Slumdog Millionaire - March 31, 2009

[jw]

according to a post on avforums its locked

[Equisilus]

I'm surprised companies aren't required to put the region info on the packaging. As others above, I went searching for the region code so I could report it, but found nothing. I suppose they are assuming that most people wouldn't even think about it (which is true, I guess). Unfortunately, it's important for imports.

[robertc88]

With basically no reviews to be found utilizing my usual resources, an opportunity came about to take a peek at this one so I took advantage. I have been a bit anxious with this given there is some tough material to deal with and my local theater isn't all that great to begin. So why not as I really like this movie and will purchase it at the first opportunity available.

Well unless something changes drastically given the half hour or so I scanned viewing it, I was quite pleased with this one up to what limited availability I had. I really don't thing folks will have issues with it but I guess we will see soon. Grain is intact and it appears to be a very good effort.

Considering I was basically watching QoS and CR most of this week, if forced for a score at this point I'd say 4.25 - 4.50 initially for PQ. Cannot give a score for AQ when considering the audio was playing through the display's speakers. The dialogue was quite coherent and I never felt it to be strained given the volume was low while watching. No issues with any subtitles either from what I could tell.

I calmed my anxiety a bit and I'm now more stoked than ever. I hope no one will take offense to my rather limited preview but I thought to post it better than not really having any professional feedback up to this point.

[goldfinger007]

Just rented this last night. I could not believe in any one giving this the best picture of the year. In Hollywood they must all be dumb and dumber. First of all the sound track is terrible it blows you out of your seat and turns so low you can't hear anything, the picture quality is very poor for blu-ray. Believe me I don't know what all the hype is about, this is just another cheappy movie (B)grade. Give me a Transporter 3 or James bond movie any day.

[Dave_6]

Lol

[Sonny]

I thought it was a good movie , but the audio track was jacked up! When a plane & helicopter flew over I had flash backs of Afghanistan.....& some of the dialog at the beginning (& through out ) was so low my wife & I look at each other like "what did he say?".

[robertc88]

Originally Posted by goldfinger007

Just rented this last night. I could not believe in any one giving this the best picture of the year. In Hollywood they must all be dumb and dumber. First of all the sound track is terrible it blows you out of your seat and turns so low you can't hear anything, the picture quality is very poor for blu-ray. Believe me I don't know what all the hype is about, this is just another cheappy movie (B)grade. Give me a Transporter 3 or James bond movie any day.

Transporter 3??? Yikes!!!!!

[Resettito]

Originally Posted by goldfinger007

Just rented this last night. I could not believe in any one giving this the best picture of the year. In Hollywood they must all be dumb and dumber. First of all the sound track is terrible it blows you out of your seat and turns so low you can't hear anything, the picture quality is very poor for blu-ray. Believe me I don't know what all the hype is about, this is just another cheappy movie (B)grade. Give me a Transporter 3 or James bond movie any day.

April fool?! Guess so........

[Dave_6]

Originally Posted by robertc88

Transporter 3??? Yikes!!!!!

Originally Posted by Resettito

April fool?! Guess so........

I agree!

[soxfan12]

This was a solid movie, I really enjoyed it especially the soundtrack. Not for everyone though so I wouldn't recommend a blind buy.

[the revelator]

ok movie

i'll buy it when it drops in price. Not worthy of 8 oscars (in perspective, Stanely Kubrick only got 7 in his entire career... stupid academy)

[traths]

I can't believe this movie came out almost 10 years ago already.

[Monterey Jack]

https://variety.com/2025/film/news/d...on-1236436644/

[HipsterTrash]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

https://variety.com/2025/film/news/d...on-1236436644/

I actually kind of agree with him. I'm not against people who aren't the subjects telling those stories. But some feel like they do need a specific person for what's on screen.

[rocknblues81]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

https://variety.com/2025/film/news/d...on-1236436644/

This mentality is one of many things that is poisoning Hollywood. Would it have been bad if an Indian guy had directed Slumdog? Of course not. But it doesn't mean it would have been a better film if an Indian had directed it either.

[BluBonnet]

In any movie that necessarily involves cultural understanding, yes, it should be very important that it be made by someone who thoroughly understands the culture, imho.

You wouldn’t trust someone pretending to be an expert at things they know little or nothing about, right?

[rocknblues81]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

In any movie that necessarily involves cultural understanding, yes, it should be very important that it be made by someone who thoroughly understands the culture, imho.

You wouldn’t trust someone pretending to be an expert at things they know little or nothing about, right?

It's a film and not a documentary.

[MifuneFan]

I don't really agree with his take. I think any filmmaker should be free to make films about other countries and cultures, as long as they're respecting said cultures and countries. I never thought of Slumdog Millionaire as cultural appropriation, and I've never really seen any discussions about it being that either (not saying they don't exist). If a young Indian director made it, as Boyle would want today, it just would be a completely different film than what we have now. Not necessarily worse, just not a Boyle film.

This kind of thinking is a slippery slope to me too. Where should the line be drawn? Should Indian filmmakers only make Indian films? Like would that be cultural appropriation if someone from Mumbai wanted to make an Italian mafia film set in Boston? Should such a film only be relegated to a white person? An Italian person?

[HipsterTrash]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I don't really agree with his take. I think any filmmaker should be free to make films about other countries and cultures, as long as they're respecting said cultures and countries. I never thought of Slumdog Millionaire as cultural appropriation, and I've never really seen any discussions about it being that either (not saying they don't exist). If a young Indian director made it, as Boyle would want today, it just would be a completely different film than what we have now. Not necessarily worse, just not a Boyle film.

This kind of thinking is a slippery slope to me too. Where should the line be drawn? Should Indian filmmakers only make Indian films? Like would that be cultural appropriation if someone from Mumbai wanted to make an Italian mafia film set in Boston? Should such a film only be relegated to a white person? An Italian person?

I can respect people that have different opinion son the matter. It's great that people can like films for reasons that they see merit in.
Slumdog Millionaire is a splendid film. But as time as gone on and I've grown and learnt a thing or two I personally find it hard to go back to it.

Agree with the slippery slope. If Indian filmmakers are only making Indian films, you're stunting creativity and films that can speak on other things.
But what I see with Slumdog is how it's a British man coming into India with privilege and wealth and leaving with credibility and acclaim as others still there live in poverty and despair. Danny wasn't going to solve the countries issues nor could he. But just knowing something about British colonialism and India, it can't but leave a bad taste in my mouth.

Would it hurt if an Indian filmmaker made the film? It couldn't have hurt it. Boyle has his style and that what he brought. But there's more at hand here and sometimes you have to look at the bigger picture than just pure entertainment and the glamour.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I think any filmmaker should be free to make films about other countries and cultures, as long as they're respecting said cultures and countries.

In the real world, it is a bit more complicated than that, of course.

A filmmaker can claim he has been respectful about a country/culture that is not their own, but if the people from that country/culture totally call the director out for it and absolutely tear the movie apart, well, then it's too late, because the movie is already out there.