Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is a timeless, rich, and heartfelt adaptation of the original story, while taking the time to tell a new story with an immense amount of care. Guillermo del Toro is dealing with a classic tale here, so there are certain ideas and themes he can’t change. However, he alters just enough to make it his own and imbues so much of his genius and love into this story that it feels all that much more original. 

Despite the story of Pinocchio being known by virtually everybody, this movie doesn’t feel like a retracing of steps made by its predecessors. This movie thrives on improving elements the other adaptations falter in. The backdrop of a 1930s fascist, war-torn Italy is a perfect setting for spotlighting the raw humanity of the story of Pinocchio. The juxtaposition of war-obsessed generals, narrow-minded city-folk, and a money-hungry circus master to the innocent Pinocchio who only sees the good in the world works masterfully. As we observe Pinocchio sharing his naïve yet beautiful view of the world to others and watching them grow because of him, it weaves together not just the story of a wooden puppet that desperately wishes to become a real boy, but also the larger thematic story of humanity and the fight between what is right and wrong in the world.

From the stunning character design that pops off the screen, to the echoing yet somber score in the background that sets the tone throughout, to the excellent voice acting, the movie is a masterpiece through and through. While I was hesitant to buy into the idea of this movie as a musical at first with the themes and ideas it was going to be juggling, del Toro manages to make it work like magic. From the heartfelt “My Son” performed by a magnificent David Bradley, to the solemnly beautiful “Ciao Papa” performed by Gregory Mann, this film is filled with fitting tunes throughout. I even found myself bobbing my head to “Fatherland March”, an ode to Mussolini’s fascist Italy, which is something I never thought I would say in my lifetime.

Gregory Mann is a revelation and a star in the making here, as he is able to bring so much emotion with his sweet and innocent voice to this layered wooden boy. David Bradley is incredibly heartbreaking as the complex and grief-stricken Geppetto. Ewan McGregor is similarly a standout as the outstanding Sebastian J. Cricket.

This is really Guillermo del Toro’s magnum opus, his pièce de résistance. You find yourself feeling every bit of love and care put into every scene, every character. Everything feels so deliberate and picked at to make this the perfect stop motion film, yet also feels so alive and true to life. Stop motion isn’t always needed in some cases, but I cannot see this film done in any other capacity. The root of the beauty in this movie is the way all of this is woven together to form what is sure to be a classic. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is a film that rivals the original on every level, and one that I will find myself returning to for many years.

10/10