Mel Valentin
Featured Critic
Mel Valentin has been writing about his first and possibly his last love, film, for more than a decade. Born somewhere on the East Coast in the last century, Mel moved to the San Francisco Bay Area two decades ago. Mel spends his days looking forward to when we can all return to movie theaters and film festivals in person.Articles by Mel Valentin:
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January 13, 2024
Destroy All Neighbors Review: Gory, Gruesome, Gnarly Fun for the Whole FamilyDestroy All Neighbors is a splatter-filled B-movie with a game cast.
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December 31, 2023
Godzilla Minus One Review: Latest Reboot Brings Toho’s Biggest Star Into the 21st CenturyGodzilla Minus One brings Toho’s biggest movie star back to the big screen with one of its all-time best entries.
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December 24, 2023
The Color Purple Review: The Newest Adaptation of Alice Walker’s Novel Stumbles TonallyThe second adaptation of Alice Walker’s 1982 novel, The Color Purple, mixes dramatic and musical conventions to tonally jarring, disappointing effect.
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December 23, 2023
Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire: Zack Snyder’s Franchise Starter Wannabe Isn’tRebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire just isn’t the epic franchise starter filmmaker Zack Snyder wishes it was.
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December 22, 2023
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget: Aardman Makes a Welcome Return to Stop-Motion AnimationChicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the sequel to Aardman Animation’s 2000 hit, offers a welcome return to form for the studio.
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December 21, 2023
Aquaman and the Last Kingdom: The DCEU Goes Out With a ShrugThe nicest thing one can say about Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is that this DCEU product is the last movie in the franchise.
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December 13, 2023
The Iron Claw Review: Efron and Durkin Elevate Wrestling Family DramaZac Efron delivers a career-best performance in Sean Durkin’s The Iron Claw, which recounts the Von Erich wrestling family dynasty.
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December 9, 2023
Poor Things Review: Lanthimos and Stone Deliver One of 2023’s BestYorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone reunite in Poor Things, a dark, fantastical exploration of patriarchy, masculinity, and feminism.
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November 18, 2023
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes ReviewThe Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes hits the rewind button, leading to diminishing dramatic and emotional returns. As a case study in authoritarian politics, though, it remains relevant.
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September 22, 2023
The Continental Review: An Underwhelming Prequel and Spin-OffThe Continental, a prequel/spin-off of the beloved John Wick action film series, underwhelms and disappoints.
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September 7, 2023
Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4 Review: Animated Excellence ContinuesWith the arrival of season 4, Lower Decks fans can expect weekly doses of the crew of the U.S.S. Cerritos doing what they do best, delivering outrageous, laugh-out-loud jokes, physical gags, and enough in-jokes to keep Ph.D. students in pop culture occupied for the next year or two.
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August 19, 2023
Strays Review: Vulgar, Profane, and Exhausting In Unequal MeasureVulgar, profane, and exhausting in unequal measure, Strays closes out the summer with a whimper, not a bang.
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film
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TV
X-Men ’97 is Off To An X-Cellent Start With Its First Three Episodes
The Marvel Studios revival strikes the sweet spot between nostalgic and modern television sensibilities.
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music
Unboxing: Joni Mitchell Archives Vol. 3 – The Asylum Years Vinyl Box Set
In this Unboxing video, Jason Gorber checks out the Joni Mitchell Archives Volume 3 on vinyl and covers just what you get with this latest release.
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podcasts
Springfield Googolplex Ep. 25: The Natural
Adam and Nate discuss The Natural on Springfield Googolplex!
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