Well I had to get to this classic eventually. So without further ado, here's Disney review # 39: Pinocchio.
Plot: Geppetto is a woodworker who has just finished working on his latest puppet, Pinocchio. Later that night he wishes on the wishing star that Pinocchio would become a real boy. As he falls asleep, a blue fairy comes in and half grants his wish by at least giving Pinocchio life. She tells Pinocchio that in order to become a real boy, he must prove himself brave, truthful, and unselfish. She makes Jiminy Cricket his conscience who tries to tell him the difference between right and wrong as he goes through many tests throughout their adventures.
well if one thing's for sure, this movie is way more child friendly than the book. I mean in the book you have stuff like Geppetto actually hating children and the fairy gave Pinocchio live as punishment, and Pinocchio wasn't exactly an angel either considering that he actually kills (or seemingly kills) Jiminy. But anyway, this is an excellent movie. It's fun, cute, sometimes really dark and suspenseful, all around, it was very well done. I think this has the most villains out of all the Disney animated films with the Fox, Stromboli, the Coachman, and Monstro.
Characters:
Pinocchio: He's a very nice character. I think they did very well in roughly being like a normal boy from around that time when it comes to having both bad and good points. And yet you have to like him all the more that he does turn out a hero.
Jiminy Cricket: I liked this character. I guess I always liked him with how he's wise while he does have his silly moments.
The Coachman: Out of all the villains in this movie, I think he's the best. I mean his evil plot is clever, you want to know if his henchman really ares apes and what's the background about them, his evil smile is creepy as heck, and on top of it all, he wins. I mean the man may not have gotten his hands on Pinocchio and maybe even Lampwick for all we know, but his evil plot is never foiled. While Pinocchio and Jiminy escaped, he's still turning boys into donkeys and selling them to salt mines and circuses.
Music: um, excellent, DUH! "Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee (An Actor's Life for Me)", "Give a Little Whistle", and of coarse, "When you wish upon a star." I mean that's been played as Disney's intro for it's movies pretty much forever. Plus they did win best original song of that year and the song is #7 of AFI's 100 years: 100 songs. so yeah.
And that's my review for Pinocchio. It's a wonderful film that we all continue to enjoy.
This is probably my favourite disney animated classic and it's morals and wisdom are just brilliant. I think the coachman is definitely a terrifying villain too. Such an evil character. Terrific review HAK!
ReplyDeleteIf you are interested, I have a writers competition running with 9 days to go. Write about your favourite film, actor or director for the chance to win a prize :) Check it out
http://filmmasterjournal.blogspot.com/2011/12/100k-writers-competition.html
Thank you very much Tom. and Yeah I'll check that out.
ReplyDeletePinocchio 1940 features outdated stereotypes
ReplyDeleteWhile I get people praising this outdated Pinocchio 1940 cartoon. There are many controversial scenes including stereotypes with Stromboli being a gypsy stereotype. Also there's a stereotype scene in Pleasure Island Tobacco Row scene where it depicts 6 Sioux Native American stereotype statues as peace pipe smokers giving out free cigars.
I'm still very upset by the unresolved cliffhanger ending where it has a major plot hole involving donkey boys being kidnapped and sold into slavery and the Coachmen getting away with it and there was never a Pinocchio 1940 sequel to resolve the donkey boys fate.
This Disney 1940 Pinocchio movie is not really my favorite movie since it's too problematic and questionable and makes fun of Native Americans. I'd rather watch Pinocchio 3000 or Pinocchio A True Story and the stop motion Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio or that European Pinocchio 2020 live action adaption or other non Disney Pinocchio cartoon films that follows the original book.
I'm surprised Disney Plus hasn't put out a label warning on Pinocchio for outdated stereotypes which they need to and also they need to add Alcohol depictions. There's also Native American stereotypes on Pinocchio's Daring Journey ride at Disneyland which hasn't been addressed yet.