elicopperman In the 77 years that it's been around, Pinocchio still stands the test of time as not just one of the greatest animated Disney films, but one of the greatest animated films of all time. While it's easy to understand why this film remains a classic, it's most important to understand the roots for its main song, which has become the national anthem for the Walt Disney Company.When You Wish Upon a Star is not simply a hauntingly heartwarming melody on its own, but it is also a very important message to those who dream. Although obviously metaphorical (I mean a wish isn't granted just like that), the general idea that it just might is a splendidly happy dream altogether. Everyone has their own dreams and aspirations, and as long as they give the right amount of dedication their dream deserves, then they'll accomplish wonders and earn said goal. Walt Disney himself said it best, "If you can dream it, you can do it.", which perfectly coincides to what the titular character went through to become a real boy.Originally, Pinocchio was supposed to be arrogant and cocky like in the original book this film was based on, but I'm glad they went with the decision to make him more innocent and oddball. When you're a child, you learn the world at your own pace, so the dangers and obstacles Pinocchio encounters are a frightening but vital lesson to understand what's right and wrong in the world. Although Jimmy Cricket isn't the best conscience, he still does his best to keep Pinocchio out of harm's way so the wooden boy can improve and get better overtime. I'm sure at the end of the day, we all want to improve from our mistakes, but we must remember said mistakes so we can have a better knowledge on life. That way we really can prove how loyal and good we are, not unlike Pinocchio.From a technical standpoint, the animation is fantastic for its time, and it still looks breathtaking to this day. Along with fluid and upbeat character animation, the colors are nothing short of eye candy, the backgrounds have a very rich European aesthetic to them, and the effects are so well designed that it's hard to imagine how they crafted them. The use of the multiplane camera is another highlight, as the backgrounds move in a more realistic and brisk pace that gives each piece of art a chance to be seen and judged on its own merits.The characters are also charming and lovable, from the kind hearted albeit absent minded Geppetto, to the deliciously malicious Honest John and Gideon, to the adorable Figaro and Cleo. Whether they be supporters or obstacles for Pinocchio, they all fit the story well enough to drive the film along. However, the villains are another story, as unlike most Disney films, they don't get outsmarted by the protagonists and end up getting away with their crimes. This presents them in a more realistic manner and it's not hard to feel disturbed by their actions. Not to mention, the voice-acting is splendid and each actor gives just the right amount of spunk, personality and even relatability to keep the audience entertained and invested. While many animated Disney films like Snow White, Beauty & the Beast, Fantasia, The Lion King and Zootopia definitely deserve the acclaim they've received, I think Pinocchio will forever be the companies' crowning achievement. The message to follow your dreams while doing your best to be a better person has become a key message for Disney, and considering they are the company where dreams (supposedly) come true, it fits the bill superbly. So definitely have fun with this movie, but also remember how important it is to believe in your dreams so that one day they might come true, and it starts with you getting there.

SlyGuy21 While "Pinocchio" might not be as challenging for children as other animated movies, it does have some great lessons to teach them. It's more of a cautionary tale than anything, about choices and the consequences of those choices. It starts off pretty innocent, just a carpenter wanting a son, but about 40 minutes in the movie takes a complete 180 tone-wise. The movie goes from lighthearted to creepy in an instant. I want to say the last time I saw this was when I was 5, and the only thing that stuck with me all these years was Lampwick getting turned into a donkey. Is that scene still creepy to me now, yes, but I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be. Scenes like that, Stromboli locking Pinocchio in a cage, the Coachman sending children to salt mines, and the Monstro chase during the climax can all be pretty scary for a kid. But much like "Watership Down", I think the goal of scenes like these were to teach the viewer something, not solely to scare them. It all circles back to consequences of your actions, and that is one of, if not THE most important lesson a child can be taught. The movie doesn't sugarcoat things too much, aside from it being animated, the movie's rather dark. I definitely recommend you show this to your children, but wait till they're about 8 or so. Not so young that the scarier moments will scar them, but old enough to understand the movie's message.

Filipe Neto Pinocchio is a puppet who, magically, came to life, but it needs the help of Jiminy Cricket to avoid doing bad things. This is one of the most famous earlier films from Disney Studios, inspired by the Italian fable of Carlo Collodi and adapted by Ted. Sears. The direction was in charge of Norman Ferguson's team.This is an important piece of culture, more than just an animated film. Even today, Pinocchio's lies are part of the collective popular imagination, and its not rare to see it applied in other contexts, such as in the protests against government or one of its ministers. Its also not uncommon to hear comparisons between Jiminy Cricket and anyone notable for responsibility and seriousness. The script of this film doesn't portray faithfully the tale of Collodi, but recreates it and rewrites it, giving it a much more didactic and educational aspect. That makes this movie a very good help for parents in their task, always thorny, of educate.The work of the voices is very good and drawings, made the old fashioned way, show us some of the most interesting scenes of the early films of this iconic studio. The use of color was done intelligently. The songs are excellent, some of them have become unmistakable. Pinocchio is, today as it was for decades, one of the compelling films of childhood of many grandparents, parents, children and grandchildren, passing from generation to generation.

Michael_Elliott Pinocchio (1940) **** (out of 4)Disney's second feature tells the classic story of an elderly toy maker who makes a wooden puppet he calls Pinocchio. Before bed the old man wishes that he had a real boy and for that the fairy godmother brings the wooden doll to life but before he can become a real boy he must prove himself to be good.It's funny to think that upon its original release PINOCCHIO really didn't do that well at the box office and it ended up really hurting the studio. Of course when the film is discussed today it is considered one of the studio's best and most loved films and there's no question that there's really nothing like it. The story has been told countless times by a variety of people but nothing has come close to the magic of this movie.I use the term magic because when you get older and view this movie you can't help but be rather amazed at what all it contains. Of course there's the sweet side of the older man wanting a boy of his own and then there's the side of a puppet wanting to become a real boy. Both of these characters are great as is the Jiminy Cricket character who adds some nice laughs. Not only do you have the cute and charming side but there's also a very dark side to the film.It's funny but many people call this one of the scariest movies they've ever seen and you can read stories about how this movie traumatized young children. The scenes at Pleasure Island where kids are stolen from their families and turned into donkeys is just so dark yet at the same time you can't help but appreciate the message. Finally, there's the action inside the whale, which just adds to a great little sequence full of adventure and fun. Throw in the "When You Wish Upon a Star" song and you've really got one of the most complete Disney movies out there. As you'd expect, the animation from these original Disney features is wonderful and I really loved the terrific detail. Of course animation improved over the years but there's still something special and unique to these original Disney movies. PINOCCHIO is clearly one of the studio's best.