RealMelValentin
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:
-
August 10, 2024
It Ends With Us Review: Not Even Blake Lively Can Save This Disappointing MelodramaNot even a career-best Blake Lively or her splendid fits can save this lacklustre adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestseller, It Ends With Us.
-
August 4, 2024
Trap Review: M. Night Shyamalan’s Serial Killer Entry Delivers Chills and ThrillsM. Night Shyamalan’s serial killer entry, Trap, delivers thrills and chills in equal measure.
-
July 19, 2024
National Anthem Review: A Refreshingly Unique Queer Coming-of-Age StoryLuke Gilford’s impressive first feature National Anthem takes audiences inside the world of queer rodeos.
-
July 13, 2024
Fly Me to the Moon Review: Old-School Rom-Com Just Misses the TargetGreg Berlanti’s Fly Me To The Moon coasts on the outsized charms of its leads, Channing Tatum and Scarlett Johansson.
-
July 6, 2024
MaXXXine Review: Ode to ’80s Sleaze Completes Stellar TrilogyMia Goth stars in MaXXXine, Ti West’s giallo-inspired slasher that caps off the trilogy that began with X and Pearl.
-
July 4, 2024
Despicable Me 4 Review: It’s the Minions’ World After AllThe franchise fuelled by Gru and the ever-annoying Minions returns for yet another family-friendly supervillain romp in Despicable Me 4.
-
June 30, 2024
A Quiet Place: Day One Review: A Best In Series PrequelA Quiet Place: Day One is a best In series prequel, directed by Michael Sarnoski and starring Lupita Nyong’o.
-
June 7, 2024
The Watchers Review: Like Father, Like DaughterIshana Night Shyamalan makes her feature directorial debut with The Watchers — and shares some of the same highs and lows as her filmmaker father.
-
June 5, 2024
The Acolyte Review: The High Republic Makes a Promising Live-Action DebutStar Wars reaches outside of The Skywalker Saga in The Acolyte, an exciting, if flawed, new Disney+ series set during the High Republic era.
-
May 15, 2024
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Review: This Fourth Entry Barely Misses A StepKingdom of the Planet of the Apes is a worthy, if not as a standalone entry, then as an addition to a franchise that repeatedly renews itself.
-
May 6, 2024
The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed Review: Droll, Kinky Exploration of Millennial AngstThe Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed delivers a droll, kinky, and hilarious exploration of millennial angst.
-
April 20, 2024
Abigail Review: Dracula’s Daughter Returns as Bloodthirsty BallerinaA 12-year-old ballerina turns out to be a bloodthirsty vampire in Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s blood-soaked Abigail.
-
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.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
