Movie reviews

PINOCCHIO

Watchable. I barely remember the story from childhood and what I recall the most is that I didn't like it and didn't want to watch it any more. The new version, however, is so skillfully enacted that my main objection is that the tale is so dark I doubt it's appropriate for children. But as dark tales go, Matteo Garrone is a specialist and the new adaptation resembles his earlier "Il racconto dei racconti" ("Tale of Tales") at times. Star cast and the use of traditional Italian architecture make the film compelling from scene one till the very end. And that's in spite of its theatrical style, e.g. Cat and Fox are people, other characters take hybrid forms, e.g. a cricket, a snail or a fish have human faces. And parts of the movie tell of a puppet theatre or a circus. Having said that, those venues, derived from the original book, together with other literary tropes, mean the movie is quite true to the book, even the hanging is shown, though he gets rescued in the film. His nose growing when he tells lies appears in one scene only. This interpretation is sympathetic to the wooden boy. He's naughty but that's because he's so gullible, silly, inexperienced in life. It's dubbed in Polish, meant for child audience from the age of 8. Are they sure? Well, it has some educational value since it persuades children they should obey their parents, study diligently and tell the truth. I don't know why it seems to teach them to kiss people around them too - that was weird. But the storyline is morally consistent and totally engaging. Visually, golden-dark. Taken the number of fantasy characters, they could have made it more colourful. 

Reviewed from an online screener, cinematic reception might differ.