RealMelValentin
Mel Valentin
Senior 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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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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August 19, 2023
Blue Beetle Review: Summer Moviegoing Season Ends With A Superhero-Sized BangBlue Beetle closes out the summer moviegoing season with delightful, heartfelt, family-oriented superheroics.
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August 11, 2023
The Last Voyage of the Demeter Review: Fatally Undermined by PrequelitisDracula adaptation The Last Voyage of the Demeter founders and sinks under the weight of prequel-itis.
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July 13, 2023
Foundation Season 2 Review: Stellar Sci-Fi Adaptation Continues to EnthrallApple’s adaptation continues to be worthy of Asimov and his ideas.
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May 25, 2023
The Little Mermaid Review: Disney’s Live-Action Adaptation Flounders and SinksHalle Bailey may be a root-worthy Ariel, but the live-action adaptation of Disney classic #TheLittleMermaid manages to sink instead of swim.
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May 13, 2023
The Mother Review: Vaguely Feminist, Passably Engaging Star VehicleNiki Caro’s efficient, economic direction makes The Mother a passably engaging star vehicle for the always-watchable Jennifer Lopez.
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April 22, 2023
Evil Dead Rise Review: Deadite Family MattersThe Evil Dead Rise, the latest iteration of Sam Raimi’s franchise, goes light on the series’ black humour and heavy on the blood and gore.
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April 14, 2023
The Pope’s Exorcist Review: The Power of Crowe Compels YouDoes Russell Crowe’s career need an old priest and a young priest following The Pope’s Exorcist?
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March 31, 2023
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves ReviewDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, starring Chris Pine, delivers adventurous fun for the whole D&D-playing family.
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February 24, 2023
Cocaine Bear Review: A Title That More than Delivers on Its PromiseElizabeth Banks’s zany horror comedy about a bear on a coke-fuelled rampage more than delivers on its premise.
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February 17, 2023
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Review – Once More Unto the MCU BreachEven a die-hard MCU fan will have to acknowledge a level of Marvel fatigue with this tired entry, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
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