Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio - Review

All Good Things Require Patience. 4 / 5

Directed by Guillermo del Toro.

During the rise of fascism in Mussolini's Italy, a wooden boy brought magically to life struggles to live up to his father's expectations.

Another example of the stunning artform that is stop motion animation, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio tells the traditional story with del Toro's signature gothic twist.

You can see the attention to detail on screen in the character designs, their movements, and the settings as it doesn't use stop motion to limit its storytelling. It transports audiences to a version of early 1900s Italy with a 2 hour epic with exaggerated musical numbers and multiple intricate locations.

Unsurprising for a Guillermo del Toro film, it isn't afraid to go into the darkness as it doesn't hide from death and destruction, in fact, it actively embraces it as an important part of its message which is a brave and commendable move for a film that is open to a younger audience.

Balancing magical whimsy and dark realities, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio shows how to appropriately adapt a story, bringing new and exciting ideas and techniques to the table rather than retreading old ground that damages the prestige reputation.

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