Pinocchio in Outer Space

Rating:
Summary: Much better than the title might suggest
Review: Admittedly, it was an unlikely decision to combine the familiar fairy tale with a space travel backdrop, but for whatever reason, it works for me. This is a very worthy sequel/remake of the classic Disney film, and a delightful addition to anyone's collection of animated features.
The plot is predictable to anyone who has ever seen or read the tale of Pinocchio, but that does not detract from the enjoyment of viewing if you can remember a couple of things: First, this is a children's film, and second, it should not be compared to the Disney feature. The first few minutes of the film involve the Blue Fairy telling how Pinocchio has been turned back into a puppet after misbehaving, setting up the story for our hero to redeem himself once again. The rest of the film follows all of the familiar plot elements of the original, only with an outer space setting. There are several cute songs, and the animation is very well done, revealing production values much higher than might be expected. In fact, this film was in production for four years.
The DVD is impressive, with an excellent transfer of the film, which has apparently been restored. The color is vibrant, and there are no scratches or flaws to speak of. Extra features include a deleted prolog, which is actually educational for younger viewers, in fact the film has quite a few astronomical facts mixed in with the fantasy. The director's commentary is lightweight, but enjoyable. This seems appropriate, since the film never takes itself too seriously.
I was pleasantly surprised that such pains were taken to bring this film to DVD, because I always thought that I was the only one who treasured it as a classic. I would recommend this to anyone who has young children, and those who love well done animated features.

Rating:
Summary: Bad Movie Can Be Guilty Pleasure????
Review: Have you ever seen a children's movie with an atomic explosion?? This is the reason that there is Monstro, a flying killer whale on the loose in outer space. Well, Pinocchio comes back to save the world from this gigantic beast. The animators from this film come from Belgium, as you can tell by the credits which have mostly foreign names on its rosters. They were probably rejects from Disney or Hanna-Barbera because the animation is truly abyssmal. (...) It sports some fairly innoculous songs which leave the show when we meet "Nertle the Twertle" (...)

Rating:
Summary: Antiseptic reworking of a classic tale!
Review: I last saw this French/English animated film in 2000 on VHS. The copy is good, but I need to buy a new copy. The storyline follows familiar ground with a twist. Pinocchio goes into space to battle Monstro, the space-whale who threatens to destroy the earth. Our hero is helped by Nurtle the space turtle and the power of hypnotism, which Pinocchio thinks he has mastered. The songs are cute, but forgettable, our wooden friend is now blonde, but Gepetto, the fox and the cat and the good fairy return. The video is good clean fun and a family treat. I hope to get my kids to sit down and watch the film with me. It is safe and entertaining.

Rating:
Summary: I was picked up by the police after seeing this movie!
Review: Ok, it wasn't all that serious. I was 6. My best boyfriend, Lee, and I were dropped off at the movie theatre in Beacon N.Y. by my mother (remember the days when mothers dropped off their 6-year olds at the movies? Actually, I have no good explanation why she did that. She never did it again, in any case.)

All I remember about the movie was that I saw it. Hey, that is a lot for a 6-year old on her first real date. Anyhow, we got out of the theatre and stood there alone, two little tots on Main Street, and no sign of Mom and the white T-bird. Suddenly, a cop car pulls up and these GIGANTIC men (policemen) told us to get in the car! I was terrified and was sure that we were going to jail. I remember the police station: the very, very high counter, way above my head where the desk seargent sat, some very gigantic wooden armchairs where we sat and waited until it was our turn to go to jail!

Of course, Mom showed up and acted like everything was hunky-dory. That was the weird part. In my memory, she didn't even act surprised. And how did she know to find us there?

Lee Stevens, the cute boy with pink glasses, moved away and we never again had a date or played together with his G.I. Joes. But we share the special memory of being picked up by the police (for what? loitering?) in 1964 after seeing "Pinocchio in Outer Space".