Pinocchio

“Pinocchio,” the beloved Italian children’s novel, has been adapted many times over the years, but perhaps none as high-tech and ambitious as Robert Zemeckis’ latest live-action remake for Disney. The film lingers in an existential purgatory, trying to remain faithful to its roots while also aiming to be fresh for modern audiences. It occupies an uncomfortable creative middle ground that offers moments of exuberance and humor without ever being singular or exceptional.

Zemeckis, a master of animation and visual effects, has always pushed the boundaries of what’s possible on screen, from the groundbreaking “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” to his pioneering use of motion capture in “The Polar Express.” With “Pinocchio,” he seeks to bring the story to life in a way that’s faithful to the source material and the original 1940 film while also incorporating new songs and cheeky pop-culture references.

The film stars Tom Hanks as the kindly woodcarver Gepetto, who creates a marionette named Pinocchio that comes to life after Gepetto makes a wish on a star. The Blue Fairy, voiced by Cynthia Erivo, appears and tells Pinocchio that he can become a real boy if he proves himself “brave, truthful and unselfish.” Joseph Gordon-Levitt provides the voice of Jiminy Cricket, who serves as Pinocchio’s conscience on his journey.

But of course, things don’t go smoothly for Pinocchio, as he encounters a variety of colorful characters along the way, including the fiendish fox “Honest” John, voiced by Keegan-Michael Key, who has other plans for the puppet. Pinocchio also ends up on Pleasure Island, a sparkling carnival of controlled chaos where a voracious Luke Evans as the Coachman lures children to their doom.

One of the film’s strengths is its attention to detail, as Zemeckis and his team create a tactile realism that’s often breathtaking. The wooden textures of Pinocchio’s puppet body, the intricate gears of Gepetto’s clockwork creations, and the swirling waters of the sea monster’s lair are all rendered with impressive detail. However, despite the realism of many of the details, the film essentially looks entirely animated, especially toward the end of Pinocchio’s journey when he confronts the ferocious sea monster.

The film's message Is clear: the importance of being honest. Pinocchio learns this through the whole nose-growing fiasco, a crucial element of his journey that strangely plays like a rushed afterthought in this version. Benjamin Evan Ainsworth brings an old-fashioned earnestness to the title role that’s almost heightened to the point of self-aware parody, but he’s also stuck over-explaining everything in shrill, frantic fashion by the film’s climactic conclusion.

Overall, “Pinocchio” is a muddled mixture that will likely appeal most to fans of the original and those who enjoy Zemeckis’ particular brand of high-tech storytelling. It’s a film that’s faithful to its roots while also trying to carve out its own path, and while it doesn’t always succeed, it’s an interesting experiment that’s worth checking out. And if this version doesn’t work for you, Guillermo del Toro’s stop-motion animation version of the classic tale is due out in December, promising to put his own twisted spin on the story.”

Pinocchio has been adapted into various movies, including the original 1940 Disney animated film and the 2022 live-action film directed by Robert Zemeckis. The original animated film was a critical and commercial success, receiving two Academy Awards, one for Best Original Score and one for Best Original Song for “When You Wish Upon a Star”. The film was also nominated for Best Original Song for “Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee”, but lost to “The Last Time I Saw Paris”.

In addition to the success of the original film, Pinocchio has also been adapted into other award-winning movies. One notable example is the 2002 Italian film “Pinocchio” directed by Roberto Benigni, which won an Academy Award for Best Costume Design. The film was a visually stunning live-action adaptation of the classic tale, starring Benigni as Pinocchio and featuring a mix of computer-generated and practical effects to bring the wooden puppet to life.

This film won 95th Oscar award in best animation movie category.