Borat

[CathCentrist]

Yipppee! Its going wide release this weekend! Its only 84 minutes so I think with that short time frame, something that is basically a sketch can be elongated to 84 minutes and be pulled off. The reviews are just driving me crazy to see this!

 

[Lion_of_Narnia]

I am very upset that many theaters are practicing censorship on Borat. There arent any near me to see this. This will be a blind buy when it hits dvd. The reviews from people I generally agree with have all said its really funny.

A theater choosing not to show a film is NOT censorship

A review I read said it was quite funny–and gave enough details that I resolve NEVER to see it. It’s meanspirtited in the extreme.

 

[CathCentrist]

Yes, I realize only the GOVT “officially” can censor, but its a word still used because quite frankly its a form of personal censorship. Its their right, I respect it, but that doesnt mean I have to like it.

What read about it makes want to see it as I love satire and irony

 

[stellina]

I’ve watched Cohen on HBO and enjoyed his brutal satire…to a point. After fifteen minutes or so, you’ve pretty much heard and seen his whole act. A good bit of it is just plain dopey. I don’t think I could sit through a feature length “Borat”. The toilet humor and coarse sex wears thin, too, but that’s seemingly mandatory today.

I was wondering about this myself. I don’t have HBO & have never seen Cohen, but I was curious about the movie given all the publicity/controversy. While I think it’s rather hypocritical for certain film critics to go on about the bigotry (first of all, they’re missing the point of satire and second, they fawn over a lot of things that would strike Christians and others as bigoted), we really don’t need more crude sex & potty humor.

I had considered watching it when it comes to On Demand, but after reading more about it, I’m going to avoid it. Too much crudeness for me, and I also dislike the underlying premise of showing how stupid and prejudiced we Americans are.

 

[Jaypeeto3]

My (non-religious) co-workers in the office went to see BORAT and said it was a scream. They were laughing hysterically while they were describing it. I have to admit, it sounded uproarious to me. But I have a bad time with cursing and dirty jokes and the like, they are my weakness and I’ve been praying really hard about it, so I won’t go see Borat…

 

[Belcanto]

My (non-religious) co-workers in the office went to see BORAT and said it was a scream. They were laughing hysterically while they were describing it. I have to admit, it sounded uproarious to me. But I have a bad time with cursing and dirty jokes and the like, they are my weakness and I’ve been praying really hard about it, so I won’t go see Borat…

If those kinds of things bother you, then you’ve made the right decision, my friend. It’s a shame that Baron-Cohen couldn’t have had the social satire without the dirty stuff.

Pax Tecum,
Jay

 

[Belcanto]

Sacha Baron-Cohen is facing lawsuits from people who appeared in “Borat.”

First, the 3 frat boys that appear are suing; they didn’t come off too well. One of the guys said that “we should have slaves.” Another guy said he would “screw a girl all night and not call her.” “Because she has no telephone?” Asked Borat. “No, because she doesn’t have my respect!” Boasted the frat boy. The suit claims all three were told at the time that the film wouldn’t show in the U.S. and their identities would be kept secret. They’re seeking unspecified damages for “humiliation, mental anguish, and emotional and physical distress, loss of reputation, goodwill and standing in the community.”


The other group suing is the Romanians in the village portrayed as Borat’s home town in Kazhakstan. Disabled Nicu Tudorache said: This is disgusting. They conned us into doing all these things and never told us anything about what was going on. They made us look like primitives, like uncivilised savages. Now they,re making millions but have only paid us 15 lei [around £3].

Here’s an article explaining the incidents in Borat; what happened, and the reactions of the people involved once the movie was released. It’s interesting reading.

 

[jennyr]

I saw it… there are certainly some funny parts… but the religious parts are un-necessary and non-funny to say the least

 

[Dale_M]

Sacha Baron-Cohen is facing lawsuits from people who appeared in “Borat.”

I’ve been concerned about the exploitation issue since before the movie’s release. Sacha Baron-Cohen basically conned people - they had no idea that they would be in a movie with world-wide theatrical release. He got them to do things they wouldn’t have done otherwise, humiliating and angering his victims, now that the con is revealed.

I’m sorry to be down on a movie that so many people seem to enjoy, but I think there is a big moral problem with the film.

 

[Durendin]

I’ve been concerned about the exploitation issue since before the movie’s release. Sacha Baron-Cohen basically conned people - they had no idea that they would be in a movie with world-wide theatrical release. He got them to do things they wouldn’t have done otherwise, humiliating and angering his victims, now that the con is revealed.

A quick taster of the last Judgement. That these people were exposed for what they are like the frat boys? Too bad. I can only hope if it were to ever happen to me that I’d stick to my guns and beliefs. There should be more of this sort of film, especially of people who’s lifes work is ramming their beliefs down others throats and then doing the opposite. (Televangelists?)

I’m sorry to be down on a movie that so many people seem to enjoy, but I think there is a big moral problem with the film.

Socratic irony. Either you get it or you don’t.

Borat: “I fully support Americas war OF terror!” and the crowd at the baseball game cheers. priceless!

 

[Caesar]

I love this movie

 

[Belcanto]

A quick taster of the last Judgement. That these people were exposed for what they are like the frat boys? Too bad. I can only hope if it were to ever happen to me that I’d stick to my guns and beliefs. There should be more of this sort of film, especially of people who’s lifes work is ramming their beliefs down others throats and then doing the opposite. (Televangelists?)

Socratic irony. Either you get it or you don’t.

Borat: “I fully support Americas war OF terror!” and the crowd at the baseball game cheers. priceless!

Of course some of the people deserve the bad publicity they got; the rodeo crowd and the owner, and of course, the frat boys. But some of the people appearing in the film, I think were victims. For instance, the woman who was responsible for booking Borat on a local affiliate of ABC News claims she lost her job over the incident. If this is true, then Cohen at least owes her an apology, if not monetary compensation.

As for the villagers, I think that they’re right to be indignant over the fact that they were paid the equivelant of $6 for their appearence in the film. A word about Cohen’s professional ethics: When they were filming in the Romanian village, Cohen refused to stay in the “run-down motel” in which his crew stayed, and instead rented a room at a nearby ski resort.

Pax Tecum,
Jay

 

[maryalene]

I thought I would ressurect this thread since we rented Borat over the weekend. It looks like I am one of the few people who hated it. I had such high hopes for it, given all the reviews, but I found it to be just crude beyond belief. I couldn’t get past all the sexual jokes, and my husband thought it was boring. We turned it off after about 30 minutes. I think that’s only the second time, we haven’t sat through an entire movie we rented. Maybe it gets better during the second half, but I was really disappointed.

 

[rlg94086]

I thought I would ressurect this thread since we rented Borat over the weekend. It looks like I am one of the few people who hated it. I had such high hopes for it, given all the reviews, but I found it to be just crude beyond belief. I couldn’t get past all the sexual jokes, and my husband thought it was boring. We turned it off after about 30 minutes. I think that’s only the second time, we haven’t sat through an entire movie we rented. Maybe it gets better during the second half, but I was really disappointed.

Nope, you aren’t the only one. My son had seen it and insisted we buy it. I don’t normally do that, but it looked funny from the commercials, and I like Sasha Baron Cohen. I did watch the whole thing hoping it would get better, but it didn’t. There were a few funny parts, but the other parts were so crude, that I told my son we are tossing it.

 

[CathCentrist]

I love Borat. Even Crude humor is subjective. SPOILERS -

Borat I found funny, because even in his crude humor I was educated - The rodeo scene truly enlightening me in regards to those parts of the states and the people and their backward views on gays, etc, “We support Bushs war OF terror” and they APPLAUDED!

Borat coming downstairs after he “Made toilet” LOL!

Thinking the jewish family turned into cockroaches and threw money at them! LOL!!! I fell on the floor!

The annual “running of the jew”…gosh it goes on and on!

Making out with his cousin

The frat boys, the Pamela Anderson, the naked fight! OMG!

I can clearly see why someone wouldnt like it and I wouldnt even fault or debate them about it - unless they tried telling me (I) shouldnt see it cuz as a catholic, blah, blah, blah… then all best are off.

On the other hand, I cannot stomach stuff like JACKASS. Theres no point to none of it imo, nothing revealing about people, ourselves, society, etc…guess thats why its called JACKASS - but thats humor I dont like.

 

[Kitty_Chan]

When we saw the movie we agreed it was quite funny, and the scene you speak of, if it had been shorter, the discovery - then a shorter scene before they left the room it would have been perfect.

not trying to give away the movie no spoilers.