Pinocchio

Now I'm going to honest here, I've never like Pinocchio. I saw the film when I was young and I don't remember enjoying it. I re-watched it as an adult and that is still the case.

I also recently read the original story by Carlo Collodi. I didn't really enjoy that either.

Let's talk about some differences.

• Pinocchio kills Jiminy Cricket with a mallet in the original story. Jiminy also comes back to life with no explanation.
• Pinocchio is given several more opportunities to prove he is a good boy in the original story than the film. And always fails.
• Monstro is a shark not a whale
• Figaro and Cleo are not in it.

Pinocchio in general is just a creepy concept. A puppet that comes to life. I mean dress it up all you want to with fairies, a magic cricket, and wishing on stars but that is a terrifying concept. Did anyone else see Chuckie? Or those creepy episodes of Family Matters where Urkel's doll comes to life? A walking, talking puppet is just plain frightening.

Now as a character I can appreciate the fact that Pinocchio at least has somewhere to go. He doesn't understand the basic difference between right and wrong. He needs to learn and understand how to be good, truthful and unselfish. This at least is more of a character arc than Disney's previous protagonist Snow White. However, in the book Pinocchio is given so many second chances to be good that I really had lost any enthusiasm to root for him. 

The best part of the Disney version for me was the addition of Figaro and Cleo. These two characters actually helped make Gipedo much more likable and understandable. In the original story it seemed very strange to me that this old wood carver would suddenly want a wooden son. But the fact that he already has pets that he cares for in the Disney version helped make him appear more as a kind grandfather figure rather than  some creepy guy who suddenly has an attachment to a wooden object resembling a young boy. Also Figaro and Cleo are pretty darn cute.

Oh and I feel I should point out that in the original story how Pinocchio came to be Pinocchio was a little different. In the Disney version Gipedo makes a puppet, wishes upon a star for him to be real and the Blue Fairy comes down and gives him life. In the book this other character has a piece of pine and keeps thinking that he hears it talking to him. It freaks him out so when Gipedo comes to his shop he sells Gipedo this piece of wood. Then Gipedo makes the puppet out of this pine and names him Pinocchio. And there he is. 

Now the Blue Fairy still comes into play in the original story and tells Pinocchio he has to be good. But the problem with the Disney version is the Blue Fairy created the life of Pinocchio. Why wouldn't she have just created a good boy? Why would she give Gipedo only half his wish? I guess she was giving Pinocchio the freedom to make his own choices. But still...

I feel compelled to add that the whole sequence of Pleasure Island of boys being turned into donkeys and shoved into crates and calling out for their moms gave me nightmares as a little kid. I don't understand how this film is revered as a classic for children. 

My rating of the film: 5/10.

Films in order of preference so far:

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Pinocchio.