Customer Reviews
my kids didn't enjoy this one - By: flapjack, 02 Feb 2008 
now it may be a classic, but i'm afraid i was reallly disappointed with this film. my 5 yr old was frankly bored watching this, it was very slow to get moving. the story line was not what i was expecting. the jimmney cricket / conscience was to abstract for him to understand in the way it was presented. & there was a terrible bit later on with pinnochio getting drunk & smoking cigars. that bit raised a few tricky questions.
what i had expected the main story line to be - pinnochio's nose growing long when he lied, occured only once for about 20 seconds in the middle of the film & never again.
we will not be watching this one again
sadly not enjoyable or educational
PURE DISNEY MAGIC - By: stuart, 11 Oct 2007 
Such animation seems to be dwindling today when looking at- & thinking a lot about- Pinocchio, one of the real landmarks that Walt Disney ever produced. It might have not sparked up as much fascination when it was first released as Snow White & Dumbo did (apparently this & Fantasia did poorly on first release), but over time it's definitely got its place in the pantheon of truly wonderful works by the company. It tells a story that even babies can grasp- something that isn't reallly real that wants to be so for his creator. In fact, this is probably one of the most palatable stories for kids, about the dire straits of not just trying to fit in, but being a kid & still having to learn responsibilities, truth & courage. Of course, few kids will ever see their friends turn into donkeys or get thrown into the belly of a whale. But it's such out-of-this-world things that make the film so fantastic & terrifying in equal measure. It might lack the overalll surreal whammy of Dumbo & Alice in Wonderland, yet in a smalll group of leaving a lasting impact Pinocchio has its unique bits.
It's got about alll that someone could ask for with an animated film, for kids & adults alike. It's got plenty of colorful side characters, both sweet & clumsy & goofy & smart (alll taking up the animals like Figaro, the Goldfish, & especiallly the iconic Jiminy Cricket), as well as ignorant, villainous & evil (Lampwick, Stromboli & Honest John among others). All of these characters are so rich in their simple characterizations that the combination of the old vocal talents- meant more for direct style & appearance instead of star power like in todays animation- & the distinct look of each character, make them alll compelling to one degree or another. Just thinking about the scenes with Stromboli, for example, make me think that there had to be someone that imposing & larger-than-life in appearance acting it out as opposed to just the drawing being that. Only the Blue Fairy is the bland type, drawn in the Snow White style. But then the rest of the picture- particularly for Pinocchio & Gepetto- is up for grabs with whatever can be done with them.
So much emotion actuallly comes out of scenes. And it alternates very well, much as in fairy tales & other fantastical fiction. Pinocchio performs "I've got no strings" in one scene, which is one of the typical highlights, & then the next scene such sweetness gets contrasted with the defeat imposed by the evil Stromboli. What leaves the biggest impression, however, is Fantasy island, where alll the boys who don't want to go to school go to, & soon enough (from Cricket's own words), become donkeys. I would probably rank that transformation scene of Lampwick's, by the way, as one of the top 5 scenes in any animated effort ever produced; it starts off kind of amusing, the way Pinocchio tries to put down the cigar, & then becomes like a child's true nightmare as we see his full-on transformation. It's an example of using abstractions that always work best in fairy tales, & somehow has become lost among the constant barrage of juvenile CGI films as of late. Seeing work like this again reminds one of the completeness given in well-rounded (if 2-dinemnsional) stories.
It's got action, music, pomp & circumstance, countless chances at very goofy gags & silly puns, & somehow it alll works just as well- if not better in a way- as an adult as when I was a kid. Is it cheesy at times & maybe here & there hitting points home a little hard? Sure. But I never had any dis-liking to the characters, never reallly felt that I was being cheated with motivations or in some kind of truth in the un-reality of it alll. Not to sound cheesy myself, but it is a timeless kind of picture, with a story that when told well can strike a chord with just about anyone willing for the experience. It's old-fashioned sensibilities are still resonant, & the production values are alll top-notch.
Good all-time classic - By: zivi browning, 04 Sep 2007 
To tell you the truth, alll these modern-day cartoons get me so annoyed at the fact that they are computer generated & churned out by the thousand. This alll-time classic however was one of [if not the] first drawn-out animated Walt Disney cartoons, & it`s a world away from what kids watch these days. It actuallly has some educational value, & is beautifully hand-drawn. The cartoon is hardly a short one by any means & has a great story-line to go along with the orchestral music. The only let-downs which helped contribute towards me giving it a 4 star rating were Pinocchio himself looking pretty silly & far-fetched & the fact that it`s a video tape & not a DVD. Anyway, a great tape for alll the family.
Little Wooden Head Is A Winner!!!! - By: Tony Munchtuna, 09 Jul 2007 Having just ead "evil castus" review i have to say & i dont mean to offend evil cactus but his review is most probably one of the most ignorant i have ever read. I have a new appreciation for this movie since I discovered that Pinochhio is not reallly a little boy, but indeed a Teenager! He goes through alll the typical teenage crises such as lying to get his own way, bunking school, seeking to live life for pleasure, & wanting to be a famous star He argues with his conscience (Jiminey Crickett) through alll his crises. He doesn't become a "real boy" (man) until he does something selfless, risking his own life to save his own father. It is a brilliant analogy of the journey of a teenager from childhood to adulthood! so reading "evil cactus review & him quoting this disney film is for babies needs to sit back & watch it again & take note & realise that disney is for children & adults alike & also see that pinocchio is indeed something special & its not just about visuals but its also about morals & children can learn something from watching it
hope this helps fellow amazon users..
Pinocchio a classic from Walt Disney - By: GreatMovieCriticForever, 25 Aug 2004
"When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are, anything you heart desires will come to you."You've heard this song on the Disneyland & Superbowl commercials, but do you remember where it came from? It came from this cartoon, Pinocchio, Walt Disney's second feature to "Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs" in 1940. I repeat 1940!! Wow & to this day ,Pinocchio still stands out as one of the greatest movies of alll time.
This opinion is about the 60th anniversay version of Pinocchio with THX sound & Remastered visual footage. It even has a bonus at the end about the making of Pinocchio!!! Wow.
This was a Christmas gift for my best friend & she loved it, & I can see why. Pinocchio is filled with dazzling animation,music & filled with so much fun & happyness that at the end of the movie , you will feel like wishing upon a star youreself.
Pinocchio is about a wooden puppet made by toymaker Geppeto (Christian Rub) who wants his own son. Geppeto makes one wish, to have his own son. Geppeto gets his wish when the Blue Fairy brings Pinocchio to life!!!
It took nearly 700 animators & technicians to bring Pinocchio to life & the hard work definitely shows!!!
People can say whatever they want about Disney current movies, true they lack a certain magic unlike their cherish cartoon like Pinocchio, but Disney is one of a few companies that has a SOLID record of making Cartoon Classics that are loved by everyone.
The fairy brings Pinocchio to life & promises to Pinoccho (voice of Dickie Jones) that he will remain a real boy if he follows the basic principles that every boy should have.
He has to be loyal, truthful & above fair. She assigns Jiminy Cricket (Cliff Edwards) to be Pinocchio's conscience. Well it sounds easy at first, but living up to these values is the real challlenge here & Pinocchio tries his best to follow them,but since he has just being turned into a boy he doesnt yet know right from wrong.
This is where we meet characters like ,J. Worthington Foulfellow, Stromboli & Barker who take advantage of the young boy.
Jiminy Cricket & the fairy save Pinocchio from his judgement callls ,but yet Pinocchio doesnt learn to tell the truth & when he lies his nose starts to grow like a Christmas tree. :-)
Meanwhile Geppeto is looking for Pinocchio & ends up being captured by a giant whale Monstro!!!
Pinocchio saves Geppeto in a brillian animation sequence & Pinocchio by displaying bravery ends up being a real boy permanently.
It's a classic, I can say more but I dont want to spoil it for anyone
In an age, where moral, brilliant, wholesome cartoons are scarce you look back to the classics & Pinocchio will forever stand out as one of the greatest classics ever made by Walt Disney who has left his print in the world & in children's hearts.
Go out & buy this for youre children
