Slumdog Millionaire | Movie Review

Category: Movies

Genre: Foreign

My family and I watched this year Best Picture movie last weekend night to witness the real score why did it win the grandest award from the recent Oscars Awards.

We have no doubt.

“The story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show's questions. Each chapter of Jamal's increasingly layered story reveals where he learned the answers to the show's seemingly impossible quizzes. But one question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no apparent desire for riches really doing on the game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out. At the heart of its storytelling lies the question of how anyone comes to know the things they know about life and love." (excerpt from IMDb.com)

I really like the scene when little Jamal was flushing/digesting his "waste" (calling by nature) in their public toilet with his elder brother (Salim) waiting outside and when his popular star icon/idol was coming to their place for a shoot, his naughty brother blocked the door for fun. The only thing he did was to escape (while holding his idol's photo on his hand) through a wide hole where their wastes flow - eewww. He succeeded and quickly ran to his idol just for an autograph signing. After, however, his brother sold the signed photo just for coins. Here, we can see how this poor – I mean unwealthy, people as young as Jamal strive hard for a simple joy and happiness.

Moreover, the scene that really caught our attention is when the whole cast were all dancing and singing while showing the movie credits simultaneously - in fairness, they are all good dancers! I think singing and dancing clips are typical scenes we can see in their (Indians') movie.

Favorite tag line: "GOD is GREAT." - Salim

This film of Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandan (co-director: India) is a true reflection of struggle for LOVE (the unconditional love of Jamal for Latika, Jamal's childhood friend) and for MONEY (the guts of Jamal toward his success, from being an orphan to India's newest millionaire) of most people especially those who do not stop reaching their dreams and ambitions despite of different obstacles they encounter.

I salute the Oscars Award body for recognizing this one of a kind and remarkably great movie to watch for. Best movies deserve only best awards.

Jeni, Juno | Movie Review

Category: Movies

Genre: Romantic Comedy

I gave this film a 5-star rate as it showed the Dramatic-Romantic-Comedic moments everyone may/has experienced during their adolescence days, especially to those boyfriends/girlfriends who made their unexpected future baby.

How will they cope with it?

The main actors (Min-ji Park as Jeni and Hye-sung Kim as Juno) portrayed their roles as real as in reality. As a matter of fact, it was adopted by America's 20th Century Fox who introduced Michael Cera and Ellen Page as their own Jeni and Juno. But there was a little bit of twist on their version like their main actor's character name. But I guess, many viewers would go for its Korean version, since, they truly acted their scenes with full drama, romance, and comedy.

I really admire Koreans in widening their creativity to make original and captivating story line. Unlike Filipino Film Makers who only stick to 'pang-masa/makamasa' stories – that you can easily distinguish its ending at the start. Agree?

Just Keep Enjoying Thank You UPDATE

Last Wednesday, April 1, the night before I sleep, I had received a text message from my classmate saying that our Final grades were already released in our own Student’s Portal. “This is it! “ – I told myself. I really felt nervous to the grades I might receive in Financial Accounting 2 – my difficult major subject, because my classmate’s text message was saying that He failed and got 5.00. I was talking to myself whether to see my grades or just make it by tomorrow. I studied, thought positively, and prayed very hard for it. So, when I opened my Portal, I was really expecting that I would not repeat the subject for the second time around.

All the prayers… were answered!

I got 3.00, which may know for its 75 percent of passing or 50:50 mode. I couldn’t even speak.

Before I go to sleep, I thanked God for all the strength and faith he has given me for the past months, especially on the times I felt that I must quit, and to myself, for keeping believing and thinking in a positive way. Likewise, just yesterday, I texted all my classmates who may think that their journey had ended. Told them:

Keep believing. Keep holding God’s hand.

Thank you,
KIER