My comments?

1. It’s really as good as they say and I really loved it. The visual effects used were really excellent . Of course, this is not really something new. If you’re a gamer (even a once-in-a-blue-moon one like me), you’d realise that this technique has been used for a while already.
2. Watching it in 3D is really a waste of money. Yes, really. There’s not much 3D effects other than the negligible bit of depth the images have (as opposed to flat). I was expecting some leaping-out-of-the-screen effects, especially during the aerial fight, that would make one goes ooohhhh and aaahhhh.. but nope, nothing whatsoever. Indeed, it was such a terrible let-down. I wonder if I can get a refund. Hey, it costs me RM19 wot…
3. Remember the issue on racism raised by I-dunno-who not long after Avatar was released? Seriously, for the live of me, I could not see how the movie relates to it. All I could see was greed and a total lack of regard to the environment. Somebody must have had an overworked imagination somewhere.
4. I also like the messages in Avatar:

• Save the earth.
• Do not destroy what you don’t understand (especially the natives – either plants, animals or people).
• Humans are a heartless, selfish and greedy bunch and they are the actual cause of the troubles currently faced by the earth.
• Mother nature will attempt to restore the balance and fix the damages to the earth. How?  Removing the cause, of course. That brings up armageddon, doesn’t it? Hehehehe…

All in all, it’s really an excellent movie. I would consider watching it again, although maybe not in 3D. But that really depends on the crowd. They watch 3D, I watch 3D. Hehehehe… So, if you have not watched it, please do.

As for achievements, Avatar’s are pretty impressive. To name a few:

• 9 nominations for Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Art Direction, Best Achievement in Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound and Best Visual Effects).
• 8 nominations for British Film Academy Awards (Best Film, Best Director, Best Music, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Production Design, Best Sound and Best Special Visual Effects).
• 9 nominations for Broadcast Film Critics, out of which they won 6 (Best Action Movie*, Best Art Direction*, Best Cinematography*, Best Directing, Best Editing*, Best Picture, Best Makeup, Best Sound* and Best Visual Effects*).
• 4 nominations for Golden Globe Awards, out of which they won 2 (Best Director*, Best Film – Drama*, Best Original Score and Best Original Song).

Click here for the full list of accolades received by Avatar.

The words are there will be 2 sequels to this movie as confirmed by James Cameron due to the success of Avatar. Unfortunately, they will not be around anytime soon, probably another 2 years or so, but let’s hope that it won’t be the case.

Can’t wait for Avatar 2.. or whatever the name will be.

Verdict for Avatar:

When I shop, the world is better.

I can certainly relate to that.  There’s something therapeutic when it comes to shopping. 

Image courtesy of shopaholicmovie.com

No, I’m not a shopaholic. Although, given the chance, I would gladly and happily spend whatever cash or credits I have till nothing is left. Shopping is really fun.

The thing with credit cards is.. it takes a really really huge amount of self-control not to use them. There’s always something on display that you don’t need but you just absolutely can’t live without. Remember the part in the movie where the manequin seduced Miss Bloomwood to buy the green scarf (it looks cheap, by the way)? Yeah, that’s basically what you would hear everytime you walk through Pavilion, or Suria KLCC, or Midvalley Megamall. If you’re not strong enough, then there goes your credit balance.

So, what does the movie tell you?

To pay off your credit card debts Rebecca Bloomwood’s style, you need to:

1. Get a job totally not related to your area of expertise.
2. Hook up with the boss (provided he’s drop dead gorgeous and rich as hell, of course).
3. Do something that would glamorously put yourself on national tv. (Although how one article can turn Miss Bloomwood into an instant celebrity just escapes me. It sounds too good to be true.)
4. Then get yourself humiliated on national tv on the problems you’re having with your credit cards debts. (It’s entirely up to you, of course.. but I’ll pass on this one.)
5. The boss, who is somehow in love with you, dumps you. So you resigned.
6. Then you turned down a job offer that pays a ridiculous amount of money just because you developed a conscience all of a sudden.
7. Since you don’t know what else to do, you get the people from Shopaholic Anonymous support group which you’ve been attending to together and organise a clearance sale on all the things you’ve bought but you don’t even remember you have them.
8. The sale you made finally managed to cover all your credit cards debts.
9. Your drop-dead-gorgeous-and-rich-as-hell ex-boss somehow realised that he can’t live without you and wants you back.
10. You gladly accepted him and live happily ever after.

So… think you can do all those? Maybe in your dreams.

Image courtesy of shopaholicmovie.com

“When we started out, we had no stars, we had no power or muscle. We didn’t have enough money, really, to do what we wanted to do. But what we had was a script that inspired mad love in everyone who read it.”
- Christian Colson, producer

Image courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes

I’ve only heard about the movie in passing. Never even seen the trailer, actually. You know how they always show upcoming movie trailers at the cinemas before a movie starts? Slumdog Millionaire wasn’t one of them. Well, maybe the movies I saw were not of the privileged ones.

Anyhooo… I got to watch the movie (on dvd) last Saturday afternoon when I was wasting time at my friend’s place. I was quite surprised, actually, when I saw the movie was made in India. Don’t get me wrong. Indian movies are great. Easily at par with the best ones from Hollywood.

With a budget of only $15 million, however, they really did something wonderful with this film.

Needless to say, I was captured right from the start. The movie was so simple, yet so touching. I especially like the way Jamal relates his personal experiences with the questions asked during the game show. I’m sure it’s nothing new, that there are movies out there with the same concept, but how many do you think have the stories like the ones in this movie? One? Two? To me they are still unique, regardless.

I love the cinematography, the cast of unknown actors and actresses, the simplicity of the storyline, the comedies, the love… okay, the whole movie. Full stop. You just have to see it. Then you’d know why Slumdog Millionaire has won so many awards. Like these…

81st Academy Awards/The Oscar 2009

1. Best Picture
2. Directing
3. Music (Original Song)
4. Music (Original Score)
5. Film Editing
6. Sound Mixing
7. Cinematography
8. Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Golden Globe Awards 2009

1. Best Motion Picture – Drama
2. Best Director – Motion Picture
3. Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
4. Best Original Score – Motion Picture

14th Critics’ Choice Awards 2009

1. Best Picture
2. Best Director
3. Best Writer (Original or Adapted Screenplay)
4. Best Young Actor/Actress (Under 21)
5. Best Composer

BAFTA Awards 2009

1. Best Film
2. Director
3. Adapted Screenplay
4. Music
5. Cinematography

For me, the part that brings back memories is the game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. Why? Because I not only got into the show, but I also managed to get onto the hot seat. Not bad, eh?   Now I will never forget what Achilles tendonitis is.

So, back to the subject.. if you have not seen Slumdog Millionaire, go see it.

Verdict:

Image courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes

And of course, Michelle Pfeiffer was simply divine. All in all, I actually quite liked it  

Overall verdict: