JISHCAND'S LABYRINTH: ONE OF THE BEST FILMS OF THE DECADE

There are only 4 movies that I’ve watched for more than 50 times. I watched Titanic like more than a hundred times already. I watched Amelie for more than 50 times now. Moulin Rouge also reached the century mark. But no one can beat my favorite film of all times. The film stars the magical troika. I’m proud to say “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” is my all time fav coz I watched it in a theater for 16 times. I watched it on DVD for eternity and I still love the film. Last January, the bootleg copy of Slumdog Millionaire was released by pirates ( sad to say) but I was kinda thankful.

Sorry. I had no volition but to bite the apple. It had won numerous awards already and I was hopeless that time that it might not be shown here in the Philippines. I was just enthusiastic. You know what after watching it, Slumdog Millionaire is fast approaching my “golden mark”. I have watched it already for the nth time and luckily Viva Pictures decided to release it on the big screen here. Guess what??? Of course, I watched it again. This time the cinema experience is just unbelievable.

Slumdog Millionaire tells the fairy tale story of 18-year old Jamal Malik from Mumbai, India. He is having an amazing answering streak on the Indian version of the TV game show “Who Wants To be A Millionaire”. He’s only one correct question away from the big prize. However, some, including those associated with the show, is baffled how someone like Jamal, a self-confessed non-genius who grew up in the slums of Mumbai, can be doing so well on the show, when others who are brighter, more educated and wealthier than him have failed. Is he cheating? Is it destiny?

Superb is the best way to describe the experience after watching the film.

I was blown away with the direction and all the technical aspects. Of course, it raked most of the awards in the Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score and Best Original Song. I couldn’t disagree. A well-deserved win! Congratulations Danny Boyle!This one takes the cake! The critics are really right. The moviegoers who made this movie a phenomenon are truly hypnotized. Slumdog Millionaire is one of the BEST FILMS of all times.

Let’s talk about the best scenes from the film.

The opening chasing scene is exhilarating. It’s weird that the slum scenes are quiet fascinating. Even if that scene is similar to an award winning Pinoy indie film called “Kubrador”, I still find Doyle’s style a bit clever. The autograph scene with young Jamal and Amitabh is one of the funniest scenes I’ve seen in years. It’s really unforgettable. The escape scene to the train is marvelous. The lighting in the shrubs to the railway is thawing.

This film also made me cry. Just by thinking about Salim’s brotherly love to Jamal is too much. I couldn’t help it. It’s too lachrymose for me. Of course, Jamal winning answer tops it all. It’s predictable but I don’t really care. It still made me cry. But no one can describe the victorious feeling I have felt while watching the end credit scene. That “Jao Ho” dance tribute to Bollywood films is truly infectious!!! I didn’t expect it and it also made me bawl. Great job!!! Dev Patel and Freida Pinto do a nice job as the adult Jamal and Latika but the young kiddie Jamal is the most unforgettable actor in the film. He is a cutie one.

Am I recommending the film? It’s too palpable.

I still have fascinating million things to say about the film. Yeah, I believe that that there are negative criticisms and some flaws about Slumdog Millionaire too. Well, suck it!!!!