Slumdog Millionaire!

[MarleysGh0st]

Spoiler

The actor that came down in the helecopter (in Emma's favorite scene) was supposed to be Amitabh Bachchan, who was the original host of India's Who Wants to Be A Millionaire. His daughter-in-law is Aishwarya Rai, who rumor has it, had to marry a tree, because she is a manglick.

Huh? What does that last word mean?

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

Spoiler

The actor that came down in the helecopter (in Emma's favorite scene) was supposed to be Amitabh Bachchan, who was the original host of India's Who Wants to Be A Millionaire. His daughter-in-law is Aishwarya Rai, who rumor has it, had to marry a tree, because she is a manglick.

Huh? What does that last word mean?

Mangal Dosha is an astrological condition that occurs if Mars is in the 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, or 12th house of the Vedic astrology lunar chart. A person born in the presence of this condition is termed a manglik.

This condition is believed by some to be devastating for marriage, causing discomfort and tension in relationship, leading to separation and divorce, and in some cases, it is believed to cause untimely death of one spouse. This is attributed to the "fiery" nature of this planet. If two mangliks marry, the negative effects are believed to cancel each other out. However, Mars is not the only planet in Vedic Astrology that is supposed to affect the relationship and these effects should be seen in a broader perspective of overall astrological compatibility.

There is also a belief that the negative consequences for a single-manglik marriage can be resolved if the manglik first performs a ceremony called a kumbh vivah, in which the manglik "marries" a banana tree, a peepal tree, or an icon of Vishnu.[1]

Some believe that one Manglik should only marry another Manglik, the idea being that two negatives cancel each other out, creating a positive.

Although there are "Pooja's" that can be constructed to allow Manglik and Non-Manglik to marry each other.

An increasing number of individuals are placing less emphasis on such pseduo-scientific concepts during the selection of a life partner, as evidenced from the data from online matrimony sites.

[MarleysGh0st]

Hmmm. So her first husband had to be a scapetree.

[TheConfessor]

I finally saw this movie today. I enjoyed it, but my perspective is probably not typical of the audiences who have made the film a hit and an Oscar favorite. A lot of it was pretty implausible and illogical, but I guess most people wouldn't know or notice. For example,

Spoiler

I didn't get why he picked choice A on the final question, when he didn't know the answer and could have walked away with the girl and more cash than he'd ever need. And why did he have to look for her at the train station at the end, if he already had her cell phone number?

[ulysses5019]

I finally saw this movie today. I enjoyed it, but my perspective is probably not typical of the audiences who have made the film a hit and an Oscar favorite. A lot of it was pretty implausible and illogical, but I guess most people wouldn't know or notice. For example,

Spoiler

I didn't get why he picked choice A on the final question, when he didn't know the answer and could have walked away with the girl and more cash than he'd ever need. And why did he have to look for her at the train station at the end, if he already had her cell phone number?

So, you believe that Indians break into spontaneous Bollywood dances too?

[TheConfessor]

I finally saw this movie today. I enjoyed it, but my perspective is probably not typical of the audiences who have made the film a hit and an Oscar favorite. A lot of it was pretty implausible and illogical, but I guess most people wouldn't know or notice. For example,

Spoiler

I didn't get why he picked choice A on the final question, when he didn't know the answer and could have walked away with the girl and more cash than he'd ever need. And why did he have to look for her at the train station at the end, if he already had her cell phone number?

So, you believe that Indians break into spontaneous Bollywood dances too?

I think it's a conditioned response in that culture, whenever they see closing credits. But how come

Spoiler

everyone recognizes Jamal and mobs him in the streets with adulation when he is trying to return to the studio for the final question, then after he answers it and leaves the studio, no one recognizes him or pays any attention to him a few hours later when he's alone at the train station?

[silverscreenselect]

I finally saw this movie today. I enjoyed it, but my perspective is probably not typical of the audiences who have made the film a hit and an Oscar favorite. A lot of it was pretty implausible and illogical, but I guess most people wouldn't know or notice. For example,

Spoiler

I didn't get why he picked choice A on the final question, when he didn't know the answer and could have walked away with the girl and more cash than he'd ever need. And why did he have to look for her at the train station at the end, if he already had her cell phone number?

As to your first question

Why did Katy Knudsen waste an hour of Regis' life when she didn't know the answer and could have walked away? A lot of people have blown money on the show trusting to their luck. If you believe in fate, he had some strong indicators that something was working for him.

As for the second question

How romantic or dramatic would it have been to call the girl up on the cellphone as opposed to going to the train station?

[frogman042]

I finally saw this movie today. I enjoyed it, but my perspective is probably not typical of the audiences who have made the film a hit and an Oscar favorite. A lot of it was pretty implausible and illogical, but I guess most people wouldn't know or notice. For example,

Spoiler

I didn't get why he picked choice A on the final question, when he didn't know the answer and could have walked away with the girl and more cash than he'd ever need. And why did he have to look for her at the train station at the end, if he already had her cell phone number?

Aside from the obvious answer of

Spoiler

It is written (by the screenwriter) to bring a feel-good ending to movie to counterbalance the rough stuff he went through.

I will try to answer the questions in the 'universe of the movie'.

In reverse order:

Spoiler

Having a phone/car that belong to the big mob boss and Salim, whether or not she knew that Jamal's brother was dead (I'm sure she had to assume that was his fate) - hanging on to either of those items especially after it was broadcast to everyone and they would know she had the phone, I would ditch it as fast as I could after the broadcast.

As far as the first question - the money meant nothing to Jamal - he went on the show to find Latika and for that reason alone - he found her and found out she was free and safe - that was all that mattered - so if he lost the money, he didn't care - he had been poor his whole life and he has interacted with the rich and I think he knew that money was not the solution - he won what he went on the show to win and that was enough - so I think his decision does make sense given the internal logic of the movie. Now, if some one asked me if something like that could happen in real life, say - someone had a sure half-a-million dollars but was willing to risk all but 32K on a hunch where they weren't absolutely sure of the answer - but really wasn't there for the money but to play the game - nah - too improbable - I can't ever imagining that would really occur.

---Jay

[lv42day]

Although, I remember one lady in particular, who insisted throughout the game that she was not playing for the money. She was going for 500,000, I think. And risked it all with a guess and lost.

[TheConfessor]

With "Slumdog Millionaire" becoming a surprise hit, studio execs must be having non-stop meetings to develop a sequel and turn the phenomenon into a long running franchise of blockbuster hits. So how can they milk this thing? What's next? Maybe "Slumdog Jeopardy!" Or "Are You Smarter Than a Slumdog?" "Celebrity Slumdog Millionaire?" Or maybe

Spoiler

Jamal and Latika can get hitched and go on "The Slumdog Newlywed Game."

[Estonut]

I heard they have high hopes for "Celebrity Slumdog Millionaire!"

[takinover]

With "Slumdog Millionaire" becoming a surprise hit, studio execs must be having non-stop meetings to develop a sequel and turn the phenomenon into a long running franchise of blockbuster hits. So how can they milk this thing? What's next? Maybe "Slumdog Jeopardy!" Or "Are You Smarter Than a Slumdog?" "Celebrity Slumdog Millionaire?" Or maybe

Spoiler

Jamal and Latika can get hitched and go on "The Slumdog Newlywed Game."

That would be Who Wants to Marry a Slumdog Millionaire. I hear Darva Conger is available.

[danielh41]

My wife and I had a day off together without the kids which is rare, so we took advantage of it by seeing two movies. Slumdog Millionaire was the second movie we saw. I liked it a lot. I wonder if I would have really loved it if I hadn't just watched Gran Torino right before it. (I did love Gran Torino.)

Spoiler

Do they not have safe levels on the Indian show, or was this done for dramatic effect (risking everything on that last question)?

[TheConfessor]

My wife and I had a day off together without the kids which is rare, so we took advantage of it by seeing two movies. Slumdog Millionaire was the second movie we saw. I liked it a lot. I wonder if I would have really loved it if I hadn't just watched Gran Torino right before it. (I did love Gran Torino.)

Spoiler

Do they not have safe levels on the Indian show, or was this done for dramatic effect (risking everything on that last question)?

Yeah, that factual inaccuracy bothered me. Check this article about the Indian show rules:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaun_Banega_Crorepati

Spoiler

Missing a question in the upper tier does not mean you lose everything, as stated in the movie. It means you drop down to 640,000 rupees.

The Indian show also includes the Fastest Fingers, which was never mentioned in the film.

[MarleysGh0st]

The Indian show also includes the Fastest Fingers, which was never mentioned in the film.

I think they do show the ROF in the background while he's in the Hot Seat, but they don't show him playing the FF round. Maybe that's because they couldn't think of a scenario for putting four things in order in a flashback.

[dodgersteve182]

The Indian show also includes the Fastest Fingers, which was never mentioned in the film.

I think they do show the ROF in the background while he's in the Hot Seat, but they don't show him playing the FF round. Maybe that's because they couldn't think of a scenario for putting four things in order in a flashback.

Just like Field Of Dreams is not purely a Baseball movie, Slumdog Millionaire uses this game show as a backdrop and format for telling this story of two brothers and the woman who goes between them. Well done, a little over the top in terms of being graphic as some have mentioned (just like Black Book) but ultimately an interesting flick for moviegoers who want a little meat with their fluff.

[silverscreenselect]

The Indian show also includes the Fastest Fingers, which was never mentioned in the film.

I think they do show the ROF in the background while he's in the Hot Seat, but they don't show him playing the FF round. Maybe that's because they couldn't think of a scenario for putting four things in order in a flashback.

The movie is based on a first novel entitled Q & A (it has now been retitled Slumdog Millionaire for a new release) by an Indian diplomat turned author named Vikas Swarup. The show in the book is not Millionaire but is obviously patterned after it. Apparently, the top prize on the Indian show was not enough to have the dramatic impact so it was raised to one billion rupees (about $20 million since a rupee is currently worth about two cents) and the show is called Who Will Win a Billion (the show's producers say they based their show on Millionaire). The dollar values on the fictional show,which has twelve questions, are 1K-2K-5K-10K-50K-100K-200K-500K-1M-10M-100M-1B. There are lifelines on the fictional show which come into play pretty much as they did in the film.

In the book, the main character (whose name has been changed), is in jail, explaining to his lawyer how he got the questions correct. Each chapter of the book is numbered 1000 rupees, 2000 rupees etc. The romance which is central to the film is more peripheral in the book, and there are even more tawdry incidents in the book than were depicted in the film. The end of each chapter is the corresponding question from the show.

Some key differences between the book and the film:

Spoiler

In the book, the main character is arrested after he answers all the questions correctly rather than after the next-to-last question. The movie version is better in my view since it makes one wonder if he will ever get to finish the game.

Also in the book, the show's producers don't have the money to pay the top prize. They hadn't planned on a winner that early and they were essentially relying on making money off the show to eventually fund a winner.

[frogman042]

The Indian show also includes the Fastest Fingers, which was never mentioned in the film.

I think they do show the ROF in the background while he's in the Hot Seat, but they don't show him playing the FF round. Maybe that's because they couldn't think of a scenario for putting four things in order in a flashback.

Just like Field Of Dreams is not purely a Baseball movie, Slumdog Millionaire uses this game show as a backdrop and format for telling this story of two brothers and the woman who goes between them. Well done, a little over the top in terms of being graphic as some have mentioned (just like Black Book) but ultimately an interesting flick for moviegoers who want a little meat with their fluff.

I look at it as Slumdog Millionaire is to WWTBAM as A Hard Days Night (AHDN) is to the Beatles.
In AHDN you have 4 people portraying fictional characters who happened to be called John, Paul, George and Ringo in a unnamed fictional bank (IIRC, the only time you see the name "The Beatles" is on Ringo's drum set - The Beatles are never mentioned in the film by name). The fact that the actors in real life were in a real band called the Beatles causes most people (I would guess) to believe that they were watching a movie about the Beatles instead of a fictional story about a fictional band. Likewise in SM, the fact that he his on a game show that happens to have the same name as a real game show leads one to think that he is playing that real game show when he is is playing a fictional game show that happens to have the same name and some of the same rules as the real game show. But it is a fictional game show as fictional as say the Starship Enterprise is a real spaceship.

---Jay ('This is not a pipe' and 'Godel it on the mountain')

[silverscreenselect]

Likewise in SM, the fact that he his on a game show that happens to have the same name as a real game show leads one to think that he is playing that real game show when he is is playing a fictional game show that happens to have the same name and some of the same rules as the real game show. But it is a fictional game show as fictional as say the Starship Enterprise is a real spaceship.

As I mentioned above, in the book, it's clear he is on a different game show that is "based" on Millionaire, in the same way that TV shows and movies frequently rip each other off. In fact, the British cheating scandal is mentioned in the book as one reason why the authorities think the main character cheated in some unknown way to win the money.

That distinction got blurred in the movie.

[trevor_macfee]

FINALLY saw Slumdog last night. Definitely the best movie I have seen in two years, maybe longer. Apart from the Millionaire connection, and the India connection (I spent a month there a while back), it was an amazing story. The music was incredible, as were the editing, cinematography, and most of the acting.

Perhaps the best part is that my wife, who does not always share my taste (or lack thereof) in movies loved it too. So, she was not upset at all that we didn't go see "He's Just Not That Into You" for our day-late Valentines date.

I haven't seen any of the other Best Picture nominees, but can't believe that I would like any of them better than Slumdog. I'll definitely be rooting for it on Sunday. Honestly, as rarely as we actually go to the movies (and see something that's not kid-friendly), the others, except maybe Benjamin Button which we may see this week, are going to be DVD experiences for us, or probably not seen at all (The Reader).

But don't go by me - I liked Kung Fu Panda better than Wall-E. So what do I know?

One final note, I like Danny Boyle's film "Millions" almost as much as Slumdog. But his other films - not so much.

[silvercamaro]

One final note, I like Danny Boyle's film "Millions" almost as much as Slumdog.

I was enchanted by Million$, which -- as far as I was concerned -- was one of those unknown British gems that show up on HBO in the middle of the night. Until I read your comment, I had no idea that Danny Boyle had anything to do with it.

I didn't hate Trainspotting, but when it was over, I felt achy all over.

I can't wait to see Slumdog. I am hopeful it will still be in a movie theater within a 10-mile radius next week.

[Bob78164]

Spoiler

In the book, the main character is arrested after he answers all the questions correctly rather than after the next-to-last question. The movie version is better in my view since it makes one wonder if he will ever get to finish the game.

That's true, of course, unless you get spoiled by the title of a message board thread. --Bob