Don't overlook it!

Disney's Pinocchio has been around my whole life. In fact, it predates me by over a decade. I remember seeing it at some point as a child, but I have totally ignored the movie since. My children were raised with the current crop of Disney movies over the last 15 years, but they have never been formally introduced to the ultimate "Pinnochio."

I decided to watch "Pinocchio" again after viewing "A.I." which paralelled the original story. I also wanted to see the animated version before the most recent Pinocchio movie hit theaters. However, it took a couple of years to put me in the mood to see the movie. I shouldn't have waited!

I always dismissed "Pinocchio" when mentioned with other Disney masterpieces such as "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and "Fantasia." But after watching countless animated features over the last twenty years, I have a new appreciation for this sixty plus year old classic for the following reasons.

Artistry
The colors in the movie are vibrant and objects are colored in a way to show depth and shadows. Amazingly in 1940, colors would change hues and tints based on their size and shape and proximity to light. There have been too many recent animated films where the colors never change giving the movie a very flat appearance.

Animation
Disney employed over 100 animators that spent years working on this project. I would like to think that the best artists rose to the top and their work is reflected for all time. As the next major movie for the studio, after "Snow White" Walt Disney wanted perfection and repeatedly rejected work that was not up to his specifications. He also employed state of the art camera innovation and technology to achieve the effects that he wanted. The movie was not slapped together with computer graphics. The underwater scene alone illustrates why it holds up to, if not surpasses, today's animated features.

Story
On one level Pinocchio is a simple story of a wooden boy that makes poor choices and faces the consequences. There are some great Disney songs to push the movie along (academy awards for best song and score), and the Blue Fairy creates her own special effects. But on a deeper level, the story examines conscience, temptation and redemption. Naive Pinocchio is persuaded by Honest John, to become an actor (fame and fortune) only to end up in a cage. He later falls for the enticing of Pleasure Island (lavish sin and disobedience) only to turn into a Jackass. The movie's moral is direct. True success in life comes from being brave, truthful and unselfish. It is not a dated concept. I believe this is what we want all of our children to learn and become.

The headlines of today have been filled with corrupt and egotistical financiers and megastars. A simple cartoon can put everything in its place. I recommend "Pinocchio" because it is a great movie, and you feel better after seeing it.