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Martha Simmons wrote:I can't say "Slumdog Millionaire" did nothing to me, because it did -- I hate it, profoundly. Sorry.

What happened to "The Namesake"? It's so much better.


I'd be curious to hear too what made you hate it. There aren't many negative appraisals of the movie that aren't simply mountains of nitpicks.
 
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By the way did you really understand the movie?


Who's to say what its real meaning is? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
 
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I recently saw this movie. It is showing at the theater near my house. And....


It was much different than I expected it to be. And I have to say.... that I really liked it. I would highly recommend this movie.

Henry
 
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Ulf Dittmer wrote:Who's to say what its real meaning is?


Movie itself.

I am curious to know, did you see the movie?
 
Ulf Dittmer
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Vishal Pandya wrote:

Ulf Dittmer wrote:Who's to say what its real meaning is?


Movie itself.


It is my contention that a movie can have a different meaning for anyone who watches it. While the script writer, director, producer etc. may intend for it to have a specific meaning, there's no guarantee that that's how it will be perceived. Nor is that necessary, in my opinion. I actually prefer movies that lend themselves to different interpretations, and which can be enjoyed for different aspects by different viewers.
 
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Vishal Pandya wrote:By the way did you really understand the movie?



That sounds kind of patronizing. Why not also ask the people who liked it if they really understood it? Or better, don't ask anyone - especially not with the emphasis on really. Do you imagine that not liking a movie must be some kind of failure by the viewer?

Also, you may be overestimating the complexity and depth of the movie. It's not hard to follow. Really.
 
Henry Wong
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It's not hard to follow. Really.




**** minor spoiler alert *****














Agreed, There is nothing complex about this movie at all. In fact, it's the standard "boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl." storyline. The difference is that the details of the story are incredibly well written -- and interesting.

Henry

 
Vikas Kapoor
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Mike Simmons wrote: Do you imagine that not liking a movie must be some kind of failure by the viewer?


No. What I am trying to convey is I liked the movie very much (and may be many across the world). I am curious to know what actually you didn't like about the movie.
(PS: I don't want debate. Full stop from my side.)
Peace
 
Henry Wong
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Vishal Pandya wrote:No. What I am trying to convey is I liked the movie very much (and may be many across the world). I am curious to know what actually you didn't like about the movie.
(PS: I don't want debate. Full stop from my side.)
Peace




Being one of those who really liked this movie... I have to agree that this movie is definitely not for everyone. For example, it contains some (very short) disturbing scenes involving children. I know a few people who I wouldn't recommend the movie to, because of these scenes.


BTW, I don't think that it was Mike who said he didn't like the movie...

Henry
 
Vikas Kapoor
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Henry Wong wrote:BTW, I don't think that it was Mike who said he didn't like the movie...
Henry


yeah I know that, it's Martha Simmons and not Mike Simmons.

Henry Wong wrote:it contains some (very short) disturbing scenes involving children.


yes they are disturbing. Oh! similar kind of scenes are in City Of God. While watching this movie, I laughed many times because those children who don't know properly how to wear underwear by themselves, are having guns in their hands.
(In hindi: Jinko thik taraha se chandi bhi pahena na nahi aata wo gun leke ghum rahe hain. OMG)
 
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Vishal Pandya: And What's that that you didn't like? By the way did you really understand the movie?

I can't answer the question “did you really understand the movie?” because I don't have anything to compare my understanding to. Sometimes when you discuss a movie with other people who saw it, you realize that you missed this or that part, but it didn't happen to me so far. Do you have anything particular in mind, something that would be difficult to understand for non-Indian audience?

ME: I'd be curious to hear too what made you hate it. There aren't many negative appraisals of the movie that aren't simply mountains of nitpicks.
Henry Wong made my point for me when he said “There is nothing complex about this movie at all. In fact, it's the standard ... storyline” and this is not the kind of movie that excites me. Unless the movie has some redeeming qualities, which this one doesn't -- for me. I didn't care for the main
characters, none of its plot's turns looked believable, and my emotional response was like one of listening to a piece of music being performed on an untuned piano, when the utmost care was taken not to get a single note right.

And I am as perplexed by what other people could actually like about this movie, as you are by what I didn't like.

Henry Wong: Agreed, There is nothing complex about this movie at all. In fact, it's the standard "boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl." storyline. The difference is that the details of the story are incredibly well written -- and interesting

Could you provide just one example of this kind of details?

Vishal Pandya: I don't want debate. Full stop from my side

Um, debates are good. Fights are not, but fighting we do not do. No need for full stop yet...

 
Henry Wong
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Martha Simmons wrote:
Henry Wong: Agreed, There is nothing complex about this movie at all. In fact, it's the standard "boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl." storyline. The difference is that the details of the story are incredibly well written -- and interesting

Could you provide just one example of this kind of details?



***** Again... Spoiler Warning *****










Well, I really like the way the gameshow was used as a vehicle -- the banter between the police and Jamal, about the questions during the show, drove the story. It not only help drive the overall story, but you also get tons of "aha" moments for subplots. Even the scene where he is talking to the blind kid, had it's importance elevated, because you needed to know about the reference to Ben Franklin (otherwise, it would have been a forgettable scene that leads to the girl).

Some subplots left you wondering -- for example, how does he deduce a "colt 45" pointed at his head, to colt being the inventor of the revolver? But you do figure it out later...

I also like that they explained stuff that movies don't normally explain -- and they did it within the context of the police banter. They explain why he did the show. They explain why he kept going, when any sane person would have taken the money and run. And I absolutely thought it was cool that everything came full circle -- the final question was to get the third musketeer.

Henry
 
Michael Ernest
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Martha Simmons wrote:
And I am as perplexed by what other people could actually like about this movie, as you are by what I didn't like.


I said curious, not perplexed. You are right, after all, there's nothing groundbreaking in the movie's narrative form, character development, plot construction. The only thing that's new for most American viewers is the setting, as I mentioned a long way back. If you want to tell a rags-to-riches story, in particular, there's very little one can do to avoid the structures that have been made by the writers who have come before.

But this movie doesn't try to transcend its form. It merely tries to execute it well. So well, in my opinion, that I didn't think about how it was put together as I watched. Now that the ride is over, mind you, I don't need to see it again. It was entertaining and paid off the time I put into it. but an indelible experience? No.
 
Martha Simmons
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HW: Well, I really like the way the gameshow was used as a vehicle -- the banter between the police and Jamal, about the questions during the
show, drove the story.


Ah, you're right, the only thing that I did like was that narrative device. A great movie could be made around it – how the artifacts of society's culture are get to be known by someone who isn't much of a part of that culture. “Slumdog” lacks a bit in greatness, in my opinion.

ME: I said curious, not perplexed.

Ok, you got me. I shouldn't project my perennially perplexed state of mind onto others.

It was entertaining and paid off the time I put into it. but an indelible experience? No.

Hm, maybe I got too much of indelible experience with movies lately, so I am getting irritated with anything less than great.
 
Henry Wong
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Martha Simmons wrote:
Hm, maybe I got too much of indelible experience with movies lately, so I am getting irritated with anything less than great.




Would you mind listing some of your latest indelible movies? ... My Netflicks queue is getting kinda short.

Henry
 
Michael Ernest
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Henry Wong wrote:And I absolutely thought it was cool that everything came full circle -- the final question was to get the third musketeer.


It goes to how well one executes the story. Akelah and the Bee had the same kind of ending. Far too contrived to be real, and you know it. But if you like the hero, and want the hero to win, you don't mind (unless romantic narratives annoy you). I was more aware of it in Akelah and the Bee; no even mildly straightforward word comes up in the final round of the National Spelling Bee. But the producers had to find a line between reality (a contest predicated on obscurity in its final stage) and audience understanding (a "final" word that relates to the story, and also would be familiar enough that audience members know they don't know it.) Slumdog treads the very same line; it's a formula. At the time, however, I didn't care much. I wanted to enjoy the rest of the ride.

That type of ending is managed much more subtly and artfully by better writers -- for that, Charles Dickens does come to mind. Lesser talents do what they can. It has certainly been done far worse. When it goes wrong, in fact, don't you feel cheated? Or perhaps you start bargaining: it was too hot outside anyway, you only paid matinee prices, it was nice to get out of the house, at least you didn't have to leave the house, etc.

It's all in the execution.
 
Martha Simmons
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HW: Would you mind listing some of your latest indelible movies? ... My Netflicks queue is getting kinda short.

Fatih Akin's The Edge of Heaven and Head-On are currently my favorite. Then, If you are into "kids in a slum" type of movies, then watch
"Chop Shop"! "The Visitor" is quite good too, even though it gets silly at the end.

Two more movies, "Smart People" and "Station Agent" I hesitate to recommend. I liked them, but I suspect lots of people will ask "So what?" upon finishing them. I wondered myself, yet they are hard to forget.

"Waltz with Bashir" and "The Class" are on my waiting list..

 
Henry Wong
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Martha Simmons wrote:HW: Would you mind listing some of your latest indelible movies? ... My Netflicks queue is getting kinda short.

Fatih Akin's The Edge of Heaven and Head-On are currently my favorite. Then, If you are into "kids in a slum" type of movies, then watch
"Chop Shop"! "The Visitor" is quite good too, even though it gets silly at the end.

Two more movies, "Smart People" and "Station Agent" I hesitate to recommend. I liked them, but I suspect lots of people will ask "So what?" upon finishing them. I wondered myself, yet they are hard to forget.

"Waltz with Bashir" and "The Class" are on my waiting list..




Thanks... I'll take a look... the first couple, that is. The rest will depend on the first couple....

Henry
 
Martha Simmons
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HW: The rest will depend on the first couple....

That's wise! I was wondering if we just like different kinds of movies.
 
Henry Wong
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Martha Simmons wrote:
That's wise! I was wondering if we just like different kinds of movies.



I'll admit that I am easy when it comes to movies. I give everything a chance, and can watch the whole gamit of movies from practically all genres, and from all countries. In terms of non-english movies, I can watch it either as a sub or a dub (no preference, as long as the translation is accurate).

I rarely watch a movie twice (major exceptions below). The one exception was momento, which I had to watch twice to figure out what was going on.


As for my indelible movies --- movies that I would watch many many times, to the point of losing count... are the guy movies.... kill bill, aliens, star wars, etc. etc. etc...

Henry
 
Martha Simmons
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I can watch it either as a sub or a dub (no preference, as long as the translation is accurate).

Noooooooo.... Dubs suck! Only subs are allowed to exist. You miss all the intonations!

Once when in Russia, I watched an American movie that I love on Russian DVD, which was dubbed. After about 10 minutes I wanted to bang my head against the wall. It was totally ridiculous.
 
Ulf Dittmer
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Martha Simmons wrote:Fatih Akin's Head-On


Proceed with caution :-) That one seemed to split audiences into those that liked it a lot, and those that didn't like it at all, with not many folks in between.
 
Michael Ernest
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Ulf Dittmer wrote:

Martha Simmons wrote:Fatih Akin's Head-On


Proceed with caution :-) That one seemed to split audiences into those that liked it a lot, and those that didn't like it at all, with not many folks in between.


Isn't that what art should do, inspire a reaction? Heaven help the people who get nothing from art, positive or negative.
 
Ulf Dittmer
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Michael Ernest wrote:Isn't that what art should do, inspire a reaction? Heaven help the people who get nothing from art, positive or negative.


I wholeheartedly agree. All I'm saying is that this movie tends to evoke strong reactions, and those might be negative ones. So ... be prepared, one way or another.
 
Martha Simmons
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Ulf: Proceed with caution :-) That one seemed to split audiences into those that liked it a lot, and those that didn't like it at all, with not many folks in between.

Yeah, well, Henry asked what movies made such an unerasable (or is it "inerasable"?) impression on *me*, so that's what he got.

Just read on Salon.com:
"Accompanying the wacky weather was a roster of movies impossible to summarize with a pithy phrase or identify as a coherent meme."

 
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Mandar Khire wrote:This film already achieve more & more awards & still waiting for more!
India also win first time Golden_Globe_Award for Movie
This is very good example of Teamwork!

As this point of view what code rancher is thinking? or any new view for discussion?



Don't like the movie really ...Somehow it creates a negative image on India. IMHO Salam Bombay 100 times better than this.. curious case of benjamin button is far better than this..
 
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