claudio_carvalho Reviews

Millennium: Dead Letters (1996) Season 1, Episode 3

The Profiler Candidate

[7/10 · 15 May 2024]

Frank Black is called in Portland, Oregon, to investigate the brutal murder of a woman and analyze the profiler James "Jim" Horn that wants to join The Millennium Group. Frank believes the murderer is a serial-killer and will attack again. He kills a postwoman and a nurse, and leaves messages to taunt the police. Meanwhile, Frank notes that Jim is a promising candidate, but also stressed by his divorces that keeps the criminal in his head all the time. When they find his possible next victim, the police are ready to protect her and catch him, but Frank needs to hold Jim from his need of revenge and jeopardize the case.

"Dead Letters" is another gloomy case of "Millennium". This time, beyond the deranged serial-killer, Frank needs to team-up with the aspirant profiler James Horn, who has serious issues and is a stressed man. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Dead Letters"

Monk: Mr. Monk Takes Manhattan (2004) Season 3, Episode 1

Lost in New York

[7/10 · 15 May 2024]

Monk, Sharona, Lt. Randy Disher and Captain Stottlemeyer travel to Manhattan to interrogate Warrick Tennyson about the murder of Trudy. When they arrive at the hotel, a man shoots an kills Ambassador of Latvia and his two bodyguards in the lift, and they witness the killing. Captain Walter Cage arrives at the crime scene and tells them that it will not be possible to meet Tennyson since he is in the witness protection to testify against a mobster. But he also says that if they solve the crime, the DA will certainly open an exception and allow the interview and Monk accepts the challenge.

"Mr. Monk Takes Manhattan" is the first episode of the Third Season of Monk, with the same awful title song. My expectation was that this song would be changed, but the producers seem to like it. Sometimes, the writers exaggerate in Monk's repetitive COD and this episode is one of them. There are also good moments along the episode. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Monk em Manhattan" ("Monk in Manhattan")

Seven Days in May (1964)

Coup d'état in USA?

[7/10 · 15 May 2024]

When USA President Jordan Lyman (Fredric March) signs a nuclear disarmament treaty with Soviet Union, the loyal Col. Martin 'Jiggs' Casey (Kirk Douglas) suspects that his direct superior, Gen. James Mattoon Scott (Burt Lancaster), is plotting a coup d'état to overthrow the President. He joins evidence and has a meeting with the President, and he brings people that he can trust to analyze the evidence and they conclude the menace is real. But they need proof of the scheme to indict the traitors.

"Seven Days in May" is a 1964 John Frankenheimer's film about a coup d'état in USA. The plot is ironic since in the 60's, USA promoted and sponsored several coup d'état and dictatorships in several countries, including in Brazil. In 2024, this film is dated but it is still a good movie to watch. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Sete Dias em Maio" ("Seven Days in May")

Monk: Mr. Monk Goes to Jail (2004) Season 2, Episode 16

The Poisoned Inmate on the Death Row

[8/10 · 14 May 2024]

On the death row of the San Juan Correctional Facility, the inmate Ray Kaspo is eating his last meal of ribs and chili a couple of minutes before his execution when he is poisoned. Stottlemeyer asks Monk and Sharona to come to the crime scene in the prison to help the investigation, but Monk gives up of the case since he found the place too dirty. When he is leaving, the guard tells him that someone wants to see him and Monk and Sharona return. The caller is Dale "The Whale" Biederbeck, who is one of the suspects of killing Ray because he had a US$ 1,200 debt with him, and he lost his privilege to have a window nearby his cell. He proposes Monk to solve the case, and, in return, he would give information about the murder of Trudy. Monk accepts the deal and while investigating the kitchen of the prison, he finds the inmate who poisoned Ray's meal dead inside the cold chamber. Then the social worker Sylvia Fairbourn, who teaches the prisoners to read in the library, says that she overheard a conversation of Ray and the dangerous inmate Spyder Rudner, about a job in Cavanagh, Canada, where they worked together. Monk asks the Warden Christie to stay in the cell with Spyder to proceed his investigation expecting to solve the case and learns who killed Trudy.

"Mr. Monk Goes to Jail" is the last episode of Season Two, with Monk once again resolving an intriguing case, why someone would kill a man that would die forty-five minutes later. When he learns that Ray Kaspo was a donor, and his organs were destroyed by the poison associated to the television news, Monk easily concludes another investigation. Now it seems that Monk and Sharona will move from San Francisco to New York based on the information Monk received from "The Whale". Looking forward to seeing a great Third Season with a different title song. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Monk na Cadeia" ("Monk in the Jail")

Monk: Mr. Monk Gets Married (2004) Season 2, Episode 15

The Antiquarian and the Gold

[8/10 · 13 May 2024]

The antiquarian Raymond Toliver finds a letter from 1849 hidden in an ancient desk he was repairing with the location of a treasure in gold and tells his partner Dalton Padron. Out of the blue, the greedy Dalton kills Raymond to keep the treasure for him. Monk and Sharona are at home when Sharona receives a phone call from Lt. Randy Disher. They go to see him and find Randy completely drunken at Stottlemeyer's office. He explains that his mother, Maria Disher, recently married a younger man, Dalton, and a couple of days later, they have gone to a therapy for couples retreat at the Waterford Institute instead of to a honeymoon. Sharona proposes that Monk and she go to the institute posing as husband and wife to investigate Dalton and learn his true intentions towards Maria. Dr. Julie Waterford welcomes them, and they see that Dalton hides a letter with him. Sharona pickpockets the letter and they learn that there is a hidden treasure in the house since the letter says that "Where is the gold? The answer is in the journals." There are hundreds of journals in the library and Dalton, Monk and Sharona read each of them to find where the gold is.

"Mr. Monk Gets Married" is another great episode of this series. The lead story is very good, with a gold miner killing his partner to keep the gold he found in 1849. In the present days, a greedy antiquarian kills his partner to find the gold only for him and plots a bold plan. However, Monk resolves the case as usual. The funny part is his relationship with Sharona posing as a couple and the therapist trying to force him to get closer to his "wife". The final scene, Dr. Waterford is relieved when Sharona discloses that they are not married. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "O Casamento de Monk" ("The Marriahe of Monk")

Monk: Mr. Monk and the Captain's Wife (2004) Season 2, Episode 14

The Sniper and the Sundial

[8/10 · 13 May 2024]

Karen is driving her car to make a documentary, when a sniper shoots a tow truck driver and kills him. The truck hits Karen's car and she is badly injured. When Captain Stottlemeyer learns what happened, he goes to the hospital where Karen will be submitted to a surgery. The main suspect is the union leader Harry Bolston and his right-hand Evan Coker since the drivers are on strike and the murdered driver was a scab. Randy finds that the sniper and the driver were barefoot. Monk helps the investigation and Sharona finds a lost dog at the crime scene and she takes with her. Stottlemeyer is furious and Monk and Randy try to hold him from doing something wrong. Sharona finds the address of the owner of the dog in a tag on the collar and brings the animal to a handsome man. Monk sees a miscalibrated sundial on the lawn his next-door neighbor and adjusts the time. Meanwhile, a second truck driver is killed by the sniper near a factory. When Monk goes to have lunch with Stottlemeyr's sons, the round table reminds him the sundial and Monk solves the case. However, Stottlemeyer is preparing his men to invade the union.

"Mr. Monk and the Captain's Wife" is another great episode of this series, with Monk solving the mysterious murder of two truck drivers. When the life of Karen was in danger, Stottlemeyer understands Monk's pain and becomes violent seeking revenge. The conclusion with Karen recovered with her family is nice. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Monk e a Miulher do Capitão" ("Monk and the Captain's Woman")

Peter's Friends (1992)

One of the Best Movies of the 90's

[8/10 · 13 May 2024]

In the countryside of England, Peter Morton (Stephen Fry) inherits the manor of his wealthy father and decides to invite his friends from Cambridge that he has not seen for ten years, to spend the New Year's weekend with him. He asks his housekeeper Vera (Phyllida Law) and her son Paul (Alex Lowe) to help him to receive the guests that soon arrive. His best friend, the Hollywood TV writer Andrew Benson (Kenneth Branagh), comes with his snobbish American television star Carol (Rita Rudner) and they live a troubled marriage. The jingle composers Roger Anderson (Hugh Laurie) and his wife Mary (Imelda Staunton), who is an overprotective mother that calls the babysitter of her baby son Ben all the time since they lost his twin brother a couple of months ago. The promiscuous costume designer Sarah Johnso (Alphonsia Emmanuel) and her new two-week boyfriend Brian (Tony Slattery), who is a shallow and tasteless actor. And the shy publisher Maggie Chester (Emma Thompson), who is a lonely woman. In a short while, there are revelations and discoveries that will affect them for the rest of their lives.

The unforgettable "Peter's Friends" is one of the best movies of the 90's. The touching story of friendship may be dated in the present days, with HIV under control, but in 1992, Peter's revelation was a great impact to the audiences. The excellent screenplay and the magnificent cast are another great attraction of this film together with the remarkable soundtrack. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Para o Resto de Nossas Vidas" ("For the Rest of Our Lives")

Monk: Mr. Monk and the Missing Granny (2004) Season 2, Episode 13

The Cat and the Chair

[7/10 · 13 May 2024]

The old Ms. Parlo finds a cat and expects to adopt it if the owner does not claim for the animal. When she is kidnapped tied to a chair by two persons driving a van that roughly draw a two-hump-lightning bolt on the wall, Stottlemeyer, Randy and the police assume the case. Randy is allergic to cat and sneezes all the time, and Stottlemeyer and him suspect of Ron Abrash, who was the leader of a terrorist group in the seventies. Meanwhile, her nephew Julie Parlo, who is a law student, decides to hire Monk to investigate the case since he is famous at her law school. She has no money to pay for his services but promises that if he resolves the case, she will reinstate Monk as a police detective since she has prepared a petition with her professor and mates. Stottlemeyer invites Monk to participate in the interrogation of Ron Abrash and Monk notes that he has a three-hump-lightning bolt tattooed on his arm and has nothing to do with the kidnapping. The kidnappers contact Julie and demand that she gives turkey dinner to the homeless in a mission to have her granny back. Nana Parlo safely returns home and Stottlemeyer puts the case on hold. However, Monk continues to investigate the case and Nana Parlo provides information about her abduction, leading Monk and Sharona to the house of the antiquarians Harold and Carol Maloney. But why they would kidnap the old lady? Nevertheless, Monk needs first to have his reinstatement test to become a detective again.

"Mr. Monk and the Missing Granny" is another funny episode of Monk. Performing the reinstatement test shows the level of OCD Monk is, knowing the answers but unable to fill the multiple choices card for the answers being inserted in the computer. The resolution of the case is great once again and Julie Parlo's mistakes are hilarious for a future lawyer. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Monk e a Vovó Desaparecida" ("Monk and the Missing Granny")

Paradise (I) (2023)

Promising Premise, Incoherent Story, Awful Conclusion

[5/10 · 13 May 2024]

In Germany, in a near future, the company Aeon and its CEO Sophie Theissen have developed a revolutionary means to transfer lifespan from donors to compatible receiver. Poor people are usually the targets, receiving high amounts for their years of life. The terrorist group Adam Organization, led by Lilith (Lisa Loven Kongsli), fights Aeon since it is a company that exploits poor people. Max (Kostja Ullmann) is Aeon's manager of the year, since he is good in convincing people to sell their years of life and start a new life. He is married with Elena (Marlene Tanczik), who was his target in the past but they fall in love with each other, and now they expect to have a baby. When their fancy apartment is burnt to the ground, the insurance company realizes that it was an accidental arson caused by a candle and refuses to pay the loss. The bank immediately executes the mortgage and Elena is arrested since her lifespan was the loan guarantee. Max looks for Sophie and asks for a loan, and she promises to resolve the situation. However, she disappears, and Elena loses thirty-eight years of her file and aborts her baby almost dying. When Max learns that Sophie Theissen (Alina Levshin) was the receiver of Elena's lifespan, he decides to recover the years of his beloved wife and plots a plan that does not succeed as planned.

"Paradise" (2023) is a gloomy Netfilx film about a dystopic society with a promising premise, incoherent story and awful conclusion. The idea of selling years of life to improve and start a new life, mostly for poor people, is excellent and the terrorist group Adam that protest against the new order is natural for the premise in the contemporary societies. However, the moral behaviors of Max and Elena are incoherent, since he plotted the whole plan. Max commits a mistake, kidnapping Marie instead of Sophie, but why the moral dilemma in the end? Sophie is wealthy and could donate a few of her year to her daughter until finding a compatible donor. Elena in principle is reluctant but when Marie shoots her, she changes her thoughts and retrieves her life spam. But why Elena and Max have not reconciliated with each other and live in a foreign country? Max becoming the next leader of Adam Organization is natural after his life has been destroyed by Sophie. But the problem is not limited to Germany. The rushed conclusion could have detailed more each situation in a slower pace. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Paraíso" ("Paradise")

Silent Trigger (1996)

The Shooter and the Spotter

[5/10 · 11 May 2024]

The shooter Eagle One (Dolph Lundgren) and the rookie spotter Eagle Two (Gina Bellman) are assigned to a mission in a foreign country. He fails to kill the target and falls in disgrace in the agency. Now they are assigned to a new mission together in a building under construction. She has some problems with the addicted security guard O'Hara (Christopher Heyerdahl), but he helps to resolve her problem. When their mission fails again, they learn that they have been betrayed by the agency and must fight to survive.

"Silent Trigger" is a film with a messy screenplay, confused characters and awful dialogs. The storyline is poor, and it is difficult to understand the motives for the shooter having such erratic behavior. Gina Bellman performs a weird character that has sex with the shooter despite her intention to kill him. In the end, "Silent Trigger" is a brainless film indicated for viewers that like senseless explosions and shootings. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Atirador de Elite" ("Elite Shooter")

Satan's School for Girls (1973 TV Movie)

Cult Movie with a Catchy Title

[5/10 · 11 May 2024]

A scared woman, Martha Sayers (Terry Lumley), drives to Los Angeles to the house of her sister Elizabeth (Pamela Franklin). On the arrival, the caretaker gives the house's key to her, and she locks herself in the house. When Elizabeth arrives, she sees the police and finds Martha hanging on the ceiling. The police close the case as suicide, but Elizabeth refuses to accept that her sister traveled to Los Angeles to commit suicide. She decides to join the Salem Academy in Massachusetts where Martha studied, despite the warnings of her former roommate Lucy Dembrow (Gwynne Gilford). She uses an alias of Elizabeth Morgan to be not identified as her sister and is welcomed by Roberta Lockhart (Kate Jackson), Debbie Jones (Jamie Smith Jackson) and Jody Keller (Cheryl Ladd). Then she has an interview with the headmistress Mrs. Jessica Williams (Jo Van Fleet) and is assigned to have classes with Dr. Joseph Clampett (Roy Thinnes) and Professor Delacroix (Lloyd Bochner). Soon she notes that weird things are happening in the school, and she suspects that the strange Professor Delacroix is the responsible. Elizabeth confides to her roommate Roberta, and she decides to help her in the investigation, with surprising results.

"Satan's School for Girls" (1973) is a cult movie with a catchy title. In the 70's, after "Rosemary's Baby" (1968), many horror movies about cults have been released, and "Satan's School for Girls" is one of them. Watching for the first time in 2024 is not fair, but the film has good points and lame parts. The young actresses in the beginning of their careers are a great attraction. The story is only reasonable. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil: "Not Available"

Monk: Mr. Monk and the T.V. Star (2004) Season 2, Episode 12

The Awful Title Song and the TV Show

[8/10 · 9 May 2024]

The TV star Brad Terry is at the house of his ex-wife Susan Malloy in San Francisco after hitting a bartender in a bar. When he is leaving the house to go to the studios, the press and the fanatic fan Marci Maven are waiting for him. He calls Susan to show the scene, and she returns to her gym show in front of the TV, while Brad talks to the press. Out of the blue, Susan screams and Brad finds her stabbed inside the house. The police arrive for the investigation together with Stottlemeyer, Randy, Monk and Sharona, who is a great fan of Brad. When Randy touches the remote control, the TV volume is turned up and he turns the TV off. Brad is submitted to the polygraph, he has at least ten witnesses from the press that he was outside the house, but Monk believes he is the killer of his wife. Marci goes to the precinct and confesses that she murdered Susan. Brad invites Stottlemeyer, Randy and Sharona to a party of his 100th show, but not Monk that proceeds the investigation. Soon Monk finds what happened with Susan in the house.

"Mr. Monk and the T. V. Star" is a great episode of Monk with the killer inspired in Monk, since is an excellent investigator with a show with an awful title song. Therefore, very similar to "Monk" and its awful title song. The crime is once again brilliantly resolved by Monk. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Monk e o Astro da TV" ("Monk and the TV Star")

The Stalking Moon (1968)

Suspenseful Western

[8/10 · 9 May 2024]

The US Army scout Sam Varner (Gregory Peck) finds a group of Apache while hunting down the feared and violent Salvaje (Nathaniel Narcisco) with the army. The soldiers realize that most of them are women and children and among them, there is a white woman, Sarah Carver (Eva Marie Saint), and her half-breed son (Noland Clay). Sam will retire and the half-breed Nick Tana (Robert Forster), who was raised and trained by him, will replace him. Sarah begs Sam to travel with him and he accepts to escort them until the stagecoach stop. During the night, the boy flees, and Sam and Sarah look for him in the morning. There is a sandstorm, but they find the boy and look for shelter at the rocks. When they return to the post, they find everybody murdered by Salvage. Sam buries them and decides to escort the stagecoach until Silverton, where there is a train station. He learns that Sarah lied and does not have any relative alive. Sam feels pity for Sarah and the boy and invites her to cook in the ranch he has bought, and his friend Ned (Russell Thorson) is taking care. She accepts the invitation and soon Sam learns that the boy is Salvaje's son. Out of the blue, his friend Nick comes to the ranch and tells that Salvaje has begun a crime spree looking for the boy and is coming to the ranch.

"The Stalking Moon" is a suspenseful Western directed by Robert Mulligan with a touching and violent story. Sam Varner, performed by Gregory Peck, is a sensitive man that understands the dramatic situation of Sarah Carver and helps her. The nameless boy is scared, divided by two different cultures, but following his mother. The landscapes are wonderful, and Salvaje is a true warrior. It is great to see that Ms. Eva Marie Saint is still alive and will be 100 years old on next 04 July 2024, a significant date for the American citizens. Long life to her. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "A Noite da Emboscada" ("The Night of the Ambush")

Monk: Mr. Monk and the Three Pies (2004) Season 2, Episode 11

The Brother and the Pies

[7/10 · 8 May 2024]

A man buys all the lottery tickets of a cherry pie but one in a fair. The old lady that bough only one ticket wins the lottery, receiving the pie. The man asks for the pie, kills her and hijacks her car. Later, the police find the car with the dead body and Monk does not participate of the investigation since Sharona receives a call from Monk's estranged brother Ambrose. Sharona forces Monk to visit his agoraphobic brother and he tells them that he suspects that his neighbor, Pat van Ranken, killed his wife. He says that he heard and argument and four shots a couple of days ago and has not seen his wife since then. Van Ranken says that his wife travelled to Argentina. Ambrose also says that she borrowed a flour sack from him, and Monk and Sharona use this argument to visit Van Ranken. The neighbor returns the flour to them. Soon Monk suspects that the neighbor killed his wife indeed and is looking for the cherry pies she made for the fair to find the missing bullet shell that may have fallen in one of the pies.

"Mr. Monk and the Three Pies" is a weird episode of this series. For the viewers that like Monk's OCD, it is probably delightful to know his accumulative agoraphobic brother Ambrose Monk. The criminal's motives to kill are not very intelligent. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Monk e as Tortas" ("Monk and the Pies")

Monk: Mr. Monk and the Paperboy (2004) Season 2, Episode 10

The Lottery Winner

[7/10 · 6 May 2024]

The paperboy Nestor Alverez (Luis Chavez) leaves Monk's newspaper and his partner warns him that the paper shall be smooth. He returns and the newspaper was stolen. He brings another one and a man steals the newspaper and kills him. The police stay at Monk's apartment while investigating and his neighbor Kevin Dorfman is interviewed by Randy Disher. He gives all his previous addresses to Randy and tells that he has spent all day with his girlfriend Vicki Selenas. Monk concludes that the killer did not want him to see the news, and Sharona, Stottlemeyer and Randy read the newspaper. Monk resolves a nearby hit-and-run case and an unresolved murder in Paris reading the news but does not find any connection to the death of the paperboy. Meanwhile, Vicki stabs and kills her partner Boz Harrelson in an alley. What is the connection of the couple with the paperboy?

"Mr. Monk and the Paperboy" is a predictable but also funny episode of "Monk". The reason why Vicki stays with the annoying Kevin is easily predictable and Monk's Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) sometimes irritates. His dispute with Sharona of who is the stronger is also silly. One of the best moments is when he resolves the case in France. It seems that the awful title song will stay for the rest of the season. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Monk e o Jornaleiro" ("Monk and the Paperboy")

The Phantom of the Opera (1925)

A Masterpiece with Soundtrack by Rick Wakeman

[8/10 · 6 May 2024]

When the Paris Opera House is sold during the production of Faust, the owners advise the new owners that the place is haunted by a Phantom that uses Box 5. The following night, Mlle. Charlotte (Mary Fabian) receives a letter from The Phantom (Lon Chaney) warning her that Christine Daae (Mary Philbin) shall replace her, and Charlotte becomes "ill". She is replaced by Christine that tells her fiancé Vicomte Raoul de Chagny (Norman Kerry) that a mysterious voice is her mentor, and she cannot stop her career. The Phantom advises the owners that Christine must continue to sing but on the next evening, Charlotte returns. During her presentations, a chandelier falls from the ceiling onto the audience. During the havoc, The Phantom kidnaps Christine and declares his love for her in his hideout in the underground of the Opera. While playing organ, Christine lures The Phantom and removes his mask. She sees an ugly deformed man and The Phantom imprisons her. Now he makes Christine promises that she will not see Raoul again if he lets her sing the Opera. But Christine does not keep her promise and The Phantom overhears her conversation. What will he do?

In 1990, a version of The Phantom of the Opera (1925) was released on VHS restored with color-enhanced, new soundtrack by Rick Wakeman and opening introduction by Christopher Lee. However, the greedy and shameful Video Treasures Inc. Edition was released on EP Mode. The analog VHS was usually released on SP Mode and the quality of image and sound was not necessarily good. Imagine in EP Mode, in a total lack of respect with the viewers. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Not available on VHS, DVD or Blu-Ray"

Without a Clue (1988)

The Alter-Ego of Dr. Watson

[7/10 · 6 May 2024]

After resolving a major case of heist of Arts pieces in a museum, Sherlock Holmes (Michael Caine) gives an interview to the press. When they are alone, Dr. John Watson (Ben Kingsley) reprehends Holmes, who is indeed the washed-up drunken dumb and womanizer stage actor Reginald Kincaid. Dr. Watson has created the character since he is a medical doctor that wanted to preserve his medical career and join a famous institution and acted as a detective as a hobby only. After writing short stories about Sherlock Holmes in The Strand Magazine, Holmes becomes popular in London. Now Watson fires Kincaid and decides to assume the investigations by himself as the "The Crime Doctor". However, the publisher does not accept the change. Out of the blue, Scotland Yard's Inspector Lestrade (Jeffrey Jones), who has a beef with Holmes, comes with the British government treasurer to see Holmes about the theft of printing plates of five pounds notes and the disappearance of the responsible Peter Giles (John Warner) in the same night. But they refuse to discuss the subject with Watson, forcing him to hire Kincaid again. Now Watson begins to investigate the case, with the support of the urchin Wiggins (Matthew Savage) and his gang, who knows with Watson's maid Mrs. Hudson (Pat Keen) that Sherlock Holmes is fraud.

"Without a Clue" is a funny comedy that ends with an apology message as follows "With apologies to the late Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson." The film is a hilarious satire of Sherlock Holmes, with a wonderful cast and locations of the Victorian London. The relationship of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson is unique: a detective that is a drunken third-class actor and a medical doctor that is a brilliant detective. My vote ie seven.

Title (Brazil): "Not available on VHS, DVD or Blu-Ray"

Monk: Mr. Monk and the 12th Man (2003) Season 2, Episode 9

The Jurors and Sharona's Boyfriend

[8/10 · 5 May 2024]

When a toll booth operator is killed in a weird way, Stottlemeyer calls Monk and Sharona to help him. Monk learns that this is ninth victim with unsolved murders and apparently none of them has anything in common with the others. Meanwhile Sharona's boyfriend Kenny Shale will run for the next mayor election, and she is fawned by every police officer. Soon a woman is murdered in a movie theater, becoming the tenth victim. Monk sees the same calendar from an insurance company on the photos of three victims and decides to stake out the owner that is returning from a travel. When the killer murders the man and Monk is not capable to stop him, he sees that all the victims were jurors in a trial. Randy Disher arrests the twelfth juror, Tommy Zimm, believing he is the serial-killer, and finds a frozen finger and photos of a frozen woman in his home. Kenny summons the press to use the moment for winning votes showing the suspect, but Monk tells Stottlemeyer that he solved the murder, and the captain decides to wait.

"Mr. Monk and the 12th Man" is a great episode of "Monk" despite the title song. It entwins comedy and crime as usual, but this time without the exaggerations that sometimes happen. The guy with a pipe in his head is certainly the funniest moment of the show. Sharona's reaction when she learns what Kenny thinks about her opinions is also hilarious. The reason why Stewart Babcock stars his crime spree is great. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Monk e a Décima Segunda Vítima" ("Monk and the Twelfth Victim")

Baywatch (2017)

Weak Screenplay and Storyline

[5/10 · 5 May 2024]

In Emerald Bay, the Baywatch team is led by Lt. Mitch Buchannon (Dwayne Johnson) and composed by CJ Parker (Kelly Rohrbach) and Stephanie Holden (Ilfenesh Hadera). This summer, Baywatch hires two trainees that succeed in several tests and the chosen are Summer Quinn (Alexandra Daddario) and Ronnie Greenbaum (Jon Bass). However, Mitch's boss Captain Thorpe (Rob Huebel) forces him to accept the rebel Olympic champion swimmer Matt Brody (Zac Efron), who is on probation, in his team. He starts the life-saving training and Brody likes to show off but taking wrong decisions. Mitch is worried about the drug flakka that is used by people in the bay and suspects that the owner of the Huntley Club, Victoria Leeds (Priyanka Chopra), is the responsible for the distribution. Meanwhile, Leeds is bribing the politicians using Councilman Rodriguez (Oscar Nuñez) as a liaison with the authorities and buying the properties in Emerald Bay to become its owner. When Rodriguez is murdered by Leeds, Mitch starts his own investigation of the suspicious death and the Huntley Club but Police Sgt. Ellerbee (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), who has a beef with Mitch, does not give any attention and claims that Mitch does not have jurisdiction off the beach. But Mitch does not stop and finds how the drug comes to the Bay.

"Baywatch" was a successful television series from the late 80's and 90's that I have never seen. "Baywatch" (2017) is a kind of weak tribute to this series with a cameo of the original lead cast (David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson). Unfortunately, the lame screenplay and storyline do not help the cast. Sgt. Ellerbee is a ridiculous character with his beef with the Baywatch team. Why did Mitch not tell the FBI his findings of international drug dealing at the Huntley Club? The cliché relationship of Mitch and Brody is annoying, and the film tries to entwin comedy with crime that does not work well. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Baywatch: S. O. S. Malibu"

Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018)

Halloween in Wardenclyffe

[6/10 · 5 May 2024]

In Wardenclyffe, N. Y., Kathy (Wendi McLendon-Covey) is a hard worker that raises her teenage daughter Sarah (Madison Iseman), who wannabe a writer and is trying to join the Columbia University, and her younger son Sonny (Jeremy Ray Taylor), who likes technology. Sarah is writing a composition about fear to Columbia and Sonny is starting a garbage cleanup business, The Junk Bros, with his best friend Sam (Caleel Harris). He is also building a Nikola Tesla's Tower for the science fair at school. In the Halloween Eve, Kathy is taking care of Sam while his father is traveling, and The Junk Bros are hired to clean a derelict house. They find a locked book and open it; out of the blue, Slappy the Dummy appears. When Sonny reads a note that he found in his pocket, he brings the dummy to life. When they are going home, the bully Tommy Madigan (Peyton Wich) and his two friends stole his magic book. When they are at home, Slappy appears to them, says that he is family and asks them to keep secret. He overhears Sarah complaining of her boyfriend Tyler (Bryce Cass) and Slappyt starts to use his evil powers. When the trio rejects him, Slappy decides to seek revenge and brings all the Halloween's decorations to life, creating havoc in Warddenclyffe.

"Goosebumps 2" is a funny adventure with excellent special effects and CGI. The plot is silly, adequate for children, but adults may like since it is also entertaining. The transformation of the decorations into monsters is fantastic, with Ogre, headless rider, mummies, bats, jack-o-lanterns and others creature alive. The film is for kids, therefore instead of horror, we see funny sequences. The cliffhanger in the conclusion indicates that a sequel may come. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Goosebumps 2"

Millennium: Gehenna (1996) Season 1, Episode 2

Weird Episode

[7/10 · 3 May 2024]

When human ashes are found in a public garden in San Francisco, his friend Peter Watts contacts Frank and asks him to travel to meet him. Before traveling, he installs security lamps to increase the protection of Catherine and Jordan at home. He joins Watts in the investigation and meets his friend Mike Atkins, who invited him to join the Millennium Group and is worried about the polaroid photos of Catherine and Jordan. Frank tells him that he received other photos in Seattle and Mike concludes the perpetrator wants to terrify him in the moment and is not a menace for now. Soon they identify one of the victims as Eedo Bolow, the son of Russian immigrants. His parents give his last letter in Russian to Frank and his father tells how Eedo changed his behavior when he joined the company Gehenna. Frank returns to Seattle and proceeds his investigation of Gehenna. Soon he finds that the company has imported chemicals and weapons from Russia and China, but Mike is investigating the facility in San Francisco alone.

"Gehenna" is a weird episode of "Millennium". The plot about the evil behind the Gehenna is difficult to understand since the reason why the sadistic killer cremates his victims is not clear. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Gehenna"

Monk: Mr. Monk Meets the Playboy (2003) Season 2, Episode 8

The Past of Sharona in Atlantic City

[8/10 · 3 May 2024]

The playboy Dexter Larson is the publisher of the men's magazine Sapphire and is planning a party in the Sapphire's mansion. The Chief Financial Officer of the magazine, Elliot D'Souza, has a private meeting with him and tells that he is going to pull the plug of the magazine since it is operating in loss due to the expenses of Larson. However, Larson asks him to hold the information for the next Monday to have the party in the weekend. Elliot is a methodical man and on the next day, he is working out in his private gym and Dexter calls him to convince him to not sell the mansion. Elliot does not agree and when Dexter ends the call, his weight he is lifting presses his neck and kills him. Elliot's secretary Diane Luden hires Monk and Sharona to investigate the mysterious death of her boss since she suspects that Dexter killed Elliot. Monk realizes that the room was closed from inside and every electronic device such as computer and HD were erased. Stottlemeyer and Randy believe it was an accident and are closing the case. Monk interviews Dexter and immediately suspects of him, but he has a strong alibi since he says that had spent the night and the morning with his girlfriend Amber Post and she confirms. Monk proceeds his investigation and Dexter raises the past of Sharona in Atlantic City and threatens Monk of publishing nude photos of her if he proceeds the investigation. What will Monk and Sharona do?

"Mr. Monk Meets the Playboy" is a great episode of "Monk", with the surprising attitude of Sharona towards her son first and towards the case. The use of a strong magnet is predictable, but it is great to see how Monk joins the pieces to conclude his investigation. Gary Cole is excellent in the role of an arrogant playboy. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Monk e o Playboy" ("Monk and the Playboy")

Vacation (I) (2015)

Makes Laugh a Lot

[6/10 · 3 May 2024]

In Chicago, the clumsy and dumb pilot of the EconoAir Rusty Griswold (Ed Helms) is a family man married with Debbie (Christina Applegate) with two children, the teenager James (Skyler Gisondo) and the boy Kevin (Steele Stebbins). It is vacation time and Rusty decides to take his family to the Walley World, where he had unforgettable vacation in his childhood. Debbie expected to go to Paris with Rusty but does not show her disappointment since Rusty's intention is to increase the bonds of the Griswold family. Rusty rents and Albanian SUV and begins his trip. But instead of enjoying, they have an accident, are robbed and have all sort of incidents along their journey to California.

"Vacation" (2015) is a stupid and gross film that intellectuals and professional critics hate. However, for ordinary people like me, makes laugh a lot. Christina Applegate is funny as usual and her past of Debbie Does Anything in the college is one of the funniest moments of this film. The Griswald Spring found by the loser Rusty is gross but also makes laugh a lot. The are several hilarious scenes, like the gathering with the teddy bear driver; or the Prancer car from Albania rented by Rusty; or Rusty trying to help James to flirt with Adema; or Debbie disclosing that she had had sex with thirty guys before marrying Rusty. Therefore, is a good movie if you want to laugh. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Férias Frustradas" ("Frustrated Vacations")

Monk: Mr. Monk and the Sleeping Suspect (2003) Season 2, Episode 7

The Mailbombs and the Suspect in Coma

[8/10 · 1 May 2024]

Four months ago, Stottlemeyer and Randy are ready to arrest Brian Babbage, but he flees and is hit by a truck, staying in coma for four months. When his sister Amanda Babbage, who has just moved to another house, receives a mailbomb and dies, her brother Ricky becomes the prime suspect to ATF Agent Grooms since Brian is in coma. However, Monk insists that Brian is the suspect since the police do not have how it was made. Grooms is inclined to incriminate Ricky, but Monk is sure that the guilty is Brian. Meanwhile, Trevor Howe returns to Sharona and Benjy, but Monk is not sure that he is sincere.

"Mr. Monk and the Sleeping Suspect" is a great episode of "Monk" with the story of mailbombs where the police is lost of who the sender is. Monk is sure that a man in coma is the responsible, but cannot explain how he sends the packages, The crimes are very well resolved by Monk in the end. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Monk e o Suspeito em Coma" ("Monk and the Suspect in Coma")

Millennium: The Pilot (1996) Season 1, Episode 1

The Frenchman Killer

[8/10 · 1 May 2024]

In Seattle, a peep show stripper is found murdered by the police. Meanwhile, the former FBI agent, Frank Black (Lance Henriksen), returns to his hometown Seattle with his wife Catherine Black (Megan Gallagher) and their daughter Jordan Black (Brittany Tiplady) to leave a peaceful life in town. However, when Frank reads the murder of the stripper in the news, he visits his friend Bob 'Bletch' Bletcher (Bill Smitrovich Lt.) from the Seattle P. D. to see her body. Frank, who belongs to the Millennium Group, has the weird power to be in the mind of the killer and sees how the girl was murdered. When a gay male hooker is found completely burned, Frank concludes that the serial-killer is following Nostradamus and will not stop his crime spree.

"The Pilot" is a great episode of "Millennium", where the consultant of the Millennium Group is presented. His powers are interesting since he can see the thoughts of the killer. This first episode seems to be a good introduction to the proposal of the "Millennium" series. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "The Pilot"