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PINOCCHIO

With the voices of Dickie Jones, Cliff Edwards, Christian Rub, Evelyn Venable, Charles Judels, Walter Catlett

Written and adapted by Ted Sears, Otto Englander, Webb Smith, William Cottrell, Joseph Sabo, Erdman Penner, Aurelius Battaglia, Bill Peet, based on the story by Carlo Collodi aka Collodi
Directed by Hamilton Luske & Ben Sharpsteen

The 70th anniversary double DVD release of this classic Disney production is still an amazing work of art and entertainment. Based on an Italian serial, the Disney team took the basics and created their own wonderful rendition of this sweet (and also dark) tale of a lonely, childless toymaker whose wish for a puppet to become a real boy is granted by a fairy (when he wishes upon a star, of course - this is also where the famous and timeless song originated and became the signature logo theme of Disney Studios). But for Pinocchio to become a real boy, he would have to prove himself truthful and brave, the narrator Jiminy Cricket appointed as his official conscience.
This second Disney feature (following Snow White) was not such a big financial success mainly due to WWII, but has been marked as one of the studio's most accomplished productions, even by today's digital standards. Everything from the story, animation and music, to the sentiment and moral combines into an amazing unforgettable piece of work, still as effective and engrossing after seven decades. The meticulous detail given each character, the backgrounds and peripheral action is what set these Disney movies apart from the smaller cartoon shorts people had grown accustomed to, making them fully fledged feature films that can stand up up next to any live action movie.
This double disc Platinum Edition includes a range of extras. The newly cleaned up digitally remastered version is now available in the best audio and visual quality to date. Many behind-the-scenes aspects and interviews with animators and film historians are included, as well as an in-depth making-of, and a glimpse at the screening room scenario during production. You also a look at modern-day toy makers (from the traditional to the futuristic), and get to see rare deleted scenes, partake in activities and games, and there's even a new music video for "When You Wish Upon A Star" by Meaghan Jette Martin.

6 / A
- Paul Blom


0 1 2 3 4 5 6
- A - B
- C


6 - Volcanic
5 - Blistering
4 - Hot
3 - Smolder
2 - Room Temp.
1 - Fizzled
0 - Extinguished

A: Multiple Viewing Potential
B: Deserves Another Look
C: Once Should Suffice

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