IC Forum Archive

Iammadmak · Posts: 210

It comes out today and I plan on seeing it this weekend. Post your thoughts on the movie or your anticipation to see it.

Without seeing it, it seems to hinge on whether or not you like the humour typically associated with Borat and his creator.

dhex · Posts: 2963

i have the feeling that it's going to be excellent.

Broco · Posts: 546

Looks like it's basically a really long episode of the TV show.

Which is no bad thing.

Isfet · Posts: 510

from what i've been told, it's supposedly really, really great. i plan on seeing it tonight, so hopefully i'll be able to see for myself later on.

part of me wonders what the "average" Borat fan looks like. will there be Kazakh cosplayers?

Ethoscapade · Posts: 627

all i know is that two weeks ago rottentomatoes declared the departed "the best-reviewed wide release of 2006" and that's no longer true.

the borat trailer made it look like it'd jumped the ship pretty badly compared to the tv show, but apparently that's not the case. i'm seeing it tonight with my mom, who is a big ali g fan.

professor_scissors · Posts: 1033

I like how Kazakhstan's government gets so huffy about Borat.

dhex · Posts: 2963

"i fully support my government's decision to sue this jew."

GcDiaz · Posts: 1057

Ah yup! I've been a fan of Cohen's since catching all the HBO episodes, and then DLing the Channel 4 episodes as well. I'll be there tonight, even if I must go alone.

Isfet · Posts: 510

what's interesting is that according to this article, the average resident of the country really doesn't care, or actually finds it entertaining.

Broco · Posts: 546

Well, Canadians weren't offended by the South Park movie either.

I think most Kazakhstanis can see that Borat is not really from their country but from a completely unrelated fantasy land that happens to have the same name. The show even makes fun sometimes of its own lack of resemblance to actual Kazakhstan. For example, the Tetris music!

Anyone who thinks Cohen is mocking or satirizing Kazakhstan is missing the point. The show doesn't know anything about it or care about it in any way, it's just a random country picked out of a hat. Cohen probably considered inventing a new country, but that would have made it too easy to see through his act. Kazakhstan is ideal for him because Americans don't know anything about it except that it exists and is relatively poor.

This article about journalists going to Kazakhstan to write about Borat is pretty funny too. They're just totally unable to find a connection!

Rucio · Posts: 169

I'm going to see it today. Will return with comments about it.

aerisdead · Posts: 556

It was at the Toronto International Film Festival; Borat turned up like this:

I didn't bother to see it.

GcDiaz · Posts: 1057

That is absolutely brilliant.

DeusJester · Posts: 1388

I'm pretty sure this is going to insanely hysterical. Cohen's entire schtick is taking things waaaaaaaaay too far, and this doesn't look like it's going to be any exception.

Hell, look at the man's website. Or a little snippet from his MySpace:

"I have brother. His name is Bilo. He once have a demon that live in his head so we open his head and place a dry fish inside to eat the demon, but the demon become angry and make Bilo a retard. He is sex crazy! All day long in his cage he look on porno!"

Isfet · Posts: 510

hey i just remembered this: the first stage of Strider takes place in Kazakhstan.

everything is coming together.

Nana Komatsu · Posts: 697

He was on the Daily Show last night (in character) and it was (horribly set up but) great when he realized that Jon Stewart is Jewish.

Quick Shot II Turbo · Posts: 468

BBC News has been airing commercials for Kazakhstan lately. Seems like a nice place.

George · Posts: 1656

I saw a preview screening of the movie last week. It's hilarious - far, far better than the crappy Ali G HBO movie. It's actually directed by Larry Charles, the brilliant Seinfeld writer.

aerisdead · Posts: 556

Isfet wrote:

part of me wonders what the "average" Borat fan looks like. will there be Kazakh cosplayers?

A friend of mine as Borat for Halloween

Notice how the drag queen has no idea who Borat is.

extralife · Posts: 3316

This movie will be the greatest thing ever. Anyone that hasn't seen the show, go set your torrent clients to "pirate"

George · Posts: 1656

Universal offered $42 million to do a Bruno movie, even before Borat came out. What's weird is that Bruno wasn't even in every Ali G episode and he's by far the least popular (Borat, I suspect, is actually more popular than Ali G). Should be a lot of fun though.

TOLLMASTER · Posts: 1977

extralife wrote:

This movie will be the greatest thing ever. Anyone that hasn't seen the show, go set your torrent clients to "pirate"

I'm not seeing that option. Is it under my NAT settings?

potato · Posts: 12

my eyes
so gross

boojiboy7 · Posts: 1104

potato wrote:

my eyes
so amazing

fixed

Isfet · Posts: 510

this was just absolutely everything i expected and perhaps a bit more. i'd like to see it again, to see if perhaps i went into it with rose-colored glasses so to speak, but i have a feeling my opinion of it won't change.

one thing that struck me, though, was that when i left the theater i was as depressed as i was entertained.

extralife · Posts: 3316

Isfet wrote:

one thing that struck me, though, was that when i left the theater i was as depressed as i was entertained.

I think that's the idea.

finnagain · Posts: 181

I'm really, really torn on the Borat film -- because it is funny, uproariously funny, but there's some element of -- I don't know, Borat-esque qualities -- that are different from the TV Borat and the Movie Borat.

I don't really know how to explain it; just the general tone of the film. It's just -- je ne sais quoi.

My favorite segment on the HBO show was Borat's attempt to cover a 2004 state senate race -- "if you vote not for this man, he take power, like Stalin," -- if you remember that one.

I can't articulate it yet.

Rucio · Posts: 169

extralife wrote:

Isfet wrote:

one thing that struck me, though, was that when i left the theater i was as depressed as i was entertained.

I think that's the idea.

It seems more of a damning commentary of American society than a funny movie. But as a funny movie, I was crying from laughing so hard.

extralife · Posts: 3316

finnagain wrote:

My favorite segment on the HBO show was Borat's attempt to cover a 2004 state senate race -- "if you vote not for this man, he take power, like Stalin," -- if you remember that one.

Oh god that shit was fantastic. The best part was that the politician dude was standing there the whole time with his "Man, I'm just doing this because I graduated from law school and this was what I was supposed to do, I don't have any real plans" face as Borat screams on and on about consequences and coups and the like. To me, it sort of illustrated how little our individual politicians matter.

Cycle · Posts: 1574

I haven't seen it yet, but from some reviews I've read it sounds like a whole bunch of scenes from the ALI G IN DA USA series were re-used for this movie which kinda puts me off.

Also! Some lady got fired from her job because of Borat:

extralife · Posts: 3316

Yeah, Sash Baron Cohen or HBO or someone should hook that lady up with some cash or something.

Mister Toups · Posts: 4943

Cycle wrote:

I haven't seen it yet, but from some reviews I've read it sounds like a whole bunch of scenes from the ALI G IN DA USA series were re-used for this movie which kinda puts me off.

Also! Some lady got fired from her job because of Borat:

Because of him, my boss lost faith in my abilities and second-guessed everything I did thereafter," she says. "I spiraled into depression, and before I could recover, I was released from my contract early. It took me three months to find another job, and now I'm thousands of dollars in debt and struggling to keep my house out of foreclosure.

What's the full story here?

George · Posts: 1656

Maybe I'm too used to Cohen's style from the Ali G show, but I didn't find the Borat movie depressing at all. The movie has more ridiculous humor and less idiotic rednecks than the show, which was okay with me (you can only make fun of rednecks for so long).

Jesus Camp, on the other hand, was a movie that was hilarious and depressing at the same time.

Cycle · Posts: 1574

Mister Toups wrote:

What's the full story here?

Gnar Rock · Posts: 176

George wrote:

Maybe I'm too used to Cohen's style from the Ali G show, but I didn't find the Borat movie depressing at all. The movie has more ridiculous humor and less idiotic rednecks than the show, which was okay with me (you can only make fun of rednecks for so long).

Jesus Camp, on the other hand, was a movie that was hilarious and depressing at the same time.

I just saw Borat tonight...and dude there were way more rednecks than I wanted to see. Those frat guys in the RV and those dinner party fucks made me never want to step foot in the south, ever.

username · Posts: 186

You know, I feel bad for her, but if I was her boss I'd lose faith in her abilities as well.

George · Posts: 1656

Gnar Rock wrote:

George wrote:

Maybe I'm too used to Cohen's style from the Ali G show, but I didn't find the Borat movie depressing at all. The movie has more ridiculous humor and less idiotic rednecks than the show, which was okay with me (you can only make fun of rednecks for so long).

Jesus Camp, on the other hand, was a movie that was hilarious and depressing at the same time.

I just saw Borat tonight...and dude there were way more rednecks than I wanted to see. Those frat guys in the RV and those dinner party fucks made me never want to step foot in the south, ever.

USC frat boys are not rednecks. They're probably rich as fuck.

I loved the RV scene, since they hadn't already done it on the TV show.

Gnar Rock · Posts: 176

George wrote:

Gnar Rock wrote:

George wrote:

Maybe I'm too used to Cohen's style from the Ali G show, but I didn't find the Borat movie depressing at all. The movie has more ridiculous humor and less idiotic rednecks than the show, which was okay with me (you can only make fun of rednecks for so long).

Jesus Camp, on the other hand, was a movie that was hilarious and depressing at the same time.

I just saw Borat tonight...and dude there were way more rednecks than I wanted to see. Those frat guys in the RV and those dinner party fucks made me never want to step foot in the south, ever.

USC frat boys are not rednecks. They're probably rich as fuck.

I loved the RV scene, since they hadn't already done it on the TV show.

Just because they're rich doesn't mean their necks aren't red.

One thing I've been debating since I left the theatre is whither or not Pam Anderson knew about that stunt in advance.

She must have, right?

extralife · Posts: 3316

Rucio wrote:

extralife wrote:

Isfet wrote:

one thing that struck me, though, was that when i left the theater i was as depressed as i was entertained.

I think that's the idea.

It seems more of a damning commentary of American society than a funny movie. But as a funny movie, I was crying from laughing so hard.

It wasn't all damning, though. For every dude that wanted to hang gays or drunk frats boys that thought women should be slaves, there was a nice old Jewish couple that simple could not be made fun of, some gay pride guys that were happy enough to be happy, or the black guys that seemed to enjoy Borat's enthusiasm more than they felt like making fun of him. Or the prostitute!

Basicaly, the movie told us what we already know: it's the stuck up old white guys and their progeny that are miserable and evil; most of the rest of us are ok. (white guilt i t t)

extralife · Posts: 3316

Gnar Rock wrote:

One thing I've been debating since I left the theatre is whither or not Pam Anderson knew about that stunt in advance.

She must have, right?

I have heard that she did not, and in fact filed suit against those involved.

Psiga · Posts: 3990

extralife wrote:

Gnar Rock wrote:

One thing I've been debating since I left the theatre is whither or not Pam Anderson knew about that stunt in advance.

She must have, right?

I have heard that she did not, and in fact filed suit against those involved.

That reminds me of her interview in the wake of the death of her (deadbeat druggie shitfuck) son.

Q: What did you think when you heard that your son had died?
A: I thought I'd been Punk'd.

zebadayus · Posts: 672

Gnar Rock wrote:

I just saw Borat tonight...and dude there were way more rednecks than I wanted to see. Those frat guys in the RV and those dinner party fucks made me never want to step foot in the south, ever.

My friend, these people are all over the USA, nay, the world. Not just the south.

Also, defending my southern home right here.

James · Posts: 1735

Sasha Baron Cohen = all the nails in the universe, being dragged down one giant, monolithic chalkboard

Smug overgrown student bastard

James · Posts: 1735

ALT: Sasha Baron Cohen = Chris Morris for the cataclysmicly retarded

DeusJester · Posts: 1388

James wrote:

Smug overgrown student bastard

As much as I am probably going to find this movie hilarious (I see it in 50 minutes, yeehaw), I think I agree with you.

GcDiaz · Posts: 1057

James wrote:

Sasha Baron Cohen = all the nails in the universe, being dragged down one giant, monolithic chalkboard

Smug overgrown student bastard

OK, so you don't like the guy. Not really telling us why.

I wonder if anyone even remembers watching him on TV before he made his characters.

Mr. Business · Posts: 1530

I saw this on Friday afternoon. I had a few chuckles.

I feel like maybe I've seen those Alabamians that he bumped noses with before. I have a few guesses about where they live.

Lick Meth · Posts: 154

George wrote:

I saw a preview screening of the movie last week. It's hilarious - far, far better than the crappy Ali G HBO movie. It's actually directed by Larry Charles, the brilliant Seinfeld writer.

The Ali G movie is a real guilty pleasure - and I'm not afraid of admitting my enjoyment of it.

---

Onto the Borat project, then: I haven't seen the film yet, so I can't comment personally, but I was a little displeased after hearing about a few scenes being cut for their "extreme content" - not the 'uncut' rubbish that usually ends up on an assortment of comedy DVDs every year, but in the racial jokage of the scenes.

One of the scenes sees Borat explaining (to a doctor or someone) that, yes, he has had sex with his sister, but when asked whether he has had sex with his mother, he proclaims, in disgust, "no! That is sick." The other scene (I haven't seen these, I'm paraphrasing from an account of a former Fox UK employee) sees Borat staying with a Jewish family. The following scene has Borat, alone, in the bedroom, when he suddenly sees some cockroaches. He then professes to the camera that "the Jews are shape-shifters" and proceeds to throw money at them.

Also worth posting is the infamous "throw the Jew down the well" song, from the TV series, scary due to the fact that Cohen is, you guessed it, Jewish. I think the main strength of the Borat project over Ali G is that he can use the guise to get others to profess thoughts or opinions that they wouldn't normally say openly. It's a very obvious ploy, but it's still rather fascinating, if the humour isn't to your taste (translation: I like it/it's not bad really/Chris Morris is overrated).

extralife · Posts: 3316

How in the hell is Sasha Baron Cohen "smug"?

extralife · Posts: 3316

Lick Meth wrote:

The other scene (I haven't seen these, I'm paraphrasing from an account of a former Fox UK employee) sees Borat staying with a Jewish family. The following scene has Borat, alone, in the bedroom, when he suddenly sees some cockroaches. He then professes to the camera that "the Jews are shape-shifters" and proceeds to throw money at them.

That scene is still in the movie, and it's about as hilarious as you might think it would be.