PINOCCHIO

US, 2022, 104 minutes, Colour.

Tom Hanks, Cynthia Erevo, Giuseppe Battiston, Kyanne Lamaya, Luke Evans. Voices of: Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Lorraine Bracco, Keegan-Michael Key, Jaquita Ta'le.

Directed by Robert Zemeckis.

The tale of Pinocchio, based on the 19^th century stories by writer, Carlo Collodi, has been a popular fable on the cinema screen. It was one of Walt Disney’s earliest animation films -one of the most admired, with an Oscar for the musical score and, especially, what became Disney’s theme song for its logo on all its productions, When you wish upon a star.

There was an Italian version in 2019 with Roberto Benigni as Gepetto, keeping to the details of the story, but sometimes a rather grim interpretation.

This version is a continuation of Disney’s policy of making live action features from their popular animation films. There have been varied reactions to these live-action versions from condemnation to praise. A great deal of the criticism comes from adults who enjoyed the animated versions in their childhood. This film has been directed by Robert Zemeckis, who directed Tom Hanks to an Oscar in Forrest Gump. He also made the combination of live action and animation in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? He also made films with digital capture, Polar Express and Beowulf.

Tom Hanks, resembling Gepetto in the original, is an old man, owner of many clocks in memory of his dead wife, making a wooden puppet, Pinocchio. He is observed by Jiminy Cricket (voiced by Joseph Gordon Levitt) who sings the key song and is designated by the Blue Fairy to be Pinocchio’s conscience. Gepetto has wished upon a star and the Blue Fairy (singer Cynthia Erevo with her own British accent) also singing the song.

The film follows the adventures of Pinocchio, going off to school, Jimmy Cricket sleeping in and having to catch up with Pinocchio who has encountered Honest John (an amusing voiced by Keegan Michael Key, singing High Didlee Dee) who sells Pinocchio to Stromboli, the manager of Circus, so that Pinocchio will be famous (and singing the of song about having no strings). There is a sympathetic member of the Circus, Fabia, who manipulates a sympathetic puppet, Sabina.

The story which caused some alarm in the early film is that where Pinocchio is taken with the young boys to Pleasure Island with all kinds of promises but, they are turned into donkeys. Of course, there are episodes where Pinocchio doesn’t tell the truth and his nose gets longer and longer!

Jiminy Cricket to the rescue, Gepetto selling all his clocks and buying a boat to search for Pinocchio,, the threat of a sea monster – but, a happy ending (except, rather surprisingly, that Pinocchio remains are but rather than becoming a real boy).

An entertainment – but the film received many hostile responses, complaining about comparisons with the original and Disney’s making live action features from the animation films.

1. A beloved story? Told and retold? The Disney classic? Other film versions? Live-action?
2. Audience familiarity with the story, with capture Petro, with Pinocchio, with Jiminy Cricket, with the Blue Fairy, Honest John, Stromboli, Pleasure Island and the boys turning into donkeys, the sea monster?
3. The musical score, the songs from the classic Disney film, further songs?
4. The blend of live action with animation and puppetry?
5. The introduction with Jiminy Cricket, his voice like the 1940 original, his appearance, When you wish upon a star, Gepetto’s house, watching him work with Pinocchio? His further interventions, with the Blue Fairy, his being appointed Pinocchio’s conscience, sleeping in and having to chase him, the encounter with Honest John, trapped under the jar, eventually out, finding Gepetto, at the Circus, with Fabiana and Sabina, Pinocchio with the boys, his intervening, his conscience philosophy, Brave, honest, and his participation in the rescue from the sea monster?
6. Pinocchio, the puppet, Gepetto remembering his wife, his many precious clocks and not selling, the wishing star, his wish? Sleeping? The Blue Fairy, her song, the light and power, Pinocchio coming alive? Echoing her words, learning how to speak? Jiminy Cricket as his conscience?
7. Gepetto, awake, the delight, wanting the best for Pinocchio, for his going to school, the books, Pinocchio on his way, the encounter with Honest John and his bullying his assistant, the song, An Actor’s Life for Me, persuading Pinocchio he wanted to be famous, the plan to sell him to Stromboli? The confrontation with Jiminy Cricket?
8. Stromboli, buying Pinocchio, the performance, the song about having no strings? The audience? Acclaim and throwing the coins? The encounter with Fabiana, the puppet Sabina, communicating through her? Her wanting to help Pinocchio? Stromboli, his comeuppance, arrest? Fabiana wanting to have her own circus?
9. Pinocchio, the group of boys, the coachman, his song, the going off together, his friend, the drinking, the potion, turning into donkeys?
10. Jiminy Cricket, the escape, the encounter with Fabiana? His telling the truth, losing his ears and tail?
11. The return, Gepetto having sold all his clocks despite his reluctance, buying the boat? Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket searching for him? Finding him? The threat of the sea monster? The fights, the antics, their being swallowed? Pinocchio setting the fire with his wooden feet, the monster opening its mouth, the escape, Pinocchio and the speed with his feet, safe on land, fleeing into the cave?
12. The happy reconciliation? The variation from the original that Pinocchio does not turn into a real boy?