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- 09/16/24

John Stark

TV News: Netflix has picked up Emily In Paris for Season 5. Most of us are hate watching the show, so perhaps if we weren’t doing that, better shows would get renewed instead? TV Shows Watched: the Great North: S4E19 (Hulu) No audio Description, Solar Opposites: S5E6 (Hulu) with audio description, Have I Got News For you (MAX) no audio description Podcasts: On With Cara Swisher (Interview: Hillary Clinton) YouTube: None Movies: Seed of Chucky (Netflix) with audio description, Reality Bites (Netflix) with audio description Talk about the calm before the storm. it was a work day for me, so … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 09/16/24

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The Small Screen Diaries- 09/15/24

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: The Old man: S2E2 (Hulu) with audio description, The Aark: S2E8 (Peacock) with audio description, 911: S6E19 (Hulu) with audio description, Young Sheldon: S3E9 (MAX) with audio description, Emily In Paris: S4E5 (Netflix) with audio description, Bad Monkey: S1E5 (Apple Plus) with Audio Description), Tulsa King: S2E1 (Paramount Plus) with audio description, and the Emmy Awards (ABC) with Live Audio Description. I did check Fight Night again, but still no audio description. Podcasts: None. YouTube: The Film Drunk (Reviews of Enorah, Emilia Perez, and Seed Of The Sacred Fig), The Awards Contender (review: Conclave), and I definitely … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 09/15/24

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The Union (An Anti-Review)

John Stark

The Union is so bland it just feels like so many other mediocre films Netflix has vomited at us this year. Honestly, I think we all need this, because Netflix’s ratio at this point seems far more quantity over quality, and they don’t even really allow for the random missteps even a talented writer/director/actor can make. So, what is putting out more positivity today is to talk about ten great films that are on Netflix that aren’t The Union. 3) the little Prince Now, this was an acquisition. I remember this was supposed to be released by a larger studio … Continue reading The Union (An Anti-Review)

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The Small Screen Diaries- 09/14/24

John Stark

TV News: the Emmy Awards! tonight! With Live Audio Description! You have been alerted. Who will win? Shogun. The Bear. TV Shows Watched: Pachenko: S2E4 (Apple Plus) with audio description, How To Die Alone: S1E3 and S1E4 (Hulu) with audio description, 911: S6E17 (Hulu), and Young Sheldon: S3E7 (MAX) with audio description Podcasts: the Interview (with Demi Moore) YouTube: The Awards contender (Reviews for Queer and Night Bitch), Fish Jelly Reviews: (Review: Riff Raff), Adam Does Movies (Review: Rebel Ridge), and Speak No Evil), Breakfast All Day (Review: Speak No Evil), The critical Drinker (The Rings Of Power Recap) Movies … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 09/14/24

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Jackpot

John Stark

I realize the expectation you have is that you have come here to hear me once again lament another misguided and mismanaged straight-to-streaming title, and I forgive you. These streamers, especially with the resurgence of the box office, are sending almost everything with a pulse to theatres. However, every once in a while one of these films just works for me. I’m not claiming this is some deep celluloid wonder that will be dissected in film schools for years to come. It was just fun. Jackpot is exactly the kind of film we should be having during the summer. It … Continue reading Jackpot

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Happy Campers: A Second Look

John Stark

Occasions like this are why I choose to continue to review films that don’t have audio description, with the hopes of having a discussion about accessibility that has some kind of positive effect. When it came to Happy Campers, which I reviewed last week, I was sent a screener of Amy Nicholson’s documentary ahead of its debut across video-on-demand platforms. That review led to my discovery that the film did have a recorded audio description track that had been used in previous screenings, as Amy takes accessibility seriously. She personally spent time making sure that the audio description by ThreePlay … Continue reading Happy Campers: A Second Look

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The Small Screen Diaries- 09/13/24

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: The Old Man: S2E1 (Hulu) with audio description, How To Die Alone: S1E1 and S1E2 (Hulu) with audio description, Lego Star Wars: Rebuild The Galaxy: S1E1 (Disney Plus) with audio description, 911: S6E15 and S6E16 (Hulu) with audio description, Futurama: S5E4 (Hulu) no audio description, King Of The Hill: S1E4 (Hulu) no audio description, and ACloser Look Primetime Special (On Demand) No Audio Description. Podcasts: Matter Of Opinion (Politics), Americacast (politics), The Rings Of Power Aftershow (Recap) YouTube: Chris Stuckmann (Review: speak no Evil), Jeremy Jahns (Review: Speak No Evil), The Awards Contender (Review: The Brutalist), Fish … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 09/13/24

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The instigators

John Stark

This has been a weird year for Apple Studios. It follows after they tried to make some box office headway last year with their major Oscar releases Killers Of The Flower Moon and Napoleon to middling results. Then, Argylle flopped, I’m not sure Fancy Dance had much more than a qualifying run, and The Instigators basically got the same treatment, though isn’t an awards contender. Doug Liman is reteaming with Matt Damon after kicking off the Jason Bourne franchise with him 22 years ago, and it also marks his second directorial effort after Amazon’s road House remake. The Instigators also … Continue reading The instigators

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Ghostlight

John Stark

My pull quote: “before the Oscar onslaught, Ghostlight might be the best film of 2024, and certainly is the best you haven’t seen.” This little indie that should was just a random choice for me because it was in the Apple Store, and it had audio description. Never doubt the power of audio description, because the word on this film has been rather soft. I discovered, and fell in love with Ghostlight, which proves to be a thoughtful examination of art and tragedy, juxtaposing the grief of a family against the Shakesperian depth of Romeo and Juliet. in theatre, a … Continue reading Ghostlight

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The Small Screen Diaries- 09/12/24

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: The Rings of Power: S2E5 (Amazon) with audio description, Kite Man: Hell Yeah! S1E10 (MAX) with audio description, and The Daily Show (Tuesday’s Episode) (Paramount Plus) no audio description. As of when I looked, Seth’s Closer Look special wasn’t on Peacock, though I’ll be checking again today. And, Fight Night still doesn’t have audio description. lol. Podcasts: The Dark Room- Alex and lee dropped a new episode y’all should check out. Ross Minor is the guest, and they talk all about accessibility in video games. As a former gamer who had all these friends I lost contact … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 09/12/24

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The Small Screen Diaries- 09/11/24

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: Women in Blue: S1E8 (Apple Plus), Solar opposites: S5E5 (Hulu) Podcasts: A bunch of different ones all offering their thoughts on the debate. YouTube: none Movies: Bride Of Chucky (Netflix) with audio description I was kind of not really focused on making sure I had something substantial to write about, as I was trying to hear a myriad of different people talking about the debate. I’ve already mentioned this before, in the episode where they tackled the Honeymoon, but Solar Opposites is one of my favorite shows on right now, and I would say if I’m doing … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 09/11/24

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The Small Screen Diaries- 09/10/24

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: Solar Opposites: S5E4 (Hulu) with audio description, The Great North: S4E18 (Hulu) no audio description, The Ark: S2E7 (Peacock) with audio description, English Teacher: S1E3 (Hulu) with audio description, Only Murders In the building: S4E3 (Hulu) with audio description, The Daily Show: Monday’s Episode (Paramount Plus) no audio description, and the Presidential Debate (ABC) I honestly didn’t think to check if there was audio description. Podcasts: Pod Save America (Politics), Consider This (an Interview with the retiring head chef at the White House) YouTube: None Movies Watched: Childs Play 3 (Netflix) with audio description Since I’m writing … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 09/10/24

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The Small Screen Diaries- 09/09/24

John Stark

TV Shows Watched: Bel Air: S3E10 (Peacock) with audio description, The Great North: S4E17 (Hulu) no audio description, and Universal Basic Guys (Hulu) no audio description Podcasts: Smartless (Interview: Ted Danson) YouTube: None Movies Watched: I’m Thinking Of Ending Things (Netflix) with audio description Kind of a low impact day. It’s a great opportunity to mention that Universal Basic Guys is pretty unfunny, and clearly didn’t start with its pilot episode. They had an episode that featured the guys adopting an old chimp from a Tiger king type zoo, and the chimp rips one of their faces off, which feels … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 09/09/24

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The Small Screen Diaries- 09/08/24

John Stark

TV News: Never have the stakes been higher for a new Fall drama, or the pressure on a network to not cancel a series. Talk about throwing down the gauntlet. Kathy bates recently did an interview (I believe for the New York Times) promoting her upcoming remake of Matlock, and she’s boldly stated this is her final performance. When Matlock is done, she’s done. So, the only way to keep Kathy bates acting is to keep renewing Matlock? I think that’s a good enough reason. but if this is a one and done, and we never see Bates again, I … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 09/08/24

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The bike Riders

John Stark

I always find the work of Jeff Nichols to be engaging in its cinematic form even if I’m not completely enamored with his offerings. the bike Riders is one of those films that seemed good on paper, and then I ended up with a film that matched the worthiness of a viewing, but not necessarily the praise that would elicit multiple viewings, or encourage others. the movie is also a bit of a tough sell, audio description wise, since the movie takes place in a certain time period, where the aesthetic takes over, and actors are likely finding subtle ways … Continue reading The bike Riders