Author: John Stark

Blogger. EIC of macthemovieguy.com. Contributor to mjsbigblog.com and houseofgeekery.com. Previously featured on starpulse.com.
Editorial2 Comments

Kid Tested, Tomatometer Approved

John Stark

You’re gonna need a bigger boat. I am now officially a Rotten Tomatoes Approved critic. There is now a blind film critic on the Tomatometer. Watch out world, the leading review aggregator is inclusive. I have a lot of people to thank, but mostly everyone is in the same field. Audio Description. It’s why I got back into this, and why I continue to push for and advocate for accessibility in audio description. Q: Does this change anything? A: yes. In addition to working on fixing my broke ass website, I now have to back catalog my reviews soon onto … Continue reading Kid Tested, Tomatometer Approved

EditorialLeave a comment

The Small Screen Diaries- 07/14/25

John Stark

TV ShowsWatched: The Institute: S1E1 (MGM Plus) with audio description, The Waterfront: S1E6 (Netflix) with audio description, Euphoria: S1E6 (MAX) with audio description, Building The Band: S1E3 (Netflix) with audio description, Kings Of Johburg: S1E5 (Netflix) with audio description, Dexter: S5E5 (Paramount Plus) with audio description, nautilus: S1E2 (AMC Plus) no audio description, and The Guilded Age: S3E4 (HBO MAX) with audio description Best Episode: The Institute, Runner Up: Euphoria Best Audio Description: The Institute, Runner Up: The Waterfront Best performance: Julia Stiles (Dexter), Runner Up: Nathan Lane (The Guilded Age) Best Moment Of Audio Description: Cooking Up some Self … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 07/14/25

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

The Woman In The yard

John Stark

Cast: Danielle Detweiler as Ramona, Peyton Jackson as Taylor, Estella Kahiha as Annie, Okwui Okpokwasili as Woman Written By: Sam Stefanak Director: JaumeCollet Producers include: Jason Blum, Danielle Detweiler, Original Score: Lorne Balfe Release Year: 2025 Runtime: 88 minutes Rated PG-13 for terror, some violent content/bloody images, suicide related content, and brief strong language. Audio Description Produced By: Written By: Narrated By: Roy Samuelson AD Sound Engineer: Jeff Ross What is It: A grieving widow (Detweiler) must tend to her wounds and her children in her rural fam house after the sudden loss of her husband. Amidst her struggle to … Continue reading The Woman In The yard

EditorialLeave a comment

ACB Audio Description Nominees Announced, Final Voting End July 20th

John Stark

The American Council Of The Blind through the Audio description project is once again ready to bestow honors on some deserving nominees. The five films and five television shows were recently announced as final voting opens. Check out the nominees beloww. You can vote for the awards here: (https://bit.ly/4eCvbmJ). The People’s Choice Awards will be awarded virtually in a ceremony on November 13th at 7:30PM. The Nominees Are: Back In Action (Netflix)- I actually did a review/quality check of this title. I’m actually surprised by this nomination, not because it lacks in quality necessarily, but it is the only streaming … Continue reading ACB Audio Description Nominees Announced, Final Voting End July 20th

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Shadow Force

John Stark

Cast: Kerry Washington as Kyrah Owens, Omar Sy as Isaac, Jahleel Kamar as Ky, Mark Strong as Jack, Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Auntie, and Method Man as unc. Written By: Leon Chills and Joe Carnahan Directed By: joe Carnahan Significant Producers:Sterling K Brown, Kerry Washington, Original Score By: Craig Deleon Released By: Lionsgate Release Year: 2025 Rated R Runtime: 104 minutes Audio Description Produced By: Written By: Narrated By: What is it?: A former secret agent (Sy) is on the run with his son, hiding from the organization he used to work for. but, after his attempt to stop a … Continue reading Shadow Force

EditorialLeave a comment

The Small Screen Diaries: 07/13/25

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: Squid Game: S3E4 (Netflix) with audio description, From: S2E8 (MGM Plus) with audio description, We Were Liars: S1E6 (Amazon) with audio description, Too much: S1E1 (Netflix) with audio description, Such good girls: S1E3 (Hulu) with audio description, Ginny and Georgia: S2E2 (Netflix) with audio description, Peaky Blinders: S2E2 (Netflix) with audio description, the Art Detectives: S1E2 (Acorn) no audio description, and Breaking Bad: S1E9 (Netflix) with audio description Best Episode: Breaking Bad, Runner Up: from Best Audio Description: Squid Game, Runner Up: Breaking Bad Best Performance: Scott McCord (from), runner Up: Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul (Breaking … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 07/13/25

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Until Dawn

John Stark

Cast: Ella Rubin as Clover, Michael Cimino as Max, Odessa A’zion as Nina, Ji-Young Yoo as Megan, Belmont Cameli as Abe, Maia Mitchell as Melanie, and Peter Stormare as Dr. hill. Written By:Gary Dauberman Annabelle Creation) and Blair Butler (The Invitation) Directed By: David F. Sandburg (Shazam, Lights Out, Annabelle: creation) Notable Producers: Gary Dauberman, David F. Sandburg original Score by: Benjamin Wallfisch (13 Lives, The Flash, Hidden Figures, Annabelle Creation) Studio: Sony/ Screen Gems Release Year: 2025 rated R for Strong Bloody Violence, Gore, and Strong Language throughout Runtime: 93 minutes Audio Description Produced By: The Media Access Group … Continue reading Until Dawn

EditorialLeave a comment

The Small Screen Diaries: The Weekly Rankings

John Stark

I actually finished a lot of shows this week, which should free up a ton of space and shake up the list next week. Joining the list this week are Dexter Resurrection (Paramount Plus), Building The Band (Netflix), Back To The Frontier (HBo MAX), Foundation (Apple Plus), Sullivan’s Crossing (Netflix), and The Art detectives (Acorn). Also, I took a look at A Different World (Netflix) which has audio description! WINNER: Squid Game (Netflix) with audio description- I’m not quite done with the final season, and I’ve basically lost all the new characters I was rooting for, yet something about this … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: The Weekly Rankings

EditorialLeave a comment

The Small Screen Diaries: 07/12/25

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: Building The band: S1E2 (Netflix) with audio description, All Of Us Are Dead: S1E2 (Netflix) with audio description, Dexter: Resurrection: S1E1 (Paramount Plus), And just Like That: S3E7 (HBo MAX) with audio description, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars: S10E10 (Paramount Plus) with audio description, Sullivan’s Crossing: S1E2 (Netflix) with audio description, King Of the hill: S2E6 (Hulu) no audio description, Pop Culture Jeopardy: S1E25 (Amazon) with audio description, and The Office: S3E17 (Peacock) no audio description Best Episode: And Just Like That, Runner Up: All Of Us Are Dead Best Audio Description: Dexter Resurrection, Runner Up: And … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 07/12/25

EditorialLeave a comment

The Small Screen Diaries: 07/11/25

John Stark

TV News: there’s been enough movement the past couple of days for me to recap some of the decisions. Netflix gave Virgin River an early Season 8 renewal, as Season 7 concludes filming. Apple also did the same for Slow Horses, which got a Season 7 renewal, even though Season 6 has yet to premiere. Apple also picked up the new Sci-Fi series MurderBot for a second season. ABC has gone straight to series on the Scrubs revival after Donald Faison and Sarah Chalke solidified deals to return to the series, which could land as early as mid season. In … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 07/11/25

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Madea’s Destination Wedding

John Stark

Cast: Tyler Perry as Brian/Madea/joe, Cassi Davis as Aunt Bam, David Mann as Mr. Brown, Tamela J. mann as Cora, Diamond White as Tiffany, Xavier Smalls as Zavier. Written By: Tyler Perry Directed By: Tyler Perry Notable Producers: Tyler Perry Original Score By: Jongnic Bontemps (Transformers Rise Of The Beasts) Studio: Netflix Release Year: 2025 Rated PG-13 for some language, crude/sexual material, drug use, and some violence. Runtime: 102 Minutes Audio Description created by: Written By: Narrated By: What Is it? The 13th film featuring Tyler Perry’s Madea character sees Brian (Perry) find out his daughter (Diamond White) has a … Continue reading Madea’s Destination Wedding

AwardsLeave a comment

Dorian TV Awards Winners Announced! ‘Hacks’ and ‘The Pitt’ Take Honors

John Stark

Among the other things I do, I am a proud member of GALECA: The Society for LGBTQ Film Journalists, so naturally, I should announce the winners of the awards I voted for. for those who follow my small Screen diaries, you’ll note my finger is on the absolute pulse, as it also is for the many critics and entertainment journalists who voted in these awards.With Emmy nominations only days away, will these serve as a bell weather for things to come on that front as well? GALECA is the 2nd largest Entertainment Journalist organization in the world, boasting over 560 … Continue reading Dorian TV Awards Winners Announced! ‘Hacks’ and ‘The Pitt’ Take Honors

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

In The Lost Lands

John Stark

Cast: Milla jovovich as Grey Alice, Dave Bautista as Boyce, Arly Jover as The Enforcer, Amara Okereke as The Queen, Fraser James as The Patriarch, Simon Loof as Jereis, Deirdre Mullins as Mara. Written by: Constantin Werner and Paul W.S. Anderson, based on a story by George R.R. Martin Directed By: Paul W.S. Anderson (Mortal Kombat, Event Horizon, Resident Evil) Notable Producers:Paul W.S. Anderson, Dave Bautista, Milla Jovovich, Constantine Werner Original Score By:Paul Haslinger (Underworld, Blue Crush, Death Race) Release Year: 2025 Runtime: 101 minutes Audio Description provided By: Audio Description Written By: Audio Description Narrated By: What Is It?: … Continue reading In The Lost Lands

EditorialLeave a comment

The Small Screen Diaries: 07/10/25

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: Back To The Frontier: S1E1 (MAX) with audio description, Building The Band: S1E1 (Netflix) with audio description, The Sandman: S2E3 (Netflix) with audio description, Adults: S1E6 (Hulu) with audio description, Euphoria: S1E5 (HBOMAX) with audio description, Countdown: S1E4 (Amazon) with audio description, Invasion: S1E2 (Apple plus) with audio description, King Of The Hill: S2E5 (Hulu) no audio description, Breaking Bad: S1E8 (Netflix) with audio description, and Sherlock and Daughter: S1E5 (HBOMAX) no audio description Best Episode: Breaking Bad, Runner Up: Adults Best Audio Description: The sandman, Runner Up: breaking Bad best performance: Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 07/10/25

EditorialLeave a comment

The Small Screen Diaries: 07/09/25

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: Black Mirror: S3E3 (Netflix) with audio description, The Buccaneers: S1E7 (Apple Plus) with audio description, Tires: S2E6 (Netflix) with audio description, motorheads: S1E10 (Amazon) with audio description, Destination X: S1E7 (Peacock) with audio description, Dexter: S5E4 (Paramount Plus) with audio description, Department Q: S1E8 (Netflix) with audio description, prison Break: S1E3 (Netflix) no audio description, Poker Face: S2E10 (Peacock) with audio description Best Episode: Poker Face, Runner Up: The buccaneers Best Audio Description: Poker Face, Runner Up: Dexter best Performance: Natasha Lyonne (Poker face), runner Up: Vince Vaughn (Tires) Best Moment Of Audio Description: The inciting incident … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries: 07/09/25