You Be The Blog: Wes Anderson Edition • Today, Wes Anderson asks the question: "why was Slumdog [Millionaire] a hit, and not Darjeeling [Limited]?" You provide the answer, in the comments.
Posted at 1:30 PM in Poll
Tags: Danny Boyle | Darjeeling Limited | Slumdog Millionaire | Wes Anderson
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D Ltd was a somewhat challenging dark comedy (to your typical US audience) while SM was feel-good fairy tale?
Score = 10
More people wanted to see Slumdog?
Score = 18
I think Slumdog Millionaire was more successful because it had an interesting journey for the characters, non-cliche plot turns, eye-pleasing scenery and humorous cameos by Bill Murray and Anjelica Huston.
Oh no, wait, that was Darjeeling Limited, wasn't it. I remember now.
Score = 11
Slumdog was great while Darjeeling was merely okay?
Score = 1
slumdog was not about white people?
Score = 27
Slumdog was about poor people dealing with the trials being poor and Darjeeling was about rich people dealing with the trials of being rich.
CLASSWARZ!
Score = 65
you hit the nail on the head...why are these 2 movies even being compared? because they are both set in india? that's ridiculous.
Score = 16
Exactly! Thank you. Slumdog was about being Indian, from the slums, parent-less. Darjeeling was about 3 highly privileged white dudes trying to 'find themselves' in India. To compare the two is inherently racist or at a minimum, entirely ignorant and egotistical. It's like saying Easy Rider and The Godfather are the same movie because they both take place in America. Like, HUH? Completely different stories, struggles, cinematic eyes...but in the end Wes did answer his own questions. I just don't think it's a question that even deserves merit, but here I am yakkin away on my own point. I'm done now.
Score = 2
Because middle-aged liberals wanted to smell each other's farts for 90 minutes. "Oh this is such an accurate representation of Indian slums" "Really? Exploiting poverty stricken children and ending it in a dance off is accurate?"
Score = 13
the same reason who wants to be a millionaire is more popular than jeopardy, i suppose.
Score = 16
Slumdog offers you the opportunity to safely tour an exotic ghetto with authentic brown people.
Score = 24
Thank you, That One. "Slumdog" was so close to being an amazing exploration of how India has lost some aspects of itself in the pursuit of being a "first-world" country. But then dude won the money and they all started dancing.
While "Darjeeling" was all about three white Americans' disingenuous greed for spiritual enlightenment to cope with their father's death (and was a more honest story because of it), "Slumdog" was just a fairy-tale that taught us the only way to survive in an increasingly Westernized, capitalistic country is to be rewarded by it. To pick yourself up by the bootstraps and win a game show to make some money! And we love that!!
Granted, both films are the epitome of very American stories grafted onto an exotic background. But "Darjeeling" knows that it is. "Slumdog" masquerades as something else.
Score = 13
Because Danny Boyle only abandons his colleagues after the movie's finished shooting, not while it's shooting?
Score = 7
Because Wes, as I found out in college when I tried to get everyone I knew to watch The Royal Tenenbaums and many people couldn't even stand to finish it, you are not for everyone.
Score = 27
So true. The only other person who I could get to love it as much as I do was my boyfriend. Hence him being my boyfriend.
Score = 5
Jai Hoooooooo!
Score = 16
Ugh. And then the Pussycat Dolls capitalized on that.
Score = 1
Slumdog wasn't a big mess.
Score = -1
Oh, downvote away. You have to admit Darjeeling was a big mess. I love Wes Anderson, and there is a lot in that movie worth liking. But it was a mess.
Score = 2
Maybe Wes Anderson should get someone to do a documentary about why Darjeeling Limited wasn't a hit. It could be titled Wes Anderson: Contemptible and Obnoxious. Or we could start a petition to get Wes Anderson released from the Swiss jail of not getting enough critical acclaim and box office success. Mine will be first signature!
Score = -6
Slumdog wasn't made by people who support "rape-rape (and the artists that perpetrate it)"
Score = 5
because just because a movie is set in india doesn't mean it's going to be a hit?
no, that can't be it...
Score = 0
Slumdog succeeded thanks to its gratuitous use of CGI Chris Farley
Score = 12
They both had very bright colors and made me want to gouge my eyes out, so ... good question.
Score = -4
Because everything you've done post Rushmore has been redundant/boring/unfunny/not entertaining/and wastes of millions and millions of dollars. *crosses fingers for Fantastic Mr Fox*
Score = -10
People already knew whether or not they would like "Darjeeling" before they saw it. "Slumdog" they had to watch first.
Score = 8
Two words: Ted McGinley.
Score = 2
The children! How could people resist these adorable children, who are probably not digging through the garbage for a new shirt right now! Probably!
http://cdn.videogum.com/img/thumbnails/photos/starving_children.jpg
Score = 2
Dear friendsgum: read the article. He answers his own question, he was being self-deprecating. Just click on the link, it takes seconds.
Score = 4
But I thought he told us to be the blog!
Score = 3
:)
Score = 0
His "style"? Umm, no. That is not the problem. See "CLASSWARZ" above.
Score = 0
I honestly loved both movies. Both soundtracks are bangers and both have adorable tiny Indian kids. But I think Slumdog did better because of the Money Tub scene.
Score = 1
Yo Danny Boyle. I real happy for you. Imma let you finish, but Wes Anderson had one of the most critically-tolerated movies set in India of all time.
This joke will never get old.
Score = 8
Slumdog Millionaire featured a poor exploited child climbing through shit. Darjeeling Ltd exploited poor hipsters' penchants for childish shit.
Score = 2
I didn't care for Slumdog Millionaire. It was a pretty movie but the music was insufferable.
Score = 1
Because Owen Wilson didn't successfully kill himself.
Score = -40
Boo, ghostrobot.
Score = 20
while both movies used indians as props, slumdog millionaire used cute many more cute indian kids as props.
Score = 2
Slumdog had a poop-scene and revolved around a game show. These two things strike at the core of American TV viewing.
Score = 13
Because clearly, based on the fact that you are even asking that question, we are dwelling in a hideously inverted reality, where people like good movies more than boring movies and dislike douchebags instead of giving them lots of money.
Jesus, this guy.
Score = -4
Danny Boyle gives better head.
Score = 5
Because it's Darjeeling Limited.
Score = 0
Slumdog>Darjeeling
Score = -4
because no one in darjeeling limited raped their sibling's destiny spouse, and then got forgiven for it too soon. that's the number one sexual fantasy among human beings. ask dan savage.
Score = 8
Unfortunately for all us monsters, Wes Anderson's actual answer is still the best: "With my style, I can take a subject that you'd think would be commercial and turn it into something that not a lot of people want to see."
I am not the blog :(
Score = 4
I find your avatar irresistibly delicious.
Score = 1
I will send you some Chihuahua fillets post hate.
Score = 2
OM NOM NOM
Score = -1
Slumdog Millionaire was a sexy music video starring sexy people. Darjeeling Ltd. was not sexy.
Score = -2
Jason Schwartzman's mustache was pretty sexy.
Score = 3
So far I'm the only one, but I didn't care for either movie. Slumdog, too predictable (yes, it was.) Darjeeling, too Wesandersony.....when you watch a movie and are more mesmerized by the customized Louis Vutton luggage? Not good. I found both movies boring. Sorry!
Score = -2
Because Jason Schwartzman didn't jump in a latrine in Darjeeling?
Score = 4
Because they are more Lindsays than Gabes in the world?
Score = 8
I would do some terrible, unspeakable things to get an edit button.
Score = 4
Herehere! And some Metrics on these comment votes!!!
Score = 0
Slumdog Millionaire succeeds as a scathing expose of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Only when Regis set someone up to fail, they failed.
Score = 0