Pinocchio

The Italian language version is gorgeous and very faithful to the wonderful book. People make too big a deal out of Roberto playing a boy. He's quite good in the role and far more restrained than anything else I've seen him in, except maybe Son of the Pink Panther, which was pretty dreadful. That we are so hung up on the age of a man playing a living puppet shows how much imagination we have lost and how much baggage we bring into a film. It's sad to me that my kids won't be watching the film, because they are too young to read subtitles and the English language version sounds awful. I thought this was great.

First thing I did was to erase from my head the version of the puppet that was created by the Disney factory. Then I had to struggle to admit old Roberto as a kid, and his wife as a fairy, but now I am old enough to admit both licenses, especially from someone who did something as silly as "La vita è bella". But most of all, I had to have a bigger, harder struggle to take off those stupid glasses we wear more often than not, to see everything through Hollywood eyes. And there I was: watching an Italian film about an Italian puppet, based on an Italian book, with an old Italian clown in the main role, done with a lot of affection, with great cinematography by Spinetti, and great art work by Donati, to whom the film is dedicated... I enjoyed it very much, and even if it is hated by almost anybody that saw it, I still would recommend it to my dearest friends.

lovely if you adore the book and you are child. nice because it represents new meet with Nicoletta Braschi and Roberto Benigni. because Benigni deserves his Pinocchio . and this is the most important trait of film. a nice film. for the memories, for the flavor of childhood, for the invitation to rediscover the masterpiece of Collodi. many critics are justified about this movie. but it has its special charm. and this saves it from the unfair status of bad film. because it preserves the magic of original story. and this is not small thing. so, an adaptation. or only the Pinocchio of master Benigni.

I must admit I admired the set designs and the effects of this film, which were quite colorful and entertaining. The film started well and I settled in expecting to be amazed.

Then Pinocchio spoke, and I saw Roberto Benigni as the wooden puppet who longed to be a boy. WOW was that bad casting! I couldn't keep track of the amount of times I winced in pain and rolled my eyes as Benigni, a middle-aged man, ran around like a spoiled brat spouting things many 3-year olds have outgrown. I must admit I wanted to make kindling of this puppet.

Worth seeing for the set pieces, costumes and effects. Too bad we can't edit out the parts with Pinocchio!

5 out of 10 (all 5 for the sets and costumes).

First a warning - do not watch the dubbed release of this film - it's terrible. Watch the original Italian version with English subtitles - it makes all the difference in the world. Visually stunning while only partially flawed by Benigni's casting of himself in the lead role (you have to like him to like the movie), this film is wildly entertaining - more in the vain of Terry Gilliam's The Adventures of Baron Munchausenthan the Disney classic Pinocchio.