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RuiCraveiro
Reviews
The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima (1952)
Comparsion between the 1951 movie and the 1997 movie
Being from Portugal, and having seen both films, no wonder why real-life Soror Lucia at the time didn't like the 1951 movie... it's lyrically beautiful and most of the movie was shot in Portugal, but it doesn't make up for the reality that it was. At least, the actors tried the best they could for making a nice movie.
The 1997 movie (called "Fátima", and originally conceived for the television broadcasting) itself, being Portuguese and made there, gives a much better accuracy of what really was the miracle of Fátima, the destiny of the chosen Lúcia, Jacinta and Francisco; and even including secondary stories (wondering if that secondary story was real or not). The parting of Jacinta and Francisco, while is not included in the 1951 movie, it is in the 2001 movie, with great drama.
However, both are two must-see movies...;)
You'll really believe on the miracle which conquered millions of people in Portugal :)
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (1980)
The beautiful cut version of "Superman II", as originally conceived by Richard Donner
"The following film represents Superman II as it was originally conceived and intended to be filmed" With all the things said and done by other people here in IMDb, I'll pass to review the movie, which is a more beautiful perspective to what Richard Donner wanted to do
The scenes from Gene Hackman & Valerie Perrine (Lex and Miss Teschmacher), being extended, have more humor than usual, and one of those entries is very funny (apart from Miss Teschmacer's search for the bathroom in the Fortress of Solitude)
The scene that was originally a screen test (Clark Kent & Lois, in the hotel) has drama and comedy at the same time. It is fun to see... :)
But the most dramatic ones are the best, and those are the ones with Marlon Brando (Jor-El) and Christopher Reeve (Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman), on which we can see the relationship between father and son, with more intensity, while Margot Kidder (Lois) watches it impassively - and also when Christopher Reeve (Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman) is redeeming himself after his decision of being human, and his cry for Jor-El is more intense and touching than with the theatrical "Superman II"
While the sound and most of the effects are matched in 2006 standards, it is comprehensible, since it was remastered, edited and restored the last year as a new movie... and it's good for that one (unlike what they had done with the sound of the original "Superman: The Movie" which blows all the excitement around it (thank god, I can hear the original sound effects on the first DVD, in the German version)
Overall, it is a good movie... although with some flaws
But I love them both (the theatrical and the cut), and the theatrical "Superman II" was the sequel that I grew up with, so I can't forget one, in the extend of the other ;)
RIP Christopher Reeve and Marlon Brando
8/10
Crónica dos Bons Malandros (1984)
A new fresh air for Portuguese comedy movies...
At least two Portuguese movies made a furor at the time: the thrilling drama "O lugar do morto" (that caused controversy at the time) and the comedy "A crónica dos bons malandros"
Based on the novel of the same name as the movie, "A crónica dos bons malandros" (subtitled as "Chornicle of the good rascals" or "Thick as thieves"), by the journalist Mário Zambujal, it's a defined story about a peaceful gang that will make their biggest robbery yet, commissioned by an Italian: stealing jewels at the Gulbenkian Museum, using bees... no guns, no shots, nothing dangerous...
With the story beginning to fold on, we can see the reason why the 7 members of that gang (Marlene, Renato's fiancée (Lia Gama), Renato, the peaceful (João Perry), Adelaide, the Slim-Lide (Maria do Céu Guerra), Pedro, the rightful (Nicolau Breyner), Flávio, the doctor (Pedro Bandeira Freire), Arnaldo, the stunt (Paulo de Carvalho, on one of his very rare acting scenes, as he is a real singer) and Silvino, the steak brat (Nuno Duarte) had come together
Problems will start to happen with the gang, but it's better to see it for yourselves, if you didn't read the novel or saw the film before
All these seven actors were perfect for the roles in the movie, and have a highly impressive charisma to them. Also a great mention to Zita Duarte, on her role of Lina, the quick-stubborn woman that helped Adelaide in tough times, and to her full-mouthed words, another stir at the time, but funny at the same time
This Portuguese movie is really a must see. It doesn't have the 40's/50's skeptic comedy movie's style, but it has a very modern style for the time being
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Vila Faia (1982)
The number one of all the soaps made in Portugal
Having only 19 years, I saw it in 2 repeats (one in the late 90's, and then recently 2 years ago)
From an idea, back in 1980/1981, in a Nicolau Breyner (famous actor/presenter in Portugal) show "Eu Show Nico!", when there was a soap parody, the concept of the very first soap was beginning for flourish
And in 1982, it came as "Vila Faia", which tells us about the Marques Vila family, owners of a wine factory. Everything would have been right, if it wasn't for a murdering, made in the middle of the night in the same factory
João Gudunha (Nicolau Breyner) is pointed as one of the suspects, and from now on, he will battle against time to search for who made that, and also have to control his troubled life, together with Mariete (Margarida Carpinteiro)
Also, a great note is the parallel story of Cristina Andrade (Manuela Marle), a contested girl, also the lover of Pedro Marques Vila (Nuno Homem de Sá), the rebel of the family. Between it, there is also Cristina's mother, Madalena (Ana Zanatti), whom she will also fall in love for Pedro, which will be Cristina's first (and the biggest) of many downfalls in her life
Overall, it's one of the best soaps made in Portugal (the Brazilian soaps are still considered by me as being much better), and the most successful one of 1982... many actors had recognition: Ruy de Carvalho (as the patriac of the family Marques Vila), Marianna Rey Monteiro, Rosa Lobato de Faria, Nicolau Breyner (with his unforgettable character), Margarida Carpinteiro (her character's death was one of the most thrilling scenes in the soap), Manuela Marle, Nuno Homem de Sá, Vitor Norte (as Zé Diniz, Pedro's friend in the boxing) , Glória de Matos and even Anna Paula (Zé Diniz's troubled mother)
It is highly recommendable... no other Portuguese soap would do the same as what "Vila Faia" did again back in 1982
Los supersabios (1978)
One of the best epic cartoons ever.
I didn't know by the time (when I see this movie on videotape), that the film was made in 1978. It's the best movie that I ever watched. If there's on videotape, not in Portugal, but the in the rest of world, you'll see the history that's about a idea to fly away on distant planets and galaxies.