PIMPING POVERTY: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, SO WHAT IF IT DOES???

The movie "SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE” directed by Danny Boyle based on a book called Q and A by Vikas Swarup has been in the news a lot lately. At first it was for all the right reasons, winning golden globes after it was considered a dark horse for most of the awards. It is now one of the frontrunners for Oscars. A R Rehman did pick up a golden globe for the music but I must say I can think of at least 10 Rehman songs that were better than the song which won. Better late than never I guess. But just as one thought ah ... finally we are home.. .safe and sound all hell seems to have broken loose.


It started with the grand ol daddy of Indian cinema “the Big B" sharing with us his thoughts about the movie. For some reason the movie seem to hurt his sentiments and even that of Bollywood director Mahesh Bhatt. Mr. Bachan I don’t think you can real afford to criticize the story Mr.Bachan for god sake you acted in "Ram Gopal Verma ki AAG" a sorry excuse for a movie even by our RGV's standards of crap. Mr. Bhatt you do a very good job of lifting Hollywood flicks (scene to scene & you cast the serial kisser Emraan Hashmi ) may be talking about a movies story and plot should be the last thing you do.

I read somewhere else that movie is a case of pimping poverty. Hmm let me think ... when a bollywood or tollywood or kollywoood hero is a slum deweller, an auto driver, a washerman or the guy who irons your clothes (poor telugu .. going for " maestri"), a farmer, a porter (a coolie not to be mistaken for a guy who is really cool) it is not pimping poverty but it is reality, very factual and so on.

Now for the icing on the cake, I recently read on news site that there has been a public litigation filed against the movie for using the word "slum" and "dog" together in its title. Whoa!! Now there is a case of someone with a lot of free time on their hands and someone who takes movies way too seriously. Dude get a life!!! How can you be offended by a movie title ?? And coming back to those of you who think this movie is about pimping poverty. Ok so what if it does... I am sure all of you who say this are the same bunch of people who went to watch the Titanic to get a glimpse of Katie's ... you know #@#@. And not like people have a problem when movie makers jump on the band wagon of “sex sells ". Example: Dhoom II and the character of Bipasha ... the "oomph” factor as some like to put it. So I guess this is the " aaaw so sad or cute " factor. If it sells, then let it and if you have a problem then don’t watch it.

Basically it is a movie.... so do not apply too much of your intelligence, just go to multiplex do the aaww's and oooh's have fun laugh and come back (if getting in touch with your feelings and crying is your thing you can do that too) . Just make sure you watch the 1 below

I am big Rajni fan but just could not resist the temptation.
Thalivar!!!!!

Dasavatharam: A Confused Creation

The movie Dasavatharam is credited with being the most expensive Indian movie ever created. So now comes the critical question was it worth all that money?? I think the producers got ripped off!! in a big way. The high point of the movie is the acting of kamal Hasan, unfortunately that is the only highlight of the movie.

We all know that Kamal is an actor who can play any character or role seamlessly passing the lines by which other actors bound. Which leads me to the question as to why at this point of time in his career did he choose to portray ten different characters? I am not implying he did a bad job. Just that the movie could have done with out his portrayal of characters like the villain, the freakishly tall Muslim guy and the malayalee activist.

The movie attempts to bring multiple small stories together along the lines of the Oscar movie crash. The intent is to show that individual events on their own may have very little meaning but have a bearing on the larger scheme of things and also that we are all interconnected in some way or the other.

All this is good and jolly but for some reason integration of all the stories in the movie was not smooth. Certain sequences will leave you wondering what was this for? Mallika Sherawat's role as the vamp is pretty short, uneventful but for a change it is not a skin show. The low point of the movie was definitely the graphics they seemed pretty kiddish and definitely not worth the astronomical figures quoted for the effort.

Personally I loved kamal's potrayal of the telugu RAW officer and George W Bush.

Overall the movie is not an awe inspiring or thought provoking. I would say it is a time pass movie that you can watch once. Also I think that Mr.Hasan was being a little self obsessed in naming the Movie Dasavatharam just because he played ten characters.

Do not be surprised if you come out of the movie hall asking yourself what was the movie about??

IRON MAN: THE REVIEW

Iron Man, another one in a long list of marvel comics to be made into a movie. An impressive cast in terms of pedigree with Robert Downey Jr in the lead, Gwyneth Paltrow as his leading lady and Jeff Bridges as the bad guy.

The plot of Iron Man revolves around Tony Stark( Robert) a wealthy know it all CEO of a weapons production company for the US military. Who gets kidnapped by terrorists, on his way back from a weapons demonstration in Afghanistan.

He then builds a suit of amour and gadgets to escape from captivity. Once back on US soil he decides to improve the suit( suit is red and gold in color) and with help of his trusted aide Jim Rhodes played by Terrence Howard. Also helped on the way by the beautiful Pepper Potts played by Gwyneth Platrow.

Now that all the introduction is done, Lets get down to what makes the movie tick?? Robert Downey Jr carries the movie all own his own. He excels as the cocky millionaire know it all but some how seems like a fish out of water during the scenes of moral enlightenment.

The movie has its fair share neat graphics and usual carnage associated with super hero flicks.
Personally I think it is a good time pass flick. I am just thankful that it was not as screwed up as Daredevil.

I would give it a 7 out 10.

So I would say if you are bored go watch Iron Man.