Pinocchio Unstrung Review: Glorious B-Movie Chaos with a Surprising Heart

If you know anything about my taste in cinema, you know that Robert Englund is royalty in my book. Wes Craven’s New Nightmare holds the top spot as my absolute favorite movie of all time, and I still have vivid, incredibly fond memories of sitting in a packed theater back in the day to watch Freddy vs. Jason. So when I saw Englund himself post about Pinocchio Unstrung on Facebook, I hesitated for zero seconds. Any chance to see a brand-new Robert Englund movie on the big screen in theaters is an immediate, non-negotiable ticket purchase for me.

Going into it, I expected campy fun, but I didn’t expect just how thoroughly entertained I’d be.

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The Odyssey (2026) Review: Great Epic, Flawed Nolan

I finally made it out to my local AMC to catch Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey in Dolby Cinema, and after sitting with it for a bit, I’ve got some thoughts.

First off, let’s get the big verdict out of the way: it’s a great movie, and it really is something everyone should see at least once. When Nolan takes on a mythic story on this scale, the sheer ambition on screen demands to be witnessed in a theater setting.

That said, my experience came with a few interesting surprises—and a couple of caveats.

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Wisdom of Happiness Review: Inside the New Dalai Lama Documentary

Every so often, a film comes along that doesn’t just entertain you—it quietens the noise of the modern world and completely resets your perspective.

Directors Barbara Miller and Philip Delaquis, along with Executive Producers Richard Gere and Oren Moverman, have delivered something truly extraordinary with Wisdom of Happiness: A Heart-to-Heart with the Dalai Lama.

Having watched my fair share of spiritual and philosophical documentaries over the years, I can say without hesitation that this is easily the most profound and impactful documentary I’ve ever seen featuring the Dalai Lama. I was so deeply moved by the experience that I immediately pre-ordered a digital copy the moment the credits rolled.

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The Invite Review: The Funniest Movie of the Year

I am still recovering from a Saturday night at the theater, and honestly, my ribs might be bruised from laughing so hard. The Invite is an absolute riot.

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Why Young Washington Completely Blindsided Me (In the Best Way)

If you know anything about my usual taste in movies, Young Washington isn’t typically the kind of film I’d see. Historical biopics can easily feel dry, stuffy, or like a glorified history lecture, so it’s usually a genre I skip. But I decided to give this one a shot anyway, and honestly, it completely exceeded my expectations.

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A 90s Kid’s Review of the New Pixar Film

There is a distinct, surreal kind of vertigo that comes with being a parent and sharing the defining pop culture touchstones of your own youth with your child. I vividly remember growing up in the mid-1990s, completely spellbound by a groundbreaking little movie called Toy Story and spending hours playing the tie-in video game on the Super Nintendo with my cousins. Fast forward to this past week, and my wife and I found ourselves walking into a theater—holding the hand of our own three-year-old son to see Toy Story 5. It is an incredibly cool, full-circle moment, even if it does make me feel incredibly old.

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I Went into ‘Obsession’ (2026) Expecting Nothing. I Walked Out Having Seen the Best Movie of the Year.

Let me preface this by saying I am completely burnt out on modern horror trailers. They either give away the entire plot in two minutes or compile every single jump scare into a neat little montage, leaving absolutely nothing for the actual theater experience.

So, when the buzz around Obsession started getting dangerously loud, I made a conscious choice to tune it out. I didn’t read the synopses. I didn’t look at the deep-dive theories. All I knew was that both hardcore horror fans and notoriously stiff critics were losing their minds over it. I watched just enough of the trailer—maybe thirty seconds—to confirm the vibes were immaculate, bought my ticket, and walked into the theater with absolutely zero expectations.

What I wound up watching completely shattered me.

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A New Shade of Heroism: My Review of ‘Supergirl’ (2026)

When James Gunn’s Superman hit theaters last summer, it felt like a breath of fresh air. It was optimistic, colorful, and pointed toward a bright future for the new DC Universe (as I wrote in my review of the 2025 Superman movie). Naturally, I went into the new Supergirl movie wondering if we were going to get a carbon copy of that specific tone.

Instead, this film carves out a completely distinct identity—and it really works.

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Why The Death of Robin Hood Is the Most Unique Adaptation Yet

If you read my recent post defending the 2018 Robin Hood reboot, you already know that I am a massive fan of the legendary outlaw. I’m not a folklore purist; I don’t need every adaptation to strictly copy traditional tales. From movies and books to the tremendous new TV show currently airing on MGM+, I can always find something to enjoy in every interpretation of the character. I love seeing how different creators spin the mythos.

But nothing could have fully prepared me for the emotional gut-punch of The Death of Robin Hood starring Hugh Jackman.

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Why The Expendables Are the Ultimate “Turn Your Brain Off” Blast

Let’s be honest for a second. Sometimes, you don’t want a deeply complex psychological thriller that makes you question the meaning of existence. Sometimes, you don’t want a slow-burning indie drama that leaves you staring at a blank screen in existential dread.

Sometimes, you just want to see a building explode while a 1980s action icon delivers a corny one-liner.

That is exactly why I will always defend The Expendables franchise. As a massive fan of these films, a huge part of my love comes down to two absolute legends: Sylvester Stallone and Jet Li. Stallone is the mastermind behind this entire glorious madness, assembling the ultimate action-movie Avengers. And Jet Li? The man is a human lightning bolt, bringing incredible martial arts precision to the heavy-artillery chaos.

The secret to enjoying this series is simple: don’t take them too seriously. If you walk into these movies expecting grounded realism, you’re doing it wrong. They are an unapologetic throwback to the golden age of action—loud, over-the-top, and an absolute blast.

With four movies now in the books, let’s break down the franchise, movie by movie, to see how this wild ride evolves.

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