Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio — Movie Review
by KJ Proulx
The story of Pinocchio has been done time and time again through different mediums. The classic tale of Pinocchio is terrific and I also love the original Disney adaptation of the character. With it being redone so many times, I found myself having trouble getting excited about another one. Even though Guillermo del Toro would be behind it, I still wasn’t completely sold, even though I love him as a filmmaker. Well, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is now streaming on Netflix, and not only was I surprised to love it, but I think it’s my favourite adaptation yet.
Just like most versions of this story, the film starts off with Geppetto (voiced very nicely by David Bradley) after he has lost his son. Fed up with being sad, he chops down a tree next to his son’s grave and begins to use that wood to carve a young boy. Brought to life by another lifeform, Geppetto can now try and recreate memories he had with his son. Pinocchio, however, having a mind of his own, decides to make his own decisions, getting himself lost and in a place, he shouldn’t be. From guns to straight-up war sequences, this version of Pinocchio is unlike any other.
For being a film that’s rated PG, this is much more for mature audiences. I can’t see many children getting attached to this version, over something like the original Disney animated film. With that said though, I think the nuances in the detail, especially in the incredible stop-motion work, deserve all the awards. The more mature storyline, alongside expert craftsmanship, when it comes to the set design, I was blown away by every aspect of this movie. The dedication to getting this made is on full display from start to finish.
Overall, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio isn’t just my favourite adaption of this character, but simply one of my favourite films of 2022 in general. The story sucked me in more than I’ve ever been towards this story and by the end, I was moved by how they handled certain moments. del Toro’s attention to detail and his masterful direction are wonderous here, as always and every frame just felt like it was leaping off the screen. The voice talents are all very enjoyable and more than anything, there are some extremely well-crafted lines of dialogue that nearly had me in tears. Everything that went into this film was done with care and immense effort/talent. I can’t wait to watch this one again. I’m all for any nominations this film receives.
Rating: 5/5
Check out the trailer below:
