'Masterpiece and Imperfectly Perfect': Guillermo Del Toro's 'Pinocchio' DESTROYS Disney's version with glaring reviews
Who could have thought that we will be seeing two movies based on ‘Pinocchio’ in one year? But Disney and Netflix have made it possible to have completely different projects based on the iconic character. Guillermo Del Toro directed the Netflix version and it seems that the filmmaker has given his unique touch to the story of the little puppet man made up of wood. The first wave of reviews for the Netflix title has started pouring in and looks like Del Toro’s version of ‘Pinocchio’ is far more inspiring than the Disney one.
The reviews indicate that the Netflix title is much more unique and impactful than the Disney movie, which currently has a 28% rating on the review site Rotten Tomatoes. So, let’s take a look at what critics are saying about the movie.
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MEAWW gave the movie a positive review and called it “awe-inspiring”. Del Toro’s movie is darker than the previous versions, but it is also much more rewarding. The review reads, “The movie manages to explore grief and fatherhood rather beautifully. Del Toro also brings darkness and weirdness to the epic tale of the wooden puppet and takes you on a journey that's not just rewarding, but also memorable.”
Meanwhile, Olly Richards from Time Out called Del Toro’s version “the best adaptation of Collodi’s tale in 70 years.” In his review, Richards added, “As you’d expect from the Mexican master, this is rich with macabre imagination and tiptoes between dreaminess and nightmarishness. In a contest with 2022’s other ‘Pinocchio,’ Disney’s drab live-action redo, this wins by far more than a nose.”
Chris Connor from Filmhounds Magazine gave the movie five stars and called it a “fresh and exciting take” on the iconic character. The critic also noted that the stop-motion animation used in the movie is “nothing short of delightful”. In his review, he added, “This is surely one of the finest cinematic adaptations of this tried and test tale and will surely become a classic revered for years to come.”
IGN’s Hanna Ines Flint gave the movie a score of 9 out of 10 and noted that ‘The Shape of Water’ filmmaker “sprinkles his signature dark whimsy” on a fairytale that’s filled with heart. She concluded her review by saying that the movie is a “phenomenal feat of animated cinema.”
On the other hand, Jennifer Heaton from Next Best Picture also gave the movie a rating of 9 and wrote, “It’s hard to see anyone who has been looking forward to “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” walking away feeling let down, as it is exactly what you’d expect from the title and yet so much more.”
Katie Smith-Wong from Flick Feast gave the movie four stars and noted that Del Toro’s ‘Pinocchio’ is one of the best movies of 2022 and looks absolutely gorgeous on the big screen. In her review, she also shared that the film is a vision that is “heartfelt, beautifully made, and imperfectly perfect.”
These glaring reviews indicate that the movie has struck the right chord and viewers will undoubtedly want to take this enthralling ride. As of now, the film’s rating on Rotten Tomatoes is much higher than the Disney version and currently has a 96% rating on the review site compared to $28% for the Robert Zemeckis version.
The movie’s voice cast includes Gregory Mann, Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Tilda Swinton, Cate Blanchett, Finn Wolfhard, and more.
‘Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio’ is currently playing in theatres for a limited period of time and hits Netflix on December 9, 2022.