 |
| Pinocchio - Image from Netflix |
2022 has been the year of Pinocchio. Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio, streaming on Netflix beginning December 9th, is the second adaptation of the familiar classic we've seen this year. Disney+ crafted a live-action remake earlier this year starring Tom Hanks as Geppetto. Now as the year draws to a close, Netflix shares its animated adaptation from acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro. It's hard not to draw comparisons to previous versions, so how does this "new" Pinocchio stack up to previous films?
Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio - Movie Review
 |
| Pinocchio - Image from Netflix |
The story of Pinocchio is familiar and remains mostly the same at its core - old man is heartbroken, builds wooden puppet, wooden puppet comes to life, gets a cricket for a conscience, and they have their ups and downs which make up the adventures of the film. From the start though, you can tell that this adaptation will be a bit "darker" than what you may be used to seeing on screen. The animation is breathtakingly beautiful, but more muted in color presentation which matches more muted themes. And when I say breathtaking animation, I mean like you can get lost in this film - completely immersed in the world in front of you.
 |
| Pinocchio - Image from Netflix |
The darkness that comes from more adult themes and a deeper story are really the departure from earlier versions. . .and what I liked best about the film. At the onset you meet Geppetto's son and then witness his death. Following his death, audiences see Geppetto's struggle with the stages of grief. This isn't just some crying at a tombstone, but a true battle with alcoholism, isolation, and depression. It humanizes the story in a way that hasn't been done before and you feel that emotional struggle right from the beginning. That richness and deeper development of both character and story carries throughout the movie and can cause some tough scenes to watch with little ones. I screened this movie without my kids just because they didn't have much interest, and it's probably best that I did. We certainly could have talked through the dark moments in an effort to make sense of them, but I don't know how much they would have "enjoyed" the film.
All in all, while I question if Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio is really one to watch and enjoy with the kids, it was a masterpiece of new musical numbers, stunning animation, and a raw, authentic emotional journey. I wanted to keep watching more, unlike with the Disney+ version earlier this year where I caught myself checking my watch on more than one occasion. I would definitely recommend checking this movie out over the holiday season!
0 Comments