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The Small Screen Diaries- 01/20/24

John Stark

Lawmen (Paramount Plus) gave me the second to last (or penultimate) episode as Bass faced his own demons and decided he needed to face Mr. Sundown. I love the audio description on this series. Absolute excellence. There’s a scene where Bass keeps fever dreaming other things that cuts with reality which I thought was done rather well. Also managed another episode of Reacher (Amazon) which had the team get closer to the truth, until the truth decides not to leave any tracks. And on a short news day, also watched an episode of Young Sheldon (MAX) which has audio description. … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 01/20/24

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The Small Screen Diaries- 01/13/24

John Stark

The fourth episode of Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix) just feels like filler. The audio description team, with Sri Gordon as narrator, is still doing solid work, but this episode was just a lot of dumb challenges. The only interesting one was having them vote off three people. That and the way they handled it was fine, and since we ended on a solid number, with 70 contestants remaining, it felt like that was where we needed to go. While I don’t know the results of the Jack In the Box game, it’s not everyone competing, and the fact that … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 01/13/24

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The Small Screen Diaries- 01/12/24

John Stark

Apple better be continuing on with For All Mankind. That season finale was a beast, and did exactly what I thought it would. Because the show takes these leaps forward in time, original cast members have to keep being shaved off because there’s only just so much you can age a person. Just like how last season ended with a few original cast members exiting, it’s highly likely that the way certain characters are written, means the end for them on the show (at least as regulars). However, there was one prominent character whose future was not shown, and that … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 01/12/24

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Sound Of Freedom

John Stark

Where I Watched it: Amazon English Audio Description?: No Cast: Jim Caveizel, Mira Sorvino, and Bill Camp Written By: Rod Barr Directed By: Alejandro Monteverdi I dreaded the attention a review of this might bring to my YouTube, and that landed without any disruption, so let’s talk about Sound Of Freedom. A couple of things. I’m glad Mira Sorvino is working. Jim Caveizel is not my favorite human being, but he has turned in some terrific performances in his career. I do really love Frequency, and I even thought When The Game Stands Tall used him rather well. i pretty … Continue reading Sound Of Freedom

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The Wiz

John Stark

As you might have noticed with my review of Harriet, I’ve been dipping into the realm of Oscar nominees I had never seen before, since January is the month for Oscar voting, my Best Of 2023 lists, and eventually Oscar nominees. We already had the Golden Globes, we’ve had SAG nominations, DGA nominations, BAFTA shortlists, and today the PGA is supposed to be announced. So, my second title of shame is The Wiz. This is the original version with Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, which is surprisingly directed by Sidney Lumet. This classic musical was nominated for four Oscars, despite … Continue reading The Wiz

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The Small Screen Diaries- 01/06/24

John Stark

The creative arts Emmys were last night, and some really interesting choices were made. Did your show win any of the below the line awards? Was your favorite guest actor or actress awarded a trophy? Also, the National Society of Film Critics (an aspirational group for me) named Past Lives as the film of the year, but my favorite pick of theirs was giving an honorable Mention to Rachel macadams for Are You There God, It’s me Margaret? I did think it was weird that Zone of Interest was the Best Picture honorable mention, won director, and was recognized as … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 01/06/24

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Foe: The Review To End All Reviews

John Stark

I’ve been pretty transparent about my goal for audio description prior to this moment, and while I’ve had my struggles with audio description in the past, none really compares to that of the recently released Foe. I’m actually behind on reviews, havent’ even done my YouTube review just yet, and we already need to talk. After watching a lot of exceptional audio description this past year, I can’t even begin to describe how offensive Foe is. Like, I’m openly considering cancelling my Prime membership. It’s the equivalent of serving me dog food This is quite possibly the worst audio description … Continue reading Foe: The Review To End All Reviews

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The Small Screen Diaries- 01/04/24

John Stark

Well, I reached the season finale of Upload (Amazon) finally, and wouldn’t that be insane if this show didn’t get a 4th season? Just. Wow. Also, made it through part three of Far Away Downs (Hulu), which I love the fact it has an Australian narrator. I didn’t see Australia before watching this version, so I’ll be doing this in reverse, but this seems like a really toned down Baz Luhrmann. Usually his movies are big loud and fast, and this doesn’t feel like him at all. I wonder if he stripped his soul away ffor this version, or if … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 01/04/24

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The Small Screen Diaries- 01/02/2024

John Stark

Slowly moving into 2024, I’m getting closer and closer to finishing some series. One of those I’m close on is Fellow Travelers (Paramount Plus with Showtime), the excellent drama starring Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey as two men inexplicably forever linked through the passage of time. The latest episode I watched dealt with the murder of Harvey Milk, and that someone tried to blame their mental state on Twinkies. The jury actually had to deliberate for more than 5 minutes on that one, which highlights the absurdity of the period. But, Bomer was excellent as it turned out he was … Continue reading The Small Screen Diaries- 01/02/2024

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Best Of 2023: Ensembles In A Comedy Series

John Stark

Another celebration of the best of 2023. Since shows can’t be trusted to actually stay Limited, I’ve just rolled them into what I either interpret as Comedy or Drama. Kinda like the Globes. All of these shows have audio description except one, and its first season had audio description. This is more than a Top 10, so rather than try to rank a lot of shows that are very close, I just worried about a winner, and a Runner Up. Are you watching these shows? Let me know in the comments. My interpretation of Ensemble is sort of like having … Continue reading Best Of 2023: Ensembles In A Comedy Series

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Best Of 2023: Top 10 Animated Series

John Stark

I’m making a greater focus on audio description and the importance of it in 2024. every title on this list has audio description at least in some part. So, for my first in a long list to come of celebrations of the best work of 2023, here is the list, with titles and where you can watch them. Honorable Mentions: Anamaniacs (Hulu), Young love (MAX), Scott Pilgrim takes off (Netflix), and invincible (Amazon) 10- Strange Planet (Apple Plus) 9- Fired On Mars (MAX) 8- South Park (Comedy/Paramount Plus) *only Paramount Plus content has AD 7) Solar Opposites (Hulu) 6) The … Continue reading Best Of 2023: Top 10 Animated Series

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The Too Much TV Roundup- 12/27/23

John Stark

Really, it’s the doldrums of TV news right now. Even in the world of movie news, the best I got is that I just learned there was a movie in theatres called Anyone But You that stars Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney. Talk about the wrong time of year to open a film like that. Wow. Getting clobbered by films with big budgets and Oscar fare, with two people who really aren’t marketable romcom stars. 1) Everything Now (Netflix) English Audio Description?: Yes Status: Not Yet Renewed Clashes begin in the friend zone when people seem at odds with each … Continue reading The Too Much TV Roundup- 12/27/23

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The Too Much Tv Roundup- 12/26/23

John Stark

Apparently Percy Jackson is doing solid numbers for Disney. Over 13M in the first week. Maybe the series will survive. 1) Bodies (Netflix) English Audio Description?: Yes Status: Limited I may not always know what is going on, but as the series moves forward the series has intrigued me a lot. By episode 5, things are really starting to come together, and you can see characters understand what is going on. Episode Grade: B+ 2) Monarch (Apple Plus) English Audio Description?: Yes Narrated By: Jedidiah Barton Status: Unknown Our characters find themselves really trapped in the freezing tundra being chased … Continue reading The Too Much Tv Roundup- 12/26/23

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The Too Much TV Roundup- 12/24/23

John Stark

I’m writing the next day about what I watched on Christmas Eve, which means you are reading this on Christmas, so Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! And for those who don’t celebrate, today is weird because everything is closed… except movie theatres. I guess you gotta go see a movie today. 1) Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix) English Audio Description Provided By International Digital Center Written By liz Gutman Narrated By Sri Gordon Status: Unknown This seems like a no-brainer for a second season, except for the lawsuits Netflix is having to deal with. They gave outlast a second season, and … Continue reading The Too Much TV Roundup- 12/24/23

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Merry Little Batman

John Stark

Where I Watched It: Amazon English Audio Description Provided By Deluxe Narrated By: Jedidiah Barton Featuring Luke Wilson as Batman I am truly considering this in my top 10 of the year. I know it’s a silly Christmas special, but it brought me so much joy. Merry little Batman is the animated DC entry I didn’t know I needed, fully of fun, laughs, and heart. And Luke Wilson. Technically, the movie does center around young Damien Wayne, Bruce’s son, who is readying himself for Christmas, but mostly for being Batman himself. In this version, Batman wiped out all crime before … Continue reading Merry Little Batman