Pinocchio

CinemaSerf 12/9/2023 10:04:33 AM 8.4

I think Robert Zemeckis was maybe trying to get closer to the original Disney version of this film from 1940, but it doesn't really work. Tom Hanks sparingly takes on the human role of the carpenter "Geppetto" who longs for a son. He crafts this wooden replica and magic takes an hand with the benevolent "Blue Fairy" turning him into the young "Pinocchio". This youngster's is a bit spoiled and is soon bored with the routine of his life at home and at school and before long is tempted by a visiting (and well paying) theatrical show who take him from the safety of "Geppetto" and, accompanied by narrator/conscience "Jiminy Cricket" we now see the boy experience adventures that demonstrate the venality, cruelty and selfishness of humanity as he gradually starts to yearn for the safety of his home and his father. This perilous journey does, however, help him grow. He begins to mature and discover the difference between right and wrong, truth and lie whilst meantime the old man is despairing and sets off to find him. Can they ever meet again? The animation is really enjoyable here, but the characterisations are all a bit feeble. The gist of this story has a darkness to it and that is lacking here. Granted, this isn't the easies of stories to Disneyfy with much more substance to the malevolence of the plot, but here we seem to have something that falls between two stools. It's not menacing, nor is it a "cartoon", it's just a bit soulless. Still, it's not unwatchable and if it encourages youngsters to read the book or check out a few of the grittier adaptations of the Collodi novel, then all's good.

Manuel São Bento 9/8/2022 9:34:44 AM 8.4

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/pinocchio-spoiler-free-review "Pinocchio boasts a more thematically impactful ending than the original but fails to deliver a new version of the famous childhood tale with the same magic and allure of the past. Tom Hanks and most of the voice cast embody the spirit of the 1940's flick perfectly, but the characters lack further development and imaginative modifications. The blend between animation and CGI components with real humans and sets is awkwardly inconsistent, leaving the viewers with a weird sensation throughout the whole runtime. The cast's musical prowess and memorable songs help with the entertainment aspect, but overall, it's a somewhat disappointing new take." Rating: C

Chris Sawin 9/10/2022 12:44:29 PM 8.4

_Pinocchio_ has been begrudgingly transformed from a flawed animated masterpiece into this shiny, superfluous turd of a live-action film. The majority of the classic characters have been mangled in some capacity while new characters are lame fluff serving as more of insurmountable obstacles you’re forced to endure rather than offering any sort of entertainment value or overall purpose to the actual story. With tangled strings and meandering storytelling, _Pinocchio_ is a musical misfire that attempts to annihilate everything that made its animated counterpart so enjoyable. **Full review:** https://boundingintocomics.com/2022/09/09/pinocchio-review-a-bloated-beached-whale-of-a-live-action-remake/