Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire was directed by Danny Boyle and takes place in India. My overall reaction to the movie was a positive one. I thought that that plot was a well rounded one that had alot of meaning to it. I also think that the title Slumdog Millionaire was very fitting because of the plot and the fact that the movie takes place in India. The only thing I did not like about the Slumdog Millionaire was in the first few scenes all of the captions that I had to read. If i'm watching a movie I want to watch a movie, not read a movie. I feel like I miss out on what is happening on the screen when I am reading the whole time, but that is just my opinion.

Slumdog Millionaire touched on a few of the many aspects of India. India is developing into one of the worlds super powers and has a thriving economy. Contrary to that India still has a high degree of unemployment and poverty. Slumdog Millionaire showed the povery of the people right off the bat with the rag tag slums and the poor sanitation. When I see clips of places like the slums in foreign lands I often wonder how it could be that bad. I know we have slums here in the United states but they are nothing to the likes of those in India. The social structures are much different but yet at times the same. India like the United States has upscale areas and slums, but why are India's slums so much worse when India's economy is doing well? Would the United States have worse looking slums if we had an enormous population like India? I don't think that this is a question the movie ment to bring up, but none the less it is one that I thought of. The social and economic structures were an important aspect of Slumdog Millionaire because India is very complicated in these two areas.

Slumdog Millionaire is a movie about three slum dogs who were on their own in the early 1990's because of the Bombay Riots. The Bombay Riots show the viewer of the constant unrest in the area and religious views often result in countless deaths in certain areas of the world. I feel very thankful to live in the United States when I see what happens in different areas of the world. I believe what makes America so free is that fact that we can say and write whatever we want, well within certain boundaries.

Jamal was torn apart from Salim, his brother, and Latika, his love, when Salim kicked Jamal out once Salim became a gang associate. Salim thoughout the movie was portrayed as a rough and tough individual who wanted money, wealth, and power. Jamal was a more well mannered and cool tempered person that fell in love with Latika from the first time they met. Jamal went years wondering where Latika was located and how she was. Jamal found where Salim was by searching through a call centers data base. Jamal then reunited with Latika but only to be separated again because Latika was propery of the Ganglord Salim worked for. Jamal did learn that Latika watches who wants to be a millionaire often and persued being a contestant. I find Jamals strong will to reunite and save latika from the life she was living was incredible. Jamal had a strong passion for Latika and he would do anything for her. Slumdog Millionaire portrayed this romance very well through Jamal's constant will.

Jamal did get on the gameshow who wants to be a millionaire and ended up answering all the questions correctly. The game show host could not believe this coming from a slumdog and the police arrested Jamal once time ran out on the game show. Jamal was brutally interrogated and would give flashbacks thoughout the interrogation to how he answered the questions. I found this whole ordeal ironic because all the questions had specific stories and without all of what Jamal had been through he would not have answered them. The police release Jamal and Latika then see's Jamal on TV the next day when Jamal is one. Salim gave Latika keys to a vehicle so she could escape with Jamal. I thought this move on Salim was very compassionate and moving. Salim knew what he was doing and knew he had to take his ganglord with him.

Slumdog Millionaire had a fair share of irony and symbolism in the end. Salim lined a bath tub with money at the same time Jamal was on his way to becoming a wealthy man. Salim sat in the tub while his ganglord boss came in, Salim shot him but in return got shot himself. The image of Salim in a tub full of bloody money could have several meanings. Salim made his way to wealth and power by killing and criminal activities which could represent bloody money. The bloody money could also show Salim's compassion and acknoledgement of a corrupt lifestyle. Salim freeing Latika and allowing her to escape and be with Jamal could also be represented by this. Salim had separated Jamal and Latika for the path filled with crime and bloodshed, and the bloody money could end the suffering Salim started. Jamal was on the last question and did not know the answer so Jamal used his last lifeline, phone a friend. Latika answered the phone and Jamal was unbelievably happy even though Latika did not know the answer Jamal knew they would be reunited again. Jamal guessed the right answer and became a wealthy man himself. Jamal never wanted riches but got them the same time his brother Salim, who did want riches and power, was laying in a tub of bloody money.

Slumdog Millionaire shows the viewer passion whether it is directed towards wealth and power or love and romance. I found that the temporal; geographical; social structures and economic; and customs, moral attitudes, and codes of behavior factors had alot to do with Slumdog Millionaire. India is a prime place to show these factors because of the rich diversity of issues the country has. Slumdog Millionaire is a good movie that shows social structure and problems along with a love story.