Roberto Benigni's Pinocchio (2002)

True to Collodi

A few weeks after having read an English translation of Collodi's original tale to my four year old daughter, I rented this movie, largely out of morbid interest in its reputation as one of the worst films of the decade. What I found left me flabbergasted - at how far off the mark American reviewers had been with near unanimity. Perhaps one needs to be familiar with the original story, or perhaps the dubbing was indeed a remarkable disaster (I only saw the film in Italian with subtitles), but for my daughter, uncomprehending of Italian and too young to read subtitles yet never lost for a moment, as well as for me, the scenes we beheld respectively carried us through the film in rapt silence. There is no doubt that that the playfulness and allegorical richness of Collodi's work as well as Benigni's reverence for the tale radiate from this film. I fear that so many American reviewers simply lacked the patience to try to find or even guess at its proper context. I hope that some of them will someday venture a reassessment. Watch this film, but only after you've absorbed the original tale.

November 12, 2007

A masterpiece, but only in Italian!!!!

I would like to join in here in saying that this is a great film and shamefully underrated. Now, this is not the fault of the critics, but the fault of Miramax, who made one of the most bone headed decisions ever in their lifetime when they decided to dub this film into English. The dubbing is absolute zero. I didn't even bother with that version. The Italian with English subtitle version is the one to see, and it's a magnficent film. Benigni shows that he's a great comic actor as well as a great filmmaker. The look of this film is sumptuous. It almost can be seen as a blending of Fellini and Visconti, at least in its production design and cinematography. In fact, Danilo Donati did the production design for this, and he worked exclusively with Fellini and Pasolini. In fact, this was originally conceived as a colloboration between Fellini and Benigni, but Fellini passed away, and Roberto took it over. Despite Miramax's boneheaded decision to dub the film, at least they released the uncut, undubbed version on DVD. Check this one out. It's one of the most maligned films ever, and it's a shame, because it's a masterpiece.
September 9, 2007

suspend logic

Odd, so many people writing that Begnini at 50 wasn't believable as a puppet who talks. What is believable about a puppet who talks? Boys who turn into donkeys? People who are swallowed by sea monsters? Maybe the idea WAS to depict the idea that the self-centered, tantrum-prine child is still there at some level, even in adults - yes ... seeing people's behavior in traffic, I think it is.

I loved this movie, and more importantly, so did my 2 and 1/2 year-old son, who is able to suspend all logic. When we watch the scene in the soon-to-be-donkey land, with Begnini swinging above the playing "boys", he says "Again". We watch it again, and he giggles with delight, again. He doesn't turn to me and say - you know - all those adults playing children are really miscast. June 4, 2007

Very Entertaining

I don't see what all of the criticism is about. Just because a film doesn't fit into the Americanized-Hollywood mold is no reason to toss it out. It's clear from reading these reviews that some of us have lost our ability to see life through the simplicity of a child's eyes.

I found this film delivers on it's goal: to be entertaining and enjoyable to watch. The directing of this movie was above creative standards and it really showed in the photography and editing. I would highly recommend the original Italian version to others without reservation.

As for the English-overdubbed version... well, it's overdubbed... what else can you say? If you watch it, you'll receive a mixed performance because you're watching Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde play the same character. I wouldn't even consider it. November 17, 2005

Interesting!

Without regurgitating what seemingly every reviewer of this film felt HAD to be said, I will say that this is certainly the most interesting of ALL Pincchio movies/adaptations in history!

For one, and this MUST be said again, to watch a 50 year old man play the part of a little wooden puppet is a exercise in sheer open-mindedness and tolerance!

In fact, watching the entitre film (ORIGINAL VERSION ONLY PLEASE) one get's the impression that Benigni favors adults over children, even in a childrens' story, as ALL characters are played by grossly overaged/sized adult actors.

The movies is funny though...in a strange way.
The biggest drawback aside from his age, is Benigni's un-naturally high pitched voice and penchant for rambling dialogue.
As a student of the Italian language, it can be hard to follow his incessant jumble of non-sensical jibberish.
At the same token, it is Benigni's annoying acting style that makes this film fun to watch.

What makes this film even quirkier is the relationship between a very grown Pinocchio and a rather attractive Blue Haired Fairy. There were times when I thought Pinocchio would just grab his beloved fairy and use his long nose to work his own brand of magic on HER. Sounds bad I know, but if you've seen this film you'll have no choice but to agree that there is waaayyy more physical chemistry between Pinocchio and the Fairy than ANY childrens story ought to have.

I can see why the critics AND the vast majority of viewers hated this one. It really isn't a GOOD film in a traditional sense.
Where this film shines is with those of us who have an appreciation for the off-beat and downright different.
This movie is both, which is why I bought it in the first place.

Will I recommend this to all you dear morally upright, purist partents out there for your kids to watch? Certainly not!
This is a non-sexual, but yet very adult oriented movie. Especially for dumbed down Disney raised US viewers.

Is this really a 45 million dollar flop? Absolutely!
Do I enjoy this film whenever I watch it? I most certainly do.

December 21, 2004

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