The Adventures of Pinocchio

2026 Movie Gauntlet - 97. Watch a childhood favorite

I loved this movie so much as I kid, so I was really excited to find a DVD copy at Half Price Books last year. This particular telling of Pinocchio has never hit streaming as far as I know, and after 30 years it had begun to feel like less like a solid memory in my mind and more like a faraway dream. I’m happy to report that upon rewatch (for me, at least) this whole production is just as charming as I remembered! 

I was genuinely shocked to come on here afterward and see the number of negative reviews people have left about how “disturbed” or “creeped out” this movie makes them feel. It’s a 90s children’s film heavily featuring the work of Jim Henson’s Creature Studio … of course it’s going to be weird! Personally, I think the puppetry employed to bring the wooden version of Pinocchio to life is so endearing and fascinating. In many ways, the effects here were ahead of their time, and I think a lot of them still hold up today. Plus the music in here is really great — I had forgotten! This isn’t a musical, but it does feature a few songs that Stevie Wonder and Brian May wrote and recorded specifically for the project. 

This was an extremely nostalgic watch for me, and it really just reminded me of what a weird little girl I was growing up. And I’m glad for that, because weird child me paved the way for weird grown-up me, whom I love. 😌

2026 Movie Gauntlet - 97. Watch a childhood favorite

I loved this movie so much as I kid, so I was really excited to find a DVD copy at Half Price Books last year. This particular telling of Pinocchio has never hit streaming as far as I know, and after 30 years it had begun to feel like less like a solid memory in my mind and more like a faraway dream. I’m happy to report that upon rewatch (for me, at least) this whole production is just as charming as I remembered! 

I was genuinely shocked to come on here afterward and see the number of negative reviews people have left about how “disturbed” or “creeped out” this movie makes them feel. It’s a 90s children’s film heavily featuring the work of Jim Henson’s Creature Studio … of course it’s going to be weird! Personally, I think the puppetry employed to bring the wooden version of Pinocchio to life is so endearing and fascinating. In many ways, the effects here were ahead of their time, and I think a lot of them still hold up today. Plus the music in here is really great — I had forgotten! This isn’t a musical, but it does feature a few songs that Stevie Wonder and Brian May wrote and recorded specifically for the project. 

This was an extremely nostalgic watch for me, and it really just reminded me of what a weird little girl I was growing up. And I’m glad for that, because weird child me paved the way for weird grown-up me, whom I love. 😌

oh this is a horror film

ranked

oh this is a horror film

ranked

oh this is a horror film

ranked

oh this is a horror film

ranked

BURN HIM! BURN HIM ALIVE!

BURN HIM! BURN HIM ALIVE!

It feels illegal to watch this in any format other than VHS, it has such a specific look and feel of the late 90s, Babe: Pig in the City/Matilda energy, a real delight! I rented a video of this in Skibbereen around 2003 but can't remember if I finished it or got too scared. It is pretty freaky. Rob Schneider fox man included. The puppetry is excellent and the production design rules. Not a fan of Cricket but he doesn't get in the way. Gonna check out a few more Pinocchios this week I think.

It feels illegal to watch this in any format other than VHS, it has such a specific look and feel of the late 90s, Babe: Pig in the City/Matilda energy, a real delight! I rented a video of this in Skibbereen around 2003 but can't remember if I finished it or got too scared. It is pretty freaky. Rob Schneider fox man included. The puppetry is excellent and the production design rules. Not a fan of Cricket but he doesn't get in the way. Gonna check out a few more Pinocchios this week I think.