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: 08/09/25

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: Outlander: Blood of My Blood: s1E1 (Starz) no audio description, Wednesday: S2E4 (Netflix) with audio description, Foundation: S3E5 (Apple Plus) with audio description, Washington Black: S1E4 (Hulu) with audio description I also crammed in a Leanne Morgan comedy special on Netflix to get a better idea of her schtick, since her series doesn’t know what to do with her. And, I once again considered revival, but they haven’t added audio description to the next episode, so I’m in a standoff. It’s a standoff that is close to me giving up and throwing up a review on Rotten … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 08/09/25

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Going In Blind: Things Like This

John Stark

Cast: Max Talisman Joey Pollari, Charlie Tahan, Jackie Cruz, Eric Roberts, Written and Directed By: Max Talisman Release Year: 2025 Runtime: 99 minutes There is no known audio description for this title in existence. What is it?: Two guys named Zack meet and fall in love, but things get complicated, as their worlds lash, and they ponder how weird it is to date someone with the same name as you. One is a writer, the other a burgeoning talent manager. Can they find love in a film without audio description? What Works: OK. This is super indie. Eric Roberts is … Continue reading Going In Blind: Things Like This

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Billy Joel: And So It Goes

John Stark

Directed By: Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin Studio/Streamer: HBO MAX Release Year: 2025 Length: 2 episodes Audio Description Provided By: Written by: Narrated By: What is it? An intimate look at the piano man himself, Billy Joel, from obscurity to legend, tackling all life offered along the way, from failed relationships to once in a lifetime opportunities. Maybe, he did start the fire after all. What Works: I didn’t realize how much i loved Billy Joel until I watched this. There’s even a moment, where Joel reflects on his failed relationships, and muses if he’ll be alone in his elder … Continue reading Billy Joel: And So It Goes

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Sunday Best: The Untold Story Of Ed Sullivan

John Stark

Featuring (as themselves): Ed Sullivan, Smokey Robinson, Harry Belafonte, James Brown, The Jackson 5, The Beatles, Diahann Carroll, Nat King Cole, Sammy Davis Jr, Johnny Carson, Gladys Knight, Elvis Presley, and many more. Directed By: Sacha Jenkins Studio/Streamer: Netflix Release Year: 2025 runtime: 90 minutes Audio Description produced By: International Digital Center Written By: Valerie Hunter Narrated By: What is it?: The Ed Sullivan Show used to be the bees knees. It was a groundbreaking program that launched the career of many musicians, turning mild mannered Ed Sullivan into a TV icon. Families across the country tuned in to see … Continue reading Sunday Best: The Untold Story Of Ed Sullivan

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The Small Screen Diaries: 08/08/25

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: Wednesday: S2E3 (Netflix) with audio description, Twisted Metal: S2E2 (Peacock) with audio description, The Wonderfully weird World Of Gumball: S1E3 (Hulu) with audio description, Leanne: S1E5 (Netflix) with audio description, Dan Da Dan: S1E1 (Netflix) no audio description, South Park: S27E2 (Paramount Plus) no audio description, Match Game: S?E3 (Hulu) with audio description Wednesday- the camp episode was perfect. The only thing missing were some direct references to Addams Family Values. I forgot to mention that Christopher Lloyd made his voice available in the previous episode, and a cameo from either David Krumholtz or Christine Baranski would … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 08/08/25

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The Pickup

John Stark

Cast: Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Keke Palmer, Eva Longoria, Andrew Dice Clay, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Roman Reigns, Marshawn Lynch Written By: Matt Mider and Kevin Burrows Directed By: Tim Story Studio: Amazon/MGM Release Year: 2025 Runtime: 94 minutes Audio Description Produced By: The Media Access Group at WGBH Written By: Directed By: What Is it? Two security truck drivers (Murphy/Davidson) contend with a smart villain (Palmer) intent on taking their truck. But the reason, and what she really wants, is a lot more than they expected. What Works: Some would argue that Eddie Murphy works, but I’d argue Keke Palmer … Continue reading The Pickup

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Opus

John Stark

Cast: Ayo edebiri, John Malkovich, Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, Melissa Chambers, Tony Hale, Amber Midthunder Written and Directed By: Mark Anthony Green Studio: A24 Release Year: 2025 Runtime: 104 Minutes Audio Description produced By: Deluxe Written By: Narrated by: Laura Post What Is It?: A young writer (Edebiri) has the opportunity to join other music journalists at the cult-like retreat of an aged rock star (Malkovich), who has reportedly recorded his first new music in years. Although, the opportunity may seem too good to pass up, the little oddities keep popping up, and quickly she begins to wonder if the … Continue reading Opus

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The Small Screen Diaries: 08/07/25

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: Wednesday: S2E2 (Netflix) with audio description, Chief Of War: S1E2 (Apple plus) with audio description, The Buccaneers: S2E3 (Apple plus) with audio description, Hitmakers: S1E1 (Netflix) with audio description, countdown: S1E7 (Amazon) with audio description, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire: S4E3 (Hulu) with audio description Wednesday: Frankie Corzo is doing a great job narrating this season. I think her tone matches this quirky horror comedy quite well. It’s still a great track. the second episode feels really long. I almost wonder if Wednesday wouldn’t benefit from having more episodes with shorter runtimes? It does feel like … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 08/07/25

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Friendship

John Stark

Cast: Tim Robinson, Paul Rudd, Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer, Josh Segarra Directed By: Andrew DeYoung Studio: A24 Release Year: 2025 Runtime: 97 minutes Rated R Audio Description Produced By: Deluxe Written By: Narrated By: William Michael Redman What Is it?:An obnoxious human being (Robinson) meets his new neighbor (Rudd), and after a night of seemingly enjoyable shenanigans, ends up taking their friendship way too far. What Works: Paul Rudd is perfectly cast here, and helps balance out the film. he’s just so intensely genial that everyone can easily get along with him. He’s a weatherman in the film, who … Continue reading Friendship

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Hurry Up tomorrow

John Stark

Starring: The Weekend, Jenna Ortega, Barry Keoghan, Riley Keogh Directed By: trey Edward Schultz Studio: Lionsgate Release Year: 2025 Runtime: 105 minutes Audio Description Provided By: Deluxe Written By: Narrated By: Julian Smith What Is It?: An artist struggles to get over performance anxiety and insomnia. The artist is The Weekend, playing himself. When a young woman enters his life, seemingly as a temporary fix, she may be more than he bargained for. What Works: There was about five minutes of this that was a conversation between Jenna Ortega and The Weekend, and I didn’t hate it. What Doesn’t Work: … Continue reading Hurry Up tomorrow

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The Actor

John Stark

Cast: Andre Holland, Gemma Chan, Toby Jones, Tracey Ulla an, Written By:Stephen Cooney and Duke Johnson based on the novel memory by Donald E. West lake Directed By: Duke Johnson Original Score By: Richard Reed Perry Studio: Neon Release Year: 2025 98 minutes Audio description Provided By: Written By: Narrated By: What Is It?: A 1950’s actor is beaten and left for dead. When he wakes up, he has no idea where he is, and he’s trying to piece together the broken remains of his memory. What Works: Definitely a divisive film, Duke Johnson takes this opportunity to try and … Continue reading The Actor

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The Small Screen Diaries: 08/06/25

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: Wednesday: S2E1 (Netflix) with audio description, Platonic: S2E1 (Apple plus) with audio description, Tires: S2E10 (Netflix) with audio description, Smoke: S1E7 (Apple plus) with audio description, Ballard: S1E5 (Amazon) with audio description Wednesday- I’ve seen this getting a few not great reviews, and while the season premiere didn’t scare me away, it also is setting itself up to mess with the formula a bit. First, we seem to have completely written off Xavier, which is random, but they do give a reason. In his place, Pugsley is now being given WAY more screentime, and I really wish … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 08/06/25

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The Small Screen Diaries: 08/05/25

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: The Sandman: S2E8 (Netflix) with audio description, The Institute: S1E3 (MGM Plus) with audio description, The Pitt: S1E16 (HBo MAX) with audio description, The Summer I Turned Pretty: S3E2 (Amazon) with audio description, DigMan S2E1 (Paramount Plus) with audio description, Breaking Bad: S2E6 (Netflix) with audio description The Sandman- Thanks to the audio description team i have the image in my head of Dream’s head lulling to the side, like when you’re trying to stay awake. The idea that Dream needs sleep amuses me. However, the ending of this is ambiguous enough that depending on what actually … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 08/05/25

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Going In Blind: Boys Go To Jupiter

John Stark

Featuring The Voices Of: Jack Corbett, Grace Kuhlenschmidt, Elsie Fisher, Janeane Garofalo, Miya Folick, Julio Torres, Sarah Sherman Written and Directed By: Julian Glander Release Year: 2025 Runtime: 90 minutes There is no available audio description for this title. What Is it?: An animated coming of age story featuring a group of friends and their various youthful shenanigans. one of them is trying desperately through food delivery services to get $5,000. But, in addition to getting money, the friends also find a creature that escaped a local lab, and maybe they want it back? What Works: It’s tough to be … Continue reading Going In Blind: Boys Go To Jupiter

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Eyes Of Wakanda: Season 1

John Stark

Streaming Service: Disney Plus Length: 4 episodes Audio Description Produced By: deluxe Written By: Narrated By: Michelle Deco What is it?: An animated anthology style series exploring four individual adventures that help to shape the Wakanda as we know it. From a Dora Milaj being tasked with capturing a former Wakandan turned foe, to a spy embedded in the battle of Troy, to a retrieval of an artifact that has a protector more than they bargained for, and ultimately the one artifact they can’t retrieve in order to save the future of Wakanda, each story is considered canon. What Works: … Continue reading Eyes Of Wakanda: Season 1