Blu-ray News and Reviews | High Def Digest
Film & TV All News Blu-Ray Reviews Release Dates News Pre-orders 4K Ultra HD Reviews Release Dates News Pre-orders Gear Reviews News Home Theater 101 Best Gear Film & TV
Blu-Ray : Must Own
Ranking:
Sale Price: $9.93 Last Price: $26.5 Buy now! 3rd Party 24.99 In Stock
Release Date: January 31st, 2017 Movie Release Year: 1940

Pinocchio: The Signature Collection

Overview -

'Pinocchio' is the third title in Disney's "Signature Collection." Portions of this review have been previously published in Peter Bracke's 'Pinocchio':70th Anniversary Edition' review. This new release contains new special features which are detailed in the HD Bonus Content section of this review.

 “Pinocchio” tells the tale of wood-carver Geppetto's beloved puppet who embarks on a thrilling quest – with faithful friend Jiminy Cricket – that tests his bravery, loyalty and honesty, all virtues he must learn to fulfill his heart’s desire: to become a real boy.

 

OVERALL:
Must Own
Rating Breakdown
STORY
VIDEO
AUDIO
SPECIAL FEATURES
Tech Specs & Release Details
Technical Specs:
Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy
Video Resolution/Codec:
1080p/AVC MPEG-4
Length:
88
Aspect Ratio(s):
1.33:1
Audio Formats:
French Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles/Captions:
Spanish Subtitles
Special Features:
Classic Bonus Features – These offerings from prior home entertainment releases include hours of bonus material, such as the making of “Pinocchio,” deleted scenes, sing-alongs, storyboards and theatrical trailers
Release Date:
January 31st, 2017

Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take

Ranking:

I was a strange child... I just never liked Disney animated movies. They scared me, but not for the obvious reasons. I was actually frightened of the happy heroines and dashing princesses -- I couldn't relate to their complete lack of melancholia and ambiguity, nor the storybook world they inhabited. Instead, I loved the villains -- forget the boring Snow White or Cinderella, and give me the Wicked Witch or mean ol' stepsisters any day! So it was the rare Disney movie -- 'Pinocchio' being one of the very few -- that I actually enjoyed, then and now.

On paper, 'Pinocchio' sounds pretty crazy -- surreal, even. It's certainly a far cry from the more banal and traditional (in my opinion) likes of 'Snow White,' which directly preceded 'Pinocchio's release. The story is of a lonely old woodcarver and puppetmaker, Geppetto (voiced by Christian Rub), who one day crafts a marionette he names Pinocchio (Dickie Jones). One bright night, Geppetto wishes upon a star to make Pinocchio a real boy -- only to wake up to find that the Blue Fairy (Evelyn Venable) has granted his desire. But there are a few strings attached -- Pinocchio must act the part of a real boy, by being always honest, selfless, and kind. Pinocchio is also given a friend, a cricket named Jiminy (Cliff Edwards), who will act as his de facto conscience.

'Pinocchio' is far more complex than even this synopsis suggests. Walt Disney was always astute at weaving grand themes into all of his animated classics, but I find 'Pinocchio' more complex and dark than just about any of his other films. 'Pinocchio' veers from the sinister to the scary to the unnerving. Pinocchio will immediately set out on his quest to become a "real boy," leaving him into the hands of two con men (Mel Blanc, Walter Catlett), who promptly sell him to an oily showman, Stromboli (Charles Judels). There, Pinocchio escapes with the help of the Blue Fairy, eventually ending up on a very bizarre place called Pleasure Island, where puppets are transformed into donkeys, and Pinocchio must eventually rescue Geppetto from the belly of a giant whale.

I have to wonder if some of those old Disney folks weren't dropping acid when they came up with this story. Though not as trippy as, say, 'Alice in Wonderland,' there is some true weirdness going on here. I always found the con men to be quite dangerous, far more potentially harmful to Pinocchio in morals and spirit than you would expect in a Disney film. Likewise Pleasure Island, where Pinocchio will learn about harsh adult realities of temptation, corruption, and exploitation. There is so much going on in 'Pinocchio,' both narratively and thematically, that it remains a rich film that far transcends the tag of "family animated entertainment" to reward viewers with something new upon each viewing.

That 'Pinocchio' is also a visual marvel goes without saying. Though perhaps 'Snow White,' 'Fantasia,' and 'Sleeping Beauty' may be more visually spectacular in terms of fantasy and razzle-dazzle, 'Pinocchio' is a true work of art. It's restrained in its use of background, color, and texture -- every shot is a wonder of subtle beauty to behold. Add to that wonderfully memorable characters, swift pacing and emotional depth and resonance, and you have a true masterpiece. Free of the more simplistic schmaltz that mars some Disney classics for me, 'Pinocchio' is among my all-time favorites animated films ever produced by the studio.

The Blu-ray: Vital Disc Stats

'Pinocchio': The Signature Collection comes with a 50GB Region A Blu-ray disc, a DVD, and a download code. They are contained within a standard blue keepcase, which is housed in a slipcase. Previews available are 'Beauty and the Beast' (2017), 'Moana', 'Descendants 2', 'Elena of Avalor', 'Born in China', and an anti-smoking PSA.

Video Review

Ranking:

This is the same video presentation as the 70th Anniversary Edition.

This first-ever high-def presentation of 'Pinocchio' easily blows away any past video version. This is another restoration on par with absolute Disney triumphs such as 'Snow White' -- 'Pinocchio' looks fantastic by any measure for a 70 year-old film. It continues to amaze me how good Disney can make their animated treasures look.

First, the film's color palette -- there's been some controversy that Disney has altered or tweaked the film's original stylistic intent. Comparing this Blu-ray to the previous DVD (not the 70th anniversary edition), the Blu-ray indeed looks less "vibrant," at least in terms of saturation. But the old DVD was plugged up and noisy -- I vastly preferred this version of 'Pinocchio,' which is smoother, cleaner and far more textured. Though there remains some film grain -- thankfully -- there is none of the noise, and colors are far more pleasing and rich. (Disney has made no official comment on any of these online complaints, but I'm certainly happy with the results and will say I think they know what they are doing.)

The remaining aspects of the transfer are exceptional. The quality of the source is terrific seven decades on. Details are sharp and defined, with strong shadow delineation that reveals great fine texture and depth. I saw no obvious print flaws that can plague classic remasters -- there is no discernible variance to contrast, or muddy/fluctuating blacks. Gone is the annoying edge enhancement that crippled the previous DVD, and the lack of noise and artifacts is much welcome. Maybe I was not completely blown away by 'Pinocchio' as I have been by other, revelatory Disney remasters, but that may be more due to 'Pinocchio's lack of visual razzle-dazzle on par with a 'Snow White' or 'Cinderella.' But I can't fault this transfer for that -- it's hard to imagine 'Pinocchio' looking any better than it does here.

Audio Review

Ranking:

This is the same audio presentation as the 70th Anniversary Edition minus the original mono so half a point was deducted.

Disney offers a remixed DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 7.1 Surround track (48kHz/-24-bit). For once, I enjoyed the remix, as it expanded the sonic scope of the film without resorting to an overly processed or artificial feel.

The surrounds are fairly active. I was impressed that effects felt discrete, with a full-bodied dynamic range rare for a remix of this vintage. The rear channels are not always sustained, and minor ambiance is present but strongest with typical score bleed -- but it's still a strong effort. The source has been nicely cleaned-up, too, with no audio dropouts or other anomalies.

I did find the mix still on the brash and bright side -- it's likely thankful that Disney didn't go overboard and whitewash the sound and remove any uniqueness, but this remix still can't quite overcome the limitations of the film's era. But no matter -- 'Pinocchio' sounds very, very good.

Special Features

Ranking:

The extras from previous 'Pinocchio' home-video releases include:

  • Commentary – An enlightening discussion with Leonard Maltin, Eric Goldberg and J. B. Kaufman, minus the Picture-In-Picture option from the 70th Anniversary edition. Some information is repeated with the documentary.
  • Song Selection (HD, 10 min) – - Aka, a karaoke function. Flick it on, and subtitles appear with lyrics for all of the film's songs.
  • No Strings Attached: The Making of Pinocchio (HD, 56 min) – Unfortunately, the effectiveness of this very fine, full-length doc depends upon whether you listen to the commentary. Leonard Maltin, Eric Goldberg, and J. B. Kaufman again appear, as well as other animators and much archival footage of Walt Disney. However, there is additional background on 'Pinocchio' and its development, so this is not an exact replica -- it's worth watching in its own right.
  • Deleted Scenes (HD, 11 min) – This is a treasure trove of lost material and rough footage every Disney fan should see, including an alternate ending, all in storyboard form.
  • The Sweat Box (HD, 6 min) – Short, but intriguing vignette on the legendary Disney screening room called the "Sweat Box" by animators, where they had to go and present their early work and ideas to the man himself, Walt Disney. I'd be sweatin', too.
  • Geppettos Then and Now (HD, 11 min) – Interesting, if a bit thin, featurette on how 'Pinocchio' has helped shaped the history of toymaking
  • Live Action Reference Footage (HD, 10 min) – Produced without sound for Disney animators, it is presented here with narrative to give insight and context.
  • Publicity (SD, 5 min) – Theatrical Trailers from 1940, 1984, and 1992.
  • When You Wish Upon a Star Music Video by Meaghan Jette Martin (HD, 3 min) – Eek! Another Disney Channel songstress gets a promo push by butchering a Disney classic. Smother me now with a poisoned blanket, Jiminy Cricket!
  • A Wish Come True: The Making of 'Pinocchio' (SD, 5 min) – Am all-too-brief look at the film's creation that might as well be skipped after watching the other extras.
  • Storyboard-to-Film Comparison (SD, 4 min) – A side-by-side look at the scene where Geppetto puts the finishing touches on Pinocchio.

'Pinocchio' is one of Disney's animated classics, and tells a timeless tale that will be familiar to just about everyone on the planet. It remains a wistful and poignant film, and if not as flashy as some of Disney's other epics, may be more emotionally direct. This Blu-ray is terrific. The video and audio restoration is topflight, and the extras bountiful.

The new extras aren't enough for a double dip, but if it''s not yet in your Blu-ray collection, it's a must-own.