This phase II trial is studying how well giving temozolomide together with thalidomide works in treating patients with brain metastases secondary to melanoma. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as temozolomide, work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Thalidomide may stop the growth of cancer by stopping blood flow to the tumor. Combining temozolomide with thalidomide may kill more tumor cells