Author: John Stark

Blogger. EIC of macthemovieguy.com. Contributor to mjsbigblog.com and houseofgeekery.com. Previously featured on starpulse.com.
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Meet Me In St. Louis: 80th Anniversary

John Stark

The Holiday Classics: Meet Me In St Louis: 80th Anniversary Quick Take: As much as I love musicals, this is actually my first time. I found it with audio description, and it is a Christmas film on an Anniversary year. it had to finally happen. I found it oddly entertaining looking back on how things were done 80 years ago, and this film is also commenting on a period even earlier than it. So, the grandfather in this movie, when he talks about courting his wife, I’m fairly certain did that during the Civil War. Perspective. but aside from this … Continue reading Meet Me In St. Louis: 80th Anniversary

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Fall Into Winter

John Stark

Fall Into Winter (Netflix)- Lori Laughlin Makes Another Wholesome Christmas Film Quick Take: For Christmas, I noticed Netflix had also gotten the rights, and the audio description to Fall into Winter, one of Lori loughlin’s many TV movies. It feels like it was made on a conveyor belt of Lori Loughlin holiday films that have the same cast and just recycle the set. Here, she’s a baker, and her brother is leaving town, and sells his half of the business to this guy she hates, but you know they will fall in love by the end of the film. It … Continue reading Fall Into Winter

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Hot Frosty

John Stark

Hot Frosty (Netflix)- Will Lacey Chabert Hook Up With A Snowman Before It’s Too Late? Quick Take: Lacey Chabert brings her Christmas magic to Netflix, and Netflix is very confused. In what should have been a hilarious send up of all those basic Christmas films hallmark/Lifetime/Great American Family push out every year, it falls prey to a lack of imagination, and casting an underwhelming male lead. I know I’ve seen Dustin Milligan before, and I feel like I’m being mean, but this film required someone with actual comedic chops. Lacey Chabert and Andy Samberg, for example, would work, with a … Continue reading Hot Frosty

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The Outrun

John Stark

The Outrun- Saorise Ronan Makes A Sprint For The Best Actress Race Quick Take: This was provided for my consideration, but without audio description. With Saorise Ronan on the edge of the Oscar conversation, i dove in. This film is basically an addiction drama, with Ronan’s character going through the wringer, and dealing with her parents, as well as a potential love life, and things like rehab. It isn’t anything we haven’t seen before, but it is based on a memoir. Ronan is good, but not one of my favorite performances of the year, nor do I think she eclipsed … Continue reading The Outrun

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Ace Ventura: Pet Detective- 30th Anniversary

John Stark

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective: 30th Anniversary- We Can Never Go Back Quick Take: We can never go back. In a year with Chasing Chasing Amy, and one filmmaker exploring what that problematic film meant to them, I jumped straight into this film that doesn’t hold up unless you are super transphobic and homophobic. When I was a kid and this film came out, Jim Carrey’s energy was perfect for me. There are still jokes in this film that are objectively funny. The sliding glass door sequence is funny.But, the film is mired with this twist from hell where Sean Young … Continue reading Ace Ventura: Pet Detective- 30th Anniversary

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Hundreds Of Beavers

John Stark

Hundreds Of Beavers- The Hit Self-Distributed Comedy With No Audio Description! Quick Take: This basically has no dialogue. No audio description. It is an independent, self financed production, but I hold true to the fact that if we mattered enough, accessibility would come second nature. This has also made enough money, supposedly, and likely has enough to at least add accessibility for its streaming and video on demand releases. It has that vibe of those old slapstick comedies, like the silent comedic gold of Charlie Chaplin, with the manic energy of Bugs bunny. I’d love to experience it, but aside … Continue reading Hundreds Of Beavers

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The Commandante’s Shadow

John Stark

The Commandante’s Shadow- Profound, Heavy, and Timely, and One Of The Best Films Of 2024 Quick Take: I’m really disappointed that this documentary didn’t make the Oscar shortlist. Sometimes, documentaries are born out of a world on fire, and sometimes they are reflective of a world that was. The Commandante’s Shadow is one that takes a look at a time when the world was on fire, specifically the Holocaust, and uses the lens of generational trauma. One woman seeks to find her Jewish and German roots, as her mother survived a death camp, and did not like to talk about … Continue reading The Commandante’s Shadow

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the Small Screen Diaries- 12/22/24

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: Earth Abides: S1E4 (MGM Plus) with audio description, What If: S3E1 (Disney Plus) with audio description, Dream productions: S1E4 (Disney Plus) with audio description), The Agency: S1E5 (Paramount Plus) with audio description, Landman: S1E1 (Paramount Plus) with audio description, SNL: Charlie SCX (Peacock) with audio description. Movies: Last Stop In Yuma County (Apple Store) no audio description, An Almost Christmas Story (Disney Plus) with audio description, I Am Ready Warden (Paramount Plus) with audio description, Crossing (screener) no audio description, Inside The Yellow Cocoon (screener) no audio description, She Taught Love (Hulu) with audio description Best Episode: … Continue reading the Small Screen Diaries- 12/22/24

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10 Things I Hate About you: 25th Anniversary

John Stark

10 Things I Hate About You: 25th Anniversary- Julia Stiles, Heath ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt Quick Take: I got this once during a sale in the Apple Store, because it had audio description, and it was on sale. I’m not remotely objective here. There’s no critical consensus. I was in high school when this came out, and my nostalgia is too strong. This is a desert island movie for me, easily qualifying with a totally view count somewhere between 10-15 times in my life. I own this on DVD, but sadly, despite the medium supporting multiple audio tracks, no one was … Continue reading 10 Things I Hate About you: 25th Anniversary

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My Old Ass

John Stark

My Old Ass- If You Could Tell Your Past Self One Thing, What Would It Be? Quick Take: One of the more charming surprises of the year, this film features a simple concept, if you got really high and suddenly could communicate with your future self, what would you learn? Well, in this case, the older version (which depresses me because I’m older than her old ass) is played by Aubrey Plaza, and she just wants her past self to stay away from one guy. She can’t tell her why. But, of course… So, even though you know the trajectory, … Continue reading My Old Ass

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Color Of Night: 30th Anniversary

John Stark

Color Of Night: 30th Anniversary- I Nominate This For “So Bad It’s Good” Status Quick Take: The same year Bruce Willis made Pulp Fiction, he also pushed out this ill conceived, but somehow brilliantly terrible erotic thriller. This is one of the most entertaining terrible films I’ve ever seen. It was a first watch for me, and I’d love to open up more people to this experience. I think this is a gem waiting to be uncovered and have a new following of people who recognize it for all its awful glory. I’d say that this is the worst thing … Continue reading Color Of Night: 30th Anniversary

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In The Land Of Saints And Sinners

John Stark

In The Land Of Saints And Sinners- Liam Neeson’s Set Of Skills Wears Thin Quick Take: Even when Liam Neeson appears in an IRA drama, it still feels like one of those films that has its roots all the way back to a time when he was given a particular set of skills. At this point, Neeson has to avoid action movies altogether, and would be best served in a limited series of some kind, or cast completely against type in kids or comedy films. A nice romance perhaps. But, he’s still being thrown these scripts that go nowhere and … Continue reading In The Land Of Saints And Sinners

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Inspector Gadget: 25th Anniversary

John Stark

Inspector Gadget: 25th Anniversary- Was Matthew Broderick Really The Best Choice? Quick Take: I watched this again just because it had audio description. I didn’t like this when it came out. I wouldn’t have cast Matthew Broderick. I’m just not a fan. It is so hard for me to like him in things. So, to clear the air on my bias, he’s one of my least favorite actors. Do I find things I like that have him in it? Yes. but in all of those cases, he is never the sole reason I like those things. Election has an excellent … Continue reading Inspector Gadget: 25th Anniversary

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Harold And The Purple Crayon

John Stark

Not the most obvious choice for a film adaptation, but I liked it. It takes Harold out of the book and sends him on a journey to find his creator (the author of the book), along with his friends from the book, and his purple crayon. It smartly casts Zachary Levi, who is great at playing a manchild, and puts him opposite Zooey Deschanel, who is excellent at dealing with manchildren. Like Elf, which she starred in, she’s the voice of reason as Harold brings this new perspective. This was an utter failure, and it seems like everyone disliked this, … Continue reading Harold And The Purple Crayon

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Always: 35th Anniversary

John Stark

Always: 35th Anniversary- The Often Never Mentioned Steven Spielberg Film Quick Take: When tackling movies with audio descriptions that were in an anniversary year, I took this opportunity to get one film closer to having seen Spielberg’s entire filmography. I’m really close now, and basically the remaining ones are films people try to ignore. I’ve seen all his heavy hitters. Always is definitely at the bottom of his list, or near it, depending on your taste, which is sad because it is also the final film for Audrey Hepburn. For that reason alone, I enjoyed it. She doesn’t have a … Continue reading Always: 35th Anniversary