Author: John Stark

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

The Small Screen Diaries- 12/25/24

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: Skeleton Crew: S1E5 (Disney Plus) with audio description, What If: S3E4 (Disney plus) with audio description, Laid: S1E3 (Peacock) with audio description, La Macquena: S1E4 (Hulu) with audio description, Landman: S1E2 (Paramount Plus) with audio description, Virgin River: S6E1 (Netflix), Are you Smarter Than A Celebrity: S1E? (Amazon) with audio description, and A Man On the Inside: S1E5 (Netflix) with audio description. Movie Watched: Elton John: Never Too Late (Disney plus) Since yesterday was Christmas, technically, I’ll extend the holiday spirit, and there’s no bad here, again. Just a nice present full of good. Best Episode: Laid … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 12/25/24

Movie Review, UncategorizedLeave a comment

The People’s Joker

John Stark

The People’s Joker- This Joker Certainly Is Wild Quick Take: I’ve seen this on demand, and I was provided a screener. To my knowledge, this has no audio description. It feels very low budget, directed and starring Vera Drew, and this is one of a handful of films that lack audio description that I’m debating about whether or not to include them in my top 25 of 2024. Drew is clearly a bright new voice as a director, and this comically semi autobiographical look at how Vera came to be is a bold and daring shot that ropes in Gotham … Continue reading The People’s Joker

Movie Review, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Martha

John Stark

Martha (Netflix)- Martha Stewart Clears The Air… And You Can Too In Your Own Home! Quick Take: I normally am trepidations when subjects are involved in their own biopics or documentaries, because often they show you what they want to show you. Martha Stewart is someone who has spent a lot of time in the public eye, and a lot of it isn’t flattering. One of the reasons I bothered to give this the praise, is I think Martha really did open up about some unflattering or personal details, and the director also holds her accountable. There are moments where … Continue reading Martha

UncategorizedLeave a comment

The Small Screen Diaries- 12/24/24

John Stark

It is Christmas. According to Alexa, Chanukah also starts today. So, Seasons Greetings across the board. TV Shows Watched: What We Do In The Shadows: Series Finale (Hulu) with audio description, What If: S3E3 (Disney plus) with audio description, No Good Deed- S1E7 and S1E8 (Netflix) with audio description, Pop Culture Jeopardy: S1E1 (Amazon) with the legal definition of audio description, and Elzabeth: S2E? (Paramount Plus) with audio description Movies Watched: Out of My Mind (Disney plus) with audio description and The Six Triple Eight (Netflix) In the spirit of Christmas, a celebration only section today. Yay for free passes! … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 12/24/24

Movie Review, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Shark Tale: 20th Anniversary

John Stark

Shark Tale: 20th Anniversary- Will Smith, Jack Black, Robert DeNiro, Renee Zellweger, Angelina Jolie Quick Take: I’m always surprised this didn’t become a franchise. After all, there are two Nut Job movies. Gnomeo and Juliet got a sequel. The Boss Baby had a sequel. How this movie managed to evade becoming a franchise likely has to do with the expense and popularity of the voice cast. Will Smith, jack Black, Renee Zellweger, Robert DeNiro, Angelina Jolie, and Martin Scorsese. do you realize that out of the entire main voice cast I just listed, only one of them is not an … Continue reading Shark Tale: 20th Anniversary

Movie Review, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Despicable Me 4

John Stark

Despicable Me 4- A Screenplay That Feels Like It Was Written By 10 Minions Quick Take: The fourth outing, and the sixth technically in the franchise at large, Despicable Me 4 has a lot happening. it feels like the script was written and then rewritten almost like a game of “Yes, and” where the next person added another subplot. this movie is so scattered, so disorganized,it makes the third film seem better. I wasn’t a fan of the third, because I didn’t think Steve Carell should have voiced both. It was a missed opportunity to go in a completely different … Continue reading Despicable Me 4

Movie Review, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Our Little Secret

John Stark

Our Little Secret (Netflix)- Lindsay Lohan Tries To Impress Kristin Chenoweth This Christmas Quick Take- It feels like Lindsay Lohan is on film probation, and she’s having to work through Netflix content creation to get a real film offer. In this latest film, which is disguised as a holiday film, Lohan plays a young woman who breaks up with someone at the top, only for us to have a weird montage of the passage of time, so that we can see her years later with a new boyfriend. this one has invited her home for the holidays, and when she … Continue reading Our Little Secret

Movie Review, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Seth Meyers: Dad Man Walking

John Stark

Seth Meyers: Dad Man Walking (MAX)- My First review Of Audio Description For A Stand-Up Special Quick Take: I’ve never reviewed a stand up special. I felt like I needed to, and lo and behold this thing went and got a Golden Globe nomination. I realized I don’t know how to grade stuff like this, but it was an interesting look at how audio description supports stand up. When you think about how comedians for years made money off of their albums, with no visual reference, it isn’t the most obvious genre for effusive description. I chose to start with … Continue reading Seth Meyers: Dad Man Walking

Movie Review, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Super/Man: The Christopher reeve Story

John Stark

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story- An Inspirational Look Into The Life And Legacy Quick Take: I’m catching up on reviews. I saw this over a month ago, before it made its debut on MAX. My review reflected the lack of audio description provided in the screener, though it now has accessibility on the streamer. As much as I liked this documentary, it isn’t exactly a happy one, so revisiting it again for audio description purposes is not something I want to do immediately. However, I remember when he injured himself. I was not a huge fan. At the time, I … Continue reading Super/Man: The Christopher reeve Story

Movie Review, UncategorizedLeave a comment

The Merry Gentlemen

John Stark

The Merry Gentleman (Netflix)- It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Magic Mike Quick Take- Of all the Netflix holiday romantic comedies I ingested, this Britt Robertson/Chad Michael Murray one was the most entertaining. It is basically the Magic Mike Christmas we never got, but not as explicit. Robertson plays a young actress who is told at 30 she’s too old and is fired from her Broadway show. She’s aged out. She moves home, her parents business is failing, and her idea to save it is a Christmas revue with the local hot guys, including her potential love interest (Murray). … Continue reading The Merry Gentlemen

UncategorizedLeave a comment

The Small Screen Diaries- 12/23/24

John Stark

Wishing everyone Happy Holidays. Or, if you so choose, a lack thereof. In which case, Happy Tuesday. Just like any other day. TV Shows Watched: Dune Prophecy: S1E6 (MAX) with audio description, What If: S3E2 (Disney Plus) with audio description, No Good Deed: S1E6 (Netflix) with audio description, This Is Not Hollywood: S1E3 (Hulu) with audio description, The Diplomat: S2E3 (Netflix) with audio description, and The Lincoln Lawyer: S3E8 (Netflix) with audio description. Movies: The Santa Clause Trilogy (Disney plus) all with audio description, The Wizard Of Oz (MAX) with audio description, and Sweethearts (MAX) with audio description Best Episode: … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 12/23/24

Movie Review, UncategorizedLeave a comment

The Piano Lesson

John Stark

The Piano Lesson (Netflix) Misguided Direction Saved By Stunning Detweiler And Ensemble Quick Take: Malcolm Washington, son of Denzel, is making his feature directorial debut with a challenging August Wilson work. We meet several members of a tight knit family, with Samuel L Jackson serving largely as the de facto patriarch of this clan, and most of the film taking place in his home. Though, he is often just a voyeur as the energy between John David Washington and Danielle Detweiler powers the film, as he is looking to buy some land that has a deep familial connection, and wants … Continue reading The Piano Lesson

Movie Review, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Meet Me Next Christmas

John Stark

Meet Me Next Christmas (Netflix)- Christina Milian featuring Pentatonix Quick Take: Christina Milian got her Netflix holiday film. She’s also having a bit of a career bump now, following her casting in Dexter: Original Sin. Here, the actress/singer is stuck with a male co-star with less name recognition, but the presence of Pentatonix. The entire movie hinges on a young woman (Milian) who has a meet cute moment with a guy who says he’s going to be at this Pentatonix concert, and if they run into each other there… it is fate. So, she tries to get a ticket, and … Continue reading Meet Me Next Christmas

Movie Review, UncategorizedLeave a comment

The Night Before Christmas In Wonderland

John Stark

The night Before Christmas In Wonderland (Hulu) Gerard Butler Sings Again For This Animated Dud Quick Take: This animated dud dropped on Hulu like it was cold. not hot. It features the one time Phantom Of The Opera, Gerard Butler, singing his way through some atrocious songs in a story that blends Santa with all of Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland characters. Well, mainly the Queen, who has outlawed Christmas because of that one time Santa didn’t get her what she wanted. So, Santa has to find a way to convince her to have a change of heart. There’s no audio description, … Continue reading The Night Before Christmas In Wonderland

Movie Review, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Casa Bonita Mi Amor

John Stark

Casa Bonita Mi Amor (Paramount Plus)- All That South Park Money Goes Somewhere Quick Take: Trey Parker and Matt Stone have made a ton of money. A ton. From South Park to the Book Of Mormon, these two are doing just fine. This is a movie about how they tried to take a chunk of that money and save something they loved in Colorado from their childhood. It can best be described as some similar minded Chucky Cheese or Dave And Busters. A place where you could have all the fun and food. I had a place like that when … Continue reading Casa Bonita Mi Amor