Pinocchio (1999, VHS)

I often set myself up as being very anti-Disney...and in fact, often describe myself as being so. And yet, some of my fondest childhood memories (back in the days before VCRs, mind you), were going to see the Classic Disney films in the dark theatre with my family, and being astounded at the imaginative and beautiful stories unfolding for me on the big screen. Back then, as many of you will remember, because everyone DIDN'T have copies of all of the Disney flicks in their homes on VHS and DVD, Disney re-released their animated "Classics" about once every seven years, so that each generation of children would have a chance to see them on the big screen AS children, and millions of us grew up with those as some of our first movie memories. Vastly preferable way to experience them than as a "babysitter" that you can just pop into the VCR for the pups--it made them something Special. An Event. What I'm REALLY Anti-Disney about isn't these marvelous classics, but the newer films, where potty humor is substituted for the gentle humor that you could trust your children to watch, and the endless sequelizing and pillaging of their own artistry to give us inferior stories that shouldn't be told. Add to that the Disney Corporation, and I've given up hope on them ever producing anything New for me to enjoy.

I'm old enough, and fortunate enough, that I got to see the classics on the Big Screen, where they were meant to be seen, and I think that's why I love most of the Classics so much. That was my introduction to what is one of Disney's finest projects, and one that I just revisited this last week-- "Pinocchio." This is a classic story, first written by Collodi centuries ago, about the adventures of a marionette-boy who wants nothing more than to become a Real Boy to please his father...but gets tempted and distracted underway. This is one of the first major Disney releases, but the 1940 flick still stands up technically and plotwise as movie to not only watch, but to own.

The story is a classic, and although I've never read the Collodi original (I've checked out from the liberry a few times, but never taken the time to read it), the elements of heroism, hope, magic, redemption, and family are stronger here than in any of the modern Disney library. The heroes, Pinocchio, Jiminy Cricket, and Gepetto, are all pure, innocent, and virtuous, and are willing to go to the ends of the earth and the depths of the ocean for each other. It may be that I'm a new father, but there were points I had tears in my eyes at Gepetto's love for this little puppet boy, and Pinocchio's for his "father." I'm sure a lot of people can read all sorts of religious meaning into this, but I just take it as a new dad who wants his son to be safe and be happy.

There are also very dark elements in this movie, and the villains range from the tongue in cheek Honest John and his sidekick to the more threatening (and downright scary) Stromboli, the terrors of "Pleasure Island" (and Pinocchio's "friend" Lampwick), where boys are captured and turned into jackasses for muleteers. All of these threats escalate, becoming more and more dangerous for Pinocchio, until they culminate in an awesome sea battle with Monstro, an enormous whale that has already swallowed Gepetto and his pets Figaro and Cleo. Pinocchio's bravery in rescuing Gepetto, and his love for his father--his willingness to sacrifice himself for Gepetto, are what redeems Pinocchio, and his wish of becoming a Real Boy is granted by the Blue Fairy.

Cue the tear ducts.

I don't think I had seen this movie in twenty years. I knew I remembered liking it and being terrified by it, but hadn't seen it since I was a pup. If it's been a long time since you really sat down and watched it, I urge you to check it out. Right now it's available on DVD and VHS, but it won't be for much longer. Of course, they'll re-release it someday, but pick it up and sit down with your family and enjoy it. This is quite simply one of the most charming, the most terrifying, most hope-filled....one of the BEST Disney movies, or movies PERIOD out there, and truly deserves it's reputation as a Classic.

Please, Disney Corporation, DON'T make a sequel.