Product Details

• Format: Color, Live, NTSC
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Miramax Home Entertainment
• VHS Release Date: February 3, 2004
• Run Time: 80 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000092T4Z
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #512,410 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Nearly abandoned by its distributor and savaged by critics, Roberto Benigni's Pinocchio is an object lesson in the hazards of success. Bolstered by his Oscar®-winning triumph Life Is Beautiful, the popular Italian actor-director-comedian was given carte blanche and chose Carlo Collodi's classic 1885 fairy tale as his next lavish project. This sumptuous production literally glows with traditional Italian craftsmanship, from delightful costumes and storybook sets by the late, great production designer Danilo Donati (whose last film this was) to the radiant palette of Dante Spinotti's masterful cinematography. This is one of the most beautiful of all Italian films, which only makes its shortcomings more conspicuous. At 50, Benigni is utterly wrong as the puppet who yearns to be a real boy, and his wife Nicoletta Braschi is similarly miscast as the Blue Fairy. Even worse, Breckin Meyer's English dubbing for Pinocchio is insufferably shrill, draining the appeal of Benigni's own performance. Pinocchio has many laudable qualities, but genuine enchantment is nowhere to be found. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The DVD has arrived! Finally! WATCH IT IN ITALIAN!, September 29, 2003

By 

"ryanthemighty" (Lost Angeles, Ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roberto Benigni's Pinocchio (DVD)

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.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Under-rated Benigni fairy tale..., July 14, 2003

By 

Robert J. Willert (LOS ANGELES, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Roberto Benigni's Pinocchio (DVD)

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.

24 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This film is underappreciated, April 8, 2004

By 

ArtHarrison "ArtHarrison" (CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roberto Benigni's Pinocchio (DVD)

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!