The Adventures of Pinocchio (1996)

27% of critics liked it
(15 reviews)
33% of users liked it
(9,655 ratings)

Unlike the more familiar animated Pinocchio by Disney, there are no song interludes here, and characters added to the story by Disney (such as Jiminy Cricket) are not included. Producer Francis Ford Coppola and director Steve Barron, (known for the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film) closely… More Unlike the more familiar animated Pinocchio by Disney, there are no song interludes here, and characters added to the story by Disney (such as Jiminy Cricket) are not included. Producer Francis Ford Coppola and director Steve Barron, (known for the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film) closely adhere to Carlo Collodi's 1883 novel and use the visually timeless setting of a Czechoslovakian village. Jim Henson's puppet studio skillfully brings this Pinocchio to life. Long ago, in his youth, Gepetto (Martin Landau) loved but did not court Leona (Genvieve Bujold), who married Gepetto's brother instead. In that earlier time, he carved her initials with his onto a tree. Now his brother is dead, and though he still feels for Leona, he is still too shy to woo her. Instead, the old puppet-maker goes into the forest and cuts down a tree in order to make a puppet just for himself. The tree is the same one he carved his initials into when he was younger, and it has the magic of his love in it. Soon after the puppet Pinocchio is made, he comes to life. Aside from being made of wood, he begins to live the life of a perfectly normal little boy. He even goes to school. Lorenzini, an evil magician who runs a children's puppet show, hears of Pinocchio and wants to use him in his show. Lorenzini lures children to his show, only to later turn them into donkeys. Donkeys are useful creatures, and Lorenzini makes a lot of money selling them. Through many trials and tribulations, the puppet-boy earns the right to become the human boy Pinocchio (Jonathan Taylor Thomas). ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Steve Barron
Written By: Sherry Mills, Steve Barron, Tom Benedek, Barry Berman
Genres: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Kids & Family

In Theaters: Jul 26, 1996 Wide
On DVD: Sep 30, 1997
Studio: New Line Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Andy Seiler, USA Today
It's the woodsy children's movie Walt Disney didn't want to make: chockablock with mischievous mayhem and light on the sap.
Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed
A bland reworking of the classic tale
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Far from Disney, but still quite charming
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Borderline-creepy live-action adaptation.
Steve Rhodes, Internet Reviews
If there is a single reason why this version works so well, it has to be the design of the visual effects (Angus Bickerton) for Pinocchio.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Michael E

The puppetry is some of the best ive ever seen in a film, well it was made by the Jim Henson workshop
Jeremy S

This movie is a travesty. A piece of the original Pinocchio died with the creation of this film.
Coxxie M

...........................thank you that is all.
Wahida K

This is a beautiful Pinochio Movie. It makes you gasp, lol, and smile at the end.
Lafe F

A quality live-action telling of the Pinocchio story with a real puppet as Pinocchio and Martin Landau as Gepetto. It's very imaginative with nice visuals. I think they did it really well for an enjoyable movie.
George R

It's beyond the Disney classic, & it's creepy-as hell. But it was a little entertaining for me when I was a kid.
Sunil J

Really bad. Jonathan Taylor Thomas should have been aborted.

Read all 7 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Martin Landau as Geppetto

            Jonathan Taylor Thomas as Pinocchio

            Geneviève Bujold as Leona

            Corey Carrier as Lampwick

            Teco Celio as Henchman

            Kevin Dorsey as Boy

            David F. Doyle as Pepe

            Jean-Claude Dreyfus as Foreman

            Jean-Claude Drouot as Magistrate

            Dawn French as Baker's wife

            Griff Rhys Jones as Tino

            Udo Kier as Lorenzini

            Bebe Neuwirth as Felinet

            Rob Schneider as Volpe

            John Sessions as Schoolmaster

            Jan Slovák as Butler

            Anita Zagaria as Luigi's Wife

            Jiri Kvasnicka as Cabineer

            Zdenek Podhursky as Cabineer

            Vaclav Vydra as Infantino Father

            Wilfred Benaiche as Henchman

            Richard Claxton as Saleo

            Marcello Magni as Baker

            Thomas Orange as Boy

            Daniela Tolkien as Lampwick's Mother

            Erik Averlont as Zito

            Oliver Barron as Boy

            Petr Bednar as Growling Father

            Dean Cook as Boy With Red Ball

            Jake Court as Boy

            Luke DeLeon as Boy

            Paavel Koci as Puppeteer

            Vladimir Koval as Luigi

            Gorden Lovitt as Big One Attendant

            Lilian Malkina as Woman In Laundry

            Jiri Patocka as Man With Donkey

            Joe Swash as Fighting Boy

            Lida Vlaskova as Woman In Bakery

            Stefan Weclawek as Infantino

            Sean Woodward as Boy

            David Doyle
            
See full cast