Tag: audio description

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The Ministry Of ungentlemanly Warfare

John Stark

Guy Ritchie is one of those directors that I likely have seen 75% of their work. I know there are a few titles I’d have to cram if I was going to rank his body of work, but I used to be a big fan. even when he started to get commercialized, I still enjoyed his Sherlock Holmes movies. but, he’s not perfect, and some of his films just lack that Lock, Stock flair that attracted us to him in the first place. that is not the problem with The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare, an action comedy that feels like … Continue reading The Ministry Of ungentlemanly Warfare

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Trigger Warning

John Stark

I’m a believer in the idea that certain things can move the needle in a positive or negative direction. yes, there’s a core movie, but sometimes something stands out that is better or worse than the rest, and it is possible to move your feelings about that film just a little bit. For example, sitting through a movie you don’t really care for, only to find out that it secretly was headed to a mindfuck of an ending. That ending alone could sway you. Sometimes, because Netflix’s mold relies on one or two stars anchoring a project, the charisma of … Continue reading Trigger Warning

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Monkey Man

John Stark

Before watching this, I had already heard all the interesting tales of how this came to be. As Dev Patel was making his directorial debut, while starring, he managed to injure himself a few times, and still kept filming.It seems like the kind of press you leak to get fans of action films uniquely excited for the experience as the action scenes must be intense for Patel to have sustained multiple injuries. This isn’t just a tragic accident like Dylan O’Brien on the set of the Maze Runner sequel. Patel got knocked down, and chumbawumba’ed himself back up again multiple … Continue reading Monkey Man

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inside Out 2

John Stark

Where were you when puberty struck? One day, you’re just a kid, doing regular kid things, and then overnight, puberty just begins. That is the big question behind the sequel to Inside Out that has swept the nation. That’s right, I’m reviewing a theatrical release. Shocker! As such, I have a little bit of a spoiler for just my blind fam coming here to talk about audio description. In my theatre, the force was not strong with the bluetooth in my receiver, and short of wandering the theatre like I’m in a Verizon commercial trying to get cell reception, I … Continue reading inside Out 2

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The Muppet Movie: 45th Anniversary

John Stark

45 years of The Muppets on the big screen. When I noticed that this was an anniversary year, albeit an odd one, I wanted to tackle this because we just had Jim Henson: Idea Man, and even then I felt like I needed to review something Muppet related. This isn’t where it began, but it is the first of the film franchise. I’m also not here to try and tip the scales on what is clearly a time honored classic. No one has been waiting 45 years to hear if I endorse The Muppet Movie. This is not my first … Continue reading The Muppet Movie: 45th Anniversary

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The Karate Kid: 40th Anniversary

John Stark

The classic film that would unsuspectingly launch an entire new generation of fans through a YouTube show, which later was saved by Netflix and turned into a pop culture phenomenon. Of course, I’m talking about The Karate Kid. The original. A film you wouldn’t expect to be nominated for an Academy Award, but actually got Pat Morita a nomination for his iconic Mr. Miyagi performance. An unlikely film to stand the test of time, but it has. The Karate Kid is about a rising Karate star named Johnny (William Zappa) who studies at the top dojo in the area, Cobra … Continue reading The Karate Kid: 40th Anniversary

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Ultraman Rising

John Stark

I’m just going to admit, I may not be the definitive critic for this. I have never seen any Ultraman shows or films before, on top of that whole niche thing of being a blind film critic. So, this ting could totally deviate and break every Ultraman rule, and I would have no idea. I’m just approaching it like Ultraman just starts today, with this film. Which this film also doesn’t want me to do. Ultraman Rising definitely has that vibe of “you should know what this is”, from the very start. It isn’t debilitating, and you can watch the … Continue reading Ultraman Rising

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Kung Fu Panda 4

John Stark

Ska-doosh once again. I do believe the official word origin of “skadoosh” is Shakespearian. One of his lesser known works. Don’t bother fact checking that. Google only knows the popular ones. But, because someone needs money, Kung Fu Panda 4 is here, po is back, and the budget has been trimmed. Po’s teammates, the furious voice cast of Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, and David Cross are nowhere to be found. Is that a good thing? First up, this has audio description on Peacock. Oddly, the only entry in the franchise that currently resides on the service with AD. … Continue reading Kung Fu Panda 4

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Movies With pride: Am I OK?

John Stark

On the last day of Pride Month, I’m closing it out with a review of a 2022 Sundance hit that is just now landing on MAX. Starring Madame Webb herself, Am I OK is the directorial debut of Tig & Stephanie. There are so many directing duos out there, from the Coens, The Wachowskis, and The Daniels to this married couple, I feel like they need a name to combine them, but Stephanie didn’t take Tig’s last name. But, I’ve seen this couple represented before on screen, and they are freaking adorable together, so I was really excited to see … Continue reading Movies With pride: Am I OK?

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Rear Window: 70th Anniversary

John Stark

I think the secret of all film critics is that there’s always some small list of films we haven’t seen and know we need to see. It is impossible for everyone to have seen everything, especially now with things simply being hard to find or out of print. Thank God, when I first started showing in interest in film criticism, my mom got me a library card, and I was able to rent all these VHS classics. Free. It’s how I’ve seen a number of older titles, in addition to having her just rent specific titles she thought I would … Continue reading Rear Window: 70th Anniversary

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Hitman

John Stark

Premiering at last year’s Toronto International Film festival, there was some interesting buzz for Hitman. Was it a potential Oscar contender? Who would snap it up in an already tight race? Ultimately, Netflix swooped in, which might have meant a campaign for this year’s Oscars, but that June release date tells me Netflix has other plans. Luckily, the movie stands on its own, and whether it ever wins or is nominated for any major award, this will have fans. It’s the equivalent to last year’s The Killer, which had fans too, even if it really didn’t manifest anything for David … Continue reading Hitman

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Movies With pride: Rocketman

John Stark

I’ve been enjoying my Movies With pride series thus far this year, and I hope to expand to even more titles next year. Every title I did this year had audio description, and I hadn’t already reviewed it. Rocketman initially released during my down period, while I wasn’t writing reviews, and was questioning my self worth. A lot. What I loved about Rocketman, is the reminder that Elton John is so non-traditional in the sense of the physical look of a rockstar, but his talent was so undeniable, and his drive so strong, that people gravitated toward him and he … Continue reading Movies With pride: Rocketman

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Under Paris

John Stark

There’s a fine line between a good dumb shark movie and a bad dumb shark movie. Obviously, Jaws is exempt. It is the pinnacle of achievement for this genre.Nothing has touched it since, though a few films have really put an interesting spin. I wouldn’t call The Shallows a dumb shark movie, for example.Under Paris is like Deep Blue Sea. It has its charm. Dumb charm, but charm nonetheless. This film is actually a French title that is now living on Netflix, and has audio description done by Diffuse, Narrated by Vito DePhillippa and written by Bryn Poudie. Those are … Continue reading Under Paris

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Sasquatch Sunset

John Stark

You know, I appreciate a good shot in the dark every once in a while. A filmmaker who just is willing to go completely outside of the box, building himself a new box, and doing his own thing. You need to understand that Sasquatch Sunset is not for everyone. It just isn’t. But, what it is, is certainly not derivative. It isn’t another superhero movie, or a sequel, or a remake. It’s not a prequel. It is an original work through and through, and there has to be something said for that. At the end of the day, this is … Continue reading Sasquatch Sunset

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For Love And Life: No Ordinary Campaign

John Stark

It is pretty hard to dislike a documentary that is centered around a disabled group fighting for their own lives, and advocating to Congress, when you are a blind film critic consistently advocating for the needs related to your disability. Going into this, I wasn’t sure what I would get to see of Brian and Sandra, the central couple at the heart of the documentary. Brian was diagnosed in his 30’s with ALS, and as someone already working in the political spectrum, he started to piece together a campaign to fund a debilitating diagnoses that has no cure. It’s funny … Continue reading For Love And Life: No Ordinary Campaign