Product: Pinocchio
Rating: 5.0
DISNEY CHAMP
A musical, magical, gorgeously animated movie, Pinocchio is one of the first classic Disney films that began to "brand" the Disney image of enchanting, vigorous family entertainment. The characters, from kindly Geppetto, to the intoxicating Jiminey Cricket, and Cleo, Figaro and all of the "baddies", are endlessly engaging. Flawlessly executed, with a well-constructed, and purposely manipulative screenplay, this movie is one of those rare pieces of commercial art: moving and entertaining at the same time, and genuinely, surprisingly alive and contemporary. If you remember this movie from your childhood, you know how compelling and horrific some of these darkly imagined scenes can be for a child -- and if you have children now who have never seen it, give them a treat they will never forget, along with some lessons that are truer today than ever. A walk down Main Street/Fantasyland in the Disney Parks owes much to the cozy cottages and imagined warmth in light, shadow and music that was first realized for this perfect movie. A delight.