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Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit...

Five stars

3 votes

Four stars

3 votes

Three stars

4 votes

Two stars

0 votes

One star

0 votes

Zero stars

2 votes

Benjamin Grimm Nov 13 2006 08:40 AM

This weekend I went to see Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. I've previously enjoyed the character on HBO's Da Ali G Show and I knew going in that I would like the movie. I wasn't disappointed. The movie was a little uneven, but it had some very funny moments. The naked wrestling scene was pretty disgusting, though. Sacha Baron Cohen will go to great extremes to pull off a joke.

ScarletKnight41 Nov 13 2006 08:44 AM

I haven't seen this (I may wait for it to come to On Demand or Cable), but my daughter went last week (yes, she's 17 now - she can go to these things without a parent). Her impression was that it was very funny, but that parts of the film were, and I quote, "needlessly tasteless." Still, she was glad to have seen it.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 13 2006 08:51 AM

She's right! Sometimes I did feel bad for the real people who were made to look foolish in the film. But there were others who were their own worst enemies, and I have no sympathy for them. Cohen pulls off his comedy without regard for the feelings of others. He has a much crueler streak than Alan Funt did. Even though it's funny, the laughs come with a little guilt.

Vic Sage Nov 13 2006 02:31 PM

i really hate this kind of stuff. It doesn't make me laugh, it makes me cringe... and a little nauseous.

Frayed Knot Nov 13 2006 02:41 PM

That's kinda where I'm at too. I've never seen 'Ali G' so I really have no pre-conceived attitude towards this character, but the whole idea of a fish out of water type creating these embarrassing situations that are funny because he/they are so clueless just doesn't appeal to me.

metirish Nov 13 2006 05:51 PM

Cohen took a thumping in NYC the other night,going to the pub with Hugh Laurie apparently he thoguht it would be cool to go Borat on some guy for a laugh....the guy punched the crap outta him...The Sun reported this...so no idea if it's true.

Nymr83 Nov 13 2006 10:12 PM

is this essentially the idiot's version of The Frisco Kid?

Edgy MD Nov 14 2006 05:19 AM

This is allegedly non-scripted, in order to make real Americans look real stupid. Forget about real Kazahkstanis. I think I had my fill of Sasha Baron Cohen in Talladega Nights.

ScarletKnight41 Nov 16 2006 05:59 PM

I saw Borat this evening. It was an interesting piece of performance art. I think that after the hype I didn't find it as funny nor as offensive as I had been led to expect, but it was an amazing piece of social commentary. Parts of it are much better than the whole (the television station and the rodeo come to mind). Not great in the traditional sense, but truly unique.

Willets Point Nov 16 2006 10:43 PM

The movie theater nearest where I live managed to fit the entire title of this movie on the marquee which cracks me up.

ScarletKnight41 Nov 17 2006 05:16 AM

My best laugh of the night was at the very, very end of the credits. SPOILER ALERT The Censors have determined that this film is inappropriate for children under the age of 3 That just sent me out of the theater giggling.

martin Nov 20 2006 03:35 AM

it is hard for me to accept the criticism and mockery of americans for their ignorance and silly beliefs from a jew who thinks god cares that he keeps kosher and doesnt use certain machines on the sabbath. is that any less irrational than the silly traditions of the dummies in the movie? irrationality and ignorance is either ok or it isnt. the fundamentalist nutcases in the movie are not that crazy compared to a practicing jew who cares that the cereal he eats was approved by a rabbi. i dont disagree with the mockery of americans. i disagree with the idea that cohen is anything other than exactly as bad as those americans he is taunting. once again i am not too psyched about a movie trying to teach me a little lesson. still, there were some pretty funny lines and i laughed pretty hard at them, so overall i liked the movie. but i am sure the tenacious d movie will be better.

Edgy MD Nov 20 2006 09:16 PM

Forum killer.

Nymr83 Nov 20 2006 09:38 PM

yeah, seriously.

martin Nov 21 2006 01:40 AM

forums arent gonna kill themselves, yall.

Nymr83 Nov 23 2006 06:01 PM

finally saw it, it was funny but not THAT funny. it was full of good jokes but failed to remain good throughout

DocTee Nov 23 2006 09:24 PM

I see that a former NYC transit worker is suing "Borat" for unlicensed use of his likeness and ruining his potential for future employment. I viewed Da Ali G show this summer--there was a Borat skit where he sang the Kazakh anthem at a minor league baseball game-- humorous but it, like hte anthem, went on too long...he then roughhouses with some good ol' boys in the clubhouse. I found the show a mindless diversion and I suppose this film will be also.

Nymr83 Nov 23 2006 11:31 PM

yeah, its mindless, but its funny, and the bear is cute. i'll warn anyone who wants to take children that this movie is NOT appropriate for them, alot of the jokes are racist and/or sexist and there is nudity. i'm actually a bit suprised that they managed to get only an "R" rating.

sharpie Dec 04 2006 08:14 AM

Much of the unscripted stuff (the rodeo, the dinner, the subway) was very funny but the scripted stuff was mostly godawful. Three stars.

Elster88 Dec 04 2006 06:27 PM

I would've gone 3 and a half if it was an option. Closer to 3 than 4 so that's what I picked.

A Boy Named Seo Jan 21 2007 10:52 AM

I finally saw it and thought it was as funny as it was disturbing, the disturbing parts being 1) seeing his giant, naked co-stars cash and prizes and 2) hearing the disgusting shit people say when they think no one is listening. (Vic): i really hate this kind of stuff. It doesn't make me laugh, it makes me cringe... and a little nauseous. I agree some, but it was those moments that made me cringe a little that were the most important and insightful ones in the film to me. (martin:) it is hard for me to accept the criticism and mockery of americans for their ignorance and silly beliefs from a jew who thinks god cares that he keeps kosher and doesnt use certain machines on the sabbath. is that any less irrational than the silly traditions of the dummies in the movie? irrationality and ignorance is either ok or it isnt. the fundamentalist nutcases in the movie are not that crazy compared to a practicing jew who cares that the cereal he eats was approved by a rabbi. That wasn't the point, man. There are religious fanatics with "irrational and silly traditions" all over the world. But they're not just in the middle east. We've got some here, too. i dont disagree with the mockery of americans. i disagree with the idea that cohen is anything other than exactly as bad as those americans he is taunting. Who's presenting that idea? You? Because it wasn't Cohen in the movie. once again i am not too psyched about a movie trying to teach me a little lesson. Yeah, fuck learning. Good film. Two enthusiastic thumbs up.

Johnny Dickshot Mar 08 2007 02:20 PM

"Salt of the Earth American Rednecks are Stupid" (and/or Actually Funny) is a theme pretty well beaten to death by now, isn't it? And nobody's done it as skillfully as 'King oif the Hill' I thought having watched Talladega Nights and this in consecutive weeks. That said, I kinda enjoyed the swashbuckling, ruthlessness with which Cohen goes after laughs and I laughed hard several times during this movie but you know, so what.

Nymr83 Mar 24 2007 01:46 PM

thats part of what made 300 a good movie, it seems that hollywood only wants to make fun of redneck christian americans these days, as if their political correctness prevents them from casting the non-christians, or the foreigners as the bad guys anymore... 300 departs from that and its a welcome departure.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 24 2007 02:01 PM

I think there are still plenty of Muslim bad guys in Hollywood productions.

Nymr83 Mar 25 2007 10:49 AM

generic terrorists maybe, but even those movies are pretty far between and alot of them seem to cast said terrorists in a not very negative light

sharpie Mar 26 2007 07:32 AM

I'm trying to think of a movie where middle eastern terrorists are shown in anything other than a bad light and I'm not coming up with any.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 26 2007 07:35 AM

If you were to go to a movie theater in Teheran you'd probably be able to see a few.

martin Apr 07 2007 01:22 AM

A Boy Named Seo wrote: That wasn't the point, man. There are religious fanatics with "irrational and silly traditions" all over the world. But they're not just in the middle east. We've got some here, too. right, they are not only in the middle east, but they are here, and they are starring in the movie. Yeah, fuck learning. i mean in a preachy sense. it depends on the lesson. i don't need a movie like crash to teach me how bad racism can be, or a movie like borat to remind me that religious fundamentalists are crazy. i laugh harder when religious fundamentalism is taunted by someone who isnt themself buying into the lunacy. i am all for taunting of lunatics, but it seems hypocritical coming from cohen. like jerry falwell calling out jimmy swaggart. still a funny movie though.

Nymr83 Apr 07 2007 01:27 AM

Cohen is neither "a fundamentalist" nor a hypocrit. But thanks for playing.

martin Apr 07 2007 02:48 PM

Nymr83 wrote: Cohen is neither "a fundamentalist" nor a hypocrit. But thanks for playing. if you dont think refusing to use modern devices on certain days and not eating meat with cheese because you figure that is what god likes is crazy, then i guess we are not going to agree. i dont really see the difference between one brand of magic and another. maybe cohens is the "real" magic and deserves respect. plus converting your fiancee to your religion, that seems insane to me, because i don't see how it matters. but i am not religious nutcase.

Edgy MD Apr 07 2007 03:01 PM

Philip Bondy thinks martin should be fired.

martin Apr 07 2007 03:42 PM

i dunno who that is and i had to look him up. it is filip with an f. i am not spewing hate for the jews or anyone. i am saying we need to be totally past any sort of tribalism or mysticism. the chistian and the jew are both just as silly. when person a taunts person b for being ignorant and racist, i think it should be noted if person b happens to be part of a silly primitive mystic tribe as well. i agree with cohen, i just take it one step further.

seawolf17 Apr 10 2007 07:46 PM

Finally saw this the other night; laughed my ass off. Two big thumbs up from me also.

Elster88 Jul 20 2007 05:45 AM

martin wrote: Yeah, fuck learning. i mean in a preachy sense. So a movie where two dudes wrestle and run through a hotel naked and where someone attempts to stuff Pamela Anderson in a sack and carry her away is preachy?

martin Jul 22 2007 09:15 PM

Elster88 wrote: martin wrote: Yeah, fuck learning. i mean in a preachy sense. So a movie where two dudes wrestle and run through a hotel naked and where someone attempts to stuff Pamela Anderson in a sack and carry her away is preachy? not exactly. again, what i am pointing out is that i prefer when faithless people make fun of the faithful. if you come to america and taunt fundamentalist christians, it works better when you are not yourself a practicing jew. faith is good or it isnt. plus, middle-american christians are too easy a target. cohen, by practicing jewish rituals himself, is basically saying he knows what god wants, while these christians do not. that is absurd. like if pat robertson taunts the taliban. i am aware that i am reading way too much into it. also i know it is poosible cohen is not really a practicing jew, but i have read that he is in a couple different sources. when bill maher taunts george bush and calls him a lunatic bible-thumper, thats cool. it is less effective if tom cruise does it.