Tag: audio description

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Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

John Stark

Theoretically, there is life in a franchise like ghostbusters, as the concept is pretty basic. Four guys with varying personalities use their ghost hunting tech to save the world. But, this has been really hard to pull off. Even Ghostbusters II, featuring the original cast lacks a little bit of that magic. I actually liked the remake with the ladies, but most people don’t. Then, Ghostbusters: Afterlife had fun with blending the old and new, and riding that nostalgia train. Fine. But what do you do next? inexplicably, everyone seemed to move to the Big Apple. They were all out … Continue reading Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

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Abigail

John Stark

I firmly believe this is one film that should be watched with you knowing as little about it as possible. The more you know, the less fun it is. It was clearly crafted that way, and the people who make trailers do not give a crap. I’ll spoil all day every day if the spoiler isn’t really a spoiler, or if the movie is god awful, or some slog that exists simply to have a twist, but Abigail is none of those things. I caught this on peacock, and without being too revealing, i thought the audio description was really … Continue reading Abigail

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The Fall Guy

John Stark

Part of me thinks this film is probably a blast to look at. And the only reason I know that, is because the audio description fought so hard here to cover all its bases. Kudos to whoever made this, because David Leitch did not make this easy. The Fall Guy is about a stuntman, directed by a former stunt coordinator who has since become known for his elaborate action sequences, but also has Ryan Gosling as the lead guy giving all these internal thoughts as fourth wall breaking narration to the audience. Somehow, with the high amount of action, excellent … Continue reading The Fall Guy

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Find me Falling

John Stark

I had a dream this summer. I frequently operate in a deficit in terms of when I post a review to my YouTube, and when I post to the site. I really wanted to close the gap, and once my school year starts again, my students are going to take up a lot of time. So, over the next two days, we are rapid firing reviews. Let’s go! Find Me falling is a Netflix movie of the week starring Harry Connick Jr as an aging rockstar who moves to the Greek isles to a nice coastal home, only to find … Continue reading Find me Falling

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Gran Turismo: A Second Look

John Stark

Much like I did this summer by watching The Royal hotel a second time, and clearing that film of its initial Unwatchable grade, I noticed Netflix uploaded the audio description to Gran Turismo at some point. Mind you, I reviewed that film about a month after it had been on the service, so the delay is still unacceptable for Sony and Netflix. However, Neill Blomkamp and the cast and crew are taken off the Unwatchable list. The first time through, I could tell there was a hint of a film here that I would enjoy if it just had audio … Continue reading Gran Turismo: A Second Look

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The Teachers Lounge

John Stark

I almost don’t want to do this. We get so few international films described each year that I really don’t want to bite the hand that feeds. But, I also want the industry to keep making audio description for international titles, so i have to talk about it, but I can’t actually lie and say this is good audio description. it is a conundrum. Luckily, this is a terrific film, and you should see it anyway. It’s always amazing to get that experience of perspective from another country, and another culture. how do things there work? What is their day … Continue reading The Teachers Lounge

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Deadpool And Wolverine

John Stark

Rumors of Marvel Studios’ demise has been greatly exaggerated. They certainly have swung and missed big in the past few years, but it has always annoyed me that we keep skipping over the hits that work, like Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3. And Black Panther Wakanda Forever. The latter of the two was hoping to repeat the success of the first Panther feature landing in the Best Picture category, and came really close with a PGA nomination. It is now known for being the first Marvel title to gain an Oscar nomination. However, if you talk to any angry … Continue reading Deadpool And Wolverine

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My Spy/My Spy 2: Eternal City

John Stark

Hollywood loves to pair people who we generally assume shouldn’t be around children with kids. This has been true for Hulk Hogan (Mr Nanny, Suburban Commando), Arnold Schwarzenegger (Kindergarten Cop), Vin Diesel (The Pacifier), and even comedians like Eddie Murphy (Daddy Day Care), Jack Black (School Of Rock), and Adam Sandler (Big Daddy). So, it isn’t that surprising that a franchise exists for Dave Bautista where his sidekick is a child. After all, if Burt Reynolds could make Cop and a Half, Bautista should be able to crank out some product for Amazon. Technically, I’ve already seen My Spy before, … Continue reading My Spy/My Spy 2: Eternal City

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Midnight Cowboy: 55th Anniversary

John Stark

It has been 55 years since the groundbreaking release of Midnight Cowboy, the X-rated Best Picture film directed by John Schlesinger, and starring the Oscar nominated Jon voight and Dustin Hoffman. Of course, since then, the X rating was officially retired as an MPAA rating, as it became associated with porn more than a trip to the cinema. the rating NC-17 was thought to be a more appropriate rating, but has since stigmatized certain movies, and prevented most from ever truly achieving wide release. but, back in 1969, the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences saw fit to name … Continue reading Midnight Cowboy: 55th Anniversary

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Faye

John Stark

A documentary that allows Faye Dunaway to tell her own story in her own words. Often with this type of documentary, we get surface level, and the director is only comfortable going as far as the subject matter is willing to let them. I’m always pleasantly surprised when someone reveals anything about them that is less than perfect, and Faye Dunaway does that. She also gets to comment on a few of her most enduring performances, like Network and Bonnie And Clyde, and why she can’t stand wire hangers. A handful of commentators, including her son, help bring perspective, but … Continue reading Faye

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The Royal Hotel- A Second Look

John Stark

Rather than update my old review, I wanted to make a point that I came back around to The Royal Hotel after Hulu addded audio description. Originally, they dropped this film a few months back, and it did not have audio description. since then, Neon has become a little more aware of their content heading to Hulu, and rectified the lack of accessibility. So, it is no longer “unwatchable”.\ It very much is a wild experience watching a film I’ve never visually seen without audio description, and now doing it again. there were so many things I was unable to … Continue reading The Royal Hotel- A Second Look

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Civil War

John Stark

When I learned Alex garland was taking this bold topic on as a high profile A24 release, my interest was super high. I was initially worried how the film would be received. Politically, we are a mess right now, and heading into the films release, I was hesitant to sit in a theatre for this. But, reviews were mixed, and then I became even less likely. Now, at home, I can enjoy civil War, or I could, if it was good. Alex Garland managed to take on a hot button topic that has nothing to say. On one hand, there … Continue reading Civil War

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Tyler Perry’s Divorce In The Black

John Stark

It is almost a national pastime at this point to review a Tyler Perry movie that, shockingly, isn’t very good. One of the great advents of the streaming era, is that his schlocky nonsense is headed directly to various streamers. this is his second film this year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he pushed out a third. So, what’s up with Divorce In The Black? Meagan Goode unironically plays a woman trying to make her abusive partner love her, until he’s just finally had enough, and decides he wants a divorce. He’s a loser in every frame he’s in, … Continue reading Tyler Perry’s Divorce In The Black

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If

John Stark

This has certainly been a weird year for imaginary friends. Between the creepy imaginary friend in imaginary, to a realistic imaginary friend in The imaginary, and now to If, which is an acronym for Imaginary Friend, where a girl (Kaley Fleming) explores her grief by finding lost imaginary friends and trying to reunite them with new or reunited owners. All three of these films were released in just a little over a three month span. What If If was the best? John Krasinski walked away from the Quiet Place prequel to direct this film, so it must be good. the … Continue reading If

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Tarot

John Stark

Holy Hell Batman! We have got ourselves a true blue contender for the worst film of the year. I say contender, because, *spoiler alert* it is the worst film of 2024 thus far. I do not like to give a film an F grade, because with all the artists working on set, it is like saying there’s no redeemable quality here. I’m suggesting your life will be more rewarding if you do not watch this film. Staring off into space for 90 minutes is more productive. This film is terrible, but it does have audio description. So, a win for … Continue reading Tarot