Category: Movie Review

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Movies With pride: The Normal Heart

John Stark

I believe fairly recently, I mentioned to someone why I was taking the opportunity to celebrate Movies With Pride in the month of June. I’m a blind film critic, and my driving force in life is to change the perspective on how blind and low vision people do actually enjoy films, and that there’s just this massive problem in terms of getting the accessibility we need on a consistent basis. This month, I made it a point to track down some titles I hadn’t yet reviewed, at least from my blind perspective that highlight the LGBTQ community in impactful ways. … Continue reading Movies With pride: The Normal Heart

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She Came To me

John Stark

I’ve been having thoughts about what I can do to contribute to the discussion of film, but more importantly from a blind perspective. I expressed a lot of frustrations about Godzilla minus one being allowed to be submitted for Oscar consideration without being accessible. Even if the Acadmey made exceptions for certain categories, like International or the Short Film categories, there’s no reason to exempt a movie being considered for visual effects. If anything, that’s the category that should be required, otherwise any blind or low vision Oscar voters are at a disadvantage. Not to mention, the general population. So … Continue reading She Came To me

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Godzilla Minus One

John Stark

I started today feeling pretty down about myself, which honestly is like most days. I wasn’t sure I was going to push out any reviews today, but I noticed the next title on my list was Godzilla Minus One. I talk a lot about audio description, but I can’t do that here. It doesn’t existt. There is no known audio description for Godzilla Minus One. the film was released theatrically without audio description, and was submitted for Oscar consideration without any accessibility for any blind or low vision Academy members, and managed to win an Oscar. Why? Because there are … Continue reading Godzilla Minus One

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The Beach Boys

John Stark

Disney Plus has a new music doc out this year, and my official pull quote is that “you’ll have fun fun fun”, unless your daddy takes your T-Bird away. Honestly, it is just your usual safe music documentary, that explores the phenomenon of the Boys, while significantly tipping their hat to Brian Wilson (who does not contribute to the film). Starting out with how the Boys were formed, to how their career rose at the same time as The Beatles were invading America, while keeping it light, and not going into any potential dark moments. It is a fluff piece, … Continue reading The Beach Boys

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Immaculate

John Stark

I’m excited for the possibilities of a career by Sydney Sweeney. Plenty of actresses have started off with a career launching moment, only to be stuck in some truly forgettable films. I feel bad for Sweeney here because she so deeply believed in this film. She joined as a producer, because originally she wasn’t considered for the lead role, and then finally got her dream role. And her dream role was this? Immaculate treads no new territory. I truly mean, when I heard the title, I predicted this movie almost perfectly. I feel like I should have writing credit. Aside … Continue reading Immaculate

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The Matrix: 25th Anniversary

John Stark

25 Years of bullet Time. I’m not sure what else I can say about The Matrix except to personalize this experience. I remember when this started to be a thing. It didn’t open big, it opened instead with an inquisitive opening that spread with word of mouth. Admittedly, my first viewing of The Matrix was at home. even worse, it was probably VHS. Yet, as soon as you hear Hugo weaving stretch out that Mr. Anderson, you realize it’s not so much how you finally reached The Matrix, it is that you chose the right pill and now your eyes … Continue reading The Matrix: 25th Anniversary

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Forrest Gump: 30th Anniversary

John Stark

This year brings about the return of Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, and Robert Zemeckis. Later in the year, they have a film releasing together called Here, but it feels special because 30 years ago they made the Best Picture winning Forrest Gump, based on a best selling novel. The film has since not aged quite as well as others, especially since its big Oscar competition was Pulp Fiction and The Shawshank Redemption. Shawshank at the time did not have the box office, and while Pulp Fiction marked a return to form and a new career high for John Travolta, Tarantino … Continue reading Forrest Gump: 30th Anniversary

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Imaginary

John Stark

This feels like the film that should have been the first release of 2024. We always seem to need to sacrifice and suffer through a mediocre or terrible horror film to start every year, like a ritual sacrifice. I also sat through a barrage of reviews trashing this film, so when I finally got around to Imaginary, I was ready to believe that this would be battling my eventual thoughts on a Winnie The Pooh: Blood and honey sequel for worst picture. But, no. It’s not good, but there are worse films this year. there are films that have made … Continue reading Imaginary

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Thelma The Unicorn

John Stark

As a member of Film Independent I keep getting invites about a special live read of Napoleon Dynamite. That odd breakout hit was directed by Jared Hess, who has now found his way after all these years to animation with Thelma The Unicorn. Does this make you want to put on some chapstick and vote for Pedro? But first, let’s talk audio description. International Digital center is behind this, with Liz Gutman writing, and Tristan Snyder narrating. I’m excited for this, because I haven’t heard too much from Tristan since The Good Doctor switched audio description companies. Here, he proves … Continue reading Thelma The Unicorn

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One Life

John Stark

When I heard the title of the new Anthony Hopkins film, it reminded me of all those Hacksaw Ridge trailers where Andrew Garfield would say “…just one more”. Sadly, One Life, is an abandoned Oscar bait film. This happened to a few films released at the end of the year, when the distributor behind the film already had their primary contenders. This is like the “in case of emergency, break glass”, except that for a random recognition from the BAFTA’s, One life went largely without being lauded. Neon did the same thing with origin, A24 had The iron Claw, Amazon … Continue reading One Life

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The Hunger Games: The Audio Description Experience

John Stark

Recently, following my viewing of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, I felt the need to go ahead and review all of the Hunger Games films on my Youtube. I’ve reviewed all four films previously, on this site, prior to my vision loss, so really what I have to offer is a look at the audio description experience. All four films were available on Netflix until the end of May, which is exactly when I binged this series. Of the four films, only Catching Fire (Deluxe, written by Roland Burner, and Narrated by Tansy Alexander) was balanced correctly. The first … Continue reading The Hunger Games: The Audio Description Experience

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The Blue Angels

John Stark

I always try to go into a movie with a clear mind, and the idea that any movie can swing any way for me. but, we are still a product of a series of experiences, and our tastes are what they are. I was intrigued by The Blue Angels because it had been given at least some kind of an IMAX screening, and it had audio description by The Media Access Group, narrated by Ingir Tudor. But I have to admit that I don’t have a desire to ever go to an air show, sighted or not. I even had … Continue reading The Blue Angels

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Mother Of The Bride

John Stark

This year for Mother’s Day, Netflix paired up with Suddenly Susan star Brooke Shields (remember that show?) for a fluffy nonsensical destination wedding movie. To help round out the algorithm, I mean “cast”, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove, Chad Michael Murray, Rachael Harris, and Wilson Cruz are all along for the ride. This Netflix film, inevitably conceived through the algorithm,, written by AI, and directed by… Mark Waters? What? Wait, what? This thing is from the director of Mean Girls? Dammit. So now, we all have to take this film a bit more seriously, because instead of hiring that one person … Continue reading Mother Of The Bride

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Late Night With The Devil

John Stark

One of the buzziest horror titles of the year, the indie Late night With The Devil does a lot with very little.A lot of this has to do with casting David Dastmalchian in the lead role of Jack. Dastmalchian has spent years popping up in character actor roles, even really bit parts, but with such a recognizable face. he’s developed a recognition for his work, even if the work is small, or brief, and known for having range. Never has he really been asked to play this type of role, or be the lead actor of the film. Absolutely the … Continue reading Late Night With The Devil

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Call Me Country: Beyonce and Nashville’s Renaissance

John Stark

Beyonce has gone country, and MAX is here to document the occasion. Unfortunately, they allowed this documentary to pass through with TTS audio description, which is disappointing. MAX has largely steered clear of the Test To Speech Robodescriptions, using voices that sound similar to those we encounter on a regular basis in our other accessibility tools as the thing that helps to enhance our entertainment. It’s not really an enhancement so much as the minimum. And I do mean minimum. Text To Speech audio description is less costly, because they skimp on voice talent. That voice talent missing on a … Continue reading Call Me Country: Beyonce and Nashville’s Renaissance