A young and idealistic psychiatrist, Dr. Jessica Barnes, makes a decorated war hero her personal project at a remote treatment facility. This proves difficult when on day one her new patient. This is the English Translation of the Chinese game The Recovery of Pinocchio for the NES. Help young Pinocchio, as he travels the land to find medicine for his sick Father. Along his quest, he meets various characters, and discovers that his quest will be a whole lot more arduous than what he first though. It seems that an evil witch has overrun the land with darkness, and Pinocchio may be.
The latest cinematic rendering of “ Pinocchio, ” from Italian director Matteo Garrone, is informed not by the friendly 1940 Walt Disney retelling, but the original source material. Carlo Collodi’s 1883 novel “The Adventures of Pinocchio” is a much darker affair than the song-filled animated version and Garrone’s film is also a more intense experience, even if he too has softened some of Collodi’s edges. The result may not be suitable for all children, but it is a strange, visionary and enchanting old-world fairy tale that any fan of Guillermo del Toro’s films or Wolfgang Petersen’s “The NeverEnding Story” should give a chance.
Pinocchio opened weeks ago, so this post is very long coming. Right after opening the show I was incredibly stressed and I needed some space and time away from the experience before coming back to reflect on it. Let me say first that the multiple noses I made didn't work. I spent many hours and lots of money and ended up not using any of it.
It’s unfortunate though understandable that the Italian film has been dubbed into English for its North American theatrical release, making it slightly annoying for adults but ultimately more accessible to children. The best you can do under these circumstances is to just try to ignore it because, for now, it’s the only way you can experience it in the U.S.
The Pinocchio Effect
Blending realism and fantasy, Garrone’s film takes us back to an impoverished Tuscany where Roberto Benigni as Geppetto sculpts a young boy puppet out of an enchanted piece of wood and begs it to come to life. He’s desperate for a son and overcome with joy when he gets what he wished for. But Pinocchio, played by Federico Ielapi, does not emerge grateful: He is restless and naughty, which is partly naivete and partly mischievousness. It’s not too long before his disobedience finds him far away from home in the company of less than savory characters who he is too trusting of. And Pinocchio must embark on a dangerous and epic odyssey to try to find his way back to Geppetto and safety.
This Pinocchio is perhaps one of the more realistic depictions of what a wooden puppet that’s come to life might look like. His look is almost identical to Enrico Mazzanti’s original drawings and translated to this live-action film through a combination of computer graphics and makeup from Mark Coulier, the Oscar-winning makeup artist behind “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” It is a remarkable achievement in special effects.
The production design is equally noteworthy, from Geppetto’s workshop to the stunning home of the blue-haired fairy who watches over Pinocchio. Although the naturally beautiful Italian landscapes threaten to upstage a lot of the work. Benigni is also particularly strong in the film, although his screen time is brief and just at the beginning and end.
“Pinocchio” was never my
“Pinocchio,” a Roadside Attractions release, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for “some disturbing images.” Running time: 125 minutes. Three stars out of four.
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MPAA Definition of PG-13: Parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
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The Original Pinocchio Story
Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ldbahr
The Pinocchio Story
Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press