Pinocchio

You've probably never seen a Pinocchio who dances for Mussolini, but Guillermo del Toro's dark, stirring, yet life-affirming take on the classic tale of the puppet who becomes a real boy has more in common with Pan's Labyrinth and The Shape of Water...

As beautiful as del Toro’s Pinocchio is in design and conceit—the curved ridges on Geppetto’s beard alone are a wonder—the film never quite gains the intended emotional power.

Del Toro's re-imagining of the Pinocchio story is not for the youngest kids, but anyone interested in what happens when a brilliant filmmaker takes on classic material will find a lot to admire.

It’s opulent and imperfect at the same time, like a narrative Rube Goldberg machine.