Author: John Stark

Blogger. EIC of macthemovieguy.com. Contributor to mjsbigblog.com and houseofgeekery.com. Previously featured on starpulse.com.
EditorialLeave a comment

The Small Screen Diaries: 12/16/25

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: The American revolution: S1E3 (PBS) with audio description, Percy Jackson: S2E1 (Disney Plus) with audio description, and Landman: S2E1 (Paramount Plus) with audio description The American Revolution- If you’ve never done Ken Burns before, my God. I feel like I’m getting my learning done. The weird thing is, for a really educational experience, it is somehow entertaining? Even if every episode is really long. The cool kids put this on the PBS app on their phone, and bump up the speed modification. Yeah, I didn’t spend two hours on this, but it was still over an hour. … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 12/16/25

EditorialLeave a comment

Roofman

John Stark

Disclaimer: I’m a blind film critic. In the morning, I’m making waffles. How many McDonald’s do you need to rob in order for Channing Tatum to play you in a film? the answer is, don’t do that. He’s done it once, there’s no reason to believe he’d do it again. Although, this is exactly the kind of role Tatum needs in his life. As he moves more toward being a respected actor, films of note, like Roofman, help give him the kind of status he wants. This is also interestingly a Christmas movie, as it takes place mostly around the … Continue reading Roofman

TV ReviewsLeave a comment

welcome To Dairy: Season 1

John Stark

Disclaimer: I’m a blind film critic. Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of man? Dairy: Population… declining. Andy Muschitti really hit Gold with his remake of It in 2017 and the sequel just two years later. Taking the whole book and splitting it into two chapters, plus casting some wonderfully talented new kids, really paid off for him. As you know, nothing in Dairy ever really stays dead, so warner Bros eventually wanted more of this series, and a prequel was born. It’s a dangerous thing to go back before the thing you created, because it is like … Continue reading welcome To Dairy: Season 1

EditorialLeave a comment

The Small Screen Diaries: 12/15/25

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: It: Welcome To Dairy: S1E8 (HBO MAX) with audio description, Tulsa King: S3E10 (Paramount Plus) with audio description, Nobody Wants this: S2E4 (Netflix) with audio description, Loot: S3E7 (Apple TV) with audio description Welcome To Dairy- This show has been obsessively and graphically violent, very gory, and brilliantly described.My review of it might contain a bit more than this, but the scene with the Principal, for example, had to walk a fine line. It couldn’t reveal the whole thing up front, but it was pretty obvious what it was. They announced the series is getting a physical … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 12/15/25

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Oh, Hi

John Stark

Disclaimer: I’m a blind film critic. As you wish. It’s a pretty simple movie. Oh, Hi feels like the kind of film that could just keep going further and further off the rails, but it stays pretty much on the first new set of tracks it jumps to. one derailment, and then onward. The question is, will anyone find these characters charming? Will anyone root for these crazy kids? I think more couples will be glad this isn’t them. Weighing how much to tell in the review, that is the question. Molly Gordon and Logan lerman play a couple on … Continue reading Oh, Hi

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Predators

John Stark

Disclaimer: I’m a blind film critic. I’m not Chris Hanson. the new Paramount/MTV documentary Predators, which made its debut earlier this year at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival has some questions. But, does it actually answer them? David Osit shines a light on the former pop culture phenomenon that was To Catch A Predator, and while he’s only slightly in his own documentary, he does seem to suggest that perhaps the ends don’t justify the means. In order for there to be a predator, there must be prey. He explores this by getting different sides of the same coin from … Continue reading Predators

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Regretting You

John Stark

Disclaimer: I’m a blind film critic. I don’t know how to quit you. I get it now. Coleen Hoover is Nicholas Sparks. They stopped adapting every one of Sparks’s novels, so he decided to become Colleen Hoover. Either that, or Hoover only read one novelist, and it’s showing. I know critics have not been kind to this, but it is really hard to do that. Full disclosure, Paramount gifted me a digital copy. It did nothing to sway my opinion, but it saved me either a rental, or waiting for Paramount Plus. I don’t see me rewatching this, but I’d … Continue reading Regretting You

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Black Phone 2

John Stark

Disclaimer: I’m a blind film critic.You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain. Not to brag, but I’m a pretty big fan of the first Black Phone film. It was in my Top 10 of 2022, and I believe I had Mason Thames and Scott Derickson in my top 10 for both Actor and Director. I wasn’t a big fan of horror before losing my sight, but The Black Phone is certainly one of the films that I’m glad I got to experience, because I don’t know if I would have otherwise. Probably, … Continue reading Black Phone 2

EditorialLeave a comment

The Small Screen Diaries: 12/14/25

John Stark

I’m shocked and horrified this morning at the senseless murder of Rob and Michelle Reiner. An unbelievable tragedy. TV Shows: The Chair Company: S1E5 (HBO MAX) with audio description, Splinter Cell: Deathwatch: S1E5 (Netflix) with audio description, Devil In Disguise: S1E3 (Peacock) with audio description, and Starting Five: S2E? (Netflix) with audio description The Chair Company- I still don’t love the show, but it has some darkly comedic beats that work for it. They did bring up ADA requirements this episode, though I think the best gag was the joke where the character talked about arriving for a job, and … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 12/14/25

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Going In Blind: the Last Republican

John Stark

Disclaimer: I’m a blind film critic, and the director of Hot Tub Time Machine didn’t put audio description on this. Perhaps, it is time to use that machine, and go back and add the description? What happens when a liberal democrat makes a documentary about a conservative republican? In these times, in this political climate, I’m sure the mountain felt a lot steeper to climb. Even being able to have any kind of conversation or discourse when we’ve never been so divided. But, Steve Pink decided to follow adam kenzinger around for his final days in Congress, and document how … Continue reading Going In Blind: the Last Republican

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

The Family Plan 2

John Stark

Disclaimer: I’m a blind film critic. Where we’re going, we don’t need roads. I’m in the middle of Oscar season, and I know you want this review. The first film set a record at the time for Apple, and I had to review that. I wasn’t a fan. Still, I find myself, as many do, with giant men, tears streaming down their eyes, saying “Sir. Could you please review the family Plan 2?” I aim to please. I’m not sure this film does, but I do. Mark Wahlberg, who has abandoned all hope of being a big screen star, returns … Continue reading The Family Plan 2

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Going In Blind: Lilly

John Stark

Disclaimer: I’m a blind film critic, and to the best of my knowledge, this film does not have audio description. It’s that time of year when I’m getting a barrage of screeners. Everyone wants awards attention and votes. I had to take the time out when a rep offered me Lilly, because it stars Patricia clarkson. I knew nothing. I didn’t IMDb the film until after. then, I saw this thing is just floating on Netflix. It just has such a low profile, I’m not sure anyone noticed. When I asked my Alexa device about it, she thought first I … Continue reading Going In Blind: Lilly

Editorial, Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Going In Blind: tapawingo

John Stark

Disclaimer: I’m a blind film critic. I typically watch films with audio description. There is no known description for this film. The audacity. I often just get a screener, and I watch it. I don’t always get press notes, and i don’t always know what I’m watching. So, I got Tapawingo, and jumped in figuring it needed my consideration at this time of year. I found myself sitting there, wondering in 2025 who would have the audacity. It isn’t just one audacious item either. there’s first the audacity of making this film, and it being basically “What if Drillbit Taylor … Continue reading Going In Blind: tapawingo

EditorialLeave a comment

The Small Screen Diaries: 12/13/25

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: Boots: S1E? (Netflix) with audio description, The Diplomat: S3E2 (NEtflix) with audio description,The Beatles Anthology: S1E2 (Disney Plus) with audio description, Elzabeth: S3E? (Paramount Plus) with audio description Boots- I’m loving this. I hope Netflix gives it another season. This episode, for anyone wondering where I am, had Ray find out what Cameron did “for him”, and the gang gets to watch Ghostbusters II. One of the recruits exits the show. Nice audio description. They do a lot with Cameron, and his inner thought personified, and the description around that is handled well in what could be … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 12/13/25

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

The Roses

John Stark

Disclaimer: I’m a blind film critic, and you can’t handle the truth. We just have to remake things. it’s this compulsion we have in Hollywood, to not let any franchise die, even if there is no franchise. It’s why we have so many variations on An Affair To Remember and The shop Around The Corner. Here, the nod is deliberate, though the film is nothing like its predecessor. It was disappointing to see Jay Roach as the director here, because he’s fared much better in comedy.here, it feels like he’s not really sure what is funny anymore, so he recruited … Continue reading The Roses