MARIA FULL OF GRACE vs. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

mariacvetanoski says on Oct 4, 2009, 09:25:

trailers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIzbwV7on6Q

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390221/trailers

Save the street children of Colombia Now!!

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dwmte7 says on Oct 4, 2009, 09:55:

huh?

patriarch

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theflatline says on Oct 4, 2009, 10:02:

where is the comparison? Pregnant Drug mule and trivia whiz? The movies are about 5 years apart.

Legaleez for Complete Morons - A book for gringos in Colombia for who think they understand the nature of the law in a country where they cannot speak the language.

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njc (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Oct 4, 2009, 10:17:

Simon says on Oct 4, 2009, 12:21:

I think a much better movie to compare 'Slumdog Millionaire' to is 'City of God'. They're both about kids who grow up among extreme poverty in emerging world powers (Brasil and India) who suffer from a tremendous disparity between rich and poor.

'City of God' is much more violent, but that's because the Indians are nowhere near as violent as us latinos! LOL

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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dwmte7 says on Oct 4, 2009, 12:26:

good comparison, simon.............................why didn't i think of that? may, just maybe, it's because i haven't seen either.

patriarch

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excavator59 says on Oct 4, 2009, 17:58:

I think they are both good films but thank god Slumdog Millionaire didn't have singing & dancing in it (well at least until the end) as most Indian films do.

Life is like a Pubic Hair on a Toilet Seat (Sooner or Later you get Pissed Off)

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BillBigD says on Oct 4, 2009, 19:50:

I liked both movies

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capt_j says on Oct 4, 2009, 21:37:

"Maria Full of Grace" is a steaming pile of crap, just saying it's OK to commit crimes if you're poor. Puke. "Slumdog Millionaire" is a great, very entertaining movie. "City of God" is a classic.

I have seen recently "Rodrigo D: No Future" and "La Sierra." They were both pretty dull. I have yet to see a good movie about Colombia.

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Simon says on Oct 4, 2009, 21:59:

"I have yet to see a good movie about Colombia"

I recommend 'Paraiso Travel', 'Bolivar Soy Yo, 'El Rey, 'La Estrategia del Caracol, 'Rosario Tigeras', 'Perro Come Perro', 'El Colombian Dream', and 'Sonar no cuesta nada'. I also liked 'Love in the Time of Cholera' even though it's a Hollywood movie and the critics didn't like it, but I enjoyed its cinematography very much.

I also heard 'Los Viajes del Viento' is pretty good. It's going to be Colombia's Oscar entry this year for Best Foreign Film.

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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manINred says on Oct 4, 2009, 22:09:

That's very insightful Simon. I agree.

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romy says on Oct 4, 2009, 22:28:

capt_j says on Oct 4, 2009, 21:37 (today): flag

"Maria Full of Grace" is a steaming pile of crap, just saying it's OK to commit crimes if you're poor. Puke. "Slumdog Millionaire" is a great, very entertaining movie. "City of God" is a classic.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
In both slumdog millionaire and city of god, the protagonists have unethical moments. I'm not sure where the difference is, or how one can judge certain movies and not others?

Paraiso travel, Rosario Tijeras, Perro come Perro, and Soñar no cuesta nada do not speak well of Colombia... I'm surprised Simon (Bolivariano) likes these movies.

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Simon says on Oct 4, 2009, 22:35:

I have yet to see one Colombian movie that speaks well of Colombia. I like them for their plots, acting, cinematography, dialogue, etc.

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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romy says on Oct 4, 2009, 22:44:

sounds like a hypocrite burp

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Simon says on Oct 4, 2009, 22:48:

There's a big difference between movies that portray Colombia in a negative light made in Hollywood and those made in Colombia. The ones made in Hollywood paint all Colombians with a broad brush, no one has any redeeming qualities, in their view all the Colombians are evil. In Colombian cinema, one finds characters of all shades.

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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romy says on Oct 4, 2009, 23:17:

Your questionable character aside. That statement is also unfounded. Consider the movie Love in the times of cholera, not all Colombians are 'painted with a broad brush'.
Then consider the movie Rosario Tijeras, all characters can be ethically questioned, or in your words 'Evil'.

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Simon says on Oct 4, 2009, 23:21:

That's because Love in the Time of Cholera is based on a novel written by a Colombian. I meant Hollywood movies such as Collateral Damage, Clear and Present Danger, Scarface, Blow, etc.

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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romy says on Oct 4, 2009, 23:25:

Considering these movies were not made with an intention to display Colombia in all of its diversity, instead the concept of Colombia serves a specific purpose to support the plot (in the ones I've seen scarface and blow) there is little argument to diminish the value of these movies because of their stance on Colombia. The way Colombian characters are portrayed in those movies very well reflects some realities in Colombia.

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Woodde says on Oct 5, 2009, 19:22:

Maria, thanks for bringing this up. I went ahead and watched the movie and I really enjoyed it. Sure it dragged on, but the movie was excellent overall.

Yes, the whole story was morally wrong, but then again, if I was in her shoes I probably would have done the same thing.

Anyone else start out the movie thinking, "Man, they could have picked a better looking lead actress than Catalina Moreno?" But, by the end of the movie thought she was absolutely stunning? Maybe it was just the way she moved and spoke, but I think she is beautiful now. Weird....

4/9/09

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excavator59 says on Oct 5, 2009, 19:51:

I saw one once in England on Channel 4` La Violencia ` it was about a guy who killed a man in the time of La Violencia served his time in jail came out then the guy who he killed son came looking for him ,really good film about a part of history that changed Colombia for ever.

Life is like a Pubic Hair on a Toilet Seat (Sooner or Later you get Pissed Off)

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Grimace says on Oct 5, 2009, 20:13:

I havent seen Slumdog. Is it worth a look?

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billyb says on Oct 5, 2009, 20:22:

Great movie.

"All I want to know is where I'm going to die, so I never go there" Unkown (at least to me) wise man.

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Grimace says on Oct 5, 2009, 20:24:

Thank You billy. Will I need tissues like marlly and me or is it a feel good movie?

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billyb says on Oct 5, 2009, 20:26:

jaja, depends how sensitive you are, but mostly funny, I won't give away the ending.

"All I want to know is where I'm going to die, so I never go there" Unkown (at least to me) wise man.

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dtbrooklyn says on Oct 5, 2009, 22:10:

I've seen all of the movies listed above, and would say that Maria Full of Graces is the most powerful and well put together of all of them, though La Sierra has an understated power derived by it's slice of comuna life documentary style. Whoever made the comparison between Slumdog Millionaire and City of God was spot on, not just in terms of the storyline but also the cinematography and editing (bright colors, swirling about, lots of movement and quick cuts). Unfortunately both also tend towards pathos and a very facile depiction of poor urban communities. Interestingly enough, most Colombians that I have encountered have absolutely no regard for Maria Full of Grace - but that is because for them it is just another movie that deals with drugs and the desire to escape to the US, a well-worn trope. If you can get past it, it is a quite complex portrait of a girl who has no easy decisions to make, and whose growth from the beginning to the end of the picture is astounding. Catalina certainly deserved the Oscar nomination, and the picture deserves better than to be thrown in the same dumpster as Rosario Tijeras, or La Vendedora de Rosas, just to name two Colombian films that deal with the drug issue and have almost no redeeming qualities.

Other Colombian films to check out -

Paraiso travel - interesting if a bit formulaic look at a paisa couple who sneak into the US. Very popular here, and very nicely shot and acted - too bad the story was so predictable.

Actores del Conflicto - a personal favorite of mine from last year about mimes from Bogotá who get wrapped up in the Farc/military conflict. I really liked the mix of comedy and drama even if it didn't completely work.

La Estrategia del Caracol - comedy classic - will test your spanish comprehension.

La passión de Gabriel - haven't seen it, but it is the most popular Colombian pic this year

El arriero - haven't seen it either, but the most popular colombian film last year

I would really liked to check out La Virgen de los Sicarios as well, as I've heard excellent things.

porque no te callas?

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dtbrooklyn says on Oct 5, 2009, 22:12:

Oh --- Riverside - a colombian film set in New York is the biggest steaming pile of horse-dung that has ever been put onto celluloid. It was quite simply the most painful 90 minutes this side of dental work that I have ever experienced.

porque no te callas?

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dwmte7 says on Oct 6, 2009, 05:35:

dt (delerium trimmens?) just joking. thanks for your comments.
douglas

patriarch

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pavo says on Oct 6, 2009, 08:16:

SIN NOMBRE. a must see movie if you liked Maria and slumdog

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