Search - Roberto Benigni's Pinocchio on DVD

The DVD has arrived! Finally! WATCH IT IN ITALIAN!

ryanthemighty | Lost Angeles, Ca | 09/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My wife and I were travelling in Italy last year when this latest version of Pinocchio came into the theatres. The country went insane over it! They had a poll of school children on who they liked more:
Pinocchio or Roberto Benigni?
It was close, but Roberto came out on top. If you watch this movie, you'll understand why.
Roberto Benigni is an adult who hasn't forgot what it is like to be a kid. He is constantly smiling, playing and has boundless amounts of infectous energy. The role of Pinocchio is perfect for him. We saw the movie, and even though we understood a little more than half of the dialogue, we were caught up in the story and completely understood what was going on on screen. We bought into it fully. When we came back to the states, we saw that the movie was coming out again in the theatres! And then we saw the trailers... This wasn't the movie that we saw.
What's with the crappy overdub!? The voices were completely wrong!
The characters went from being three-dimensional beings with substance and depth to nothing more than a parody of their original selves.
That's why it bombed over here. The whole meaning was lost in translation. The movie is absolutely gorgeous! The costumes and sets are elaborate and stunning. It's like they were pulled directly from a popup storybook land of princes,princesses, giants and fairies. Take some time to rent or buy this one on DVD.
Watch it in Italian, and get pulled along into a faraway fantasy land."

This film is underappreciated

ArtHarrison | CA United States | 04/09/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a very well crafted and entertaining movie, but of course must be watched in Italian, with the subtitles. If you like Benigni you will certainly enjoy this film--as usual he shines with comedic brilliance. The movie is absolutely hilarious in some parts, and very touching in others. Benigni's acting is great, but there are also great performances by the supporting cast members. This movie is beautifully photographed and cleverly written and it's a shame it was released in 'dubbed' form in the U.S. Dubbed movies are always bad, but the actor who did the voice for Benigni's Pinocchio was just not a good choice at all!"

Under-rated Benigni fairy tale...

Robert J. Willert | LOS ANGELES, CA | 07/14/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When this film came out, U.S. audiences were 'treated' to the horribly dubbed version. Despite celebrity voices (Glenn Close, John Cleese, Cheech Marin, others), Benigni's film was doomed from the start. Also, Benigni's 'Pinocchio' was nothing like the Disney animated classic. Benigni's version is closer to the actual book, which can get very dark. When Pinocchio was hanging by the neck from a tree branch in this film, this came as quite a shock to family audiences. While Disney's classic remains the best version, it is only loosely based on the book (as most of Disney's animated story-telling is). Benigni's imaginative tale cost $45 million (the most expensive Italian film ever made). The money went into the marvelous sets, the costume designs, and the creation of the giant whale. The supporting cast is good. The main theme is never lost. Benigni does a good job at handling the complicated series of Pinocchio's adventures. In Benigni's film, characters are key. The Blue Fairy, the Cricket. You like these characters. Benigni's script has something to say, no matter how subtle. It is clear a lot went into the planning of this film. But the major drawback in the film was the casting of Roberto Benigni as Pinocchio. He simply looks too old for the role. Another problem is Benigni's tendency to get rather long-winded. Without coming up for air, his dialogue can get tedious. I found myself exhausted watching him, and hoping the Blue Fairy would slap some sense into him. This 'style' of performance exhausts the audience, and steals away some of the magic. Furthermore, Pinocchio should have resembled a puppet more. Benigni wears a clown-like costume and a pointed hat. This is OK, but considering the money thrown into this fairy tale, maybe a little more should have been paid to make him look less human. Still, Benigni's 'Pinocchio' is not the failure that critics will have you believe. I give Benigni high marks for imagination. The film may drag at times, but Benigni doesn't try to be too showy, and the film is superior to today's mindless summer fare. But be warned: Stay away from the dubbed version. Stick to the original Italian. Be sure to keep an open mind and you won't be disappointed."

A visually stunning and faithful adaptation

Charles Richards | Los Angeles, CA | 07/07/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I had my worries before I saw this film, as I do before I see any adaptation of a favorite piece of literature, but I can happily say that I was not the least bit disappointed in this beautiful film. Visually stunning from get-go, the film never seems to let up on its attraction to the eye. But even more to its credit, the film is extraordinary in its fidelity to the spirit of the Collodi original, which made it such a treat. I was afraid that most American moviegoers and critics, used to the Disney version, might find the differances in the story-line and characters unsettling enough to leave a bad taste in their mouths, and, while this was not entirely the case, its poor critical reception seems to be partially due to this. Not that I'm not knocking the Disney film, it is a masterpiece in its own right with some of the most magnificent animation ever produced for the silver screen, but its highly Americanized and slightly emasculated interpretation of the original book has always left me preferring the original.
But some warning, this is not a movie for children. Most children who have seen the Disney film and then gone on to read the book have been disappointed, due to the episodic and didactic nature of Collodi's tale, and I think most (American) children will probably not enjoy this new version for those reasons. Also, the casting is less-than-ideal, and I think this is another reason for its strong critical failure in this country (and the reason I've given it four stars rather than five). Benigni is obviously too old for the part (although I'd rather see him than some annoying, precocious child actor)and his wife is unsuitable for the Fairy with the Blue Hair (far too glamerous, I think). Also the English sountrack is incredably annoying, I am greatly looking forward to viewing the film in its original Italian. But on the whole, to those who fancy fairy tales, and especially those who are familiar with the original story, it is highly recommended."