Review : Disney's Pinocchio (1940)

Pinocchio : An uplifting and magical story which all starts with a living puppet, who with the help of a cricket as his conscience, must prove himself worthy to become a real boy.

Okay, so Pinocchio. I have a lot to say about this film because though it hasn't stuck out in my eyes as being one of my favourite Disney films, like : Beauty and The Beast, The Jungle Book or Sleeping Beauty for example. I am quite parshal to this little wooden puppet made of pine wood, and his conscious Mr Jiminy Cricket. I think it's the adventures they go on together, and it all happens on a normal day turned into a frantic adventure.

I think anyone who watches Pinocchio needs to know that this Disney classic, and it is a classic single handily passes the challenging test of time for a beautiful and effective lesson on the perils and consequences of doing wrong when you know better.

Some scenes and themes may be intense and frightening for younger or sensitive viewers, such as when Pinocchio is kidnapped and caged by Stromboli, that scenes petrifies me, and he's threatened with destruction. He can't find his father, the donkey transformation, and the scene where he nearly drowns. They also should be aware that Pinocchio's friend Lampwick introduces him to cigar smoking but in turn is punished for it, as a consequence of that. 

Some viewers may be slightly disturbed by Pleasure Island, where "bad boys" are turned into donkeys and sent to work in salt mines. It is quite a horryfying realisation, for the purposes of the benifactors gaining a quick profit. But overall this morality tale is a good reminder of the importance of listening to your conscience, knowing right from wrong and never talk to strangers.

So far Seven decades have passed since the film first came out, I think it really stands up, and would be acceptable today to educate children of a new generation. Because Pinocchio is reminder of a time when the stars of animated films were the illustrators, not the celebrity voice talent. It's different with animation today, but it is nice that we can just take the time to look back at something like this and go 'You know what, we've got it'. That to me is what's important than watching films like 'The Boxtrolls' For Example.

The 2009 reissue includes digital remasterd restoration of the film's original colors, so that, for instance, scenes of various cuckoo clocks chiming simultaneously in Geppetto's workshop would be a reason enough for me to recommend this film to anyone who hasn't seen it. The soundtrack includes classics such as "When You Wish Upon a Star" and "Give a Little Whistle" that will still be familiar to families today, and would be something new for families who either are not familiar with it or have never heard it before.

But the lessons in the film are also valuable: The same traits of bravery, honesty, and selflessness that make Pinocchio human are ones which are meantb to educate Children and possess in adulthood. The downside of ignoring your conscience is rendered in a way that may be uniquely terrifying to children: how indulging in the temptations of Pleasure Island results in separation from family and utter loss of self. Though Jiminy's reassuring presence allows viewers that there is hope for the puppet boy's rescue, Pinocchio acts as the original Scared Straight experience for the younger set.

Overall, It's fantastic. It's a fantastic film and it's the Disney that I love because it's made with love. 9/10

NEXT : Rise of the Planet of the Apes