claudio_carvalho Reviews

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"

Carried Away (1996)

Midlife Crisis

[7/10 · 1 May 2024]

In the countryside of Texas, Joseph Svenden (Dennis Hopper) is a forty-seven-year-old schoolteacher with one lamed leg since he had an accident when he was a teenager, who lives in a farm with his mother that is terminal of cancer. Joey has been dating the widow schoolteacher Rosealee Henson (Amy Irving) for six years but does not marry her. His life is a boring routine, and he has never seen the ocean. When the hot seventeen-year-old Catherine Wheeler (Amy Locane) joins his class, her father Major Wheeler (Gary Busey) visits Joey and rents his barn to keep Catherine's horse there. Soon Catherine seduces Joey, and they have frequent sex in the barn. Joey knows that he is wrong but cannot resist the sex with Catherine. When Joey is fired from the school that is moving to another place and his mother dies, Rosealee learns his affair with the teenager and his life turns upside down.

"Carried Away" is a great and erotic romance directed by Bruno Barreto, about a middle-aged man that has a romance with a seventeen-year-old teenager. The midlife crisis of the lead character, Joseph Svenden, is very well explained by the script. First, it is hard to resist the beautiful body of the Lolita Amy Locane, no matter who you are. His affair makes him think about his boring and routine life in the countryside. The nude is not vulgar, but beautiful, and the sex scene between Amy Irving, who was Bruno Barreto's wife in 1996, and Dennis Hopper, is delicate. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Atos de Amor" ("Love Acts")

Monk: Mr. Monk Goes to the Theater (2003) Season 2, Episode 6

Silly Episode, Awful Title Song

[7/10 · 30 April 2024]

Monk and Sharona go to the theater together to see the performance of Sharona's sister Gail. During the show, Gail stabs she fellow actor Hal Duncan with a real knife, instead of the retractable one, and kills him in front of three hundred people. However, Gail claims that she used the retractable knife. Meanwhile, Sharona's mother Cheryl Fleming arrives in San Francisco to stay with Sharona, and Monk promises to investigate the case with Sharona. Soon they suspect of Gail's understudy Jenna Ryan, and Monk investigates her at a speed dating service. But she has a solid alibi and now is the star of the play. When Monk is invited to be Hal's replacement for two shows, he finds what happened in the tragic night.

"Mr. Monk Goes to the Theater" is a silly episode of this series. The awful title song is a terrible beginning for this season, and this episode is more comedy than a crime. How is possible that a retractable knife is fixed in the chest of the actor in a live show in one important question. Monk's stupidities are excessive and are becoming boring, instead of funny. Despite the murders, it is necessary to see this series as a comedy. Looking forward to seeing if this series improves. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Monk Vai ao Teatro" ("Mr. Monk Goes to the Theater")

Invasion: The Last Wave Goodbye (2006) Season 1, Episode 22

Lack of Respect from the Producers to the Audiences

[5/10 · 29 April 2024]

The hybrid soldiers are pushing the residents of Homestead from the harbor to the water and Dave calls the Air Force. Tom and Russell try to stop the hybrid while Szura flees with the hybrids, Mariel and four pregnant women. Tom and Russell hunt him down and they find Szura in a hideout that Tom knew. There is a showdown between Tom and Szura. Russell helps Mariel to bring the pregnant women to the water. Meanwhile, Brett and a partner go to Underlay's home to kill Tom. They capture Larkin, Jess, Kira and Rose while waiting for Tom. When he arrives, a tragedy occurs.

"The Last Wave Goodbye" is the last episode of the First Season of "Invasion" and consequently from the whole series since the Second Season was never made. The plot ends in a cliffhanger where the viewer does not know the fate of Larkin. There are also several unanswered question about the fate of Homestead or other important characters. This series is too weak, I agree, but if the producers should have ended with another episode or a movie. Leaving the way they did, shows a great disrespect towards the viewers. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "O Último Adeus" ("The Last Wave Goodbye")

Invasion: Round Up (2006) Season 1, Episode 21

The Shelter

[7/10 · 29 April 2024]

Russell and Tom returns to Homestead, while Mariel, Larkin, Jess, Kira and Rose are fleeing to the north. Out of the blue, a tree falls on the road and they are trapped since the tree is heavy. A truck from the National Guard appears and the soldiers offer a ride to them. But Mariel feels that they are hybrids, and they are captives instead. Two hybrid deputies force him to go with them to Russell's home since they are hunting down Sheriff Underlay for killing Deputy Munger. They capture Dave but Lewis helps him to subdue the hybrid deputies.

"Round Up" is one of the best episodes of "Invasion", where finally there are action and tense scenes. Sheriff Underlay and Russell finally discover where the insane Szura is and are the last chance for the residents of Homestead to be saved. Dave is another character that has grown along the story. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil": "Reunião" ("Meeting")

Invasion: Run and Gun (2006) Season 1, Episode 20

The Hurricane Miranda and Szura Are Coming

[7/10 · 29 April 2024]

Russell tries to warn the major about the hurricane that is coming with Tom supporting him. Russell finds the hybrids submerged into the water, and when he returns with Tom, there are only their clothes. Tom finds Deputy Munger with Kira and after questioning him, he kills the hybrid smashing his head with his police car hitting a truck.

"Run and Gun" is a good episode of "Invasion", where Sheriff Underlay cannot trust his deputies but Lewis since some of them released Szura from his cell. Russel discovers that Frank Vargas is corrupt and is working with Szura. The fate of Deputy Munger is one of the best scenes of this show. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "A Fuga" ("The Getaway")

Invasion: The Son Also Rises (2006) Season 1, Episode 19

Human Reaction

[7/10 · 29 April 2024]

Russell is looking for Szura and his hybrids, and is suspended by his boss, who seems to be friend of Szura. Tom and Lewis go to the island to look for Szura and find an abandoned place. There is a lot of tension at school between the human and hybrid students He teams up with his mate Brett and other human guys to capture Sheriff Underlay and discover what is happening. But the guy almost kills Deputy Lewis Sirk instead, and Jess protects him. Tom and Russell go to the town and see the hybrids storing water, batteries and emergency supplies since they can feel that the Hurricane Miranda is coming to Homestead.

"The Son Also Rises" introduces modifications in the behavior of Tom and Jess. Tom seems to be honest with Russell now and it seems that they will team-up in the next episodes. Jess becomes a rebel, but his wrong attitude almost kill Deputy Lewis Sirk. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "A Revolta do Filho" ("The Son's Rebellion")

Invasion: Re-Evolution (2006) Season 1, Episode 18

The New Evolution

[7/10 · 28 April 2024]

Russell is decided to arrest (or kill) Szura and explores the island with Dave to capture him. They find Father Jeffrey Scanlon and he helps them, showing Szura's tent where they find a book written by him about a new evolution. Meanwhile, Larkin hits a military on the road and brings him home to treat his leg. Sheriff Underlay arrives at her house with two soldiers and arrest the man. When Larkin tells him what the soldier told her, he heads to the military base to see Colonel Sabrina Lopez and he learns that the hybrids are being subject to experiments. Jess does not recognize Marion as his mother anymore and is training shooting using his family's photos.

"Re-Evolution" is an episode where Szura's intentions are disclosed. Tom's make a discovery that the military are aware of the hybrids. And Jess is totally rejecting his mother. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Re-evolução" ("Re-Evolution")

Code 8: Part II (2024)

Unpleasant Characters, Stupid Dialogs

[5/10 · 28 April 2024]

In Lincoln City, after serving five years in prison, Connor (Robbie Amell) is released and refuses any help from Garrett (Stephen Amell). He works as janitor of a community center under the administration of Mina (Jean Yoon). Meanwhile, the corrupt but popular Sergeant 'King' Kingston (Alex Mallari Jr.) explains to the residents of a poor area that the guardians have been replaced by non-lethal dog robots. Garrett controls the apartment complex called Towers paying bribe to Kingston. When his courier Tarak (Sammy Azero) decides to rob the bag with bribe money, he is caught by a K9 dog that injects Spyke in him and killing him with an overdose. However, his sister Pavani "Pav" (Sirena Gulamgaus) witnesses his murder by the dog that is destroyed by her. She hides at the community center and Connor finds her. Mina asks Connor to protect Pav, while King and his corrupt cops hunt her down. Connor is forced to ask for help to Garrett.

"Code 8: Part II" is a disappointing sequel of the part I. In this sequel, the characters are unpleasant, and it is hard to understand, for example, Connor that asks Garret for help and treats him so badly. Or Pav, who is an unbearable character with her statements, telling Connor that she will not run away anymore. Why would Mina sacrifice her life to help such girl? Why Connor risks his freedom to risk this girl? If she knew her, or if the girl was nice, it would be easier to buy the idea. But she is an obnoxious character! My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Code 8: Renegados - Parte II" (Code 8: Renegades - Part II")

Monk: Mr. Monk and the Very, Very Old Man (2003) Season 2, Episode 5

The Oldest Man in the World

[8/10 · 27 April 2024]

On the eve of his birthday, the oldest man in the world, Hiram Hollings, is found dead on his bed. Stottlemeyer's wife, Karen, is a documentary filmmaker that made a film about Hollings and asks her husband to investigate the case since she believes he was murdered. Stottlemeyer calls Monk to help him, and they go to the crime scene, where Monk finds evidence that Hollings was murdered. Meanwhile, Stottlemeyer and Karen have an argument and Stottlemeyer moves to Monk's home to stay with him, but their relationship is problematic. However, they proceed investigating the case.

"Mr. Monk and the Very, Very Old Man" is another funny episode of "Monk", where the viewers are introduced to Stottlemeyer's wife, Karen. Monk's phobias are very funny and poor Stottlemeyer' living with that. The reason why Monk keeps the table in an inclined position is explained in the very end of the show. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Monk e o Homem Mais Velho do Mundo" ("Monk and the Oldest Man in the World")

Invasion: The Key (2006) Season 1, Episode 17

Return to School, Coteries, Offsprings and The Island

[6/10 · 27 April 2024]

Christina is waiting for Mariel in the parking lot and uses a gun to force her to exam her pregnancy. Mariel goes with Christina to the examination room and succeeds to send a message to Tom. Christina's ultrasound shows that she is breeding about six offsprings before Tom captures Christina. Russell learns that Tom knows Szura. Dave finds a key in Healy's belongings and Russell identifies as a boat key. They find maps inside the boat of an island, and they travel to the spot. Jess returns to the school and find that many schoolmates are different with weird behavior.

"The Key" shows how dangerous Healy is. The discovery of Mariel makes her give up having a baby with Tom. Jess sees his schoolmates with strange behaviors and coteries. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "A Ilha" ("The Island")

Invasion: The Fittest (2006) Season 1, Episode 16

Armed and Dangerous

[6/10 · 27 April 2024]

Mona is attacked and wounded by Christina and Derek in her post, and the couple rob a boat and medical and food supplies. She contacts Russell that treats her and teams up with Tom to chase the couple. Christina and Derek's boat runs out of gas, and they are forced to disembark on the margin of the bay and walk to Derek's cabin. Russell and Tom find the abandoned boat and tracks them in the margin of the bay. They stumble upon a group of migrant workers that have been cast out by their team that has a weird behavior. Kira is recovering and has not turned into a hybrid since she has a heart problem. Mariel tells Jess and Rose what happened to her during the Hurricane Eve. Larkin calls her friend from the base to know what happened with Paxton.

"The Fittest" is another strange episode of "Invasion". Russell learns that Tom has other secrets. How the death of a deputy with family will be covered by Sheriff Underlay? Jess is having difficulties to relate with his mother and Larkin is snooping again the military people. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil: "Os Mais Adaptados" ("The Fittest")

Invasion: The Nest (2006) Season 1, Episode 15

The Ovary

[7/10 · 26 April 2024]

The naive Kira meets Derek and Christina that have fled from the island in Florida by the water. Christina convinces Kira to go to an expensive store, where Derek and she shoplift clothes. Then they break in the house of Christina's former boss, and she stabs him to death. Meanwhile, Russell convinces Mariel to perform several medical examinations. Her tomography reveals an apparent tumor, and Russell collects material for a biopsy. Soon they realize that she has a great ovary in her body. Sheriff Underlay chases Christina and Derek to know the whereabouts of his daughter and finds them at the beach.

"The Nest" is an episode where Mariel finds that she has a different ovary in her body. The needy Kira is a naive girl that needs a psychologist. Her actions are stupid and her need to have friends is something that only a psychologist can cure. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "O Ninho" ("The Nest")

Invasion: All God's Creatures (2006) Season 1, Episode 14

The Creature

[6/10 · 26 April 2024]

Tom looks for Russell since he is hunting down the man that tried to kill him and wants information that might help him. Larkin stays with Dave, Jess and Rose in the house, but she notes that someone is snooping around. Dave chases the person with a row while Larkin and the children stay closed in the room. Dave traps the person in the garage and Russell arrives, and they see that they are chasing a strange creature that looks like Dave and has his memories. Russell and Dave conclude that the hybrid had no time to complete the changing when Russell took Dave from the water. Larkin arrives and is also confused with the creature. Meanwhile, Kira asks Mariel and Tom what happened with them in the water, but they do not give answers. Kira is also aware of what happened to Lewis.

"All God's Creatures" is another weak episode of "Invasion". The creature that looks like Dave is bizarre and it is hard to understand the feelings that Larkin and Dave feels for it. Russell is naive and seems to trust Underlay. Will Kira be modified by the orange creature? My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Todas as Criaturas de Deus" ("All God's Creatures")

Story of Women (1988)

Moral Hypocrisy

[8/10 · 26 April 2024]

In the occupied France in the World War II, the housewife and aspirant singer Marie Latour (Isabelle Huppert) is a young woman that raises her two children alone with many financial difficulties. Her husband, Paul Latour (François Cluzet), was made prisoner by the Germans and sent to Germany. When her next-door neighbor gets pregnant, she performs an abortion and receives a record player as a gift. Meanwhile, Paul returns too weak to find a steady job. Marie befriends the prostitute Lulu (Marie Trintignant) and learns that she can make money performing abortions and renting her room for prostitutes. Her life improves, she buys foods and clothes for her children and she, and has singing lessons with a teacher, but she refuses to have sex with Paul since she is in a loveless marriage. When she meets Lulu's client Lucien (Nils Tavernier), who is a collaborationist crane operator, he becomes her lover. One afternoon, she brings Lucien and has sex with him in her bed. Paul arrives earlier and sees them on the bed. Humiliated, he denounces Marie to the chief of police, she is arrested and sent to Paris to be judged. What will happen to her?

"Une affaire de femmes", a.k.a. "Story of Women", is another excellent film by Claude Chabrol that changes his usual suspense genre to a drama about moral hypocrisy in a occupied country during the World War II. The plot is based on the story of Marie Latour, who is magnificently performed by Isabelle Huppert, an uneducated woman that finds a means to survive in times of war and give a better life to her two children performing abortion of women knocked out by Germans, affairs or their own husbands and renting her room to prostitutes during the days. Her husband denounces her, and she is sent to Paris to become the scape goat in a political judgement in a defeated and hypocrite country. Chabrol touches the wound and Marie is guillotined in 1943. In the present days, abortion is still a polemic theme specially in Catholic countries like Brazil. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Um Assunto de Mulheres" ("A Subject of Women")