Author: John Stark

Blogger. EIC of macthemovieguy.com. Contributor to mjsbigblog.com and houseofgeekery.com. Previously featured on starpulse.com.
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Bad Faith

John Stark

Bad Faith- A Documentary Exploring The Blending Of Politics And Faith Quick Take: This documentary will not be for everyone. That’s because it doesn’t have audio description. Also, some may not watch things that lean politically in the opposite direction, but this movie isn’t directly about He Who Shall Be Orange, but rather specifically through a net of people who all are upset with how their faith has become synonymous with politics as of late, and religious leaders using their platform to push political agendas contrary to their faith. So, in some ways, it does mention how the conservative movement … Continue reading Bad Faith

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The Small Screen Diaries- 12/28/24

John Stark

I forgot to mention, Hulu dropped Night Bitch on Friday without audio description. I’ve already seen it without audio description, as a screener was provided to me. I’m not clicking on this title daily, but they need to fix this recurring problem of day and dating audio description on launch. TV Shows Watched: Squid Game: S2E2 (Netflix) with audio description, What If: S3E7 (Disney Plus) with audio description, Secret Level: S1E2 (Amazon) with audio description, Cross: S1E7 (Amazon) with audio description, Bookie: S2E1 (MAX) with audio description, Are you Smarter Than A celebrity: S1E8 (Amazon) with audio description, Virgin River: … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 12/28/24

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Conclave

John Stark

Conclave- Is This One Of The Best Of The Year? Just two years ago, a director I was unfamiliar with made my best film of 2022. I see tons of films, every year, but in 2022, nothing quite stuck with me like the harrowing All Quiet On The Western Front remake. Oscar voters agreed, as the movie received a Best Picture nomination, and won is several categories. It stands as one of Netflix’s best audio description tracks, and certainly as an example of why they should continue to embrace more audio description for international content. Cut two years ahead, and … Continue reading Conclave

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Catwoman: 20th Anniversary

John Stark

Catwoman: 20th Anniversary- Chalk It Up To Cat Scratch Fever Quick Take: We all have those movies that we know aren’t good, but there’s something entertaining about them. There is an entire YouTube channel devoted to these “So Bad It’s Good” types, Good Bad Flicks, which dives into these movies in depth on YouTube. As this disaster turned 20, I decided to revisit it one more time. It even had audio description. My reaction to that is that whoever wrote it, is obsessed with Benjamin Bratt’s abs. Everytime he’s shirtless, the narration has an erotic reaction to his upper torso. … Continue reading Catwoman: 20th Anniversary

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The Crow

John Stark

The Crow (2024)- Don’t Just Push Out remakes Unless You Have A Fresh perspective Quick Take: Thank God, Bill Skarsgard is also in Nosferatu this year. This is a career killer. This is one of the most incompetent efforts of the year, made by a director who likely will never be handed a budget higher than “we’re trying to get on Tubi” ever again. It is such a weird thing, to think that no one stopped at any point and notice how awful this film actually is. Lionsgate dropped some massive bombs in the second half, and this is by … Continue reading The Crow

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The paper: 30th Anniversary

John Stark

The Paper: 30th Anniversary- Michael Keaton, Glenn Close, Robert Duvall, Marisa Tomei Quick Take: Not my first time through Ron Howard’s The Paper, which feels like some alternate reality nowadays. Trying to get kids to accept that a film about newspaper journalism is full of actors who are mostly still alive (Yes, Robert Duvall is still kicking, but RIP Jason Robards), and they see in films all the time, and when this was made… it was not a historical period piece.This is not The Post, or even All The President’s Men. The Paper takes place in the year it was … Continue reading The paper: 30th Anniversary

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Music By John Williams

John Stark

Music By John Williams (Disney Plus)- The GOAT Of Film Score Composition Quick Take: A movie for film lovers, specifically those who really appreciate a great film score. John Williams is the greatest there has ever been. There are plenty of other composers that knock out work all the time that is perfection, and yet, Williams’s reach seems so unattainable. From Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman, Michael Giacchino, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, and even the legendary Ennio Morricone, Williams has created so many iconic themes that how could he not be remembered for the remainder of cinema. This takes a … Continue reading Music By John Williams

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The Order

John Stark

The Order- Jude Law, Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, Marc Maron Quick Take: To be fair, I did ask if I could have an accessible screener. This movie has an available audio description track that I have not heard, so I’ll likely be reviewing this again at some point. The film was interesting enough that I would check it out, or recommend it if you can get the audio description track. Jude Law, Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, Marc Maron, and Jurnee Smollett create a strong ensemble in a film about domestic terrorism. The thing I found the most striking, even without … Continue reading The Order

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The Small Screen Diaries- 12/27/24

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: Silo: S2E7 (Apple plus) with audio description, What if: S3E6 (Disney Plus) with audio description, laid: S1E44 (Peacock) with audio description, Dexter: Original Sin: S1E3 (Paramount Plus) with audio description, Get Millie Black: S1E5? (MAX) with audio description, The Diplomat: S2E4 (Netflix) with audio description, and Matlock: S1E? (Paramount Plus) with audio description Movies Watched: Gladiator 2 (Screener) with audio description, And So it Begins (Screener) no audio description, The Girl in The Pool (Paramount Plus) no audio description Best Episode: Silo- I’m definitely biased, because this is one of my favorite shows on air, but I … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 12/27/24

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American Pie: 25th Anniversary

John Stark

American Pie: 25th Anniversary- The Apple Pie Doesn’t look So Appetizing Anymore Quick Take: we all think we grew up in the best of times. For me, I look at how many films directed clearly at teen audiences we had, theatrically, in my window when I was in high school. technically, I wasn’t old enough to see American Pie in theatrical release without a parent, but that never stopped me before. But in 1999, American Pie was part of a cluster of teen classics, including Varsity Blues, She’s All That, Cruel Intentions, 10 Things I Hate About you, Never Been … Continue reading American Pie: 25th Anniversary

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American Star

John Stark

American Star- Ian McShane Shines In This Indie Drama Quick Take: I noticed Ian McShane was in a new film, but I didn’t bother to prioritize it until I was sent the FYC campaign for him. He sadly hasn’t gained much traction, and I think that has a lot to do with American Star feeling like so many other films of its ilk. An aging assassin is sent to a target, but when the target isn’t home, he starts familiarizing himself with the local area, the people, and the culture, who think he’s just another tourist, or an ex-pat. Of … Continue reading American Star

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The River Wild: 30th Anniversary

John Stark

The River Wild: 30th Anniversary- Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon Hold Up This Survival Thriller Quick Take: 30 years ago, Meryl Streep did her most action packed performance, playing a mom who has to use her particular set of skills to stop criminals and save her family. Later, Netflix made an ill advised remake, but we’re not talking about Bruno today. This is The River Wild, directed by Curtis Hanson, and starring Streep, Kevin Bacon, David Strathair, and john C. Reilly. It is a movie I’ve seen several times, and have loved every single one. I was just starting to … Continue reading The River Wild: 30th Anniversary

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The Small Screen Diaries- 12/26/24

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: Squid Game: S2E1 (Netflix) with audio description, Creature Commandoes: S1E5 (MAX) with audio description, What If: S3E5 (Disney Plus) with audio description, 911: S8E2 (Hulu) with audio description, Pop Culture Jeopardy: S1E2 (Amazon) with audio description, and The Lincoln Lawyer: S3E9 (Netflix) with audio description Movies Watched: Skincare (Apple Store) with audio description, The End (screener) no audio description, Evil Does Not Exist (screener) no audio description, Exhibiting Forgiveness (screener) no audio description Best Episode: Squid Game- Hands down. I was wondering how they would be able to pull off a Season2, since the first seemed like … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 12/26/24

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Twisters

John Stark

Twisters- An Indie Director Brings Americana And Glen Powell To Stir Up This Series Quick Take:I loved the first Twister. I lived in tornado alley, and Twister is always a fun movie until it becomes someone’s reality. the ride at Universal Studios was hot garbage though (ride is a strong word). I’ve seen Twister enough times to qualify it as a desert island movie, except now I can’t find it with audio description, and it is way less fun. But, I did own it on VHS, and later BluRay. Twisters is basically trying to have its cake. It wants to … Continue reading Twisters

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Ed Wood: 30th Anniversary

John Stark

Ed Wood: 30th Anniversary- Tim Burton’s Classic Look At A Maligned Filmmaker Quick Take: While not my favorite Tim Burton film, I do really enjoy the energy he brings to this tale of the maligned director of Plan 9 From Outer Space. There’s something about Burton and his style that oddly compliments one of the most notorious directors of all time, and he managed to get a strong cast together as well. Johnny Depp is good, Sarah Jessica Parker is fun, Patricia Arquette does fine, but it is the MArtin Landau performance as Bella Lugosi everyone remembers. That is because … Continue reading Ed Wood: 30th Anniversary