tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12388307.post2619182340249302494..comments2009-04-11T22:25:22.195-04:00Mitali Perkinshttps://profiles.google.com/116303560568859248981noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12388307.post-33655581155041801122009-04-11T22:25:00.000-04:002009-04-11T22:25:00.000-04:00Ouch, not Bethany, but me, Sherry from Semicolon.Sherry Earlyhttp://www.semicolonblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12388307.post-65508002178041932742009-04-11T22:24:00.000-04:002009-04-11T22:24:00.000-04:00My daughters and I just watched this movie last night, and one of my first thoughts this morning was to see if you had seen it and what you thought. I thought it was "unrealistic" but only insofar as the happy ending part. The poverty and exploitation of children shown in the movie happens, unfortunately not only in India but all over the world, including inside abusive homes and in certain enclaves here in the U.S. Anyway, I thought it was a very well made film that told a good story.Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05281376128490486598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12388307.post-25611575330855324102009-03-02T13:47:00.000-05:002009-03-02T13:47:00.000-05:00Oh, I'm so glad you liked it! I really enjoyed both the book and the movie, and I've been recommending them both shamelessly to all my friends and acquaintances--I even got my library system to purchase the (reissued movie tie-in) novel.<BR/><BR/>I understand and appreciate why some people are upset at the portrayal of India in the movie and book, but I think you address the points well in your defense of the movie.<BR/><BR/>Hopefully this can be a "gateway film" for Americans to discover the richness of Indian cinema, in all its varieties.<BR/><BR/>(I have a massive head cold, so please excuse any wandering vagueness in my comments.)The Floating Lushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15249102790688528853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12388307.post-80999108465628351442009-02-28T02:05:00.000-05:002009-02-28T02:05:00.000-05:00Mitali,<BR/><BR/>Well said. I agree with you on all points. I live among a large Indian population and therefore gotten a closer window into a rich culture I admire and am very interested in learning more about. I wish Latika was a stronger character, but like you pointed out this was a twist on a fairy tale so the traditional characterization is not surprising.<BR/><BR/>I'm linking this as well.susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14924982664582970754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12388307.post-63437721650309640092009-02-27T17:42:00.000-05:002009-02-27T17:42:00.000-05:00Mitali, thank you so much for this. I just posted a linkg here from my blog.Monica Edingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03924540264341924291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12388307.post-43168140695743421872009-02-27T15:07:00.000-05:002009-02-27T15:07:00.000-05:00Also (now having read the links) the one thing that the articles seem to forget is the reason he got on Millionaire was b/c he thought it would be a way to connect back to Latika, because she watched it for the escapism. So the "get rich quick" was not part of his dream, it was "get the girl." Whenever I read critics, I remember the line from Sweet Home Alabama where Patrick Dempsey says "They're critics, honey. They hate themselves." <BR/><BR/>Thanks for your review, Mitali.Suzi W.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12388307.post-23911552689336041182009-02-27T14:58:00.000-05:002009-02-27T14:58:00.000-05:00Well said Ms. Perkins and you tackled it perfectly. I was born and brought up in Bangladesh and I found the story very realistic in the sense of showing the real India without even hesitating about it. And there is also a message behind the movie that there are talented in those slums as well!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12388307.post-81494058758222941712009-02-27T14:55:00.000-05:002009-02-27T14:55:00.000-05:00I thought it was a very imaginative way to tell a story. I've seen poverty that intense and it was a part of the story, so it didn't shock me. Good point about Latika, though. <BR/><BR/>I loved how he just guessed at the name of the third musketeer.Suzi W.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12388307.post-66307503645472037122009-02-27T14:23:00.000-05:002009-02-27T14:23:00.000-05:00I wish there was like "LIKE" feature here like on Facebook. How about LOVE IT? :)sarah parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01568767202390733853noreply@blogger.com