Iffy for 15+
Epic romance-drama is brilliant but too mature for kids.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that despite incidents of violence and cruelty, this is a sweeping, thrilling drama that mature teens will be able to take -- and will probably very much enjoy. There's some extreme violence -- electrocution, murder, and violence perpetrated by, and on, young children -- but it never feels exploitatitive or simplistic. The film revolve around issues of class (how could a poor "slumdog" like the lead character possibly do so well on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?). and includes many images of modern India, including real -- but still hard-to-take -- depictions of poverty and hopelessness.
- Families can talk about the nature of Indian society -- from class to religious conflict to the nation's role as a growing economic superpower -- and about the way the film depicts hard work, good morals, and quick wits. Are they seen as virtues?
- Discuss the film's depiction of the differences -- and similarities -- between Indian culture and American culture. How are they different? What do they have in common?
- What does the movie say about the growing process of globalization? What does it mean when British customer service calls are answered in India? Or when an English game show becomes immensely popular in a completely different nation?
The good stuff
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Messages: Modern-day India is depicted as a complex, rich culture of wonderful opportunity and yet terrifying poverty. Police forces are depicted as brutal, but they ultimately do the right thing. Criminal, greedy, and venal behavior is depicted -- and not always punished.
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Role models: Through brains, principles, and decency, the lead character achieves in the face of poverty, prejudice, and evil.
What to watch for
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Violence: Strong violence; the lead character is beaten, drowned, and electrically shocked by authorities in order to elicit a confession; a depiction of a religious riot includes beatings, on-screen deaths, and men being set ablaze. A young child shoots a man in a clear kill-or-be-killed situation. A young boy is blinded with hot oil to increase his value as a beggar. A woman's face is deliberately scarred with a knife. Fist fighting and other shooting deaths.
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Sex: A supporting character is being taught courtesan's skills before being sold into sex slavery (at a high price due to her status as a virgin); some kissing; implied semi-sexual activity between a pre-teen boy and girl. Non-sexual nudity (a child's buttocks are seen).
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Language: Strong, including "s--t," "hell," "damn," "crap," "piss," "bugger," "p---y," and non-sexual uses of "f---ing."
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Consumerism: The plot revolves around the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Constant smoking; characters (in some cases even very young children) drink hard liquor.
Fan Reviews provided by
5
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE IS A WINNER! GRADE: A-PLUS by MOVIES REVIEWER
I was honored to attend the advance press screening of this SUPERBLY directed by Danny Boyle 2-hour engaging movie-adaptation of Vikas Swarup's novel 'Q & A' - screen-written by Simon Beaufoy which resulted in a intricate well-connected script.
Composer A.R. Rahman's EXCELLENT score perfectly complemented this HIGH-QUALITY movie.
The visuals are STUNNING, cinematography - AWESOME, acting - ENGAGINGLY ABOVE-AVERAGE.
This rags-to-riches by-way-of-chance-and-fate tale is told through a series of well-done well-edited flashbacks - juxtaposed the nitty-gritty depravity hopelessness squalor of the down-trodden unfortunates of Mumbai/Bombay's slum-dwellers against the fairy-tale dream/opportunity/luck of winning 20 million rupees(approx. USD400,000 based on current currency rates) - a tremendously staggering fortune especially in India.
VERDICT:
A MUST-SEE for the discerning movie-goer.
Be prepared for a healthy dose of third-world reality - they are stark and troubling.
5
Slumdog Millionaire by cafoxxyfox
Highly recommend as a "must see" movie for all ages. Brilliant in its deliberate if not methodical story line, opening an almost impossible opportunity and reliving through morsels of window peaks into the past that seamlessly tied the entire story together, that by the time all the clues and history of the tale are revealed, you are so suspense ridden that you're on the edge of your seat cheering for the underdog to come on top. This amazing tale of torment, torture, survival and triumph is something that will move you to your inner most core. Given today's economic and domestic struggles, all of us at some level can relate our individual environments to the plight of this story. Plan to dinner, coffee, drinks or dessert after this movie to talk about the moments in the move that got you. Also, don't leave until the last credits are shown. You're in for a fabulous surprise - this is a crowd pleaser for sure! Oscar candidate for sure.
5
Destiny by Daydream
Slumdog Millionaire is a serendipitous love story between two kids (Jamal and Latika) from the slums with big hearts. Their "destiny" was spelled out for them the moment they met...
After being accused of cheating on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" Jamal is interrogated and punished because no one believes a slumdog can know all the answers. The story develops into explanations to how he knows what he does, tying in their love story, survival after the loss of their mother, and the pained relationship between Jamal and his untrustworthy and power-hungry brother. This movie keeps your attention throughout and is worth seeing.
4
Great,funny love story that makes you think by TheWoodmanIII
A hard look at life on the bottom rung of the ladder with an uplifting message and great romance. There were times when I thought it was just too much or slow, but in the end, it was all forgiven and I can't remember why or when it was too much or slow.
Definitely worth the time, I'm still smiling as I think about the movie.
4
Go, but don't be shocked. by epcot5ea
I would have said it is a "must go", but I have to admit i do not think this is for everyone. I went with an aquaitance who knew nothing about the movie and she was shocked and disturbed by the depicition the rampant poverty in India and the violence that seem to be around every corner of Jamal's life. The plot, as far as Jamal's quest to impress the girld, WAS a little too sweet but that is what made it charming and offered the stark contrast to the poverty that surrounded and dogged them. For most, I would say this is excellent and you should go, just be prepared to squirm in places.
5
Slumdog Millionaire - Oscar Worthy! by lmlewis517
I was lucky enough to win a free Fandango ticket (like free candy for me, so I choose movies carefully).
I didn't want to see this film, at first. Then I saw all these nominations come up. I'm thinking this is no mere coincidence. A friend of mine, that is just as much as a movie fanatic as I am, decided that she wanted to see it. So, I buckled down and decided to give up my free ticket.
Well, all I can say is that the choice was well worth it. Wrapped around a love story (as most blockbusters are), the storyline was quite ingenious. Part of my mind didn't want to believe the torture scenes, but I can see something like that happening... especially considering the background demographic of the main character.
I also enjoyed seeing this movie take chances in "rawness" where other films shy away. The director showed great detail in the main characters and kept you involved in every step of discovery. Great film overall! I look forward to seeing more from this director
5
Slumdog is great. by EuterpeHU
This was a great movie - an entertaining and heartwarming story, about the struggles of poor, orphaned 'slumdogs' in India, set against the backdrop of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? The acting and directing were fantastic, and hopefully we'll see more of Dev Patel in the future. This movie is violent at times, and children should not see it.
5
A triumph of a movie by cade
At times heart breaking and at other times laugh out loud funny this movie is phenomenally acted and the art direction is amazing. You will fall in love with Jamal, Salim and Latika. As you root for Jamal to progress on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" you root for all of India's forgotten children. The "plot" of this movie is expertly told in vivid flashbacks lived through each question asked. I was won over immediately and didn't let go until the credits ran. The audience of the movie, like the audience of the show, like the population of India is captivated and should be. This movie is a boys life of hardship, love, heartbreak, triumph, failure, sin and redemption lived out through 20 questions in front of the world. All roads lead to the million dollar question. This movie is truly a gem at a time when I didn't think they made gems of movies. A testament to the human spirit and a visual tour de force. You'll cheer for everything about this movie down to the last question.
5
Very realisistic by vindog55
Having been to the slums in mumbai and spending time there i must say that this movie is absolutely amazing
The torture in this movie is necesary to get the point across
you can walk down the streets of mumbai and you will see children with their eyes taken out like that singing on the corners begging for money
this movie is a movie that changes people who watch it
it gives you a different view of poverty then what people usually think
awesome
deserved every award it got
5
Slumdog Millionaire is a must see! by John_Sr
We had no idea what to expect. We knew there was talk of Academy awards, and we had seen some positive reviews.
As it turned out, it is a fine movie, a familiar story in a very unfamiliar setting, well told, beautifully filmed, and directed with skill and finesse.
The movie opens in the slums of Mumbai (Bombay), and the scenes of crushing poverty are just appalling, especially as they involve street children, and the way they are used by cynical and corrupt adults. But time passes and the children, against all odds, survive and mature, until one of them is competing in a television game show, and Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. The former street urchin has no way of knowing the answers to the questions, except as it develops, the answers seem to arise out of incidents from his life on the streets.
We won't give away the ending, just to say that it gives some reason to believe there is hope for all of us, no matter what obstacles we must overcome.