As a child I quite liked Danny Kaye and by extension the Kaye persona given that they were one and the same. On the other hand I never liked Norman Wisdom who traded on essentially the same persona albeit with an English accent. In other words it took several films/years for me to develop the cynicism necessary to realize that Kaye was deliberately manipulating his audiences, confident of charming his way past hearts hardened against a patina of childish innocence crossed with cute whilst in Wisdom's case I was on to it from his first film. Roberto Begnini is a natural successor to Kaye and in Pinnochio he has thrown down a gauntlet that demands an unrealistic suspension of disbelief way beyond what the average playwright and/or scenarist asks of his audience. In short, at the age of fifty he is playing a puppet and not, of course, just any puppet but one that is in Italy virtually sacred and beloved the world over. As a student of irony it has not escaped me that Kaye enjoyed one of his biggest successes via Bopo The Puppet but even Kaye was content to leave it at the three minutes playing time of the average 78 rpm record rather than two hours playing time on screen. Many viewers have commented favorably on the sumptuous sets, costumes and special effects and I am happy to endorse those opinions albeit noting that they overshadow rather than complement the performances. Begnini seems bent on becoming an Italian Bryan Forbes in writing leading roles for his actress wife, Nicoletta Braschi, that she is unable to perform other than at a basic level of competence and this film is no exception saddling her as he does with the principal role of the beautiful fairy who mentors Pinnochio and grooms him to become a boy. On balance an honorable failure.

First thing I did was to erase from my head the version of the puppet that was created by the Disney factory. Then I had to struggle to admit old Roberto as a kid, and his wife as a fairy, but now I am old enough to admit both licenses, especially from someone who did something as silly as "La vita è bella". But most of all, I had to have a bigger, harder struggle to take off those stupid glasses we wear more often than not, to see everything through Hollywood eyes. And there I was: watching an Italian film about an Italian puppet, based on an Italian book, with an old Italian clown in the main role, done with a lot of affection, with great cinematography by Spinetti, and great art work by Donati, to whom the film is dedicated... I enjoyed it very much, and even if it is hated by almost anybody that saw it, I still would recommend it to my dearest friends.

this is a wonderful film but to feel that way maybe it helps to be Italian. the style is pure bernigni and typically Italian. i don't think this can translate very well for waspy Americans - only because of style. but for italians and especially those with naughty boys it is charming and highly recommended. i feel this film is closer to the real character of pinocchio rather than the Disney version. if you do not speak Italian or understand the culture - you are missing something too important to enjoy it fully. everything important has been said. but the guidelines for comment require ten lines. so, the costumes are magic. the actors are expressive. very entertaining for italians with children.

Roberto Benigni's film adaption is not the disaster that many have said it is, if you watch it in Italian. I can only imagine what sort of horror show the English dub is since much of the charm is based upon the right voices with the right faces, in particular Benigni, who can get away with murder simply because he's so charming. The film is technically brilliant with the pieces better than the whole, this is a film that has shots you'll want to hang on the wall, I love to just look at the film.The problem is the film is very quirky. I am a fan of Benigni, but not his films. He is very idiosyncratic and the films he directs tend to be extensions of his personality which is somewhere off center. I think this is the reason he hasn't really crossed over here in the US, he makes such odd films. Life is Beautiful is almost a normal film for him. The comedy is funny but rather odd, Gepetto's concern about his wig and the scene where the boys are trying to be nonchalant about the donkey ears are funny but out of another film.If you want to see a well made but slightly off center film I recommend the film, but in Italian.