Pinocchio

So yesterday I watched Pinocchio.

The film starts rather nicely introducing you to Jiminy Cricket who's design is a great recreation of the animated original though updated for CG. There are many nods to other Disney properties in Geppetto's collection of clocks, if you look you'll see plenty, and some are brought centre screen during certain bits.  The early segments drag on a little but thankfully not enough to make even my shortened attention span click off. 

Once The blue fairy arrives and the story can properly begin it is more or less the same movie as the 1940 original, with Disney's usual small tweaks and additions. Often being little more than some extra dialogue and an extra song or 2. As per usual any new songs added to the film do little to add anything on top of the original and don't leave much of a lasting impression. There is an extra bit of dialogue that I really did enjoy however when Pinocchio reunites with Geppetto. I won't spoil it, but I did enjoy that bit.

The core points of the film from Stromboli's Marionette Show, Pleasure Island, and even Monstro sequences are visually fantastic and any minor changes don't detract from the enjoyment of the film. However some may have a moment with the changes to Monstro.

The acting in the film is pretty decent with Tom Hanks chewing the scenery in an endearing way throughout his scenes. But unfortunately the overall experience just made me appreciate the original that much more. I wont spoil the ending but to say it's a little lacklustre I think is fair. They tried to do something a little different and I think they did it the best way they could, but the change was a touch unnecessary.

Should you watch it? Yeah sure, but I wouldn't subscribe to Disney plus just to see it. It's my favourite of the Disney "Live Action" remakes but it does the same as all the others in making me just want to go back and watch the original animated version. All of these remakes have been almost lifeless by comparison to their animated predecessors and although this is no different, it certainly feels more endearing than many of the others, if a little wooden.