Tag: audio description

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Oscar Season: Harriet

John Stark

Where I Watched It: Netflix English Audio description?: Yes Cast: Cynthia erivo, Leslie Odom Jr, Janelle Monae, and Joe Alwyn. Directed By: Cassy Lemons Nominations: Best Actress and Best original song It’s Oscar season, and I’m living my shame out in the open by tackling films I’ve never seen before, but managed Oscar nominations. I’m trying to spread the love across streamers, and prioritize audio description (where applicable). Netflix luckily hosts this right now, and I was glad to finally get to see it. you know, this original song is a banger. Still. And, Cynthia erivo earns her nomination. however, … Continue reading Oscar Season: Harriet

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The Holdovers

John Stark

Where I Watched it: Peacock English Audio Description?: Yes Cast: Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, Da’vine Joy Randolph, and Carrie Preston. Written By: David Hemingson Directed By Alexander Payne What would be fun would be to start each year, try and find some grand master list of all the projected titles for the year, and predict my top 10. if I had done that, I would have predicted The Holdovers. It feels like something that was made for me. Not that films like this don’t disappoint me, or that I’ve been let down before, but ever since i heard about The … Continue reading The Holdovers

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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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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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The Expendables 4

John Stark

Where I Watched It: Digital Copy English Audio Description provided By: Deluxe Narrated By: Laura Post Cast: Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Megan Fox, Andy Garcia, Randy Couture, Dolph Lundgren, Tony Jaa, and Curtis “50 Cent’ Jackson The dreaded 4th entry that bombed at the box office, and has been appearing on several “Worst of” lists. Just wait for the Razzies.Good news for these long in the tooth action stars. I can’t see how bad the visual effects are and if the fight choreography sucks. So, I’m all about the story, the characters, and… even that stuff wasn’t that good. However, … Continue reading The Expendables 4

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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 Expendables 1-3

John Stark

Where I watched Them: Digital Copies English Audio Description for The Expendables: Directors Cut: No English Audio Description For The Expendables 2 and 3 provided by Deluxe. Expendables 2 Narration by Travis Expendables 3 Narration By: Ron Snow Main Series Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, Randy Couture, and Terry Crews. Additional Cast: Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mickey Rourke, Harrison Ford, Jean Claude Van Damme, chuck Norris, Ronda Rousey, Glen Powell, Antonio Banderas, Wesley Snipes, Mel Gibson, Charisma Carpenter, and Kelsey Grammer. Directors: Sylvester Stallone, Simon west, and Patrick Hughes In preparation for obviously the best film … Continue reading The Expendables 1-3

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Salt burn

John Stark

Where I Watched It: Amazon English Audio Description Provided By: Deluxe Written By Edwin Wells Directed By: Matthew Vickers Cast: Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi,Rosamund Pike, Richard E Grant, Archie Madekwe, Alison Oliver, and Carey Mulligan Written and Directed By: Emerald Fennell It’s the salacious film of the year. Scandalous. Divisive. Is it a pretentious work, or has writer/director Emerald Fennell once again struck gold after her debut with Promising Young Woman? In what can only be an homage to the aspirations of youth in the novels like Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Fennell has chosen her whip smart protagonist to … Continue reading Salt burn

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Stamped From The Beginning

John Stark

Where I Watched It: Netflix English Audio Description Provided By International Digital Center There are two very powerful documentaries that both succinctly and pointedly deliver a rich perspective on a history you may not be familiar with. One of them sadly did not make the Oscar Documentary shortlist this year, and that is Lacota Nation vs United States (which a review is coming soon), and this one actually did make the shortlist, and might go on to be rightfully recognized with a nomination. Sometimes, in my YouTube reviews, I often joke that I’m probably not the target demographic for a … Continue reading Stamped From The Beginning

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Bottoms

John Stark

Where I watched It: Digital Copy English Audio Description?: Yes Cast: Rachel Sennott, Ayo Edebiri, Ruby Cruz, Havana Rose Liu, Kaya Gerber, and Marshawn Lynch Written By: Emma Seligman and Rachel Sennott Directed By: Emma Seligman Emma Seligman and Rachel Sennott both landed on my “ones to watch” list (that exists in my head) after Shiva baby. I love being pleasantly surprised by new talent, and fresh voices, and Shiva baby gave me everything I needed in 2001. So, I was excited for bottoms, but perhaps my bar was too high. What I will say is that this film can … Continue reading Bottoms

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The Too Much TV Roundup- 12/28/23

John Stark

The exciting TV news for the day? Night Court has axed Neil. of course, with my limited time, I was planning on axing Night Court anyway. Also, expect even less day and date releases in 2023, since the strikes pushed back a lot of films on the 2023 calendar. Now they are worried that 2023 could be a really slow year at the movies. Well, maybe you should have stopped trying to replace everyone with AI. 1) Neon (Netflix) English Audio Description?: Yes Status: Not Yet Renewed Santi pushes his crew further away as he chooses his fake alliance with … Continue reading The Too Much TV Roundup- 12/28/23

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Rebel Moon: Part 1: A Child Of Fire

John Stark

Where I Watched It: Netflix English Audio Description provided By International Digital center Written By Dakota Green Directed By Frankie Corrió Cast: Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Ray Fisher, Corey Stoll, Charlie hunnam, Cary Elwes, Ed Skrein, Derek Mears, Jena Malone, and Anthony Hopkins Written and Directed By: Zack Snyder Zack Snyder became a director I immediately started to pay attention to when he debuted with his remake of Dawn Of The Dead. Then, he brought 300 to life, and men can’t stop reminding people that this is Sparta! After that, all the feedback he got about using slow motion, color … Continue reading Rebel Moon: Part 1: A Child Of Fire

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Shortcomings

John Stark

Where I Watched It: VOD Apple Store English Audio Description Provided By: The Media Access Group narrated By: Emily Hooks Cast: Justin H. Min, Sherry Cola, Ally Maki, Debbie Ryan, Timothy Simons, Jacob Batalan, and Stephanie Szu. Written By: Adrian Tomine Directed By: Randall Park It feels like one of those get your feet wet experiences that actors generally make when they want to direct, and also star on a TV show. Granted, I don’t know what it feels like to be a West Coast Asian millennial but a lot of these themes are generic themes on love and friendship. … Continue reading Shortcomings