The Sundance Reel

The latest Spider-Man movie is being examined by a person who admits she’s mostly a stranger in the Marvel Universe.

Here I am, once again reviewing a movie in a genre I don’t know much about. “Spider-Man: Far From Home” is the latest installment from Marvel Studios and I have only seen a few Avenger movies. But perhaps this makes me the perfect lab rat to test whether this movie is strong enough to stand on its own or if it’s full of weak storytelling that has to lean on the whole franchise for support.

A new Spider-Man film is out, and though there have been a handful of films featuring the web-slinging superhero--even played by a few different actors--you don't need to have seen every one of them to understand the latest iteration. You may, however, have to have watched a dozen other Marvel films to know what's going on. Casual superhero movie watcher Wendy Gourley and Marvel Cinematic Universe enthusiast Emily Means discuss Spider-Man: Far From Home.

The new live action “Aladdin” has just enough magic to make it fun.

Guy Ritchie, usually known for his British gangster movies, has branched out with a movie unlike any of his others. With “Aladdin”, a live action remake of the animated Disney film of 1992, Ritchie has directed not only his first musical, but his first Disney film. He also co-wrote the screenplay with John August.

Imagine there's no--Fab Four. That's the premise of a new film that blends classic rock and the Twighlight Zone.

Have you noticed a trend in rock-genre movies lately? Starting with the Queen biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody”, followed by the Elton John extravaganza – “Rocketman”, and now “Yesterday” – a romantic comedy/fantasy based on the Beatles songbook.

After 24 years, the saga of Sheriff Woody and Buzz Lightyear is coming to an end—apparently—with Toy Story 4.

It’s remarkable when a sequel is well-done and entertaining—even more so when it comes many years after the original film and it’s the fourth film in the franchise.

In “Toy Story 4” Pixar is continuing the fun and the adventures. But more to the point, they are still aware of the pathos behind the whole computer-animated world here—the idea that the toys yearn to be played with, to be loved—lest they fade away, forgotten and forsaken, like Puff the Magic Dragon.

This week’s film is “The Secret Life of Pets 2”, the sequel of the 2016 animated peek at what pets do when their owners take off for the day.  The first film was surprisingly good, bouncing back and forth between owner and pet perspective.  In this round, the ever-versatile comedian Patton Oswalt replaces embattled Louis C. K.

“Late Night” sold for record breaking big bucks after its premiere at Sundance 2019.

Although I wouldn't place “Late Night” in the “Chick-flic” genre this film hits the trifecta with talented women. Director Nisha Ganantra teams up with Mindy Kaling who wrote the screenplay and co-stars with Emma Thompson.

Following the example of “Bohemian Rhapsody” a new film telling the story of a rock n roll legend has hit the big screen.

A new film hits theaters just in time for graduation season.

For the new movie “Booksmart’ it’s easy to imagine the hook someone presented at a pitch meeting.  Instead of a wild comedy about horny misfit teen boys in high school, like “Superbad”, let’s do it with girls!

Fortunately, the result is funny, fast, and relatable enough to overcome the clichés.

A new film looks at the life of the man who would go on to write “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit.”

Finnish director Dome Karukoski, most recently known for his 2017 biopic, Tom of Finland, is back with a new one, Tolkien, a look at author J.R.R. Tolkien’s life.

Legendary singer Aretha Franklin is the subject of the new music documentary that almost never made it to the big screen.

In 1972, as a young star on the rise, Aretha Franklin set out to make a bold musical statement. Returning to her Gospel roots, she traveled to the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles, for two nights that made music history.

Take a look at an endangered species in your local movie theater—the Rom-Com

KPCW is pleased to welcome a new member of the Friday Film review crew. For her debut, Wendy Gourley is stepping out of her comfort zone and taking a look at the new horror film, "The Curse of La Llorona"

I admit I’m not a big fan of horror movies, so you might wonder why I chose “The Curse of La Llorona” for my first Friday Film Review. I owe it all to La Llorona herself and my fascination with folklore.

Not even a road map will help viewers of the foreign film “Transit” on their trip.

German writer and director Christian Petzold, most recently known for the 2014 Holocaust film, “Phoenix”, has a new film, “Transit”, which continues his look at the Third Reich.

A mash up of infamous movie characters Spicoli and The Dude, Matthew McConaughey is Moondog in Harmony Korine’s new comedy “The Beach Bum”.

Casting Matthew McConaughey as an aging beach bum/beat poet isn’t too much of a stretch, but in Harmony Korine’s new comedy “The Beach Bum” McConaughey is so convincing as the stoner poet Moondog, he’s almost unrecognizable.