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SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE..........What you like in the movie?

Posted by pixelshots • 3/01/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: movie review, pixelshots discussions, slumdog millionaire, slumdog millionaire opinion

I don't think that now i had to familiarize you people about the movie of the year in Oscars..THe SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE....A collaborative venture by the artists and technicians of India and The British....

As a movie i like it for the entire charm and life it carries in each shots and the music a sheer pleasure to ears..No wonder Rahman and Russel bagged Oscars for their work in the film..

About the critics that the film celebrates poverty in the slums of India, i dont think so...

The film tells about hope and love and nothing else..Its the story of determination...

A good movie should tell about real life and should motivate and give people some message..And slumdog gives the message love never fails...

What you think about it?

User Comments

3/01/09

braxlord

its very realistic and shows the face of poverty in india.. i watch it this afternoon..

[reply]
1. 3/01/09
  
  pixelshots
  
  Hmm you haven't seen the storyline and the heart of the movie??
  
  You noticed just poverty..dude if that was Somalia or any other country like that you may have got the real definition of poverty...Poverty is everywhere. Its not a phenomenon specific to Indian soil..
3/01/09

dsriharsha

Will people stop harping on about the reality and all in the movie??

The movie took an excellent story(Q and A by Vikas Swaroop), adapted into an unconvincing screenplay, filled it with plot loopholes where non existed in the book, put in an unconvincing love story, satisfied the ego of the westerners(the scene at the taj Mahal.. a real American?? come on..) and reassured the viewers of their stereotypes.

The good things:
Cinematography.. excellent
Music.. excellent, though clearly not Rahman's best, but still better than most
Child Artistes.. excellent
Everything else.. not so much

[reply]
1. 3/02/09
  
  pixelshots
  
  hi dsriharsha,
  
  am not supporting the west but you have to look into the papers one months back..there was newses about police teasing and beating poor children like dogs for stealing food somewhere in north India.. so we cant tell that the real American scene is completely imaginative by the director, ad won't happen anywhere here....am not saying that all Americans are like in the film and all Indians are like the police man too...anyway we have to accept there is some fact everywhere...
  
  thnx 4 replying frnds..
3/01/09

Stillthinking

Hey, I don't think you should be offended that as Americans, we comment on the reality of it. It was impossible not to notice the poverty. I have never seen anything like in in any movie, set anywhere.

I loved, loved, loved the movie. I thought it was inspirational, gorgeous, emotional.

I love collaborations between Indian and Western directors and actors. I loved Bride and Prejudice, Bend it Like Beckham, Monsoon Wedding, Kama Sutra.

I felt Slumdog was grittier, less polished, less idealistic, but at the same time, more inspirational and more moving.

[reply]
1. 3/02/09
  
  pixelshots
  
  hi still,
  
  we are not offended buddy, but was just making the point clear.. like you we are excited by the collaboration.. we people has great storyline, talents and ideologies with a good line of actors like you have.. but what we miss is the tech perfection that you people have... blending together it will be great and loved by the whole world...
  
  thnks for the comment
3/02/09

dgnitzky

Its a great movie. They mixed both money and love, its tells reality life between slumdog and the people.

[reply]
3/02/09

Raj12

I hated this movie and why, u can read here in my blog,
u will come to know whats wrong with it:

www.4thejobless.com/blog/nili/are-we-indians-worthless

[reply]
3/02/09

dsriharsha

I am not offended as an Indian.
I am offended as a cinema goer.

Quoting from another blogger(greatbong.net/2008/12/29/slumdog-millionaire-the-review/):
"Let’s say I made a movie about the US where an African-American boy born in the hood, has his mother sell him to a pedophile pop icon, after which he gets molested by a priest from his church, following which he gets tied up to the back of a truck and dragged on the road by KKK clansmen. Then he is arrested and sodomized by a policeman with a rod, after which he is attacked by a gang of illegal immigrants, and then uses these life experiences to win “Beauty and The Geek”.

Even though each of these incidents have actually happened in the United States of America, I would be accused of spinning a fantastic yarn that has no grounding in reality, that has no connection to the “American experience” and my motivations would be questioned, no matter how cinematically spectacular I made my movie."

[reply]
3/02/09

duniyah

Highly overrated film. As someone already said, the book Q & A had a much better story and the screenplay pretty much ruined it. At the end of the day this is very standard Bollywood type movie - the same type of movie that is derided world over as formulaic and artictically worthless. However the minute a foreign director takes the same elements and makes a movie, it is suddenly viewed as a work of genius and hailed with loads of oscars. Lets get real this is a very average movie and entertaining but not much more.

[reply]
3/02/09

pixelshots

keep on giving your opinions

[reply]
3/02/09

lvs

I liked the idea of this imaginary world......I am wondering if it is possible to create its likeness in Second Life

[reply]
3/09/09

mountaincat

Technically very well done, interesting.

And must say very different from commercial movies I have seen from India, which usually shows upper and middle class life.

[reply]
1. 3/09/09
  
  pixelshots
  
  You got a point here..focussing on a different world, which is more real
3/09/09

CelebrityIcePop

I'd really like you to write up this film review over at www.icepop.com, any chance of that?

[reply]
3/13/09

GFG

I been to india many times.. the slums are much worse than depicted in the film .. i've seen 3 year olds carrying infants begging on the streets

[reply]
3/13/09

archdeb

Jai Ho ! This seems to be the preferred greeting for many Indians across the globe. And why not? These two words are ringing in every Indian's ears , resonating from deep within. Jai Ho Danny Boyle, Jai ho A R Rahman, Jai Ho cast and crew of Slumdog Millionaire , and Jai ho 81st Academy Awards!!! What a wonderful gift to the Indian Film Industry! Eight Oscars to a basically Indian film is how it is being perceived. And why not, why ever not. Though the film is technically a British film, it has maximum participation of Indians. Various other reasons why it should be hailed as an Indian film are enumerated below. Take a critical look :-

The film is based on a novel titled Q&A by an Indian diplomat-cum-part-time writer Vikas Swaroop.
Total cast of the movie is of Indian origin.
Co-director of the movie is a Delhi girl , Loveleen Tandon.
The film is completely shot in India.
The quintessence of the movie is Indian.
A third of the movie is in Hindi.
Director Danny Boyle confessed that, "it is the ultimate compliment for me that people in India see Slumdog Milionaire as an Indian film."
Most technicians are Indians including Oscar winner for sound mixing -Resul Pookutty.
All songs in the movie are in Hindi.
Vanity Fair magazine recently mentioned that Slumdog Millionaire is inspired by Black Friday and Satya - both Hindi movies. Even Danny Boyle acknowledged that.
There are many more subtle reasons. The list goes on and on. The film is entirely a Bollywood genre film with its unique masala and that is undisputed. The scene of the two small kids falling off the running train and getting up as grown up kids is typically Bollywood. We have seen all that in many a Hindi film. So when the soul and the body is Indian one cannot but submit that Slumdog Millionaire is essentially an Indian film. More so when even the inspiration for the movie is two Hindi films - Black Friday and Satya.

In saluting the Indian spirit of the movie, Hollywood's Kodak Theatre resounded with the beats of Jai Ho and O Sayya with Western dancers in dazzling pink Indian Lehnga costume and drummers in traditional Indian dhoti. The audience swayed to the lilting Indian melody spun by A R Rahman.

It is reported that Times Square has people testing their lungs singing O Sayya at the top of their voice. Jai Ho already has a remix version in English, sung by Pussycat Dolls and the video is filmed at a Vienna Railway station.

So why are critics in India so confused. Why are we so perturbed that the underbelly of Mumbai has been exposed? Some have even accused that poverty in India has been showcased to Western audiences for exploitation. I fully agree with Aupam Kher when in a TV show he remarked that maybe some critics take on the task of criticising Slumdog Millionaire just to be noticed. Consider the following points and make your own decision :-

The film is based on lives of two kids from a slum in Mumbai. So what is the big deal? Doesn't every developing country has this problem of slums. Favelas of Brazil and the slums around them are very well known to the world for their abject poverty and crime. Kibera in Nairobi is the largest slum of the world and conditions there are pathetic to say the least. In fact one third of world's urban population lives in slums!

Poverty has not been underlined in Slumdog Millionaire. In fact it is the human spirit which has been showcased. Where do you see poverty as the central theme in the movie? On the other hand the movie highlights the fact that two kids with imagination and courage make it on their own in cities of India. Poverty is nothing new to the Western audiences. They see actual poverty in images from Africa and war devastated countries. What has been shown in the movie is nothing in comparison to actual poverty existing in today's world.

Flash back to 1970s and you find Indian parallel cinema actually showcasing abject poverty in India in good measure. The central theme of those movies was poverty in India. Those movies and their directors were hailed by the same critics as they took those movies to world fora for recognition and acclaim. Why the double standards now when poverty is not the main theme of Slumdog Millionaire. It is simply a rags to riches story with adequate dose of Bollywood masala.

Now just look at what Slumdog Millionaire has done to the Indian Film Industry. In this Economic Downturn when the poster boys of Indian Industry are busy protecting themselves from being wiped out, here is the Indian Film Industry which is going to be hugely benefited by Slumdog Millionaire. Sample the facts below:-

World has recognised the talent of Indian technicians in film making. As cost cutting measure, work from Hollywood will now be outsourced to India. This will be similar to the saga of IT outsourcing to India.

Indian producers have now realised that with few changes to Bollywood masala that they churn out, they can now target world audience. Acceptance is not an issue, only if the Indian curry is not too spicy for global audience. This fact has been amply brought home by Slumdog Millionaire.

Instead of targeting 2% Revenue, Indian Film Industry can now target the rest of the 98% Revenue that the Global Film Industry has to offer. Just imagine the scaling-up that this Indian Industry can get, only at the cost of slightly shifting its focus to global audiences and their preferences. Slumdog Millionaire has not only shown but opened up that door for Indian Film Industry.

Joint ventures will spawn as global producers see the magic of Indian Film Industry, right up to its song and dance sequences, being heartily lapped up by global audiences. Just sample the bottom line of Slumdog Millionaire- the film has already raked in $163 million in box office against a budget of $15 million. Doesn't it make pure business sense?

Yet there are people in India who are not happy with Slumdog Millionaire. You decide whether Slumdog has been a blessing in disguise for India or not. Indian Film Industry is poised to take the place of Indian IT industry, courtesy Slumdog Millionaire. Let us all celebrate. Jai Ho!

[reply]
1. 3/13/09
  
  pixelshots
  
  Hi friend you have done a thorough review and am absolutely supporting your visions...these mindless critics just seeing the cover of the movie without noticing its soul or spirit or the actual vibrancy carried throughout...
  
  y these critics not realizing the huge opportunity India has got to use its talents internationally...
3/14/09

archdeb

Thanks for the support.

[reply]
3/14/09

vijayanths

I'm proud and happy that Indian technicians are recognized globally.We are grateful to Oscar,though it was a belated recognition.Now the world could not help looking at India.Jai ho India.(win, India)

If any one wants to know about A.R.Rehman and his music please visit vijayanths.blogspot.com/2009/01/amazing-journey-to-oscar.html

I like the movie for its originality and technical standards.The film deserves all those Oscars.

[reply]
1. 3/14/09
  
  pixelshots
  
  Surely the world recognized Indian talents.. that's what i feel more important than the Oscars bagged by the film...
3/14/09

freeatlast

the whole "celebrates poverty" critique doesn't work for me. Pretty much every movie out there takes advantage, romanticizes and oversimplifies things like poverty, war, sexual politics, wealth, blah blah blah. I enjoyed the movie. Have not read the book... but could obviously tell that the Bollywood pattern was used to keep the audience entertained... and nothing wrong with that as long as people are aware of the genre being tapped... kind of like watching "Grindhouse"... the references made to specific genres was as important as the features themselves.

[reply]
3/14/09

PeachMom

My 5 year old and 2 year old LOVE jamming to JAI HO, and I personally love Paper Planes by MIA. beautifully shot.

[reply]
3/14/09

pixelshots

regards to ur 2year and 5year old angels

[reply]
3/14/09

Stillthinking

This particular director (Danny Boyle) likes stories about redemption and salvation. Almost all of his movies are variations on this theme from "Shallow Grave" and "Trainspotting" to "Millions" and to "Slumdog." He is a director who likes happy endings.

[reply]
1. 3/15/09
  
  pixelshots
  
  hmm happy endings..don't we all like it...
3/14/09

hizbur

I like slumdog, near with fanatic, slumdog is almost perfect

[reply]
8/01/09

BEENISH

comment removed by the community.

[reply]
1. 8/01/09
  
  melindaville
  
  Stop your sleezy link dropping!