Slumdog Millionaire

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

The whole family went to the movie; Mom and Dad, Sister and brother and nephew. But that's a whole different story and probably not as entertaining as Slumdog Millionaire. I had to explain many times to my mother why this film didn't count as a Bollywood film despite the many Bollywood touches. British director and American money being the main reasons. (As I sit here and type this in the basement of the folks house, I'd just like to say I really like the way the lights keep surging brighter and dimmer above my head. Ghosts, indeed)

It's time to bring the term Chaiwalla to America!

Slumdog Millionaire tells the story of Jalal and Salim and Latika, three beggars in the slums of Mumbai. Danny Boyle tells the story of the threesome in a very interesting fashion. Basically, Jalal gets on India's version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire and recounts why he knew the answers to all of the questions. The answers come from different stages of his life. Who knew that life as a beggar in Mumbai and Agra was such a terrible thing? But that's what comes across.

It's not all hopeless suffering. Some of the things the triumvirate does to survive is funny. I especially like them when they become tourist guides at the Taj Mahal. They had some very fine explanations about the Taj Mahal hotel and why the elevators were never installed.

[Drunk Monk]

Sure, this is fringe Bollywood, not stereotypical of the genre, but you do realize that the Bo is from Bombay, right? To say this isn't Bollywood is like saying Crouching Tiger wasn't HK cinema. It wasn't in the classical sense. It's the next gen.

Exactly which Bollywood films have you seen?

Best 3rd World film since Tsotsi Like Tsotsi, I loved the grittiest and the soundtrack - great usage of MIA, of whom I have mentioned elsewhere and I'm a huge fan, although Paper Planes is getting overplayed in film. Being a closet Bollywood fan and having spent time in Mumbai, this Slumdog really struck home with me. What a brilliant film.

[cranefly]

"Brilliant" covers it nicely.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

How can it be Bollywood with only one dance? And do Bollywood films start with a guy with a car battery hooked to his feet? And that dance seemed to be just an afterthought or a nod to the Bollywood style. It seemed to me to have a lot more drama than melodrama, too.

The one Bollywood film I saw was the one that had the guy from lost in it and was based on the Jane Austen novel. Time for Lost to return so I can remember his name. I'm thinking it had Ashiwarya in too.

My father, a frequent traveler to India in his day, had one caveat about the film. There should have been many more people hanging off the trains.

[Drunk Monk]

To say that it's all dance films is like saying all Chinese films are kung fu films. Most of them are, but there are plenty that break the form. SD was classic Bollywood because it was a star-crossed romance.

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

If it doesn't have the two main love-interests and 60 of their closest friends (30 for each love-interest) dancing and singing, it isn't Bollywood. I should know: I saw a poster once and I read it on Wikipedia. Or I wrote it on Wikipedia. Anyway it was there for a second on Wikipedia, so it's true.

And all Chinese films are kung-fu films. Wikipedia, again.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

This me concurring with the Y-man. I might have dreamed the Bollywood post on Wikipedia, but that is as it should be.

[Drunk Monk]

But it does have two main love-interests and 60 of their closest friends (30 for each love-interest) dancing and singing. So let's see now - glynch has seen two Bollywood flicks, SM and another he can't remember the title of but it was based on a Jane Austen novel (Bride & Prejudice, starring Naveen Andrews & Ash). Yeti's read about Bollywood on wiki. :roll:
I've seen a several dozen Bollywood flicks, been to Naz cinema a few times, and spent time in Bombay. The Pom Papa has spoken. I will say that SD lacked one major Bollywood scene, and that's the lovers' dance in the garden, but only some one who's actually seen some Bollywood would know what I mean.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

I'm an american, dammit. I'm allowed to spout my opinions without backing them up with anything like facts. It says so in the constitution.

How many classic Bollywood movies limit themselves to one dance number at the end?

(Bride and Prejudice!!! Were you paying attention to those films or just lolling in your Ash lust, Pom Daddy?)

[Drunk Monk]

Shoot, I can't argue with that.

As for remembering B&P, i confess, I had to IMDB it. Then there was this:
http://brotherhoodofdoom.com/phpBB3/view...?f=6&t=271

The other thing that might exclude SM and B&P from Bollywood is that they are too short. Most Bollywood flicks run 2-3 hours. We saw this one war flick when we were in Pune. I don't remember any dance numbers, but there was a few songs and a lot of crappy fight scenes. It was freakin' hilarious. I'm not sure we made it through the whole flick because we saw it with a double feature. Two flicks at 2-3 hours each is a long time to spend in a movie theater. The other film was Pardes, which totally rocked.

At movies in India, the audience cheers wildly at happy or heroic moments. Wildly, like sports events. And they hand out free cough drops with admission. I thought that was extremely considerate. And the snack bars are awesome - total chaat smorgasbords.

Did I mention that I've been at that Mumbai train station in SM? I've been at Taj too. Oh yeah. Pom Papa worldwide.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

Yes, yes, we know the Pom Daddy has been to land where they eat Poms. How hard can it be? The Glynch Daddy did it for ten years. He went to all the nice places, Madras, Kalkut. He even met Mother Theresa.

(I'll omit the he probably traveled first class to strengthen my already shaky argument. Did I mention I hooked a camera up to a flash file today?)

[Drunk Monk]

most indian restaurants are vegetarian. they advertise if they offer meat. it's reverse of here.

and who cares what your daddy did? it's about you.

who's your pom daddy?

[King Bob]

If we're talking Bollywood crossover, or "next generation" as DM says, I'd like to mention Monsoon Wedding, which has little singing or dancing, and was also great.

Haven't seen the thread subject film yet - probably will wait until pay-per-view.

[Drunk Monk]

...just so you aren't all talking out your asses about it. I know Cf has seen Lagaan, which is a classic. But you need to be really into cricket for that one, especially since it clocks in at just under 4 hours.

See Devdas. I reviewed it here:http://brotherhoodofdoom.com/phpBB3/view...3354&hilit. See it with your girl. Make the space for it, not because it's a 3 hour flick, but because your girl will be so impressed with your inner romantic that you're sure to get some. Devdas is the kind of Bollywood that you all think Bollywood is, in all it's Bollywood glory.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

Who knew that Pom Daddy's raw nerve would be lack of Knowledge of Bollywood. I've got to go put in the journal for future reference. It's almost like we were saying Shaolin needs a drive through window for French fries.