Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022)

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio

• When it comes to enjoying movies, you’ll often hear me say, “The music makes the movie.” And in this case, I am absolutely right. Without this soundtrack, the movie would still be good. But WITH the soundtrack, it absolutely blows you away. And I seriously mean that. Not only is the original score done perfectly, but the vocals are unmatched. Alexandre Desplat came in to do the score, and he hit a grand slam. This is one of the most enjoyable soundtracks I’ve ever listened to, and there’s one thing in particular you’ll notice about it: it tells a story. Even without physically seeing the movie, the entire score still tells a beautiful story, and you can almost tell what might be happening in each song. It has a beautiful orchestral sound, and the string section is unbelievable. I also love the slight Italian touch that it contains. It’s not always there, but you can just hear the touch of Italy in each note. This is one you’d have to listen to so you can understand just what I mean. Even if you despise animated films or magical scores, I think everyone can enjoy something from this, as well as learn something from it. And the vocals are also out of this world. You wouldn’t expect Ewan McGregor, Christoph Waltz, or David Bradley to be singers, but they totally catch you off guard. They all bring in an awesome sound, and their singing contributes not just to the soundtrack, but the whole movie. McGregor’s “Better Tomorrows” is really awesome. It almost has a ballad sound, as well as in the big band style. Bradley’s “My Son” is very heartfelt and passionate, and the first time I heard it, I have to admit, I teared up. He puts so much emotion into each word. And Waltz’s “We Were a King Once” has almost a comedic sound to it, and his accent makes it very enjoyable. But the star of this soundtrack is Gregory Mann. His voice is just so youthful and full of joy. He’s able to make you feel so happy, and his range helps with that. He was the perfect pick for Pinocchio. All of his singing adds a great deal of happiness to the music, which only helps give the story a bigger meaning. Overall, Alexandre Desplat wrote one of the best original soundtracks I’ve heard, and I am just blown away. I would highly recommend it to everyone who enjoys beautiful, orchestral music. This soundtrack is officially Berry Approved, so go give it a listen!