The Flying Deuces (1939)

Ollie joins the Foreign Legion after he is rejected by a woman. He is accompanied by Stan. It doesn't take long for them both to realize that the demands of military life are above their capabilities and disposition.

My second viewing of this lesser comedy of the famous duo. The most interesting aspect is perhaps the funny play with "forgetting" and the naive notion of a voluntary effort towards the consecution of the oblivious condition.

Rating: 42 (unchanged)

Corações Sujos (2011)

English title: Dirty Hearts.

After the end of World War II, the Japanese community in Brazil is torn over issues of loyalty. Isolated from the world at large by the very laws of the country, and suspicious of the little information that arrives to them, many believe that Japan won the war.

The screenplay leaves some questions unanswered, apparently; on the other hand, it may be that there is no completely rational explanation for the behavior which the film tries to depict. The narrative is solemn and static; the scoring is excessive. The use of out-of-focus cinematography in some takes is unaccountable. Overall, not a satisfying film.

Rating: 38

Dumbo (1941)

A baby elephant in a circus is ridiculed for having oversized ears. The source of his afflictions proves to be just the ticket to overcoming his problems, though.

The plot is just a weird variation on a recurrent fairy tale motif, most explicitly present in Andersen's "The Ugly Duckling". The film is composed of very elaborate set-pieces, which are stylistically quite diverse from one another, although consistent with the progression of the plot. This is one of the most modernistic works produced by Disney (following on the at least equally so "Fantasia"). The film is, at its essence, very plausible, albeit in an obviously metaphorical manner, in its depiction of personal adaptation and success. The only minor quibble I have with it is its yielding to the temptation of narcissism in the finale (Dumbo goes to Hollywood). A movie should not suppose that its own symbolical sphere is the ultimate horizon of expectation of mankind (or even elephantkind).

Rating: 75 (up from 64)

Também Somos Irmãos (1949)

Two black brothers who were raised by a white family take differents paths in life: one becomes a lawyer and the other a petty criminal. Their stepsister gets involved with a crook.

Not altogether bad, and is somewhat curious for being one of the few Brazilian films of the time which dealt with race issues. It is basically a melodrama, though.

Rating: 34

The Avengers (2012)

Some people from the other side of the universe steal a thingum which is very dangerous indeed. A team of superheroes is assembled to recover it. Oh, and there is a flying serpent of sorts which is really a scare.

Wow, that 3D is sensational. Now, I am waiting for the remake of "Cries and Whispers".

Rating: 40

Casque d'or (1952)

English title: Golden Helmet.

Paris, late 19th century (or early 20th). A carpenter who has served time in prison gets involved with a beautiful woman. She's the unwilling lover of another, who is a member of a gang; she is also coveted by the gang leader, who also owns a commerce and is a friend of the police chief.

Second viewing. A masterpiece. It is a double (or triple) edged story which, on one side, focus on the feelings and behavior of the woman whose nickname is "Golden Helmet" (referring to her blonde hair), who is forced to live under the authority of men but rebels. The other side is a study of organized crime, on a small scale. And, last but perhaps not least, this is the story of a man who chooses independence but -- is that possible to achieve?

Rating: 86 (down from 88)

King Solomon's Mines (1985)

Adventurer helps woman find her dad who was kidnapped by thugs in search of the titular mines.

Poor adventure which rips off the Indiana Jones movies, with rather infantile sense of humor and hackneyed situations. I was rather impressed with Gagoola and the actress who played her, though.

Rating: 32

The Salton Sea (2002)

A drug addict whose girlfriend was killed is now a police informant.

Here is another one which lost a lot on second viewing. It is a blend of the neo-noir and the junky subgenres. Enjoyable but not as original or consistent as I first thought.

Rating: 66 (down from 77).

Sudden Death (1995)

Terrorists seize the vice-president in a stadium during a big hockey game. A security man, whose two kids are in the audience, try to stop the bad guys from killing the hostages and blowing up the stadium.

I read on IMDB that this was first written as a comedy. I think it was a big mistake to have changed their minds, because as a serious action movie this has not got much to offer (and a little vestigial comicity remains in the movie). It admittedly has a few spectacular sequences, and is not badly directed, but overall it is hackneyed and not very plausible.

Rating: 32

Victory (1981)

World War II. In a camp for prisoners of war, a football match is arranged between the inmates and German players. The inmates plan to use the event to escape.

Basically mediocre, but the shockingly unrealistic switch near the end establishes a vague similarity with Jorge Luis Borges' El sur.

Rating: 36