Borat: Cultural Learnings of America (Larry Charles, 2006)

Discussions of specific films and franchises.
Post Reply
Message
Author
User avatar
tavernier
Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2005 7:18 pm

#151 Post by tavernier » Wed Nov 29, 2006 7:30 pm

`Borat' long on laughs, short on cultural lessons

Jonah Goldberg is an editor at National Review Online: Tribune Media Services
Barmy reads Jonah on NRO? I'm shocked, I tell you, shocked!

User avatar
John Cope
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2005 5:40 pm
Location: where the simulacrum is true

#152 Post by John Cope » Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:58 am

David Walsh weighs in and it ain't pretty.

This must be one of the only times the World Socialist Web Site agrees (at least in principle) with the National Review.

User avatar
Barmy
Joined: Mon May 16, 2005 3:59 pm

#153 Post by Barmy » Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:32 pm

That may be the first time a socialist has been right about anything.

scalesojustice
Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2006 11:25 am
Contact:

#154 Post by scalesojustice » Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:28 pm

Well, i waited until DVD to check this one out and i must have seen a different movie. i'm a fan of Ali G's show, but it seemed that the Borat movie was more sad than funny.

i wonder if there is a difference in a packed-house theatrical viewing and a solitary home viewing. i could see how the communal laughter of ignorance could play out in a dark, anonymous theater. but at home, i just felt ill, mostly. it's like watching "The King of Queens" without the laugh track.

does it really play different at home than it did upon it's release?

User avatar
Barmy
Joined: Mon May 16, 2005 3:59 pm

#155 Post by Barmy » Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:36 pm

I'm sure it makes a huge difference. I made sure to see it on opening night and had a lot of fun. But I have zero desire to ever see it again.

User avatar
indiannamednobody
Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2006 12:47 pm
Location: Dub I

#156 Post by indiannamednobody » Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:02 pm

I enjoyed myself most on opening night. Saw it again a week later with maybe four other people in the theater and it seamed half as funny. I might rent the DVD to show it to my family, but its not a film that will withstand time.

unclehulot
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 3:09 pm
Location: here and there

#157 Post by unclehulot » Wed Mar 07, 2007 5:09 pm

Maybe the funniest thing this time around is the appearance of the disc... it's a fake DVDR!

Can't take credit for the link, it was over at HTF.

User avatar
Barmy
Joined: Mon May 16, 2005 3:59 pm

#158 Post by Barmy » Wed Mar 07, 2007 5:14 pm

No, that's not funny either.

scalesojustice
Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2006 11:25 am
Contact:

#159 Post by scalesojustice » Wed Mar 07, 2007 5:23 pm

although, i will admit that i did a double take when i pulled the dvd out of the netflix sleeve. for a moment, i though i'd been had.

User avatar
Barmy
Joined: Mon May 16, 2005 3:59 pm

#160 Post by Barmy » Wed Mar 07, 2007 5:30 pm

umm, you have been had--you paid to see Borat

scalesojustice
Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2006 11:25 am
Contact:

#161 Post by scalesojustice » Wed Mar 07, 2007 5:32 pm

but i didn't have to leave my house or go out of my way to do it.

i agree with that statement though. i think what the movie tried to do conceptually was interesting, but it failed in it's execution.

User avatar
The Fanciful Norwegian
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 2:24 pm
Location: Teegeeack

#162 Post by The Fanciful Norwegian » Wed Mar 07, 2007 6:15 pm

The deleted scene in the grocery store is a thing of wonder.

User avatar
Antoine Doinel
Joined: Sat Mar 04, 2006 1:22 pm
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Contact:

#163 Post by Antoine Doinel » Wed Mar 07, 2007 6:30 pm

The studio has pretty much confirmed a 2-disc edition is in the pipe with a plethora of deleted material (including Borat in a civil war re-enactment that there is brief clip of in the trailer). I'll be waiting for that.

User avatar
exte
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 4:27 pm
Location: NJ

#164 Post by exte » Wed Mar 07, 2007 6:45 pm

Barmy wrote:No, that's not funny either.
Barmy wrote:umm, you have been had--you paid to see Borat
Isn't this trolling?

User avatar
Barmy
Joined: Mon May 16, 2005 3:59 pm

#165 Post by Barmy » Wed Mar 07, 2007 6:46 pm

Yes.

User avatar
Antoine Doinel
Joined: Sat Mar 04, 2006 1:22 pm
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Contact:

#166 Post by Antoine Doinel » Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:05 am

Apparently, Kazakhs love Borat or at least are buying the DVD to see what all the fuss is about. From The Hollywood Reporter:
Kazakhs high-five 'Borat' DVD

By Sam Andrews

LONDON -- Kazakhs are rushing to order Sacha Baron-Cohen's "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" on DVD from Amazon.co.uk, the online giant said Friday.

"Borat" topped the order list from consumers in the former Soviet republic this week, according to Amazon head of media Rakhi Parekh.

"With the controversy the film caused around the world, it seems residents of Kazakhstan are now desperate to see what all the fuss is about -- so much so that they are willing to pay the 505 Kazakhstani Tenge ($4) charge to have the DVD delivered from the U.K.," Parekh said.

Kazakhs also appear to have developed a healthy interest in capitalism and the U.S., according to the Top 10 product orders from Amazon.co.uk. The top-selling book is "Leading at a Higher Level: Blanchard on How to Be a High Performing Leader." Other titles on investment strategies and offshore tax planning suggest that locals are looking to add to the country's current list of six registered millionaires.

The U.S. influence on life in Kazakhstan also can be seen with "Celebrating the American Home: 50 Great Houses from 50 American Architects" in the chart, while the U.S. cult of the body beautiful is filtering through to Kazakh men, who are snapping up "Men's Health" fitness titles.

Musically, Kazakhstan seems firmly embedded in the 1980s, with "The Very Best of Sting and the Police" the top-selling album being shipped to Kazakhstan.

The Top 10 selling products on Amazon.co.uk currently being ordered from Kazakhstan are:

1. "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" (2006) ~ DVD

2. "Stargate Alantis" -- Series 2 -- Complete ~ DVD

3. "Leading at a Higher Level: Blanchard on How to Be a High Performing Leader" ~ Books

4. "The Ultimate Pool Maintenance Manual: Spas, Pools, Hot Tubs, Rockscapes and Other Water Features" ~ Books

5. "Celebrating the American Home: 50 Great Houses from 50 American Architects" ~ Books

6. "Essential ABS" ("Men's Heath" Peak Conditioning Guides) ~ Books

7. "Men's Health: The Body You Want in the Time you Have" (Men's Health) ~ Books

8. "The Very Best of Sting and the Police" ~ Music

9. "Non-Resident and Offshore Tax Planning" ~ Books

10. "Taming the Lion: 100 Secret Strategies for Investing" ~ Books.

User avatar
tryavna
Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2005 4:38 pm
Location: North Carolina

#167 Post by tryavna » Mon Mar 12, 2007 4:20 pm

Antoine Doinel wrote:
6. "Essential ABS" ("Men's Heath" Peak Conditioning Guides) ~ Books
For a split second, I thought the title of that book was "Essential IBS" and wondered if the whole nation of Kazakhstan was suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.

User avatar
Antoine Doinel
Joined: Sat Mar 04, 2006 1:22 pm
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Contact:

#168 Post by Antoine Doinel » Wed Apr 18, 2007 11:16 pm

Here are five deleted scenes that aren't on the current DVD. Presumably, they will be on a later special edition disc.

J
Criterion Casanova
Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 8:50 pm
Location: Here

#169 Post by J » Thu Apr 19, 2007 1:15 am

Actually, all deleted scenes, except for the border police/penitentiary clip, are on the current dvd and in longer version.

User avatar
BenCheshire
Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 9:19 am
Contact:

#170 Post by BenCheshire » Sat Jul 21, 2007 8:53 am

Should I still wait for the special edition?


Post Reply