Author: John Stark

Blogger. EIC of macthemovieguy.com. Contributor to mjsbigblog.com and houseofgeekery.com. Previously featured on starpulse.com.
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The Small Screen Diaries- 03./22/24

John Stark

We’re gonna be famous 5 ever, cause forever’s too short. I know Community talked a lot about six seasons and a movie, but what makes sense to me is that Girls5Eva (Netflix) gets to Season 5. This new season is amazing, hilarious, and I love that even though they were on a streaming service before, they still feel like they have more creative control on Netflix. I think the show actually got better. Netflix, please, renew this. I think I’m now one episode away from the finale of Halo (Paramount Plus), as Master Chief could have killed the new guy … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 03./22/24

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June

John Stark

Now, this film i do remember. It was a perfectly fine look at June Carter Cash. Of course, it’s impossible to mention her without mentioning Johnny Cash, but it does really aim to center on her, her career before Johnny, and her continued contribution to music until her death. This is on Paramount Plus, and the audio description is solid for a documentary. There were things I learned about June, including her version of Ring Of Fire that Johnny really turned into his own thing. She appeared in the movie The Apostle, and this has quite a bit of her … Continue reading June

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Boscoe

John Stark

You’ll have to excuse me once again as I catch up on the forgettable start to 2024. With this film, I even commented in my YouTube review how I was certain there was no way I would remember this film at the end of the year. Every year, I look at my list of nearly 300 titles reviewed, and there are 1-3 movies I can’t remember what they were about, who was in them, what streaming service they were on… anything. there is a slight chance, because her career has been almost non-existent that I will remember Nikki blown sky … Continue reading Boscoe

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The Small Screen Diaries- 03/21/24

John Stark

Lots of TV news to start the day. NBC has predictably ordered new seasons for all three Chicago shows, as well as two of the three Law and Order shows. This time, Organized Crime has been left on the bubble.Meanwhile, over at Peacock, the streamer has reversed its decision to do a second season of Butkus. Honestly, I’m not sure how much Joe Pesci wanted to really do another season, and he was the best part about that show. So, I’m not mad. I wouldn’t have watched a second season without joe. Netflix just launched their high profile Three Body … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 03/21/24

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Good Grief

John Stark

The first official 2024 film reviewed by me, and I saw it two months ago. I would love to be able to say that I remember this film well enough to comment on it in great detail, but sadly this writer/directorial feature debut from Dan Levy is so deeply forgettable. I know he plays a man who finds out his husband had some secrets after his husband dies, and he is trying to navigate the process with two friends who are unnecessary and annoying. I remember originally recording this review for YouTube, and commenting even then that I would be … Continue reading Good Grief

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The Small Screen Diaries- 03/20/24

John Stark

All I wanna do is talk about X-Men 97 (Disney Plus), and how the little kid in me who used to watch the X-Men animated series in the mornings and played with action figures, had the comics, and even trading cards, was so happy to see someone attempt to bring this magic back. The original series was great because it featured so many characters from over the years, and felt like it was right out of the comics. This has some original voice cast, for Storm, Wolverine, and Beast, and adds some new members to the team, with Morph and … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 03/20/24

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The Top 25 Films Of 2023

John Stark

Belated, I know, but I’ve rolled out many of my top or best of lists of 2023. I’ve seen almost 300 films released in 2023, which is about the same as last year. It includes an array of streaming titles, shorts, and features intended for theatrical release. So, what is below, is actually a Top 50. Since you all waited so nicely, and without complaint, I broadened the list. You get the usual Top 25, but 25 more titles that just missed the cut. Without further ado, here are my Top 50 films of the year. (All titles have audio … Continue reading The Top 25 Films Of 2023

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The Prince Of Egypt: The Musical

John Stark

I do like to review something occasionally from Broadway HD, hoping that they eventually prioritize accessibility. I’m not targeting just them. I review stuff from Starz, CrunchyRoll, AMC Plus, and plenty of stuff on other streamers that doesn’t have a track made available to us. But, Broadway HD happens to be showing live theatre, which has actually come a long way in providing live audio description. So, figure it out. Yes, there’s a live stage adaptation of the Dreamworks Animation, which seems like a long time coming. it has been workshopped before. A few years back, it almost got off … Continue reading The Prince Of Egypt: The Musical

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The Color Purple (2023)

John Stark

I actually did a collaborative review the first time, and gave my thoughts on both versions of The Color Purple. At the time, what I had of the remake did not have audio description, and MAX still carries the original without accessibility. However, I did rewatch The Color Purple, when I was later provided audio description, so I wanted to make an official review and grade. No longer will I recognize it as being unwatchable. I adore this remake, and Danielle Brooks is just on fire. I think she’s a tremendous talent, but there’s so much of that on display. … Continue reading The Color Purple (2023)

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The Small Screen Diaries- 03/19/24

John Stark

Not surprising at all, but CBS will continue to air its Australian import, NCIS: Sydney for its second season, despite already having two NCIS shows, and currently in development on two more. Fun fact, this entire franchise only exists thanks to a series being rescued from cancellation. Possibly the smartest “save our show” ever has turned out to be CBS picking up JAG after it was cancelled at NBC after one season. Without that, they wouldn’t have had the long and successful run of the original show, nor would they have NCIS, NCIS Los Angeles, NCIS New Orleans, NCIS Hawaii, … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 03/19/24

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Retribution

John Stark

Liam Neeson is a man with a very particular set of skills. Skills that he has gathered over a long period of time, or at least since 2008 when he made Taken. Now, he’s in so many low budget action thrillers you can be forgiven for forgetting this man played Oskar Schindler. Yes, Liam Neeson was the star of Steven Spielberg’s iconic Schindler’s List. In Retribution, which Starz provided without audio description (lack of accessibility is kind of their thing), Neeson plays a man who has a family, gets in a car, and is trapped in a scenario where he … Continue reading Retribution

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Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom

John Stark

There was a little conversation around making a film in a studio system with influence, and how Madame Webb likely had a solid creative team but Sony interfered and made shit. That conversation, for some reason, did not happen for Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom, a film do inconsequential, Warner Bros opened it the same weekend as two other Warner Bros titles (Wonka and The color Purple). Had they believed this sequel had gas in the tank, doing so for three recognizable franchise films over Christmas is insane. Even in a slower market affected by the strike, you are still … Continue reading Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom

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The Small Screen Diaries- 03/18/24

John Stark

The Girls On The Bus (MAX) still seems to be wandering a bit as a show tonally. Maybe it just can’t find the right lane, but it feels so much like the team that was behind the The Sex Lives Of College Girls is making this show. It’s just in the way it is being presented, as something meant to be so broad it could reach anyone, while it also really ends up reaching no one. The audio description is really light, which while it is good audio description, doesn’t help the show when it tries to have a moment … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 03/18/24

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Poor Things

John Stark

To put it mildly, this is the performance of Emma Stone’s career. I actually think she transcends this film. poor Things is a wild and crazy ride, one that absolutely needs audio description if you are blind or visually impaired. this feels like a visual stunner, something you feel through the outstanding audio description this track does really well. I actually bought a digital copy of this, but it is also currently available on Hulu. Emma Stone plays Bella Baxter, a woman who we see commits suicide at the top of the film. However, her body is still pretty undamaged, … Continue reading Poor Things

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The Hill

John Stark

Sadly, Netflix did not have an available audio description track for this at the time of my viewing, so this inspirational Dennis Quaid baseball drama is going to get the grade it gets. In general, 2023 produced a few well made faith based films that had some money thrown behind them. I’ve seen a lot of sub par ones like Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas that seem like they are barely films. The hill tells the true story of a kid who is born with skeletal problems, and spends his time in a brace. He loves baseball, and he wants to … Continue reading The Hill