Can you believe that it’s been 70 years since Pinocchio first dazzled audiences? Well it has and the film is being celebrated with a brand new 70th Anniversary Edition that marks its first time on Blu Ray as well as its first time in High Definition. As one of the most critically acclaimed Disney films of all time, it would have been impossible for this release to miss the mark. And it doesn’t. This special package includes two Blu Ray discs (film and special features) and one DVD (film only) and is the only way to purchase the restored version of the film.
As far as story content goes, you’d be hard pressed to find an animated film better than Pinocchio. The animation is practically flawless and it stands up so well to todays dominate CGI affairs that you really wouldn’t guess that it is 70 years old if you didn’t have the prior knowledge. As Pinocchio follows his quest to become a “real little boy” his lovable guide, Jiminy Cricket, helps him see life lesson that teach him bravery and honesty above all else in the face of evil. Some of the scenes are downright scary for children but this is offset by the fact that good always triumphs. It is also typical of animated films from this era. Those with small children should be aware though. Jiminy Cricket cracks me up even today and there are plenty of one-liners for the adults in the room, such as when Cricket asks what an actor would need a conscience for?!
As with Sleeping beauty and the earlier release of Peter Pan, the extras here are phenomenal (and only available on the Blu Ray portion). They include story board sequences for scenes that never made the film (including an alternate ending), Pinocchio trivia, some behind the scenes/Disney featurettes, games, a wonderful Making of Pinocchio documentary, and audio commentaries. The centerpiece is obviously The Making of Pinocchio documentary. It’s very similar to the other restored classics documentaries but tells a wonderful story of times too often forgotten. Much like Fantasia, Pinocchio stretched the limits of the era and that is an easily identifiable reason why it stands the test of time.
The film is also beautifully restored. Many of the colors seem much more vibrant than other home viewing offerings have had in the past and the sound is stellar as well- which is exactly what you want when listening to Disney’s unofficial anthem “When You Wish Upon a Star.” Overall this is the definitive edition of Pinocchio and I’d be surprised if anything ever topped it. If you don’t own this film, you should, and if you do own this film, it’s time to pick up this edition and sell the old one on Ebay.
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
