Wednesday Three-Peat: Some Chaplin...Some Brendan Fraser

So I was at two extremes these past few days with film. I saw two showcases of great comedy with Charlie Chaplin. Then I saw a vomit-inducing display of mediocrity with Brendan Fraser in The Mummy 3 (I'm not gonna' bother with the ridiculous name). Let's give the bad news first, shall we?

The Mummy 3 *
A really below-average movie here. With The Dark Knight, we saw what a action blockbuster could hold. A fascinating plot, interesting characters and probably the best FX we'll see all year. The Mummy 3 has none of those things. Plot? It's more like: let's see how many nonsensical storylines we can throw in there to keep the story going, thus created more chances for Brendan Fraser to spout cheesy phrases ("I really hate mummies!"...why you're a man of words aren't you, Mr. Fraser?). So, yeah, the screenplay is bad. The characters are brought to life by wooden actors. The special effects and sets are really bad. Couldn't they at least pull that off? I mean, the editors put fight scenes in slow motion, throw in quick cuts, but really, the scenes look comical. I haven't had to sit through much crap this summer, which is great. Last year, I had Transformers, Pirates and all that junk. But the Mummy ends a streak of good films. Just stupid. Stay away.



The Great Dictator ***
This film is very accessible, which, I must admit, kind of surprised me. It's also hilarious at some points (and I didn't think I liked slapstick..) and so simple. Up until the last ten minutes, I loved it. Chaplin, well, he "lives up to the hype". His screenplay creates funny, well-written character and his acting is classic. The faces, mannerisms..hell, his voice is funny. It's a satire, making fun of Adolf Hitler, or in this case Adenoid Hynkle , the leader of Tomainia. Never strays into stupidity, which it could have, and Chaplin really turns in a great performance (Oscar-nominated, I might add). See it. It's low-key fun, you won't forget easily.



City Lights ***1/2

I'm in a Chaplin phase, aren't I? Well, there's worse..like a Brendan Fraser phase. Yet, unlike the last film mentioned, this gets into brilliant territory. As funny as it can be, like a ridiculous boxing scene, or any scene with the Drunken Millionaire, the film is mainly about one thing: love. The message I got was that you know your true love instantly. That's a little vague, but see the last two minutes of this film, and you'll understand. Okay, freakishly simple. That's a good thing. In 87 minutes you see the story of The Tramp assist his love, a blind flower girl, and basically, try his hardest to give her a better life. That better life comes in the form of an eye operation, in which The Tramp dedicates all his time into making the flower girl able to afford the operation. Dedication, love, humor. All of it. Yes, it's silent, but honestly, I mean this, it's such a good film you eventually don't even notice the lack of words. Strongly recommended.