The Reader  (6/10)

Pros: decent story, good acting. 
Cons: ultra slow.

Did it really have substance for more than 2 hrs of movie? There are numerous questions and perspectives that are touched by the movie. Since I have not read the book, I'm not sure which aspect did the movie want to convey. For one, I am left confused about the initial scenes involving Kate's character. She hides her illiteracy but still behaves quite weird. I thought those scenes were before she became the guard. 
The other aspects of movie were subtle yet very thought provoking. But in the light of recent genocide or mass murders (like Sudan, Rwanda etc), I am not sure we've learnt any lessons from the events of WWII. Just today (19th Mar 09) there were testimonies by Israeli soliders of the atrocities and cold blooded murders conducted during the 3 week exercise in Palestine. 
Well any not a place for "political" discussion. Overall the movie was yet another world war movie; ofcourse you can ponder over various penetrating questions raised by the movie.

Cinematically, good strong performance by Kate Winslet. 

Slumdog Millionaire

Finally got to see the hype and frankly quite disappointed  (5/10) 

Pros: good story line, fast pace, good music, good acting from the child artists

Cons: mediocre acting from majority of the cast, sketchy editing causing very weird flow of the movie, not the best of directions i have seen for an oscar winning movie.

I guess the west just fell in love with what can be referred to "joi de vivre" outlook of lower echelons of Indian life. One of the likable aspect of the movie is that most of the toubled and sad scenes of the movie are directed with indifference of an observer. 
I am not sure what was so good about direction. Although the pace of movie was good I felt the overall flow was patchy at best. 

Music was a saving grace but then again we Rahman and this is a very simple contribution from him. (Consider music for Satya, Bombay, Taal and numerous others which were brilliant) 
Acting was mediocre at best from all characters. 
Among others, Mother India and Salam Bombay, were movies to reach the Oscar pedastal. These movies didn't win anything there. But am sure if they were American Production they would  sweep away. Nevertheless, I hope the movie does good for our nation at large and our movie industry at least.