Slumdog Millionaire

[uneditedtales]

Its about an Indian kid from the slums who goes on the tv show 'who wants to be a millionaire'. He is an unlikely candidate to get even a couple of questions right let alone win the entire thing. The movie goes through his parts of his life that helped him answer those questions.

Apart from some occasional Hindi dialogues, the movie is in English. There are subtitles, but pay close attention as they are in colored text and float around the scene. The movie is very compelling and is shot entirely in Mumbai. Even though its a lot grittier than I thought it was gonna be, I really enjoyed it. The lead pair is adorable and so are the kids. I would give it a 4.25/5. Check your local listings, its playing in select cities only.

I wrote a post on blog about it. Please feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you thought. http://editedtales.blogspot.com/

[Cumberland]

Re: Slumdog Millionaire

I heard this was really good. I am planning to see it, or more likely, netflix it.

[ladymoreta]

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I saw this tonight. I'm not good at writing reviews, so I'll just say if you get a chance, go see it! If it's showing in OKC, surely it's showing in your city.

[MrsK]

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We just saw this. It was very good. Though the film is intended to be uplifting, I found it to be upsetting at the same time. The poverty and hardship experienced by the poor children in India is really awful.

[Vishenka69]

Re: Slumdog Millionaire

We both really enjoyed it, two thumbs up from us.

There were a couple of scenes that I had to watched through my fingers but the cast is amazing and the story has a very strong and powerful message.

[Thirteen]

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This was a great movie.
Made Paul reminiscent of City of God (brazillian).

I really liked the way they linked everything together - nicely done.

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Sueanne, I know you've got a lot going on right now, but I think it is worth seeing in the theater for the broad shots of Mumbai and the action and movement of most scenes.


I saw this yesterday afternoon and I'm still thinking about it. One person told me she walked out "glowing" and gave me the impression it was sort of a pick me up movie. Another told me that she had considered, but decided against taking her 8 year old daughter. Really? Given those expectations and not knowing much more than the bare bones of the plot, I was thrown by the intensity of it. I find myself thinking not so much the plot or the characters but the unending sadness and loss and that only the ending is the make-believe part. The scenes move quickly and the movie is energetic but the back and forth between past and present feels a little jerky. The ending is happy, a little neat but happy, and almost and that helps to balance the first 90 minutes leading up to it.

Since seeing the movie, I've read a few reviews. The end of the NY Times review says it better than I can:

In the end, what gives me reluctant pause about this bright, cheery, hard-to-resist movie is that its joyfulness feels more like a filmmaker’s calculation than an honest cry from the heart about the human spirit (or, better yet, a moral tale).

http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/11/12/movies/12slum.html

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I appreciated how candid the movie was in showing the lives of orphans in India (and Pakistan too, same system). Children who are poor or have no parents to protect their children are exploited and become a part of organized crime at a very young age. I've seen throngs of these children whenever I visit Pakistan, and its terrible what these people do to these children and to the elderly as well. They blind them, break their bones, cut off limbs... all so that they can get more money when they beg. And when the beggers don't get enough money for the day, they are beat up or worse--its like a pimp system.

I think the movie would have been a complete downer if it did not have a happy ending. I was happy that it did. I also think it nicely highlighted a huge problem of organized crime/ children/ poverty/ even about religious clashes in South Asian society.

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Another told me that she had considered, but decided against taking her 8 year old daughter. Really? Given those expectations and not knowing much more than the bare bones of the plot, I was thrown by the intensity of it.

I cannot believe your friend considered taking her daughter to see it. I went this afternoon, and within the first 5 minutes was just blown away by that idea.

I think it was a good movie. I expected the predictable ending, and I LOVED the dance scene at the end. I really disliked the older brother - in personality and appearance. I've not been to India yet (obviously a family trip will come some day - the IL's keep threatening and all), and this made me both want to speed up and delay that happening.

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Sorta same here, it made me want to go back to Nepal and take my kids (and husband ) but also reminded me of what a trip would be like through their eyes. There is a lot to explain. I'd like to be able to see India as well.

Anna *loves* the soundtrack to this movie. That is why I put the Bollywood movies on my netflix list. She would like the dance scene at the end.

btw, my friend said it was the first 5 minutes that would keep her from taking her daughter. Still...I had to leave for a potty/sanity break in the middle.

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I think it was a good movie. I expected the predictable ending, and I LOVED the dance scene at the end.

I loved the dance scene too! Staying true to bollywood!

[MDPhDWife]

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I think it was a good movie. I expected the predictable ending, and I LOVED the dance scene at the end.

I'm glad it's gotten as much attention as it has, it's well deserved. I also hope to see more of the actress, I think her name was Frieda Pinto, she was absolutely gorgoeus!

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I am VERY squimish about blood and guts(that's why I'm not the one in med school, HA!).

Is that the reason the movie is rated R? I really want to watch it, but am scared that I'll get scared!!

[MrsK]

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I'm glad it's gotten as much attention as it has, it's well deserved. I also hope to see more of the actress, I think her name was Frieda Pinto, she was absolutely gorgoeus!

I heard that she was just signed for the next Woody Allen movie. . .

[oceanchild]

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I am VERY squimish about blood and guts(that's why I'm not the one in med school, HA!).

Is that the reason the movie is rated R? I really want to watch it, but am scared that I'll get scared!!

There's one very squeamish moment. I saw it coming and looked away, but my mom tells me she did not see it coming, so don't count on that.

There's also some gun violence - not graphic, but intense. Actually, pretty much everything is intense.

We just saw this last weekend, and I enjoyed it mostly for the vivid depiction of Mumbai. I love movies that make me feel like I have "experienced" a place, and that made it easier for me to overlook some of the things that in other movies I tend to hate (like guns).