Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022)

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio

• Coming in as the 9th perfect movie rated by the Raspberry, let me tell you, this one absolutely blew my mind. I already had high expectations going into the movie, but they were all blown away by a huge amount. I’ve always been both a huge fan and huge supporter of stop motion films, and I think this movie is one of the best I’ve ever seen in my life. Despite how great this movie was, it’s not my absolute favorite of all time. Fantastic Mr. Fox is my all time favorite, and James and the Giant Peach is probably my second. But this film is easily number three. I truly enjoyed every second of this movie, which is usually very rare. From the opening scene, you know it’s gonna be good. And it only gets better from there. Of course, the movie follows the Pinocchio story, but in del Toro’s own unique and almost gritty way. Although this is definitely a family movie, it also has a serious tone with some great messages. The story was easy to follow along with, as well as having plenty of details all throughout. It was entertaining and hilarious, but also had some very deep moments that touch you tragically but beautifully. The biggest thing that stood out to me about the story was how in the end, you learn you don’t have to pretend to be yourself. Everyone is unique and created in their own way, and being yourself is the best thing to do. It also teaches to love everyone for who they are, not who they want or try to be. After watching this, you really feel touched. And of course, the stop motion was next level phenomenal. The great thing about this movie is how most of it is totally real, and not just standard animation. There is some green screen/CG usage, but the majority of the movie is entirely authentic. It gives the movie an aesthetically pleasing feel, and you learn to appreciate all the work put into it. There are truly some mind blowing scenes. The cinematography was freaking fantastic as well. There were some insanely gorgeous shots, and there was constant color, even in the physically dark scenes. There are also a lot of up close and personal shots, where you’re really exposed to the characters and their designs. Speaking of the characters, holy crap. And I mean that. Each and everyone was so unique. Not just physically, but emotionally and as a character as a whole. They all contributed a great deal to the story, which is what helps keep the movie fresh and interesting. Even the mean characters are special in their own ways. In terms of design, they were some of the most original characters I’ve seen in a long time, especially in stop motion/animation. They all stood out so well, and each had several characteristics that made them who they were. And Pinocchio’s design was awesome. He’s not the classic wooden boy with skin color wood and clothes. You can see each detail of the wood he was made from by Geppeto, which makes him so original. And I love how he stays that way the whole film. The music was also one of the best scores I’ve heard, and my favorite since The Batman. The original score was stunningly good, and it had a great mix of Italian sounds. There were also some insanely nice sting arrangements. The entire soundtrack helps push the movie forward. I also love that you get to hear many of the characters sing, such as Pinocchio, Geppeto, Count Volpe, and Sebastian. Gregory Mann, who voices Pinocchio, has an astoundingly beautiful voice. I could listen to him all day, and he brings so much youth to the role and overall sound of the movie. All the songs that were sung add meaning to the story. The setting was very well chosen and crafted, as it breaks away from the traditional Pinocchio. Like I said, del Toro makes this his own movie, and tells it his own way. He also gives it a somewhat more modern feel than what you’re used to with Pinocchio. I’m definitely leaving out several things I want to talk about, because the review is already one of my longest. Overall, I would highly, HIGHLY recommend this movie to literally everyone, and it’s easily the best animated film of 2022 (as well as one of the best animated/stop motion movies of all time). To me, this was the best movie of 2022, only behind The Batman. Also, if you do choose to watch this, I would also recommend watching the 30 minute behind-the-scenes look, which is also on Netflix. This film is officially Berry Approved, so go watch it NOW!