Borat - Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)

One of funniest films ever made!

I've seen this twice on DVD already, and had to buy it. The film is up there as a comedy classic. I laughed harder I think than when I first saw "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," or "Life of Brian." Borat is a genius. Don't miss watching all the hilarious additional material on the DVD that wasn't included in the movie theater version--I don't know why, because it's all wonderful. What's even funnier, is that these are real people with whom Borat is interacting... real people, which makes it all funnier and poignant and continuing in the comic tradition of Chaplin, and the Marx Brothers, and the Three Stooges. Only uniquely and hysterically and at the same time biting and gentle satirical Borat! August 31, 2008

How to be a comedic genius

Judging by the reactions to Borat, I would have to say that you too can be a comedic genius just by following these three simple steps:

1. Fraudulently misrepresent yourself. Claim to be making a video for the Dutch Antilles, Tannu Tuva or some obscure country no one is likely to know.
2. Insult/offend the person you're talking to. Talk at length about your wife's sex organs, break valuable objects in their store, say something contrary to their political position, like telling feminists that women are inherently stupid, and so on.
3. Videotape their reaction.

There. You are now a comedic genius.
August 25, 2008

Disgustingly hilarious

I'm deeply ashamed to say that I loved this thing. I was one of only a dozen people in the theater on a Thursday afternoon and I'm the only one that laughed. As a matter of fact, I fell on the floor.

The film is simultaneously disgusting, racist, vulgar and idiotic. Cohen makes fun of society [which is OK] and of people who befriended him [which isn't]. His character--although impossibly naive--is a one hundred percent revolving jerk capable of the lowest stunt. It's difficult to not arrive at the conclusion that Cohen is a self-made man, capable of incredible self-promotion.

So why did I love it? I'm not sure I really want to know. By the way, I've been to Kazahkstan and, as far as I know, there is nothing like the 'running of the Jew.'

Ron Braithwaite author of novels--"Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God"--on the Spanish Conquest of Mexico August 16, 2008

A pale copy of the TV Show

I am a huge Ali G fan...and I loved the HBO show (5 stars out of 5). So I went to the movie expecting more of the same, and boy was I ever disappointed. The real problem to me is that too much of the movie (all of it?) was scripted. The genius of the TV show was that it was improv depending on what happened with the guests, usually with hilarious results. This movie on the other hand relies too much on scripted situations and you just get the feeling that they are trying too hard, whereas with the TV show things just flowed.

Interestingly enough I found that people who loved the film had never seen the Ali G show, and that most of the people who had seen the show were disappointed with the film...count me among them.

If you saw the film and have never seen the Ali G show, take my advice and check out both seasons and see if you don't agree with me.

H777 August 7, 2008

Not the best movie to watch on your first date

The movie is a mix of the clever and the obscene, which might get you engaged, disgusted, or most likely both.

The bottom line is that it is a great satirical depiction of America, and some scenes of the movie, such as the scene of conversion in the church or the one with fraternity boys on a bus, are powerful enough to deserve the status of a classic (still not sure about the one with the anthem, though). Many other scenes do not carry a particular message apart from being downright bizarre, but - what the heck - just deal with them: the movie as a whole is worth it. That is, as long as you do not dare watch it on your first date. July 31, 2008

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