Impact of Mumbai Terrorist Attacks - 2008

I just finished watching "New York." I'm still digesting the movie from artisitic and political perspectives. So, like others on this message board, let me share my thoughts on them individually.

Artistic Perspective:

For being an "American" film, the production "team" should have done some more homework. Filming in Philadelphia did not add credibility to a movie named for a specific city, i.e., New York. As with many Indian film productions, this film missed the mark on many things relating to "real world" items. Most viewers of the film (outside the US would not know the differences), but the facts are facts. For example, baseball is a springtime sport (not Fall, as depicted in the last scene) and the kids would have been wearing protective head gear when batting - heck, they didn't even use a real T-ball or Little League baseball field; acquiring an MBA from NYU isn' a breeze and requires more than just showing up for class, drinking/partying, and sightseeing (as another IMDber mentioned); American slang and dialogue was "off", etc.

However, even though the script was weak and the acting, overall, was poor (except for Irrfan Khan - who is always excellent in any film), Director Khan did piece together a complete package. The cinemaphotography is good. I like some of the unique shooting angles, as well.

Political Perspective:

As a white, female, Christian American who has worked internationally in predominantly Muslim countries, I can say that I know what discrimination feels like. I "get" the cultural, religious, political, philsophical, and gender biases - let alone the economic, educational, and life-style ones. I know what it's like to be hated just because of these afore-mentioned items.

Now, with that said, I am wondering how does this film help us get past these? Aren't we supposed to get better as we go along - learn from history? I'm not sure this film helps with this.

The United States of America is a great country. Just like any country, we're not perfect. BUT, I feel blessed and am proud to be an American.

How has India handled the Mumbai Attacks (2008)? I'm wondering if there isn't more discrmination and resentment towards Pakistan now? How are suspected terrorists treated in India after the Mumbai Attacks? Has the security forces started to track potential terrorists plots? I wonder if an American film productions company could come to India and film a similar government indictment-type film there? I would hope so....but...who knows. Just wondering, Director Khan.

The editorial at the end of the film regarding our Presidents is offensive. We know what President Bush did - but, the jury is still out on Obama. Too early, yet.

In closing, the film is worth watching -just because we need to continually hear and see what others have to say. We still need to learn and become better. We need to be inclusive - not exclusive. It's the questioning and growth from such films that will make all of us better.