Author: John Stark

Blogger. EIC of macthemovieguy.com. Contributor to mjsbigblog.com and houseofgeekery.com. Previously featured on starpulse.com.
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Wandla: Season 1

John Stark

Aimed at grabbing fans of dystopian futures, young adult novels, and fantastical alien worlds, Apple Plus’s newest animated entry follows the story of a young girl named Ava who grows up in a bunker with only an android to raise her, and various tech gadgets as her social companions. when she reaches school age, her training begins, preparing her for reintegration into what is supposed to be a bright new future on an earth that supposedly has fixed itself. What she finds, is that the world is nothing like her training suggested, and now resembles an alien planet, full of … Continue reading Wandla: Season 1

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Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire

John Stark

Following the events of Godzilla Vs Kong, and somehow likely incorporating the events in Monarch from Apple plus, Godzilla X Kong is the latest in the American version of Godzilla mixing with Kong and other titans as a franchise. This sequel is directed by Adam Wingard, and starring Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, and Dan Steven’s leading the human team. The world is finally at some kind of peace, as Kong is now in Hollow Earth, and Godzilla is left on the surface to fight off any titans that would seek to encroach on his domain. Basically, we’ve accepted that … Continue reading Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire

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The Audio Description Essentials: Day One

John Stark

Yesterday, I used The Small Screen Diaries to lament the narration for Percy Jackson and the Olympians on Disney plus being nominated for excellence in audio description. Several people reached out, supportive of what I was going through, or agreeing, and encouraging me to still be a voice in the room. I want to be that voice, but now I fear that the call is coming from inside the house. So, while the diaries are on hiatus, enjoy a stream of consciousness style approach to audio description. Basically, I’m concerned at the people who voted for the show, and I’m … Continue reading The Audio Description Essentials: Day One

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The Small Screen Diaries- 07/20/24

John Stark

If you’ve been reading these for a while now, what I’m about to say will not shock you that much. But, I’m interrupting your regularly scheduled list of shows for a much more important discussion. Quite frankly, I don’t know what I’m doing anymore. Just the other day, I noticed the nominations had been announced for the People’s Choice Award for the Audio Description Project/American Council Of THe Blind’s annual awards gala. This isn’t about whether or not the correct five, or whether or not my votes got in, but it is very much about one show, which I went … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 07/20/24

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The Small Screen Diaries- 07/19/24

John Stark

Critics Pick! I hope when I’m finally done with this season, to post a longer review of my thoughts, but Peacock’s sword and sandals epic Those About To Die is filling a void we needed on TV. While I can find similarities in other shows, currently there is no equal on television. It is a sprawling epic, with a broad ensemble, strong performances, and the feeling that something deadly is just around the volcano bay. I’m 5 episodes in total now, and if you are looking to add a new show to your list, I will recommend this without even … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 07/19/24

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Fancy Dance

John Stark

Lily Gladstone is having her moment. It is excellent to see her out front, gaining name recognition as an indigenous actress. Here, we have a film steeped in tribal culture, and it is told from a member of the Seneca tribe herself, Erica Tremblay, in her feature directorial debut. Apple Plus, I suppose out of gratitude for Lily Gladstone killing those flower moons, is carrying it. The narration is Roy Samuelson, who is everywhere these days. Fancy Dance is very much a representation effort for indigenous artists of North America. The movie begins with a thanks/certification from the Cherokee nation, … Continue reading Fancy Dance

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The Small Screen Diaries- 07/18/24

John Stark

I have to start today with two acknowledgements. First, the passing of Bob Newhart, who is such an iconic figure across television and film. his main sitcoms were technically a little before my time, but thanks to syndication, reruns, and Nick At Nite, I have caught episodes before.However, for me, he holds a very special place in my heart for his work on the 2003 Christmas classic Elf. RIP, Bob. Maybe this is all just one big dream we will wake up from. The second, is that Paramount Plus is poor. In case you have missed the news about them … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 07/18/24

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The Runaway Bride: 25th Anniversary

John Stark

Even though I’m pleased to report that this film has audio descritpion on Paramount Plus, it does always strike me as to what titles do and don’t. This title especially, because the audio description track sounds like it was made at least 10+ years ago, and with the way audio description tracks rarely travel, it was a pleasant surprise to see that this was something that someone had maintained this track. Kudos. A lot of my anniversary releases target films that have audio description. Runaway bride is not a significant classic, but it was quite the hype of its time, … Continue reading The Runaway Bride: 25th Anniversary

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The Small Screen Diaries- 07/17/24

John Stark

The Acolyte (Disney plus) is over, and hopefully dead. the writers are awful. Don’t you dare bring Yoda into this. Did we forget “A long time ago in a galaxy far far away?” Mae escapes Soul, and her killer retort is “See you in hell!” Ummm… what? And then, O’Shucks, who has avoided violence at every turn, suddenly death grips someone. Finally, O’Shit gives Mae what she’s always wanted. Wait, WHAT? Her brain is wiped, she’s basically catatonic, and left for the Jedi’s to find. To become a Jedi? The hell? And this Mastter Jedi isn’t thinking it’s weird that … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 07/17/24

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The Bear: Season 3

John Stark

I’m sorry for getting the main dish out to you late. I have no kitchen staff. They all work for a fictitious restaurant. The Bear, the critically acclaimed FX on Hulu show is back for a third season, and it is a show that has grown on me. Admittedly, I wanted to throw things at people who lavished so much praise on the first season. i thought it was a mess, and thanks to Hulu’s asinine rollout of audio description for The Bear, i had to watch this twice, though I technically didn’t finish my first time through due to … Continue reading The Bear: Season 3

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The Small Screen Diaries- 07/16/24

John Stark

After today, I’m one episode from the finale of Sweet Tooth (Netflix), and I’m concerned. I don’t think this show will end with them cutting open Gus, because that is dark as hell, but who knows. I need to acknowledge that this show has inept writers, yet at the same point, I love it. They’re fine, but everyone always easily finds wherever they need to go. Of course the man knocking at the church was big Man, because “Nuka pointed me in the right direction.” In a blizzard. in Alaska. where he’s never been. Same thing when the baddies show … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 07/16/24

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State of Consciousness

John Stark

This movie is on Peacock, it has audio description, the description is fine, and the movie is awful. Emile Hirsch is stuck in this, and we owe him an apology. I think he got sucked into movies this terrible because we did not give him his much deserved Oscar nomination for Into The Wild. Into The Wild, at last glance, was still in the IMDB Top 250, because most people have realized it is a terrific film that we missed the boat on and thought it only needed a Hal Holbrook nomination. Granted, that is a fantastic nomination, but now … Continue reading State of Consciousness

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Sixteen Candles: 40th Anniversary

John Stark

I’ve been using the year to bounce around the various streaming services to try and catch some movies having Anniversary years that also are available with audio description. This John Hughes classic is on Amazon, and that means I’m not sure if it has human audio description. I’m leaning toward No, but I’ve heard much worse. It is possible they’ve started using better voices, but these films don’t have audio description credits, so it is hard to tell if that is what this is. This is actually my first time through this, and I’m probably going to ruin your nostalgia. … Continue reading Sixteen Candles: 40th Anniversary

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The Small Screen Diaries- 07/15/24

John Stark

House Of The Dragon (MAX) took a beat and didn’t have a back-to-back massive battle, slowing things down with character development of the best variety. We touched on basically every character, and some hot takes include, but are not limited to: 1) holy Shit. Avon survived that? I mean, I wouldn’t call him “surviving”, but he is technically, in the legal term, alive. Breathing. 2) Allicent is learning that she’s on the wrong political side. After volunteering to be Regent in her son’s stead, she is shocked to find the council has zero interest, and wants Amen to lead, despite … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 07/15/24

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A Family Affair

John Stark

One of my favorite things about this movie is the audio description. It is another winning combination of Liz Gutman and Jamie Lemcheck, and these two fine women have made it a point to point out Zac Efron’s hotness as much as possible. It isn’t just how Gutman writes the description, mentioning his physique, but how Lemcheck actually sells it. Women and gay men everywhere appreciate it. A script from the male gaze probably would have tried to do a similar thing to Nicole Kidman, but it just doesn’t work for this film. This is a romantic comedy at its … Continue reading A Family Affair