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It’s been nearly 70 years since Walt Disney’s second full-length animated feature, Pinocchio, first danced its way into theaters. But now that it’s gotten the full Blu-ray high-definition treatment, this lovable kids’ classic doesn’t look like it’s aged a day.
Pinocchio tells the story of a wooden marionette (Dickie Jones) and his temptation-filled path to becoming a real boy. Lovingly created by the wood carver Geppetto (Christian Rub), Pinocchio comes to life after the Blue Fairy (Evelyn Venable) grants Geppetto’s wish. Before Pinocchio can become a real boy, though, he’ll need to prove himself brave, truthful, and unselfish. The Blue Fairy warns that it’s not an easy task, so she gives Pinocchio a conscience—in the form of a cricket named Jiminy (Cliff Edwards)—to help him make the right decisions.
Once Pinocchio heads out into the world, however, he quickly discovers that doing the right thing is harder than it seems. And no matter how hard he tries to make the right decisions, he just ends up getting deeper and deeper into trouble.
That trouble takes Pinocchio to all sorts of dark and dangerous places—from the pool halls of Pleasure Island (where naughty boys drink beer and smoke cigars) to the belly of a monstrous whale. So Pinocchio isn’t exactly the cute and fluffy story that one might expect from an animated Disney adventure. Sometimes, in fact, it’s surprisingly scary. Still, there’s a lesson or two to be learned along the way—and the adorable characters seem to balance out the scarier moments.
Devoted old Geppetto and Pinocchio’s well-meaning (though not exactly vigilant) conscience, Jiminy Cricket, bring both heart and humor to the story as they try to keep Pinocchio from the dangers lurking around every corner. Even Geppetto’s beloved pets—his cat, Figaro, and his goldfish, Cleo—help to brighten up the film. But, of course, at the heart of it all is Pinocchio. Though the naïve little puppet doesn’t always make the right decisions (or choose the right friends), whatever he does, he does it with wide-eyed enthusiasm. He’s so excited about experiencing the world around him that you just can’t help but love him. And, really, you can’t blame the poor little guy for getting a bit confused on the very first day he’s alive.
Disney’s Pinocchio is an animated classic that truly stands the test of time. The story is both enchanting and thrilling—and it teaches some valuable lessons at the same time. The animation, too, is absolutely stunning—from the delightful characters to the carefully detailed clocks and music boxes in Geppetto’s workshop. And the new digital restoration makes everything even brighter and livelier and more stunning than ever before. Watching Pinocchio in HD will make you feel like you’re seeing it for the first time—and I highly recommend adding it to your library.
Blu-ray/DVD Review:
The 70th Anniversary Blu-ray Edition of Disney’s Pinocchio comes in an extensive three-disc set that includes both DVD and Blu-ray versions of the film, along with a disc full of extras. I’ve already mentioned that the new digital restoration is simply remarkable—but the Blu-ray features are pretty cool, too.
The first Blu-ray disc includes a few extras: singalongs, a music video, and a trivia challenge game. You’ll also find a commentary track, featuring critic/animation buff Leonard Maltin, film historian J. B. Kaufman, and animator Eric Goldberg. You can choose to play just the audio commentary, or you can choose to watch the movie in Cine-Explore—with a picture-in-picture video of the commentators, along with original sketches and other clips that pop up along the way. It’s a new and different kind of commentary—and movie buffs and Disney fans alike will enjoy every fascinating minute.
The second Blu-ray disc is filled with even more Pinocchio extras. Here, you’ll find a making-of feature, deleted scenes (including a potentially traumatic scene, in which Geppetto and Figaro contemplate frying Cleo up for dinner), galleries, games, and more. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at Walt’s hands-on participation in the filmmaking process, and you’ll learn a little bit about modern-day toy-making, too.
The latest edition of Pinocchio is also available in a two-disc standard DVD edition, with many of the same features. But if you’re thinking of investing in a Blu-ray player in the near future, I recommend spending a few extra bucks on the Blu-ray version. Once you watch the Blu-ray version, you’ll be glad you did.
