Review: Slumdog Millionaire is FANTASTIC!

I caught the movie Slumdog Millionaire last night and I have my criticisms: In many ways it was corney (but only in the best sense of that word come to think of it). In many ways it was politically correct; Hindus attacking Muslims, when a more realistic portrayal would have been the other way around. It is ironic that much of the movie was shot in Mumbai before the massive terrorist attack by Muslim extremists that took place in that city. Many of the scenes were shot in the very Mumbai train station that was one of the targets of the Islamists.

Putting all that aside, the film was FANTASTIC! There is simply no other way to put it. Danny Boyle deserves an Oscar on this one, no question. I travel the world extensively and mostly to developing third world countries. I am always amazed when I return to the US and hear people (mostly snot-nose Democrats) talk about poverty, hunger and unemployment in America, when in reality they have no clue what poverty really is. They whine about civil and human rights violations when in reality they have no clue what real civil and human rights violations are.

Slumdog Millionaire is a modern day Charles Dickens, the kind of movie that can teach us a few lessons about the real world; about real poverty and about real civil and human rights abuses that are routinely practised in most of the world. Yet the story is uplifting, inspiring, disturbing, funny and fun at the same time. Hollywood/Bollywood at their best. It will cheer you up, stop your whining and make you count your blessings... it's the kind of movie that most people need to see during these days of doom and gloom. I give it a huge thumbs up! Enjoy the trailer: