 Purchase The Adventures of Pinocchio -On Video & DVD- |
Synopsis: Millions of people have fallen in fove with Pinocchio, the classic story of a rambunctious puppet who longs to be a boy. His inspiring tale about the power of believing in dreams has enchanted families for generations. Now, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Academy Award winner Martin Landau, and the Jim Henson Creature Shop's magical special effects team up to bring this classic story to life. In this spectacular live-action adventure, the lovable and mischievous puppet searches for a way to become a real boy in a world of rules he doesn't understand. Along the way, he encounters a talkative cricket who teaches Pinocchio what a miracle really is and helps the puppet achieve his dream -- and finds his way back to Geppetto. A timeless story which has carved an honored place for itself in the hearts of millions. "The Adventures of Pinocchio" is what every child and puppet dreamd it could be -- an amazing adventure in a world without strings.
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Tagline: A new angle on the classic tale... and that's no lie!
By Leonard Maltin
Appealing live-action rendition of the Collodi fable about a wood-carver
who creates the magical, mischievous marionette Pinocchio... who wants
only to be a real boy. Some variations from the Disney version, but
gentle of spirit and enjoyable throughout. Only adults are likely to
question the variety of accents (American, British, German, Italian) in
a story supposedly set in Italy.
[ Copyright© 1998, Leonard Maltin's Movie & Video Guide ]
By Rochelle O'Gorman
Apparently aimed at very small children and the simple-minded, adults
may decide that the best aspect of this kiddie flick is the clamshell
box with its dual image "Magic Action Art." Though strong technically,
the blend of digital effects, animation, mattes, and miniatures is
eventually too much of a hodgepodge. The plot is a confusing jumble of
classic fairy-tale elements and jarring contemporary accents, attitudes,
and lowbrow humor. The only real performers are Martin Landau, who is
very classy as Geppetto, and a sad-looking Geneviéve Bujold. Syrupy
child-star Jonathan Taylor Thomas makes you long to toss another puppet
on the fire. However, the story basically follows Carlo Collodi's fairy
tale and the music is enjoyable, especially the songs by Stevie Wonder.
This should maintain the interest of youngsters age 8 and under.
[ Copyright© RO, Courtesy of Amazon.com ]
By Roger Ebert
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© 1996 New Line Cinema |
The difference may be one of graphic style. Jessica Rabbit and most of the other toons in real-life scenes are designed to look like just what they are--drawn cartoons. Pinocchio's face looks like a real face was photographed and then transformed by computer into a wooden dummy. The result is unsettling and even a little creepy, and I didn't like this Pinocchio, which is by the Jim Henson people, nearly as much as the all-cartoon creature in Disney's 1940 movie.
The movie's story follows the broad outlines of the Carlo Collodi novel. Geppetto (Martin Landau), an old woodcarver, finds a piece of wood in the forest that almost insists on being picked up, taken home and carved into a little boy. Once finished, the figure reveals a life of its own: It is wooden, but it lives. Geppetto takes Pinocchio to his heart and tries to raise him, but there are difficulties.
Pinocchio sneezes sawdust. He is teased at school ("Hey, buddy, you ever get termites?"). He is attacked by a woodpecker ("Peck on someone your own size"). Most of all, Pinocchio is unhappy because he wants to be a real little boy. (Since living puppets are so much rarer than little boys, I was somehow reminded of the frog who told the old man, "Kiss me, and I'll turn into a sexy princess," only to be told, "Frankly, at my age, I'd rather have a talking frog.")
Pinocchio and Geppetto live in a picturesque village where everybody knows everyone else's business, and where the evil puppeteer Lorenzini (Udo Kier) wants to steal Pinocchio. Geppetto has his hands full, especially when Pinocchio runs away to the Island of Lost Boys. Later, of course, Geppetto and Pinocchio find themselves in the belly of a whale, where Pinocchio's nose grows so long the whale becomes acutely uncomfortable and disgorges him.
A subplot involves Geppetto's long-standing love for Leona (Genevieve Bujold). He carved their initials long ago on the very tree which was later carved into Pinocchio, and when Pinocchio's tears touch that wooden heart, it becomes flesh at last. There are easier and more pleasant ways to make a real little boy, but if Geppetto is still only dating Leona after 50 years, maybe Pinocchio realized it was up to him.
The story is told with visual grace, but lacks excitement. Even Pinocchio's little cricket friend seems more like a philosopher than a ringmaster. Smaller children may be caught up by the wonder of it all, but older children may find the movie slow and old-fashioned. There are lessons in the screenplay, about love and dreaming and accepting yourself, but let's face it: We've been taught these lessons many times before, in more entertaining movies.
[ Copyright© 1991, Chicago Sun-Times ]