MOVIE PREVIEWS
SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME
Rated: PG-13
Release Date: 07/02/2019
Production Company: Sony/Columbia

Cast:
Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Zendaya, Cobie Smulders, Jon Favreau, Marisa Tomei and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Crew:
Director: Jon Watts. Producers: Kevin Feige, Amy Pascal Matthew Stillman and David Minkowski. Executive Producers: Victoria Alonso, Avi Arad, Eric Hauserman Carroll, Louis D'Esposito, Thomas M. Hammel, Matt Tolmach and the late, great STAN LEE. Screenwriters: Steve Ditko, Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers and Stan Lee. Cinematographer: Matthew J. Lloyd. Music: Michael Giacchino.
Plot:
By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs

I?ve liked all the actors who have played Spider-Man. Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield were particularly convincing as the red-suited superhero. Yet, there?s a special boyish charm that Tom Holland brings as the web-slinger that makes ?Spider-Man: Far from Home? just a flat-out fun time.

Directed by Jon Watts (?Spider-Man: Homecoming?), ?Spider-Man: Far from Home? finds Peter Parker (Holland) trying to lay low and enjoy life without having to deal with the burden of saving the world.

He?s now more interested in hanging with his high school friend Ned Leeds (a funny Jacob Batalon, ?Spider-Man: Homecoming?) and preparing for a class trip to Europe with his dopey and clueless teachers Mr. Harrington (Martin Starr, TV?s ?Silicon Valley?) Mr. Bell (a funny J.B. Smoove, TV?s ?Curb Your Enthusiasm?).

Really, Peter hopes that he can get over his nerves and finally tell MJ (the feisty Zendaya, ?The Greatest Showman? and TV?s ?The OA?) just how much she makes his Spidey-senses tingle.

And while true love is in the air, so is danger. That?s why Peter?s Aunt May (a funny Marisa Tomei, ?The First Purge?) insists on packing Peter's Spider-Man suit just as a precaution.
Peter does his best to avoid taking phone calls from Nick Fury (the always great, Samuel L. Jackson, ?Shaft?) because that always means something is about to go down.

Fury can't believe Peter is avoiding him and his actions have Harold "Happy" Hogan (Jon Favreau, ?Avengers: Endgame?) on edge too. Harold is the former driver and bodyguard of Tony Stark and now looks after Peter.

The latest threat involves the Elementals, a vicious monster that can wreak all sorts of havoc by taking the the form of Earth, wind and fire. Not the R&B group.

How can Peter possibly suit up as Spider-Man and do his thing without blowing his cover? Ned (Batalon) knows what?s up with him, but he?s really the only classmate that does.

With so many Avengers now gone, Peter must stand tall. The problem is that will leave Brad (Remy Hi, TV?s ?Harrow?) time to move in on MJ. He loves her too.

It?s a tough call for the love-starved Peter to make. Does he save the world, or does he save his girl? If he plays his cards right, he might be able to swing both.

Fury and his crew design an all-black suit for Peter/Spider-Man to wear that will make him inconspicuous.

Still, Peter/Spider-Man is having a tough time using some of the cool devices at his disposal like a pair of high-tech sunglasses that his former mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) left for these types of sticky situations. The glasses are equipped with the artificial intelligence E.D.I.T.H., which has access to all databases of Stark Industries.

Fortunately, Peter doesn?t have to do all the heavy lifting. He gets a big assist from Quentin Beck/Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal, ?The Sisters Brothers?). This guy is a master of trickery and illusion and considered an expert on the Elementals. Plus, he's out for payback. He goes after them in London, Venice, Prague and Berlin.

?Spider-Man: Far from Home? gets a bit heavy-handed with the CGI fight sequences and the film does drag a bit because of it.

Surprisingly, what works best is the focus on the young characters and Parker?s little love interest angle. Holland and crew deliver loads of humor to round out the film?s dramatic moments.

Still, ?Spider-Man: Far from Home? is a summer blast.

Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays now at 6:20 p.m. on radio station KFBK 1530 AM and 93.1 FM.

Watch This Crazy Trailer For "SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME"

Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of The Broadcast Film Critics? Association (BFCA), The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC), The Alliance Of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ) and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.

OLD SCHOOL VIDEO PICK OF THE MONTH

<b>MAHOGANY</b> Title: MAHOGANY
Year Released: 1975
Running Time: 109
Production Company: Paramount Pictures
Director: Berry Gordy, Tony Richardson and Jack Wormser
Director of Photography: David Watkin
Screenwriter: John Byrum and Toni Amber
Author: Lana K. Wilson-Combs

REVIEW: DIANA ROSS AND BILLY DEE WILLIAMS DAZZLE IN "MAHOGANY"

Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you? Where are you going to?
Do you know?
Do you get what you're hoping for? When you look behind you, there's no open doors. What are you hoping for? Do you know? "Theme from Mahogany...
  MOVIE TRIVIA
 
The "Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" was sung by Diana Ross in the 1975 movie "Mahogany." But, who initially recorded the song in 1973?
"Roberta Flack"
"Natalie Cole"
"Deniece Williams"
"Thelma Houston"