Tag: Steven Spielberg

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Jaws: 50th Anniversary

John Stark

Cast: Roy Scheider as Brody, Robert Shaw as Quint, Richard Dreyfuss as Hooper, Lorraine Gary as Ellen Brody, Murray Hamilton as Mayor Vaughn. Written By: Carl Gottleib based on the book by Peter Benchley Directed By: Steven Spielberg Significant producers: Richard Zanuck and David Brown original Score By: john Williams Studio: universal Pictures Rated PG Runtime: 124 minutes Audio Description By: Deluxe Written By: Narrated By: Ron Snow What is it: Regarded as one of the best films ever made, jaws celebrates its 50th Anniversary in 2025. Based on a book of the same name by peter Benchley, jaws is … Continue reading Jaws: 50th Anniversary

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Music By John Williams

John Stark

Music By John Williams (Disney Plus)- The GOAT Of Film Score Composition Quick Take: A movie for film lovers, specifically those who really appreciate a great film score. John Williams is the greatest there has ever been. There are plenty of other composers that knock out work all the time that is perfection, and yet, Williams’s reach seems so unattainable. From Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman, Michael Giacchino, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, and even the legendary Ennio Morricone, Williams has created so many iconic themes that how could he not be remembered for the remainder of cinema. This takes a … Continue reading Music By John Williams

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Always: 35th Anniversary

John Stark

Always: 35th Anniversary- The Often Never Mentioned Steven Spielberg Film Quick Take: When tackling movies with audio descriptions that were in an anniversary year, I took this opportunity to get one film closer to having seen Spielberg’s entire filmography. I’m really close now, and basically the remaining ones are films people try to ignore. I’ve seen all his heavy hitters. Always is definitely at the bottom of his list, or near it, depending on your taste, which is sad because it is also the final film for Audrey Hepburn. For that reason alone, I enjoyed it. She doesn’t have a … Continue reading Always: 35th Anniversary

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Schindler’s List

John Stark

Not that the internet needs one more review of Schindler’s List. Let’s be honest and say that all these years later, and this is as engrained in the finality of cinema as Citizen Kane, The Wizard of oz, or Casablanca. 30 more years could pass, and nothing will change in regard to Steven Spielberg’s historic accomplishment. I somehow missed the official 30th anniversary of this film last year, and was reminded of it earlier this year when The Zone Of Interest caused many to reference this classic. It had been years since I saw this, and what I saw was … Continue reading Schindler’s List

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The Bloody Hundredth

John Stark

The only film this year to list Tom Hanks and Hitler in the “cast list” section on iMDB. This is the companion documentary to Masters Of The Air, a fantastic limited series on Apple Plus, which was also narrated by Laura Post. This documentary tells the true story, and in many ways would be a spoiler if you wanted the series to surprise you. Real interviews are used, along with footage from the era, and commentary from those involved in the creation and production of Masters of The Air, explaining why this story is so worthy of its own incarnation. … Continue reading The Bloody Hundredth

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The Color Purple

John Stark

You must be adventurous, as I did not specify which version this review would be for. Is this the multi-Oscar nominated 80’s classic directed by Steven Spielberg that helped push forward the acting career of Oprah Winfrey, as well as help Whoopi Goldberg be taken seriously as a dramatic actress? or, is this a review of the 2023 musical adaptation brought to life with songs from the Broadway award winning musical that only managed one Oscar nomination for Danielle Brooks? Why can’t it be both? In fact, this is kind of a review of both films. The Colors Purples, or … Continue reading The Color Purple

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Amistad

John Stark

when I was in film school, there used to be classes that tackled the body of work of a prolific director. When I took it, I was lucky enough to land Alfred Hitchcock, so I’ve taken a class that was a full dive into the Cock. But, the semester before was Steven Spielberg, and perhaps I would not be here having to admit I never saw Amistad. Although, after having seen it, i can actually feel pretty good in saying it’s not in my top 10 for whatever year or crop of films it was against. Spielberg has heavy hitters, … Continue reading Amistad

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Maestro

John Stark

Where I Watched It: Netflix English Audio Description provided By: international Digital Center Written By: Liz Gutman Narrated By: Jamie Lemcheck Cast: Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Matt Bomer, Sarah Silverman, and Maya hawk. Written By: Written By: Bradley Cooper and Josh Singer Directed By: Bradley Cooper The nose. Everyone had an opinion on the nose. Well, good news Mr. Cooper, you’ve landed yourself a blind film critic, and I’m not judging your makeup team here. This is about whether or not Bradley Cooper has anything to say as a filmmaker, and I think he does. Usually, because I don’t get … Continue reading Maestro

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40 For 40: Part 2

John Stark

Keeping in line with my 40th birthday this year, here is the second list of films I watched. I’m trying to cast a wide net and bring in multiple streamers, but peacock refuses to host audio description for Universal titles not made in the last 3 years. So just like the first ten, one of these does not have audio description. This list spans films I saw over June and July, so it is possible that some have left the service listed. While there are numbers, this is not a rank of my favorites from best to worst, but rather … Continue reading 40 For 40: Part 2

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The Fablemans

John Stark

Where I Watched It: In Theatres English Audio Description Available?: Yes Probably one of my most anticipated titles of 2022, because it’s hard to turn your nose up at a semi-autobiographical story from one of the greatest living directors. If Steven Spielberg wants to impart his knowledge on me, about how he fell in love with cinema, who am I to argue with him? I’m not going to be the guy who says i love every single thing this man does. Off the top of my head, I’m not a fan of Munich. But last year, my pick for Best … Continue reading The Fablemans

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The Best Of 2021

John Stark

With the Oscar’s swiftly approaching, and my Oscar final predictions released yesterday, it’s finally time to discuss who i think actually should have been nominated in the major categories, and who I would vote to win. This list will be completely different than the Oscar list, because I am just myself, I have no guild or board of people to mess up my nomination process, and my awards mean nothing. No actor is sitting out there waiting with bated breath to see if they will be included on Mac The Movieguy’s Best of 2021. Which is great for me, because … Continue reading The Best Of 2021

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My Very Final Official Oscar Predictions

John Stark

So for those of you movie loving folk out there doing Oscar pools, let me be your guide. or not. Do your thing. Maybe your shaman already told you who will win. But these are my predictions for the Oscars that are being presented on Sunday. Yes, this Sunday. BEST PICTURE: The Power Of The Dog Despite the internet Oscar experts shitting bricks after Coda won the PGA award in this category, I know it is used as a barometer for predicting the winner in this category, and to be fair, i think Coda is in the #2 spot. It’s … Continue reading My Very Final Official Oscar Predictions

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West Side Story (2021)

John Stark

Starring: Ansel Elgort, Rachel Ziegler, Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Rita Moreno, Mike Faist, Brian D’Arcy James, Corey Stoll, and Josh Andres Rivera (plus a ton of other Jets and Sharks). Directed By: Steven Spielberg Where I Watched It: Disney Plus (though it is also currently available as of this writing on HBO MAX as well) English Audio Description Available?: Yes The Plot: A remake and reimagining of the classic Leonard Bernstein musical that hit screens sixty years ago. The Romeo and Juliet inspired plot follows to rival gangs, the Jets (the poor white kids) and the Sharks (the Latino immigrants) … Continue reading West Side Story (2021)