Category: Movie Review

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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

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The Arrival (2024)

John Stark

I don’t mind diving into the world of independent film. As a member of film independent, and as someone who sat through many a student film in college, I know there is a wide range of film out there, and we really only glimpse the lucky few to be prominently featured. Here comes The Arrival, which lacks recognizable talent, a major distributor, and some typical basic filmmaking expectations. budget does not hold a film back. Movies like Paranormal Activity and Skinamarink were made on shoe string budgets with unknown cast, and proved to be creatively sufficient in their own right. … Continue reading The Arrival (2024)

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Treasure

John Stark

Normally, when you think of a road trip comedy, you don’t think of a 90’s set film where Americans retrace their generational footsteps through Poland. Certainly, you don’t expect it to carry the weight of an older father showing his daughter, almost with unfettered pride,the land he grew up in before being forcibly removed during World War II. Certainly, you don’t expect this to turn into a film about death camps. But, Treasure, almost as vague as its title can be, is a journey best taken on a whim, with little known, and the expectations broadly expanded to allow yourself … Continue reading Treasure

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Happy Campers

John Stark

I think one of the things that I miss about being sighted is the true ability to watch any movie. I never had to consider whether or not the movie had audio description before. If I wanted to watch something, regardless of release year, streaming service, cable channel, physical media, or whether the movie was a major release or an independent film festival title, I had brazen access to all of it. Despite being a billion dollar industry, Hollywood just isn’t that interested in courting and cultivating blind cinephiles. Despite that, there are blind cinephiles. As a blind film critic, … Continue reading Happy Campers

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Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Story

John Stark

I think Paramount got confused when the third SpongeBob movie opened in the middle of the pandemic and did really poor at the box office. That is the only reason I can think of to explain how this new SpongeBob film is premiering on Netflix. Yes, it does center around our aquatic squirrel, but she does basically go on the adventure with Mr SquarePants, so, she’s essentially swapping in for Patrick. In preparation for this, I rewatched all thre SpongeBob movies leading up to this, because they all have audio description. When we get to the fourth film, it is … Continue reading Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Story

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The Rebel Moon: Directors Cuts

John Stark

Reality check. The existence of Snyder cuts for films no one asked for is everything wrong with cinema today. The fact that fans lobbied for Zack Snyder to go back and finish Justice league, which led to not just additional reshoots, but the actual addition of actors, is the most ridiculous thing. He got to marinate on all the critical feedback, sit there and stare at what joss Whedon gave to the world, and then go back and do some massive near 4 hour version of Justice League that never was going to see the light of day, even in … Continue reading The Rebel Moon: Directors Cuts

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Wicked Little Letters

John Stark

I’m realizing this stream of reviews of non-audio described content is quite depressing. This British dark comedy landed on Netflix where they didn’t think to acquire audio description for a film with Oscar Winner Olivia Coleman and Oscar nominee Jessie Buckley. I’m fairly certain this thing probably has a UK Audio Description Track, since it probably had a decent UK release. It’s just about whether or not you care. It is a period piece with a sizable ensemble. I had a hard time following it. beyond Coleman and Buckley, the only other vocally standout actress to me was Alicia Weir, … Continue reading Wicked Little Letters

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Summer Camp

John Stark

I’ve been on a roll here with films lacking audio description. The funny thing is, that this is one of those examples when I watched something with someone else, who know i needed audio description, and then felt obligated to fill me in as much as possible with random factoids along the way. these experiences are always less fun, which i can tell, even though they don’t admit it, and I can tell they didn’t like the movie either. So, what could have been a productive experience was once again a wash. Here is what I have to say to … Continue reading Summer Camp

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You Gotta Believe

John Stark

This is now in theatres, fresh for Labor Day weekend. I got the opportunity to have an advance screener copy, but my midweek was just nuts. So, basically it looks like I saw this on opening day, but I got my screener a few days ago. In many ways, I’m an oddly ideal critic for this. No, it does not have audio description. But, I do live in the Central Florida area, specifically orlando, and the hype has been real as Lake Mary won the Little Leage World Series this year. it is a town just a hop, skip, and … Continue reading You Gotta Believe

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Food Inc 2

John Stark

i wasn’t paying attention to Hulu’s release schedule, and I rented this when Apple had it as a bargain bin rental days before it dropped on Hulu. neither offer audio description. Generally, when there is a sequel to a documentary, it means we screwed up, and the problem still exists. You never see a sequel to a documentary that is all good vibes and a celebration of all the hard work we did to finally change that thing the first film warned us about. So, great, our food is still janky. except instead of getting horrifying footage, this one leans … Continue reading Food Inc 2

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Ezra

John Stark

It’s an honor and a privilege to discuss Ezra. Not really uniquely as a blind film critic, or LGBTQ film critic, but just because this film resonated with me on such a profound level. It’s just being tossed away as some random summer film that won’t get any attention from critics, and I think I probably am over indexing here on the sliding scale of critic, but with some 130+ and counting films from 2024, Ezra is very much one of my favorite. I think it is one of the best of the year, and the only question with that … Continue reading Ezra

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Knox Goes Away

John Stark

In the tradition of all the other times someone went somewhere, like “Ernest Goes To Camp”, “Madea Goes To Jail”, and “Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle”, Michael Keaton plays Knox, who is going… away. Oh god. This movie is nothing like any of those other films. It’s another dementia thriller. Didn’t I just review one of these literally yesterday? And, as to not break the trend, MAX has chosen not to provide audio description for this title as well. It’s that true alliance between Disney and WBD beneath the surface that explains how they are combining into some … Continue reading Knox Goes Away

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Sleeping Dogs

John Stark

Somewhere in between playing an exorcist… twice… Russell Crowe thought this Memento-esque crime drama was something he needed to check off his bucket list. This is, of course, Academy Award Winner Russell Crowe, and I guess he hasn’t switch his phone bill to one of the hot button cheap alternatives, so he’s gotta pay the bills. Theatrical has gotten weird, as a medium, as films that look like they would go theatrical end up being really good fodder for these mystery movie nights these major chains host. I know Liam Neeson has had more than a few of his recent … Continue reading Sleeping Dogs

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Young Woman And The Sea

John Stark

Up front, I want to be honest with you. Yes, you. David Spade. I know you are reading my site. Actually, I don’t know that, but wouldn’t that be pretty cool? But in all honesty, I’m about to break some sacred rule of film criticism, but it is one I’m being honest about, and I feel like the thing in itself is a valid criticism. I fell asleep. It isn’t that this film is so terrible it put me to sleep, it was just dull. Nyad had just come out a few months prior, and managed to really make it … Continue reading Young Woman And The Sea

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The Strangers: Chapter One

John Stark

I think this franchise missed their calling. Just imagine, if you will, rewinding to before we knew anything specific about this film. We have a preconceived notion of what this film might be, but then, we open on The Strangers instead of any victims. A young lady approaches the cabin door and knocks. It opens. “Is Tamra here?” The young woman asks, like in the previous Strangers films, and the audience thinks they know what is up. The camera pans around to show Hannibal Lecter, “Why, Yes, won’t you come in? We’re having a nice chianti.” bewildered, the young lady … Continue reading The Strangers: Chapter One