasn't true for that time, or even for our own time. Second, well when in the "Festival of Fools" poor Quasimodo FINALLY decides to come out of the bell tower everyone freaks out, making him feel like a monster, that shows how stupid and easily manipulative and manipulated people are; started as everyone happy, and looking for "the ugliest face" to crown as the king of fools, then Quasimodo comes up and it so happens that HE has that face, but everyone freaks out at the sight of it; then Clopin (the buffoon or harlequin or whatever) comes up and says 'hey we have our winner, and everyone cheers (really!?!? manipulation and stupidity ring a bell? and its not our friend Quasi, trust me).

OK so everyone is happy willing to put aside the 'deformity and ugliness' of a person for a day because that's the day it is allow, so far so good. But, (oh yeah there is a but) there is always a bully who, because he didn't get the attention, is making matters into a cruel show; so there come the soldiers and start mocking Quasimodo, and again everyone follows as the good-brainless-asses they are. So they went from scared-freak-out of Quasimodo appearance, to 'yay the king of the festival' to making fun and bulling the poor guy because he is ugly.
What's wrong with people?
And then the only one willing to stand up for him is an outsider-outcast-different gypsy girl, Esmeralda (yay women!!). Let me add a break here, and I don't want people to think that I forgot this point: people in the movie, including Gypsys to a certain extend where all living under the same ruler who permited those atrocities, and forbided anyone who dare speak otherwise. Standing up against the activities was going against the rules, thus endangering oneself. Since the gypsys were already being persecuted, well what else would it matter to make another offense to the authorities if it meant to help someone. So again only one already in trouble would trouble herself to help someone. But, ohhh yeah another but, people would cheer for the gypsy girl and her bravery, but won't help.

Ok enough of this.
Now onto the church. Actually the way they portray the church and "people of God".

First the villain, Frolo, he acts and thinks like he is the sh... saint, and holy and what not. But he is a psycho, racist, ethnocentric, and egocentric cruel guy, who classifies anything that he doesn't approve of as unholy or devil's work, and anyone who doesn't follow his commands is a sinner, thief etc. Not that it doesn't happen in real life as well, that kind of person is what makes this world go nuts. On the good side we have a priest (yay) who actually represents what the church is about, obviously, since he is a good and true representation of the church, he appears only twice in the movie, great appereances by the way (stoooop!!!!-cried the archbishop).
Anyway, there is a part where Esmeralda is trap in the church because she claimed sanctuary, aaand! since is a Disney movie here comes a song, and the other people in the church sing too (of course, everyone in the movie knows the lyrics). The gypsy sings and asks (since she is a gypsy she is not praying but the others are suppose to be praying) "for nothing for her, but help for those less fortunate than her" and oh surprise the ones that were "praying" ask for money, fortune, glory, and love (not God's love but love of someone because they are lonely). Not that it isn't true that people do that a lot, but really!? That's the almost unique way people see the church, wow! thanks Disney, way to present it (still love the movies). Again only the outcast is the one asking for 'world peace' and the rest 'good' people are too busy asking for themselves to notice there are problems.
And, to finish with cherry on top, when Quasimodo is going back to the bell tower he is being reprimanded by the people who were praying because he had caused enough trouble...
That's it for now, we had to stop the movie because homework was calling...

About Men

Not hating just saying.

Don’t give yourselves too much credit, sometimes women do talk about you because you are cute, or handsome but more often than not just because you are plain idiots, not everyone of course, so don't all start complaining. But seriously some guys are just so annoyingly plain and idiotic that is surprising how much egocentrism fits in one person.
Anyway I wasn’t planning on criticizing that aspect as of yet.
So…
I don’t know if it’s just me, but lately I’ve been noticing more how dominant male want to be, maybe unconsciously, maybe not, but there are some subtle unnecessary gestures that frankly are bothersome. They may not even be dominance gesture, but they do seem to be so. No, it’s not the same being a gentleman who offers help to a lady, than being a show-off who needs to demonstrates that you are a man who “can do” whatever female “cannot” (by the way, there aren’t that many things women can't do, you know)
I have a question, what is it with men and liking the “A Whole New World” song from Aladdin, just for the sentence “don’t you dare close your eyes"? And not even the whole song just until that one sentence comes. And what is it about that phrase that encourage guys to sing it in an aggressive domestic-violence kind of tone? You do know is more like an invitation to be open to an adventure and adrenaline rush, right?
Aladdin is one of the few (or the only) male character that is not a prince, who gets the princess and beats the bad guy with his own wit instead of resorting to the help of magic (yes, he did get help from the genie, but not when he was fighting Jafar), so I kind of understand male liking him better that prince charming ( I like him better too), my guess is that he is more significant for male than any other kind of fictional character in children movies. Still I don’t get why add the aggressiveness to the song? He is trying to court her, catch her attention, be adventurous, since he knows she likes that. In any case Aladdin’s character would be compare more to a trickster. Tricksters don't use violence they lie; he tells her don’t close your eyes for this adventure (for us), don’t miss this opportunity, something like 'enter this relationship (a whole new world) with open eyes aware of what is included'; which is ironic since he is actually lying and therefore blinding her from the “new world.”
Another thing, what "whole new world"? He had the advantages of a prince and thus she would still be living like a princess? If it is just "love" they are suggesting, yes love changes people's perspectives, and so “don’t you dare close your eyes" is just asking for a change to be together, again no need for aggressive behavior.
In any case Mulan "I'll make a man out of you" is more fit to that tone.

Anyway I got way off topic and forgot what I actually wanted to write. Maybe next time.