Once upon a time there was...

- 'A king!' my little readers will say at once.
No, children, you are mistaken.
Once upon a time there was a piece of wood.

You might not have guessed it, but these are the opening lines of the classic Carlo Collodi's 1881 tale made famous worldwide by Disney's 1940 cartoon.

This recent remake, while still a work in progress, has proven, thus far, a troubling but well crafted adaptation.



Like in the original tale, the plot involves a wooden puppet named Pinocchio being brought to life by a blue fairy, who tells him he can become a real boy if he proves himself brave, truthful, and able to tell right from wrong by listening to his conscience.



Pinocchio doesn't understand what a conscience is, and Jiminy appears to explain it to him.

However, Pinocchio is led astray by the conniving Honest Joe and Gideon, who convince him to join Stromboli's puppet show instead.



The songs are all memorable and great. My favorites are "Give a little whistle," "When you wish upon a star," and "An actor's life for me."