I really enjoyed writing the opinion pieces at the beginning of the class but to be honest I didn't like having to write the movie review. I found the movie review hard to do. It wasn't hard making my statement of the movie it was just hard finding evidence from the movie to back up my argument.
On another note...I am finding it hard trying to find an editorial that interests me enough to want to write a letter to the editor for our assignment on Thursday.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
News and Record
So... we submitted our letters to the editor last week to our various newspapers. Mine, shockingly, got put into the News & Record. The loser I am, I looked on the newspaper's website to see when my letter would be posted. When it did get posted I noticed that people had already commented on my letter!!! Who actually goes onto the newspaper's website just to read the letters to the editor (well besides me)? Nevermind that, who actually RESPONDS to other people's response to other people's articles??? Anyway, the comments were kind of strange, one ranted on in caps about how he agreed with me and hated stupid people on twitter. The other comment was like a page long on how 140 word limit was justifiable. It just shocks me that people would actually comment... on a letter to the editor...seriously?
Dan Shaughnessy & The Boston Celtics
In response to Dan Shaughnessy’s column “Quite a series of events,” I don’t understand how he can completely shift his opinion of the Boston Celtics within days.
One day Shaughnessy is ranting about Coach Doc Rivers’ choice to give Ray Allen the ball in the final seconds of Game 2 against the Chicago Bulls. This was totally unnecessary. Hasn’t Ray earned our respect by now?
The following day, the Celtics and Bulls were tied yet again as the game winded down. The scoreboard read 115-115 until the ball got to the hands of Allen after a pass from Rajon Rondo. Swoosh, with two seconds remaining. Final score Celtics 118, Bulls 115.
And what did Shaughnessy write about the next day? About how good ol’ Ray Allen “emerged as the man” and saved the game. Well, which is it? Does Shaughnessy truly believe we are “doomed” this year, because I think all the Celtics need is a little support.
One day Shaughnessy is ranting about Coach Doc Rivers’ choice to give Ray Allen the ball in the final seconds of Game 2 against the Chicago Bulls. This was totally unnecessary. Hasn’t Ray earned our respect by now?
The following day, the Celtics and Bulls were tied yet again as the game winded down. The scoreboard read 115-115 until the ball got to the hands of Allen after a pass from Rajon Rondo. Swoosh, with two seconds remaining. Final score Celtics 118, Bulls 115.
And what did Shaughnessy write about the next day? About how good ol’ Ray Allen “emerged as the man” and saved the game. Well, which is it? Does Shaughnessy truly believe we are “doomed” this year, because I think all the Celtics need is a little support.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Letter To The Editor
In response to the column titled “Give pro-life license plates a fair vote,” I can’t seem to wrap my mind around the fact that there is such a huge debate going on about what you are allowed to support on your license plate.
I’ve been stuck behind cars driven by 40-year-old men who have customized license plates that read “#1PIMP,” or “I’d rather be shaggin’.” The concept that a Choose Life license plate may be too controversial is lost on me.
There are more than 130 different ways to express yourself through your plates in North Carolina, so why not add one more?
If the proposal to approve a Choose Life plate is denied, we will be the only state in the Southeast that won’t allow the plate.
North Carolinians preach that abortion is wrong, and that life is the only answer. If we believe so strongly in choosing life, why do we shy away from a plate that stands up for that very thing?
Maybe these folks should quit shaggin’ and start worrying about something with a little more substance.
Jennifer Paolino
704-321-5358
3427 Darlington Road
Matthews, North Carolina 28105
Give Pro-Life License Plates A Fair Vote
I’ve been stuck behind cars driven by 40-year-old men who have customized license plates that read “#1PIMP,” or “I’d rather be shaggin’.” The concept that a Choose Life license plate may be too controversial is lost on me.
There are more than 130 different ways to express yourself through your plates in North Carolina, so why not add one more?
If the proposal to approve a Choose Life plate is denied, we will be the only state in the Southeast that won’t allow the plate.
North Carolinians preach that abortion is wrong, and that life is the only answer. If we believe so strongly in choosing life, why do we shy away from a plate that stands up for that very thing?
Maybe these folks should quit shaggin’ and start worrying about something with a little more substance.
Jennifer Paolino
704-321-5358
3427 Darlington Road
Matthews, North Carolina 28105
Give Pro-Life License Plates A Fair Vote
"To tweet or not to tweet"
The "To tweet or not to tweet" opinion piece focuses on the absurdity of "Twitter." Whether I should "tweet" or not has never been the question for me. "Twitter" should be twitted away and never seen again.
This social networking site serves no purpose for society. What are the merits of having a network that only lets someone have 140 characters in whatever they are trying to say?
As a college student, I use “MySpace” to be an individual by setting my own background and website. I could never do this on “Twitter” where everyone’s page looks the same.
“Twitter” offers no creativity for its users and twitterers certainly cannot show their interests beyond a 140 word limit.
So what is the obsession with twitting?
Maybe it is the bored celebrities who twitter away their millions instead of using their money for the greater good, that has people in a “Twitter” frenzy.
It would be different if people used their posts to write something interesting, but more often than not, people write about useless crap like going to the bathroom.
I just hope that twittering doesn’t turn my generation into a bunch of 140 word limit twits.
Original Article:
"To Tweet or not to tweet"
This social networking site serves no purpose for society. What are the merits of having a network that only lets someone have 140 characters in whatever they are trying to say?
As a college student, I use “MySpace” to be an individual by setting my own background and website. I could never do this on “Twitter” where everyone’s page looks the same.
“Twitter” offers no creativity for its users and twitterers certainly cannot show their interests beyond a 140 word limit.
So what is the obsession with twitting?
Maybe it is the bored celebrities who twitter away their millions instead of using their money for the greater good, that has people in a “Twitter” frenzy.
It would be different if people used their posts to write something interesting, but more often than not, people write about useless crap like going to the bathroom.
I just hope that twittering doesn’t turn my generation into a bunch of 140 word limit twits.
Original Article:
"To Tweet or not to tweet"
Letter to the Editor: Penalize students for texting
Dear Editor,
Regarding Brittani Level’s letter (April 22) about students texting in class, I agree that this habit severely hinders their education process and can lead to cheating.
As a senior at High Point University, however, I know how busy students are and how tempting it can be to text in class, especially if it’s about a matter important to the student. I doubt that students will ever discipline themselves enough on their own to stop texting in class.
Luckily, my global studies professor has conquered this issue. In his syllabus, he states that any student who uses a cell phone or an electronic device during class will receive a 75 point deduction from their final grade, which is based on a 950 point scale. While he can’t accuse students of cheating while texting, he can at least penalize them.
Needless to say, the cell phones stay put away in that class.
Sincerely,
Pam Haynes
Note: I wrote this letter in response to "Texting in classrooms can lead to cheating" which can be found at the bottom of this page: http://blog.news-record.com/opinion/letters/
Regarding Brittani Level’s letter (April 22) about students texting in class, I agree that this habit severely hinders their education process and can lead to cheating.
As a senior at High Point University, however, I know how busy students are and how tempting it can be to text in class, especially if it’s about a matter important to the student. I doubt that students will ever discipline themselves enough on their own to stop texting in class.
Luckily, my global studies professor has conquered this issue. In his syllabus, he states that any student who uses a cell phone or an electronic device during class will receive a 75 point deduction from their final grade, which is based on a 950 point scale. While he can’t accuse students of cheating while texting, he can at least penalize them.
Needless to say, the cell phones stay put away in that class.
Sincerely,
Pam Haynes
Note: I wrote this letter in response to "Texting in classrooms can lead to cheating" which can be found at the bottom of this page: http://blog.news-record.com/opinion/letters/
Letter to the Editor
Jones is right
State Rep. Earl Jones has the right idea, legalize Video Poker.
I disagree that video poker shouldn’t be legal. Many people enjoy being able to play video poker and if you legalize it will give them the opportunity to play legal poker as opposed to going to an illegal back-alley poker room.
As an avid poker player I know that poker players will do anything they can do to play the game. I think that legalizing video poker would help create another avenue for people that are looking to play a game and enjoy it. I think that if it is set up in a safe environment where people can have fun while playing it can be successful for all. Many states have legalized poker, why not North Carolina.
Chris Smith
High Point
State Rep. Earl Jones has the right idea, legalize Video Poker.
I disagree that video poker shouldn’t be legal. Many people enjoy being able to play video poker and if you legalize it will give them the opportunity to play legal poker as opposed to going to an illegal back-alley poker room.
As an avid poker player I know that poker players will do anything they can do to play the game. I think that legalizing video poker would help create another avenue for people that are looking to play a game and enjoy it. I think that if it is set up in a safe environment where people can have fun while playing it can be successful for all. Many states have legalized poker, why not North Carolina.
Chris Smith
High Point
Letter to the Editor
To tweet or not to tweet
By Maureen Dowd
I completely agree with Maureen Dowd and her sentiments towards the new Twitter craze in her column (April 23). I am a college student and I refuse to create a Twitter account.
It honestly worries me about how people from my generation view the idea of communication. We are already so disconnected from reality and from real relationships. Instead of having verbal interaction we instant message each other on the internet or send a quick text message. Conversations that should happen face to face now only occur through typed abbreviated words and generic emoticons.
The fact that Twitter only allows for 140 words limits people and their ideas and emotions. Technology and online blogs or tweets stifle people’s ability to express their thoughts. Incorrect grammar becomes more prevalent in everyday speech. People are lol-ing and idk-ing out loud more and more.
My generation will have to eventually learn how to communicate properly. I just wonder how and when.
By Maureen Dowd
I completely agree with Maureen Dowd and her sentiments towards the new Twitter craze in her column (April 23). I am a college student and I refuse to create a Twitter account.
It honestly worries me about how people from my generation view the idea of communication. We are already so disconnected from reality and from real relationships. Instead of having verbal interaction we instant message each other on the internet or send a quick text message. Conversations that should happen face to face now only occur through typed abbreviated words and generic emoticons.
The fact that Twitter only allows for 140 words limits people and their ideas and emotions. Technology and online blogs or tweets stifle people’s ability to express their thoughts. Incorrect grammar becomes more prevalent in everyday speech. People are lol-ing and idk-ing out loud more and more.
My generation will have to eventually learn how to communicate properly. I just wonder how and when.
Drug Gangs Will Win
In response to Courtland Milloy's Wednesday Drug Cartel opinion piece, I couldn't agree more. Although I’m writing as a democrat, President Obama has the world in a "bubble" that will very soon burst if these drug cartels gain easy access to desperate Americans.
With recession unfortunately comes depression and many drug experimenters quickly become users to ease the pain caused by job loss and lack of success. Present in many people, is the fear of failure as well as the failure to step up to plate when the going gets tough. This combination is lethal to American morale, yet Christmas morning to organized drug leaders. They prey on weakness and their mouths are watering as they see the American people suffering.
It is imperative that rather than using ALL federal drug funds to slow the flow of drugs into America, that some are used for drug prevention programs to help those already at the mercy of illegal substances.
Jody Wicks
With recession unfortunately comes depression and many drug experimenters quickly become users to ease the pain caused by job loss and lack of success. Present in many people, is the fear of failure as well as the failure to step up to plate when the going gets tough. This combination is lethal to American morale, yet Christmas morning to organized drug leaders. They prey on weakness and their mouths are watering as they see the American people suffering.
It is imperative that rather than using ALL federal drug funds to slow the flow of drugs into America, that some are used for drug prevention programs to help those already at the mercy of illegal substances.
Jody Wicks
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Review
If you are looking for a heart-wrenching, fast paced film, then you need to watch Slumdog Millionaire.
Directors Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandan do an absolutely brilliant job of depicting the lives of two young brothers as they fight through the struggles of growing up alone in the slums of India.
This film takes us through a number of flashbacks in the life of Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) that explain through his life experiences how he is able to answer questions on the Indian Who Wants to be a Millionaire.
In a tear-jerking early scene, both Jamal and his brother Salim (Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail) witness the death of their mother during an anti-Muslim attack from the Hindus. While escaping the attack the two brothers befriend a young girl, Latika (Rubina Ali) and attempt to survive on their own before being “rescued” by an orphanage.
In a key and very intense scene, the brothers are separated from their new friend Latika as they attempt to run away from the orphanage. Jamal is extremely distraught and spends the rest of the film trying to find ways to find her and bring them all back together. The producers and actors do a good job in this scene laying the ground work of how the two brothers begin to lead lives down different paths.
The bulk of the film consists of Jamal describing how he got answers to the Millionaire questions based on life experiences he had. Jamal and Salim spend most of their time dealing with adversity in different ways. Jamal spends most of his time in search of Latika while Salim spends his time running from his enemies and working for mobsters.
The producers do an excellent job of creating a solid balance between the different time frames that this movie takes place in. Many movies have flashbacks but most of the time a lot of the intensity and passion of the movie is lost while travelling back in time. In this film the passion for Jamal is just as evident when he is 18 years old as when he is 8.
The thrilling ending to this movie is in itself enough to watch. When faced with the 20 Million Rupee question Jamal is forced to use his phone a friend lifeline and has just one phone number, Salim’s. Will Jamal receive the information he needs, watch and find out?
Directors Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandan do an absolutely brilliant job of depicting the lives of two young brothers as they fight through the struggles of growing up alone in the slums of India.
This film takes us through a number of flashbacks in the life of Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) that explain through his life experiences how he is able to answer questions on the Indian Who Wants to be a Millionaire.
In a tear-jerking early scene, both Jamal and his brother Salim (Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail) witness the death of their mother during an anti-Muslim attack from the Hindus. While escaping the attack the two brothers befriend a young girl, Latika (Rubina Ali) and attempt to survive on their own before being “rescued” by an orphanage.
In a key and very intense scene, the brothers are separated from their new friend Latika as they attempt to run away from the orphanage. Jamal is extremely distraught and spends the rest of the film trying to find ways to find her and bring them all back together. The producers and actors do a good job in this scene laying the ground work of how the two brothers begin to lead lives down different paths.
The bulk of the film consists of Jamal describing how he got answers to the Millionaire questions based on life experiences he had. Jamal and Salim spend most of their time dealing with adversity in different ways. Jamal spends most of his time in search of Latika while Salim spends his time running from his enemies and working for mobsters.
The producers do an excellent job of creating a solid balance between the different time frames that this movie takes place in. Many movies have flashbacks but most of the time a lot of the intensity and passion of the movie is lost while travelling back in time. In this film the passion for Jamal is just as evident when he is 18 years old as when he is 8.
The thrilling ending to this movie is in itself enough to watch. When faced with the 20 Million Rupee question Jamal is forced to use his phone a friend lifeline and has just one phone number, Salim’s. Will Jamal receive the information he needs, watch and find out?
Miss California.
After watching Miss California give her infamous "Marriage is between a man and a woman" answer on the Miss USA Pagaent, I'm desperately hoping that someone, somewhere writes a column or a letter to the editor about this event so I may respond to it.
This woman, who gave a truthful answer, was shunned by a gay judge for doing so. This situation has gotten me pretty heated. To me, her answer isn't even the important part here. The important thing is that she told the truth. The gay judge openly admits that her truthfulness lost her the crown.
Maybe I'll just a write a column about it instead...
This woman, who gave a truthful answer, was shunned by a gay judge for doing so. This situation has gotten me pretty heated. To me, her answer isn't even the important part here. The important thing is that she told the truth. The gay judge openly admits that her truthfulness lost her the crown.
Maybe I'll just a write a column about it instead...
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Reviewing Movies...Yay!!
Reviewing movies was a task that I thought would be easy. All one basically has to do is watch a movie and then write your opinion about it. Wrong. In order to write a review you have to do much more research than just stating your opinion about the film. You have to have background on the topic of the movie, on the director's previous films and on the actors.
You also have to have an informed opinion on the reason why you disliked or liked the film that you are reviewing. That is what I found to be so difficult when reviewing "Slumdog Millionaire". I didn't like the film but I could not give specific examples as to why I disliked it so. The topic of the film just didn't excite me. I kept looking at my watch. However, I had to give specific scenes to support why I did not like it.
Consequently, I am not fond of movie reviewing. I rather just watch the movie please and thank you.
You also have to have an informed opinion on the reason why you disliked or liked the film that you are reviewing. That is what I found to be so difficult when reviewing "Slumdog Millionaire". I didn't like the film but I could not give specific examples as to why I disliked it so. The topic of the film just didn't excite me. I kept looking at my watch. However, I had to give specific scenes to support why I did not like it.
Consequently, I am not fond of movie reviewing. I rather just watch the movie please and thank you.
Friday, April 17, 2009
It is Written
It is Written
By Justina Reinold
Throughout “Slumdog Millionaire” you can’t help but root for Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) as he battles everyone from local gangs to his power-ridden older brother.
“Slumdog Millionaire” takes you on a bumpy ride through Jamal’s life, growing up in Mumbai, India, where he and his brother, Salim struggle to survive each day. Money, food, and shelter are not guaranteed each morning they awake.
The camera work consisting of bizarre camera angles and quick, sometimes disturbing, flashbacks keep you on the edge of your seat.
In one powerful scene, young Jamal and Salim are playing in a pool while their mother washes clothes. Behind her, a train screeches to stop. Here, it becomes obvious that something bad is about to happen.
Fear takes over as their mother screams for the boys to run. As the camera flashes back and forth, you see everything through their mother's eyes. The train. Her boys. For the last time.
Suddenly, you hear nothing but the faint sound of water splashing followed by a blurry image of a mob running towards her.
The muffled background noises change back to normal the moment their mother is attacked by the anti-Muslim’s. This creative use of sound jolts the viewer back to reality. Things are going to get worse before they get any better.
Jamal and Salim end up in the hands of child-traffickers being forced to beg tourists for food and money. The bond of brotherhood is apparent but Jamal’s true love stands in the way.
Latika (Freida Pinto), the “third Musketeer,” slips through Jamal’s fingers numerous times, only causing him to try harder. Latika’s striking beauty and vibrant wardrobe make her character stand out among the rest.
So how does Jamal end up one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” How could a “slumdog” know so much?
The show’s host wonders the same thing and has Jamal taken in for questioning where he is brutally tortured. In Jamal’s case it was not an extraordinary education that got him in the hot seat, but a combination of the different chapters of his life. Each seemingly impossible question triggers a memory that reveals the answer.
One question remains a mystery. What is this “slumdog” with no desire for such riches really doing on the game show?
The answer to the final question tells all. It is written.
By Justina Reinold
Throughout “Slumdog Millionaire” you can’t help but root for Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) as he battles everyone from local gangs to his power-ridden older brother.
“Slumdog Millionaire” takes you on a bumpy ride through Jamal’s life, growing up in Mumbai, India, where he and his brother, Salim struggle to survive each day. Money, food, and shelter are not guaranteed each morning they awake.
The camera work consisting of bizarre camera angles and quick, sometimes disturbing, flashbacks keep you on the edge of your seat.
In one powerful scene, young Jamal and Salim are playing in a pool while their mother washes clothes. Behind her, a train screeches to stop. Here, it becomes obvious that something bad is about to happen.
Fear takes over as their mother screams for the boys to run. As the camera flashes back and forth, you see everything through their mother's eyes. The train. Her boys. For the last time.
Suddenly, you hear nothing but the faint sound of water splashing followed by a blurry image of a mob running towards her.
The muffled background noises change back to normal the moment their mother is attacked by the anti-Muslim’s. This creative use of sound jolts the viewer back to reality. Things are going to get worse before they get any better.
Jamal and Salim end up in the hands of child-traffickers being forced to beg tourists for food and money. The bond of brotherhood is apparent but Jamal’s true love stands in the way.
Latika (Freida Pinto), the “third Musketeer,” slips through Jamal’s fingers numerous times, only causing him to try harder. Latika’s striking beauty and vibrant wardrobe make her character stand out among the rest.
So how does Jamal end up one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” How could a “slumdog” know so much?
The show’s host wonders the same thing and has Jamal taken in for questioning where he is brutally tortured. In Jamal’s case it was not an extraordinary education that got him in the hot seat, but a combination of the different chapters of his life. Each seemingly impossible question triggers a memory that reveals the answer.
One question remains a mystery. What is this “slumdog” with no desire for such riches really doing on the game show?
The answer to the final question tells all. It is written.
###
Trailers and videos
Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance
Movie Rating: R for some violence, disturbing images, language
Running Time: 120 minutes
Language: English, Hindi
Star Rating: 8.6/10
Release Date: January 23, 2009
Rent Date: March 31, 2009
Awards: Won 8 Oscars. Another 76 wins & 26 nominations
Trailers and videos
Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance
Movie Rating: R for some violence, disturbing images, language
Running Time: 120 minutes
Language: English, Hindi
Star Rating: 8.6/10
Release Date: January 23, 2009
Rent Date: March 31, 2009
Awards: Won 8 Oscars. Another 76 wins & 26 nominations
Thursday, April 16, 2009
"Slumdog Millionaire" doesn't feel so good
‘Slumdog Millionaire’ doesn’t feel so good
By Pam Haynes
“Slumdog Millionaire,” directed by Danny Boyle, has been called a lot of things. It won Academies for Best Picture, Best Film Editing and Best Sound Mixing. The cast and creators of the movie deserve all of those awards and more.
However, it’s also been labeled the “Feel-good Film of the Decade.” That’s one award I’m not willing to give it so quickly.
Set in Mumbai, India, the story follows the lives of two brothers – Jamal (Dev Patel) and Salim (Madhur Mittal) Malik – who grow up in a slum, all the while losing their parents, being snatched by child traffickers and learning to steal from American tourists to survive.
The death of their mother, murdered by anti-Muslim terrorists, leaves the boys homeless and poorer than they’ve ever been. This is where they meet another orphan named Latika (Frieda Pinto). She joins Jamal and Salim on their quest for survival, but she holds Jamal’s heart for the rest of the movie and his adolescent life.
She also has something to do with the reason he applies to be a contestant on India’s version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” years later when he’s 18.
Most of the film consists of flashbacks to Jamal’s childhood which can be rather jolting. The scenes change quickly from him sitting in the hot seat on the famous television show to traumatic moments in his early years. And most of them were traumatic.
Even in the lightest of scenes, this movie leaves a depressed heaviness that weighs on the viewer‘s mind. It starts early on when the boys’ parents are still alive. A famous actor visit’s the slum in one of the highlights of Jamal’s childhood. Just when the actor arrives, Jamal (Ayush Mahesh Khedekar as the youngest Jamal) gets locked inside of an outhouse. While the rest of the village is screaming and crowding around the actor outside, he realizes there’s only one way out: down the toilet hole and into a giant pile of fecal matter. He takes the plunge and, though he manages to get the actor's autograph, he’s still covered in feces at the end of the scene from head to toe.
Infamously known as the “poop scene,” it reflects the way that viewers will feel about many other scenes. Despite the few good things that do happen to Jamal, he’s always in a pretty crappy situation.
His relationship with Latika plays out this way as well. The two are separated during their childhood, and though Jamal manages to find her several times in his teenage years, something always comes between them. The train station scene is one of the only scenes where Jamal smiles when he sees that Latika has come to meet him. It seems that the two will finally be reunited. But alas, the Indian mob who captured Latika long ago and forced her to live with mob’s boss as his wife, comes chasing after her. Needless to say, they manage to get to her before Jamal does.
I wish I could say that there were more feel good moments in the movie, but I fail to find any. That doesn’t mean that the movie isn’t worth watching. Just be prepared to deal with the tidal wave of issues in the film including government torture, religious battles, family betrayal and immense poverty.
It also presents a unique portrayal of Indian people by presenting Indian Muslims. It’s a rare depiction, and the film has been criticized for portraying non-Muslims as violent and for portraying the film’s characters as too evil or too money-obsessed. Regardless, it presents different Indian characters than most films before, using child-actors that were selected out of the real slums of India.
“Slumdog Millionaire,” based upon the book “Q & A: A Novel” by Vikas Swarup, is worth watching. It’s though-provoking and educational about events in the country of India, and it certainly makes you ponder the meaning of the word “millionaire” in the end.
It deserves all of the praise that it received except for that one, out-of-place title that the film makers slapped all over the theatrical posters. They may call it the “Feel-good Film of the Decade,” but I fail to find how this movie is “feel-good” in any way.
By Pam Haynes
“Slumdog Millionaire,” directed by Danny Boyle, has been called a lot of things. It won Academies for Best Picture, Best Film Editing and Best Sound Mixing. The cast and creators of the movie deserve all of those awards and more.
However, it’s also been labeled the “Feel-good Film of the Decade.” That’s one award I’m not willing to give it so quickly.
Set in Mumbai, India, the story follows the lives of two brothers – Jamal (Dev Patel) and Salim (Madhur Mittal) Malik – who grow up in a slum, all the while losing their parents, being snatched by child traffickers and learning to steal from American tourists to survive.
The death of their mother, murdered by anti-Muslim terrorists, leaves the boys homeless and poorer than they’ve ever been. This is where they meet another orphan named Latika (Frieda Pinto). She joins Jamal and Salim on their quest for survival, but she holds Jamal’s heart for the rest of the movie and his adolescent life.
She also has something to do with the reason he applies to be a contestant on India’s version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” years later when he’s 18.
Most of the film consists of flashbacks to Jamal’s childhood which can be rather jolting. The scenes change quickly from him sitting in the hot seat on the famous television show to traumatic moments in his early years. And most of them were traumatic.
Even in the lightest of scenes, this movie leaves a depressed heaviness that weighs on the viewer‘s mind. It starts early on when the boys’ parents are still alive. A famous actor visit’s the slum in one of the highlights of Jamal’s childhood. Just when the actor arrives, Jamal (Ayush Mahesh Khedekar as the youngest Jamal) gets locked inside of an outhouse. While the rest of the village is screaming and crowding around the actor outside, he realizes there’s only one way out: down the toilet hole and into a giant pile of fecal matter. He takes the plunge and, though he manages to get the actor's autograph, he’s still covered in feces at the end of the scene from head to toe.
Infamously known as the “poop scene,” it reflects the way that viewers will feel about many other scenes. Despite the few good things that do happen to Jamal, he’s always in a pretty crappy situation.
His relationship with Latika plays out this way as well. The two are separated during their childhood, and though Jamal manages to find her several times in his teenage years, something always comes between them. The train station scene is one of the only scenes where Jamal smiles when he sees that Latika has come to meet him. It seems that the two will finally be reunited. But alas, the Indian mob who captured Latika long ago and forced her to live with mob’s boss as his wife, comes chasing after her. Needless to say, they manage to get to her before Jamal does.
I wish I could say that there were more feel good moments in the movie, but I fail to find any. That doesn’t mean that the movie isn’t worth watching. Just be prepared to deal with the tidal wave of issues in the film including government torture, religious battles, family betrayal and immense poverty.
It also presents a unique portrayal of Indian people by presenting Indian Muslims. It’s a rare depiction, and the film has been criticized for portraying non-Muslims as violent and for portraying the film’s characters as too evil or too money-obsessed. Regardless, it presents different Indian characters than most films before, using child-actors that were selected out of the real slums of India.
“Slumdog Millionaire,” based upon the book “Q & A: A Novel” by Vikas Swarup, is worth watching. It’s though-provoking and educational about events in the country of India, and it certainly makes you ponder the meaning of the word “millionaire” in the end.
It deserves all of the praise that it received except for that one, out-of-place title that the film makers slapped all over the theatrical posters. They may call it the “Feel-good Film of the Decade,” but I fail to find how this movie is “feel-good” in any way.
Slumdog Millionaire
Slumdog Millionaire, Not so much a hit
By Emily Scott
“Slumdog Millionaire” may be highly acclaimed and held as many things, but for me I disagree. This movie was dark, depressing and disgusting at times throughout not to mention it was also a long slow moving movie.
“Slumdog Millionaire” was set and filmed in Mumbai, India. The film tells the story of 18-year-old Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) from the slums of Mumbai, India who is looking for the girl he loved and lost, Latika (Freida Pinto). Jamal is a contestant on India’s version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” He is just one question away from winning a million dollars when he is arrested on suspicion that he has been cheating.
As the movie begins Sergeant Srinivas (Saurabh Shukla) is slapping Jamal in the face, grabbing the back of his head and holding his head down in a bucket of water, and hangs him up by rope from the ceiling and even electrocuting him to just get him to answer their questions of how someone like him with no formal education knew all the answers.
It isn’t clear to the audience until later on in the film that all these flashbacks in the film are from Jamal’s life and explains how he knew the answers.
In another scene that is not only particularly disgusting but makes you want to gag at the same time is where youngest Jamal (Ayush Mahesh Khedekar) and younest Salim (Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail) are out at the outhouses and youngest Jamal is in the outhouse when Amitabh Bachchan’s (Feroz Abbas Khan) plane is spotted. Youngest Salim locks youngest Jamal in the outhouse and takes off with the rest of the people to meet Bachchan. When youngest Jamal can’t get out he decides to jump down into the pile of crap to escape and takes off to the airport to meet Bachchan and get his autograph.
One of the most painful parts in this film was when Maman (Ankur Vikal) does all kinds of evil things to the children, for example killing the boys and making the girls belly dancers, just so that people will feel sorry for the children and make them want to give money.
“Slumdog Millioaire” doesn’t deliver a “wow” performance and is not worth the time watching unless you are interested in learning history about India.
By Emily Scott
“Slumdog Millionaire” may be highly acclaimed and held as many things, but for me I disagree. This movie was dark, depressing and disgusting at times throughout not to mention it was also a long slow moving movie.
“Slumdog Millionaire” was set and filmed in Mumbai, India. The film tells the story of 18-year-old Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) from the slums of Mumbai, India who is looking for the girl he loved and lost, Latika (Freida Pinto). Jamal is a contestant on India’s version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” He is just one question away from winning a million dollars when he is arrested on suspicion that he has been cheating.
As the movie begins Sergeant Srinivas (Saurabh Shukla) is slapping Jamal in the face, grabbing the back of his head and holding his head down in a bucket of water, and hangs him up by rope from the ceiling and even electrocuting him to just get him to answer their questions of how someone like him with no formal education knew all the answers.
It isn’t clear to the audience until later on in the film that all these flashbacks in the film are from Jamal’s life and explains how he knew the answers.
In another scene that is not only particularly disgusting but makes you want to gag at the same time is where youngest Jamal (Ayush Mahesh Khedekar) and younest Salim (Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail) are out at the outhouses and youngest Jamal is in the outhouse when Amitabh Bachchan’s (Feroz Abbas Khan) plane is spotted. Youngest Salim locks youngest Jamal in the outhouse and takes off with the rest of the people to meet Bachchan. When youngest Jamal can’t get out he decides to jump down into the pile of crap to escape and takes off to the airport to meet Bachchan and get his autograph.
One of the most painful parts in this film was when Maman (Ankur Vikal) does all kinds of evil things to the children, for example killing the boys and making the girls belly dancers, just so that people will feel sorry for the children and make them want to give money.
“Slumdog Millioaire” doesn’t deliver a “wow” performance and is not worth the time watching unless you are interested in learning history about India.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Write Your Destiny to See Slumdog Millionaire
By: Scarlett Hester
“NAME,” resonates through a dim room clouded with cigarette smoke. A close up shot shows a young, blank faced Indian man, Jamal Malik, as he gets slapped only to be asked “NAME” again. The smoke continues swirl along with his confused expression.
Slumdog Millionaire, directed by Danny Boyle, is a powerful story of love, money, and destiny. Based upon the book Q & A: A Novel by Vikas Swarup, Slumdog tells the story of Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), an 18-year-old boy who ends up on India’s version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” By some stroke of luck, Jamal seems to know all of the answers, and is on the fast track to success and a million dollars.
The game show host, Prem (Anil Kapoor), grows suspicious of Jamal and has him taken into police custody to be questioned. However it soon becomes evident that Jamal knows the answers from his own unfortunate life experiences, and not from cheating. The police questioning Jamal begin to wonder how a boy from the slums could advance so far in the show. After being shocked with electricity to the point of unconsciousness, Jamal tells the police, “The answers…I knew the answers.”
The flawless cuts between scenes take viewers on a journey through time and through Jamal’s life. Those who are ignorant to India and the extreme forms of poverty that are experienced in the country are exposed through young Jamal (Ayush Mahesh Khedekar) and his brother Salim (Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail). The two are first shown playing barefoot and in tattered and dirty clothes.
As they begin to run from the police for trespassing the cameras sweep over the slum of Bombay to reveal the trash filled and fly infested neighborhood. However despite the tragic living conditions, the spirits of the two boys can’t be brought down. They laugh and mock the policeman chasing them. Their jovial spirits are reflected in the background music, full of upbeat drumbeats.
If there is any downfall to the movie, it could be that the subtitles that were given were difficult to read at times. The light color of the background combined with small text makes the viewer struggle to read what is being said. At points it is also difficult to understand what is being said when English is being spoken, due to the actors’ thick accents.
As the movie progresses the audience gets to see more and more of what Jamal’s (Dev Patel) life was like and how he never gave up on finding his true love, Latika (Freida Pinto). It’s touching to see the connection between the two, even as children. Often referred to as the “third musketeer,” Latika comes in and out of Salim (Madur Mittal) and Jamal’s lives, however when she’s gone, she’s certainly not forgotten.
It’s easy to see why Slumdog Millionaire won 8 Oscar awards. The camera work is beautiful and edgy and constantly keeps the viewer on their toes. Shots from all angles give the viewer the feeling as if they are in the scene. The intercut between the past and present ties the dialogue and plot together in a way that conveys the story in a unique and interesting way.
Accompanying the cinematography is an epic soundtrack that seems to capture the emotions being displayed across the screen in a melodic and harmonious way. The upbeat pound of the drums and the slow, depressed sound of the string bass bring a whole new element and movie going experience to the table.
Slumdog Millionaire is definitely a movie worth investing your time in. It’s a lesson in love as well as a lesson in culture. Just like Jamal’s story, it is written for you to see this movie.
By: Scarlett Hester
“NAME,” resonates through a dim room clouded with cigarette smoke. A close up shot shows a young, blank faced Indian man, Jamal Malik, as he gets slapped only to be asked “NAME” again. The smoke continues swirl along with his confused expression.
Slumdog Millionaire, directed by Danny Boyle, is a powerful story of love, money, and destiny. Based upon the book Q & A: A Novel by Vikas Swarup, Slumdog tells the story of Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), an 18-year-old boy who ends up on India’s version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” By some stroke of luck, Jamal seems to know all of the answers, and is on the fast track to success and a million dollars.
The game show host, Prem (Anil Kapoor), grows suspicious of Jamal and has him taken into police custody to be questioned. However it soon becomes evident that Jamal knows the answers from his own unfortunate life experiences, and not from cheating. The police questioning Jamal begin to wonder how a boy from the slums could advance so far in the show. After being shocked with electricity to the point of unconsciousness, Jamal tells the police, “The answers…I knew the answers.”
The flawless cuts between scenes take viewers on a journey through time and through Jamal’s life. Those who are ignorant to India and the extreme forms of poverty that are experienced in the country are exposed through young Jamal (Ayush Mahesh Khedekar) and his brother Salim (Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail). The two are first shown playing barefoot and in tattered and dirty clothes.
As they begin to run from the police for trespassing the cameras sweep over the slum of Bombay to reveal the trash filled and fly infested neighborhood. However despite the tragic living conditions, the spirits of the two boys can’t be brought down. They laugh and mock the policeman chasing them. Their jovial spirits are reflected in the background music, full of upbeat drumbeats.
If there is any downfall to the movie, it could be that the subtitles that were given were difficult to read at times. The light color of the background combined with small text makes the viewer struggle to read what is being said. At points it is also difficult to understand what is being said when English is being spoken, due to the actors’ thick accents.
As the movie progresses the audience gets to see more and more of what Jamal’s (Dev Patel) life was like and how he never gave up on finding his true love, Latika (Freida Pinto). It’s touching to see the connection between the two, even as children. Often referred to as the “third musketeer,” Latika comes in and out of Salim (Madur Mittal) and Jamal’s lives, however when she’s gone, she’s certainly not forgotten.
It’s easy to see why Slumdog Millionaire won 8 Oscar awards. The camera work is beautiful and edgy and constantly keeps the viewer on their toes. Shots from all angles give the viewer the feeling as if they are in the scene. The intercut between the past and present ties the dialogue and plot together in a way that conveys the story in a unique and interesting way.
Accompanying the cinematography is an epic soundtrack that seems to capture the emotions being displayed across the screen in a melodic and harmonious way. The upbeat pound of the drums and the slow, depressed sound of the string bass bring a whole new element and movie going experience to the table.
Slumdog Millionaire is definitely a movie worth investing your time in. It’s a lesson in love as well as a lesson in culture. Just like Jamal’s story, it is written for you to see this movie.
Bollywood’s “Slumdog” Deserving of 8 Oscars
By Jody Wicks
“Slumdog Millionaire” is a brilliant love story with a sad underlying past of two star-crossed lovers. The premise of this film is phenomenal; it takes a popular game show that many believe you must me extremely intelligent to win, and shows how street smarts can be just as valuable as a textbook education.
“Slumdog Millionaire” is an eye-opening look back at one Mumbai teen’s childhood in poverty that brutally taught him the street-smarts to be only one question away from 20 million rupees ($1 million) on India’s version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.”
When they are children, Jamal (Dev Patel) and his childhood friend Latika (Freida Pinto) are orphaned due to an attack on their Muslim village by rival Hindu religious group(s). The two stick together, along with Jamal’s older brother Salim (Madhur Mittal), for a couple of years and then get separated. Throughout their young lives, fate keeps their paths crossing, yet they are unsuccessful at staying together, which is what causes Jamal to go on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.” Knowing Latika likes the show, he hopes she will be watching along with the rest of the nation.
The movie opens with a scene of Jamal being beaten up after being arrested upon suspicion of cheating on the popular T.V. show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” Indian investigators interrogate Jamal hoping he will reveal how a “slumdog” knew all of the answers to the difficult trivia questions.
He is almost drowned, electrocuted and beaten, yet reveals nothing about how he knew the answers to the tough questions that usually stump even the cleverest of contestants. Once the beating stops, Jamal is hand-cuffed to a chair and begins to tell his story to the lead investigator.
The story starts with the arrogant game show host (Anil Kapoor) asking Jamal a question and then continues with a flashback into his childhood which explains why he (an uneducated orphan) knows this specific information. These flashbacks continue throughout the entire movie.
For example, one of the questions asked “Whose face is on a U.S. one-hundred dollar bill?” The flashback portrays a time in Jamal’s life when he was hustling American tourists for money to survive. One of these tourists witnessed Jamal receiving a beating from a police officer and in order to show him “America’s hospitality,” gave him a one-hundred dollar bill. Therefore, through his life experience, he knew the answer. This was a great scene that snuck in a playful stab at American mentality.
The film is a combination of questions and explanations takes containing occasional run-ins with Latika as well as grave danger. The culmination of the film is when the audience finds out whether or not (or what kind) of destiny is fulfilled when all is said and done.
Director Danny Boyle, who directed “Shallow Grave,” and “28 Days Later,” has done it again with this film combining an interesting story-line and an inspirational cast. “Slumdog Millionaire” is rated R and is available on DVD and Blu-Ray 31 Mar 2009.
Do anything you can to get your hands on “Slumdog Millionaire,” because it’s got something for everyone; love, action, twist, drama and most of all a fantastic plot.
By Jody Wicks
“Slumdog Millionaire” is a brilliant love story with a sad underlying past of two star-crossed lovers. The premise of this film is phenomenal; it takes a popular game show that many believe you must me extremely intelligent to win, and shows how street smarts can be just as valuable as a textbook education.
“Slumdog Millionaire” is an eye-opening look back at one Mumbai teen’s childhood in poverty that brutally taught him the street-smarts to be only one question away from 20 million rupees ($1 million) on India’s version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.”
When they are children, Jamal (Dev Patel) and his childhood friend Latika (Freida Pinto) are orphaned due to an attack on their Muslim village by rival Hindu religious group(s). The two stick together, along with Jamal’s older brother Salim (Madhur Mittal), for a couple of years and then get separated. Throughout their young lives, fate keeps their paths crossing, yet they are unsuccessful at staying together, which is what causes Jamal to go on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.” Knowing Latika likes the show, he hopes she will be watching along with the rest of the nation.
The movie opens with a scene of Jamal being beaten up after being arrested upon suspicion of cheating on the popular T.V. show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” Indian investigators interrogate Jamal hoping he will reveal how a “slumdog” knew all of the answers to the difficult trivia questions.
He is almost drowned, electrocuted and beaten, yet reveals nothing about how he knew the answers to the tough questions that usually stump even the cleverest of contestants. Once the beating stops, Jamal is hand-cuffed to a chair and begins to tell his story to the lead investigator.
The story starts with the arrogant game show host (Anil Kapoor) asking Jamal a question and then continues with a flashback into his childhood which explains why he (an uneducated orphan) knows this specific information. These flashbacks continue throughout the entire movie.
For example, one of the questions asked “Whose face is on a U.S. one-hundred dollar bill?” The flashback portrays a time in Jamal’s life when he was hustling American tourists for money to survive. One of these tourists witnessed Jamal receiving a beating from a police officer and in order to show him “America’s hospitality,” gave him a one-hundred dollar bill. Therefore, through his life experience, he knew the answer. This was a great scene that snuck in a playful stab at American mentality.
The film is a combination of questions and explanations takes containing occasional run-ins with Latika as well as grave danger. The culmination of the film is when the audience finds out whether or not (or what kind) of destiny is fulfilled when all is said and done.
Director Danny Boyle, who directed “Shallow Grave,” and “28 Days Later,” has done it again with this film combining an interesting story-line and an inspirational cast. “Slumdog Millionaire” is rated R and is available on DVD and Blu-Ray 31 Mar 2009.
Do anything you can to get your hands on “Slumdog Millionaire,” because it’s got something for everyone; love, action, twist, drama and most of all a fantastic plot.
"Slumdog Millionaire": Is that Your Final Answer?
Slumdog Millionaire: Is That Your Final Answer?
The movie industries overhyped film blah.
By: Liz Welborn
When a movie is both award-winning and highly publicized the audience expects to leave the movie feeling good for having spent their money. Slumdog Millionaire is such a film; with alleged rising stars (Dev Patel and Freida Pinto) and a promising director (Danny Boyle), I thought I would be indeed happy for having spent my change. However, I left the movie feeling cheated. The movie was nothing like it was expected to be: the acting lacked, the storyline dragged so what was the big hype about it?
The movie industries overhyped film blah.
By: Liz Welborn
When a movie is both award-winning and highly publicized the audience expects to leave the movie feeling good for having spent their money. Slumdog Millionaire is such a film; with alleged rising stars (Dev Patel and Freida Pinto) and a promising director (Danny Boyle), I thought I would be indeed happy for having spent my change. However, I left the movie feeling cheated. The movie was nothing like it was expected to be: the acting lacked, the storyline dragged so what was the big hype about it?
Slumdog Millionaire centers on Indian Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) and his traumatic life quest to find his childhood love, Latika (Freida Pinto). Jamal who was orphaned alongside his brother (Madhur Mittal) at a small age, he goes through stealing, being used as a beggar, and seeing his mother being killed. Jamal seeks to find her through competing on the hit Indian version of “Who wants to be a Millionaire?” hoping that Latika is watching and will find him. Jamal becomes under suspicion for cheating during the game show, when he answers all the questions correctly.
Although, this is a good storyline, it drags. The audience gets it: Jamal uses his past to answer the questions, he is on the show to find Latika, and his brother is worthless. We get it. I had a very hard time stopping myself from looking at my watch. Did the director have to show every single answer to every question that was asked on the game show, even the questions that had no impact with the movie? Some of the scenes dragged out because they were unbelievable and confusing. During one part of the movie, Jamal’s brother Salim (Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala) takes Latika into their hotel room and kicks Jamal out. The audience never knows for sure what happens behind that hotel room door. Did Salim rape Latika? Why would Salim suddenly leave his brother Jamal behind?
The casting did not help the storyline much either. The stars of the film did not look compatible. Dev Patel looks like a 16 –year- old boy kissing a much older looking Freida Pinto. The casting crew could have found a more compelling and chemistry-filled couple to play the love-crossed lovers. There was no chemistry when they looked at each other, and when he is in scenes with her, she looks like a teacher talking to her pupil.
The actual theme of the movie is one of the most captivating elements of the film. Jamal gets his answers by recalling instances in his life. A question on the show about a certain song has Jamal remembering when he was taught that same song and used by a gangster to beg for money on the streets. The undying moral of the story is, people learn from their experiences. Through his experiences, he knew the answers to the game show questions.
Besides the theme, the soundtrack was also a positive aspect of the film. The movie played traditional Indian music with a twist. There was music that I found myself tapping my feet to. It wasn’t too cultural where I could not understand the music at all, I related to it. The movie even featured music from M.I.A. Her “Paper Planes” song has been an international hit for months now. It was a surprise to hear it but a good choice as well. The song fit perfectly with the scene it was included in.
The movie showed the shocking culture of the slums in India. There were huts, dirty streets, and muddy waters to wash your clothes. It was somewhat of a culture shock, to be an American observing the hard life of the Indian slums. There is even a scene that portrays the American audience as being the sheltered people that we are. Jamal and Salim are slumming around the Taj Mahal when two Americans with fanny packs, asks them to provide a tour. They give Jamal money not knowing that he knows nothing about the history of the Taj Mahal. He keeps giving them false information and they barely question it.
The ending of the movie is unrealistic, but will undoubtedly please those soft at heart. While the movie has a good message, there are some aspects of the film that need to be adapted in order to make it better. The critics and the world seem to love this film, so that everybody who played in the film is in fact now a “Slumdog Millionaire.”
Although, this is a good storyline, it drags. The audience gets it: Jamal uses his past to answer the questions, he is on the show to find Latika, and his brother is worthless. We get it. I had a very hard time stopping myself from looking at my watch. Did the director have to show every single answer to every question that was asked on the game show, even the questions that had no impact with the movie? Some of the scenes dragged out because they were unbelievable and confusing. During one part of the movie, Jamal’s brother Salim (Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala) takes Latika into their hotel room and kicks Jamal out. The audience never knows for sure what happens behind that hotel room door. Did Salim rape Latika? Why would Salim suddenly leave his brother Jamal behind?
The casting did not help the storyline much either. The stars of the film did not look compatible. Dev Patel looks like a 16 –year- old boy kissing a much older looking Freida Pinto. The casting crew could have found a more compelling and chemistry-filled couple to play the love-crossed lovers. There was no chemistry when they looked at each other, and when he is in scenes with her, she looks like a teacher talking to her pupil.
The actual theme of the movie is one of the most captivating elements of the film. Jamal gets his answers by recalling instances in his life. A question on the show about a certain song has Jamal remembering when he was taught that same song and used by a gangster to beg for money on the streets. The undying moral of the story is, people learn from their experiences. Through his experiences, he knew the answers to the game show questions.
Besides the theme, the soundtrack was also a positive aspect of the film. The movie played traditional Indian music with a twist. There was music that I found myself tapping my feet to. It wasn’t too cultural where I could not understand the music at all, I related to it. The movie even featured music from M.I.A. Her “Paper Planes” song has been an international hit for months now. It was a surprise to hear it but a good choice as well. The song fit perfectly with the scene it was included in.
The movie showed the shocking culture of the slums in India. There were huts, dirty streets, and muddy waters to wash your clothes. It was somewhat of a culture shock, to be an American observing the hard life of the Indian slums. There is even a scene that portrays the American audience as being the sheltered people that we are. Jamal and Salim are slumming around the Taj Mahal when two Americans with fanny packs, asks them to provide a tour. They give Jamal money not knowing that he knows nothing about the history of the Taj Mahal. He keeps giving them false information and they barely question it.
The ending of the movie is unrealistic, but will undoubtedly please those soft at heart. While the movie has a good message, there are some aspects of the film that need to be adapted in order to make it better. The critics and the world seem to love this film, so that everybody who played in the film is in fact now a “Slumdog Millionaire.”
Who Wants To Be... Totally and Utterly Confused?
By Jen Paolino
The critically acclaimed 2008 breakout hit Slumdog Millionaire, directed by Irish film director Danny Boyle, seems to push the idea of coincidence to the very extreme. Is there any other way to explain how an uneducated kid from the slums of Mumbai answers every single question on a game show correct? Oh wait, I know: D) It is written.
Jamal Mailk, (Dev Patel) is an uneducated 18-year-old from the slums of Mumbai searching for his one true love. In an attempt to “reach out” and find her, he tries his luck on the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? in the hopes that Latika (Freida Pinto) will see him.
The film is told primarily in flashbacks, giving new meaning to the phrase “a lesson lived is a lesson learned.” Each flashback, a little too coincidentally, helps Jamal answer all of the questions posed to him by game show host Prem Kumar (Anil Kapoor). But, for some viewers the flashbacks may be the downfall of the film.
It isn’t until close to the end of the film that you find out that Jamal is using the game show in the hopes that Latika would be watching. Prior to Jamal actually admitting this, you may find yourself utterly confused as to what Jamal and Salim’s struggle to grow up in a world of hate and despair, with battles raging between the Hindus and the Muslims, which is so prevalent in India at that time, have anything to do with the game show itself.
It took me a minute after the conclusion of the film to blink away the stars I was seeing from the rapid back and forth camera movement, the bright colors, and the slightly out of place dance sequence, to realize exactly what had just happened. I found it totally unbelievable to think that a person could have a life experience that pertained to each question on a game show.
I’ve watched Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? many times, and let me tell you, if I were a contestant, I’d leave just as broke as I started. Could it be that my life is just not as adventure-filled as Jamal’s? Maybe. But I’d be willing to bet that it might be that the concept is just a little too far-fetched to fly in the real world.
I did, however, feel for Jamal when he watched his mother get beaten to death over her religion, and I did cringe at the thought that my bottled water might not really be all that purified. But aside from a few moments where I felt as if I really connected with the film, I mostly just felt ignorant; ignorant because it seems that I am the only one who feels more perplexed than moved by this film.
For people who might have been left just as confused as I was, I might suggest, first, standing a little closer to the television: it may aid in being able to read those incredibly tiny subtitles that pop up sporadically throughout the film. If that doesn’t work, watching it a second time might.
While I wasn’t a fan of the rapid camera work, or how long it took to actually convey the purpose for Jamal being on the game show, I am a sucker for a good love story, and once I figured out that underneath all of the confusion and strife, that really was what the film was all about, I saw it in a slightly different light. The light was still dim, mind you, but at least by the end it was burning even just a little brighter.
To read what others had to say about the film, I've provided the following links:
Rotten Tomatoes
Rolling Stone
The critically acclaimed 2008 breakout hit Slumdog Millionaire, directed by Irish film director Danny Boyle, seems to push the idea of coincidence to the very extreme. Is there any other way to explain how an uneducated kid from the slums of Mumbai answers every single question on a game show correct? Oh wait, I know: D) It is written.
Jamal Mailk, (Dev Patel) is an uneducated 18-year-old from the slums of Mumbai searching for his one true love. In an attempt to “reach out” and find her, he tries his luck on the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? in the hopes that Latika (Freida Pinto) will see him.
The film is told primarily in flashbacks, giving new meaning to the phrase “a lesson lived is a lesson learned.” Each flashback, a little too coincidentally, helps Jamal answer all of the questions posed to him by game show host Prem Kumar (Anil Kapoor). But, for some viewers the flashbacks may be the downfall of the film.
It isn’t until close to the end of the film that you find out that Jamal is using the game show in the hopes that Latika would be watching. Prior to Jamal actually admitting this, you may find yourself utterly confused as to what Jamal and Salim’s struggle to grow up in a world of hate and despair, with battles raging between the Hindus and the Muslims, which is so prevalent in India at that time, have anything to do with the game show itself.
It took me a minute after the conclusion of the film to blink away the stars I was seeing from the rapid back and forth camera movement, the bright colors, and the slightly out of place dance sequence, to realize exactly what had just happened. I found it totally unbelievable to think that a person could have a life experience that pertained to each question on a game show.
I’ve watched Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? many times, and let me tell you, if I were a contestant, I’d leave just as broke as I started. Could it be that my life is just not as adventure-filled as Jamal’s? Maybe. But I’d be willing to bet that it might be that the concept is just a little too far-fetched to fly in the real world.
I did, however, feel for Jamal when he watched his mother get beaten to death over her religion, and I did cringe at the thought that my bottled water might not really be all that purified. But aside from a few moments where I felt as if I really connected with the film, I mostly just felt ignorant; ignorant because it seems that I am the only one who feels more perplexed than moved by this film.
For people who might have been left just as confused as I was, I might suggest, first, standing a little closer to the television: it may aid in being able to read those incredibly tiny subtitles that pop up sporadically throughout the film. If that doesn’t work, watching it a second time might.
While I wasn’t a fan of the rapid camera work, or how long it took to actually convey the purpose for Jamal being on the game show, I am a sucker for a good love story, and once I figured out that underneath all of the confusion and strife, that really was what the film was all about, I saw it in a slightly different light. The light was still dim, mind you, but at least by the end it was burning even just a little brighter.
To read what others had to say about the film, I've provided the following links:
Rotten Tomatoes
Rolling Stone
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Practice Column
We've been writing a lot in class lately, which I've really enjoyed. I like getting practice in class and receiving immediate feedback from my teachers and peers.
Below is a column that I started in class on Friday and finished over the weekend:
Apology could have lessened the pain
William Adkins wasn’t upset that a woman who killed his 16-year-old son only received six to eight months of jail time.
He was upset that she didn’t offer an apology to him or his family.
The woman, Judy Earlene Stilwell, 60, pleaded guilty to passing a stopped school bus and striking his son, Nicholas. She received 36 months of probation and a one year suspension of her driver’s license along with jail time. She was a first time offender.
But she left the courtroom without offering any condolences to the Adkins family.
“She never even looked in our direction,” he said in an interview with the Greensboro News & Record.
Nicholas was days away from becoming a junior at McMichael High School when he died in January. He loved photography, and he had enrolled in a journalism class last semester. He covered his room with information on the solar system and was already making plans for college.
His parents called him their “buddy” and “angel.” They documented his progress in school on a calendar on the refrigerator where they wrote, “We are very proud of you, Nick!” when he was promoted to 11th grade. They loved him.
But living without him is almost unbearable for Adkins and his wife, Lynn.
“I don’t know if I’m coping very well,’’ he said in the interview. “It’s too raw, too fresh. It feels like it happened a few days ago. But it’s almost April. And it’s still hard to believe.’’
Maybe the immense pain that they felt could have been lessened, the edges softened just a little, if Stilwell had bothered to look across the courtroom and mouth the words, “I’m sorry,” to the Adkins family.
In fact, a simply apology can relieve years of pent up anger and resentment when offered to someone who has been hurt, according to Psychology Today Magazine. It can greatly improve the healthy of the one who has been hurt by ridding them of great emotional pain and distress.
That would be helpful for Nicholas’ parents right now. It might not bring their son back, but it would be something.
It would also be helpful for Stilwell.
That’s because an apology not only benefits the person receiving it, but it greatly benefits the one who is offering it. By saying, “I’m sorry,” the person acknowledges that they’ve done something wrong, whether intentional or not, to hurt another. Once they have recognized they’re actions as a mistake and wish to correct them, only then can they move on with their life.
The police report lists no reason for Stilwell to pass the school bus that Nicholas was trying to board at 45 MPH - the speed limit on that road. Maybe she didn’t see the flashing lights and the extended stop sign of the bus. Maybe she was in a hurry and thought she could make it past without hurting anyone.
But she didn’t. Now healing can only begin for Stilwell and the Adkins family once she says two simple words: “I’m sorry.”
Below is a column that I started in class on Friday and finished over the weekend:
Apology could have lessened the pain
William Adkins wasn’t upset that a woman who killed his 16-year-old son only received six to eight months of jail time.
He was upset that she didn’t offer an apology to him or his family.
The woman, Judy Earlene Stilwell, 60, pleaded guilty to passing a stopped school bus and striking his son, Nicholas. She received 36 months of probation and a one year suspension of her driver’s license along with jail time. She was a first time offender.
But she left the courtroom without offering any condolences to the Adkins family.
“She never even looked in our direction,” he said in an interview with the Greensboro News & Record.
Nicholas was days away from becoming a junior at McMichael High School when he died in January. He loved photography, and he had enrolled in a journalism class last semester. He covered his room with information on the solar system and was already making plans for college.
His parents called him their “buddy” and “angel.” They documented his progress in school on a calendar on the refrigerator where they wrote, “We are very proud of you, Nick!” when he was promoted to 11th grade. They loved him.
But living without him is almost unbearable for Adkins and his wife, Lynn.
“I don’t know if I’m coping very well,’’ he said in the interview. “It’s too raw, too fresh. It feels like it happened a few days ago. But it’s almost April. And it’s still hard to believe.’’
Maybe the immense pain that they felt could have been lessened, the edges softened just a little, if Stilwell had bothered to look across the courtroom and mouth the words, “I’m sorry,” to the Adkins family.
In fact, a simply apology can relieve years of pent up anger and resentment when offered to someone who has been hurt, according to Psychology Today Magazine. It can greatly improve the healthy of the one who has been hurt by ridding them of great emotional pain and distress.
That would be helpful for Nicholas’ parents right now. It might not bring their son back, but it would be something.
It would also be helpful for Stilwell.
That’s because an apology not only benefits the person receiving it, but it greatly benefits the one who is offering it. By saying, “I’m sorry,” the person acknowledges that they’ve done something wrong, whether intentional or not, to hurt another. Once they have recognized they’re actions as a mistake and wish to correct them, only then can they move on with their life.
The police report lists no reason for Stilwell to pass the school bus that Nicholas was trying to board at 45 MPH - the speed limit on that road. Maybe she didn’t see the flashing lights and the extended stop sign of the bus. Maybe she was in a hurry and thought she could make it past without hurting anyone.
But she didn’t. Now healing can only begin for Stilwell and the Adkins family once she says two simple words: “I’m sorry.”
slumdog millionaire
I love the movie "Slumdog Millionaire" but I feel like I'm going to run into some issues when writing the review. There is so much that goes on in the movie that I think it will be difficult to summarize and know what to include and what to not include. Writing this review will be a definiate challenge.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Writing a letter to the editor
This past week we had to write a letter to the editor at the Washington Post about a story on the University of Maryland wanting to show a porno film. I found this to be real hard because I had no idea where to start. After seeing some of my peers letters in class it helped me some to see what maybe to write, but I thought that it was real difficult because before we had to write this I don't remember seeing any examples of letters to the editor.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Letter to the Editor
This past week we learned about writing letters to the editor. I always thought this to be a rather easy thing to accomplish. I was wrong. Just like with anything else in life, there are rules to writing letters to the editor. For one, writing a brief statement under 150 words is something I have never had to do. Usually, I have to add more to my story to make it longer. It is extremely hard to get your point across and still make it short.
When I wrote my letter to the editor on the Washington Post article, Mrs. T said that I didn't get to the point fast enough. This is frustrating since I thought I got to the point too quickly.
Like I said, writing letters to the editor isn't as easy as I once thought.
When I wrote my letter to the editor on the Washington Post article, Mrs. T said that I didn't get to the point fast enough. This is frustrating since I thought I got to the point too quickly.
Like I said, writing letters to the editor isn't as easy as I once thought.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Writing reviews, writing letters...
Last week, I was lucky enough to persuade the class to watch The Office so that we could review it. It was amazing, and I think I should start every morning off with an episode of The Office...
My review began to hurt at the end, though. I think I got a good start because I was familiar with the show and I knew that I liked it, unlike others who may have never seen it before. But I think my ending could have been stronger. Sometimes I'm confused as to how to end reviews...Do I give them a grade? Five stars if I liked it? I guess it depends on the publication.
On to the letters...The Web site that we read about writing letters to the editor was pretty helpful. It's interesting to me that there are people who write multiple letters to the editor rather than just one on a special occasion. I'm glad to know that people stayed involved with their local papers. I also gathered these three things as a summary: 1)Write about one, timely subject. 2)Write clean and organized. 3)Write a shorter letter rather than a longer one.
My review began to hurt at the end, though. I think I got a good start because I was familiar with the show and I knew that I liked it, unlike others who may have never seen it before. But I think my ending could have been stronger. Sometimes I'm confused as to how to end reviews...Do I give them a grade? Five stars if I liked it? I guess it depends on the publication.
On to the letters...The Web site that we read about writing letters to the editor was pretty helpful. It's interesting to me that there are people who write multiple letters to the editor rather than just one on a special occasion. I'm glad to know that people stayed involved with their local papers. I also gathered these three things as a summary: 1)Write about one, timely subject. 2)Write clean and organized. 3)Write a shorter letter rather than a longer one.
Monday, April 6, 2009
The Office Review
I also had some trouble writing the review last class. However, I think we have some good sources to help us with our review assignment. The packet we received spells out the exact criteria to use in each specific type of review.
Unlike many others in the class, I did enjoy The Office. Some call it stupid humor, sure, but people like that. I always thought The Office was liked by the majority but I guess not. Either way, I had a bit of trouble. Mainly with my conclusion. I think it could've been stronger.
Unlike many others in the class, I did enjoy The Office. Some call it stupid humor, sure, but people like that. I always thought The Office was liked by the majority but I guess not. Either way, I had a bit of trouble. Mainly with my conclusion. I think it could've been stronger.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Thoughts from opinion writing class this week...
Thursday in class we had to write a review of an episode of The Office and I found that really hard to write. I guess to begin with I am not really sure on how to begin a review and then go from there. I tried watching The Office and didn't like it at all. And with this episode of The Office that we had to watch in class for the review, I found it really hard to back up my opinion with scenes or quotes from the movie that showed how I just didn't like the show and thought it was such stupid humor. I think that the movie review we have to write for class will be the struggle point for me.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Peer Editing
This week in our Opinion Writing class, we peer edited other people's stories. For me, peer editing is extremely tough. I feel bad if I peer edit too much, considering that the story I am looking at is written by one of my peers-- I do not want to hurt their feelings by marking up their paper too much.
I also do not like other people peer reviewing my stories. I feel so nervous and exposed. It is hard to accept their criticism as a positive thing. I usually feel bad with my peers comments that are left on my paper.
Overall, peer reviews are good for the feedback that it brings. It will just take some getting used to.
I also do not like other people peer reviewing my stories. I feel so nervous and exposed. It is hard to accept their criticism as a positive thing. I usually feel bad with my peers comments that are left on my paper.
Overall, peer reviews are good for the feedback that it brings. It will just take some getting used to.
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