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Topic: Borat

Author: Paula Smith Posted: 11/03/06 02:24 PM

I saw this today. This is the most offensive, politically incorrect, crude movie I've seen in a long time. It is also the funniest movie I've seen in a long time.

If you are not easily offended, and are intelligent and educated enough to understand satire, you will laugh. If you aren't, and just like physical, dumb humor, you will laugh.

I was really surprised that about 75% of the audience appeared to be over 60 years of age. I'm usually surrounded by moviegoers who had to show ID to get in. The audience laughed out loud and no one walked out (which amazed me).

Author: Randy Roberts Posted: 11/03/06 02:29 PM

Pass.

I won't have to walk out oft this movie becasue I won't go in the first place.

Author: Richard Franklin Posted: 11/03/06 04:06 PM

Borat is an extemely funny character. I'll go see it. He is a bit offensive, but what comic isn't is his own way? (Carlos Mencia, Chris Rock) just to name a couple. Face it, this style is here to stay.

Author: Terri Dickey Posted: 11/04/06 02:40 PM

I've heard his HBO show was awful (never saw it).

But the news from people who have seen BORAT--THIS MOVIE is the funniest film of all time. It even got a 90 rating--which is almost the highest you can get.

The firm I'm at used to rep him, but they don't any longer. Don't know why--never asked. But the movie looks DAMN FUNNY!

Author: Peter Fraser Posted: 11/04/06 03:56 PM

Borat! Borat! Borat!

Haven't seen it but have seen the ads - FUNNY - just what we need.

Nothing like something irreverent to put things in perspective.

Prediction: Borat will do 10-12 mill BO on 800 screens. Screens will be increased to handle the demand. In a couple of weeks Borat will be as strong as on opening weekend.

Author: Randy Roberts Posted: 11/04/06 05:36 PM

Catering to the lowest denominator.

Now take it down five more notches. Now I see where it belongs.

Between this crap and the SAW series why does anyone here care about this crap?

Author: Richard Franklin Posted: 11/04/06 06:37 PM

I'd say people care, Randy. They care about differences, not just the same ol crap. I remember seeing, Ali G (who is the alter ego of Borat) when his show was in London. He would invite high-level individuals to a show and ask silly questions. Lol, you gotta see it.

Author: Greg Sandquist Posted: 11/05/06 01:16 AM

At the risk of straying off point a bit, I think there is merit to Randy's comments particularly in the comedy genre (although I would nominate Jackass as THE lowest common denominator).

The major studios are really fixated on the "broad comedy" which in Greg's world means, dumbed down.

Look at some of the compost parade of recent vintage. RV, The Benchwarmers, Click, School for Scoundrels which rely more on over used sight gags and slapstick (there were not one but two shots to the crotch and a tennis ball to the head in the previews for School for Scoundrels alone) than trying to deliver something clever and/or come up with humerous dialog.

Then there's the unimaginative but much coveted hooks, like the "universal remote" or NASCAR to beguile the undiscerning. Once you're in the theatre they've already got your money. Perhaps that's why the opening weekend box office is so important.

Add in lame remakes and sequels seemingly banking entirely on name recognition and, by my yardstick, comedy is in a sad state.

But then, they seem to make money and that's what counts. Maybe I'm overestimating the movie going public although I hope not.

I have not seen Borat and probably won't until well into its DVD release. I have however heard some of the Borat character used as drop-ins on the radio and must admit, some of it make me laugh so I might like it.

I think the biggest danger of a successful Borat is the stampede of the other studios looking to copy its formula. Then we'll be overrun by a swarm of lousy knock-offs and I'll have to wait that much longer for Bewitched 2.

Author: Paula Smith Posted: 11/05/06 09:59 AM

I've actually seen Borat unlike several naysayers in this post.

I don't think the ball-to-the-crotch jokes are funny. I'm not a big Adam Sandler fan. I didn't see Jackass. I cringe at the Three Stooges.

So, I wasn't sure that I would like Borat but the commercials looked funny. I think Borat was a well-written and well-acted comedy. I don't know if the characters were duped, or not. Their expressions and comments were priceless. If they're acting, they're really good and if they aren't, he must have really good releases. If they weren't acting he had to make the comments/ask the questions to bring out those reactions.

There are very clever lines in this movie. There are very well done routines. There are lines that are going to be above the head of the average person but, there are also moments of very crude humor. I will put this DVD on my shelf when it comes out.

It received a 96% approval rating on the rottentomatoes.com website for a reason (this is the forum where the reviews from the critics are posted). It will do well at the box office. If you have a sense of humor you will enjoy it. If you don't, well there are plenty of dramas to choose from.

Author: Randy Roberts Posted: 11/05/06 10:22 AM

Paula,

Do I have to go see crap like this just because you think I should? "Unlike some naysayers who have not seen it...? That's crap Paula. I do NOT have to go see crap that does NOT interest me and I do get to form an opinion from watching Sasha Cohen on a TV news program where he continues to make an ass of himself and the unsuspecting, and sometimes knowing, people he interviews with. The S.O.B. doesn't get to make any money off me. Neither did Michael Moore. I did not judge your decision to go see the movie. Don't judge me for making a decision NOT to!

Author: Paula Smith Posted: 11/05/06 10:31 AM

I have no problem with you not wanting to see it nor anyone else who doesn't want to see it. I have no problem with you calling the commercial crap or anyone else saying they have seen him on television and don't like him.

I do have a problem with people saying a movie (not the commercial or the commedian) is crap when they haven't seen it. People post about how bad a movie is, and people think "oh, so and so said it wasn't good so I won't go see it" when so and so didn't even see the movie.

Author: Randy Roberts Posted: 11/05/06 10:48 AM

Live with it, Paula. Again, you don't have to waste $9 to form an opinion that Saw I-III is crap. Same for Sasha Cohen's stuff. Same for any of the "Splat Pack"'s stuff.

It's the same old Hollywood crap that they know best what to provide for the moviegoing audience. Bullshit. You want to buy into that, that's your choice. Don't criticize me for rejecting it and calling it crap. Doesn't make any difference if Hollywood puts it out or if it's an indie flick; if it caters to a lower denominator like Shasha Cohen's "stuff", it isn't hard to make a judgement based on the trailers or his impromtu appearances on TV talk shows where I have seen him. If he digusts me there, why the hell would I spoend money on his film to see if he sucks as bad for $9? That's stupid! No way you are going to berate me into paying cash to support this CRAP.

If you have a problem with it, live with it. I will Not make an exception for you just because it is a problem for you.

Just because I am a writer I do not have to go the movies and watch everything in order to determine what is good or bad. The trailers pretty well do that for me, like they are supposed to do.

I'm done. Think I have said all I care to. The floor, and all four walls are yours. I'm going to try and find a better thread to participate in. This one is only pissing me off.

Author: Larry Postel Posted: 11/05/06 10:48 AM

I echo what Paula said. I saw it opening day (actually morning)and the house was near-packed -- which was incredible for a 10:40am showing. And lots of senior citizens, like Paula mentioned. No one walked out. I haven't heard laughter like that in a long, long time at a movie.

Randy obviously doesn't get it. In addition to "Sasha Cohen" (it's Sacha Cohen, Randy), he dissed Michael Moore. Which makes me think that he's probably the type that Borat was goofing on. Borat targets Jesus freaks, rednecks, college drunks, etc. Jews, blacks and gays aren't really the target of his humor. This is satire and the Borat character exposes how ridiculous his targets are in their thinking by going along with them and egging them on, just like Jon Stewart's reporters do in many of their segments.

Cohen is a comic genius. And I'm glad that so many get his humor. Randy, I'll bet that you lean right wing politically with conservative values. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Author: Randy Roberts Posted: 11/05/06 11:06 AM

For someone who is new to the boards, looks like your judgements are showing even more. When did this sink into liberal vs. conservative polititcs? Should I judge you from your biased comments, Larry? Just because I do not like Mr. Cohen's (thanks for the spelling lesson, school marm) crap or Mr. Moore's either, you need to brand me. I should not be surprised at comments like yours, and I'm not. Guess I can't have a different opinion than yours without your personal attack. I never personally attacked Paula or her right to choose to see something I do not care for. It appears that it is only your second post here and you have decided to make a personal attack. If so, guess I missed welcoming you to the message board.

I only came back to see if I needed to edit my last post. Nope, other than some spelling typos, which all us have upon occasion since we don't have a spell check. I remember the last guy who used incorrect spelling to berate others. He was a jerk.

What I did find instead were Mr. Postel's comments and found them to be offensive in that he found it necessary to snipe at anyone who disagrees with him. There have been a LOT of writers on this board in the past for you to agree with. I'm sure you will have a lot of company. Maybe you are just out to make a few enemies and provoke trash.

Now I really am gone.

Author: Larry Postel Posted: 11/05/06 01:02 PM

I guess it doesn't matter if I reply to Randy, because he's gone now anyway. But for what it's worth, I assumed he was politically right leaning because he brought up Michael Moore out of the blue. Michael Moore's movies, of course, having nothing to do with Cohen's. Moore does documentaries and Borat is a mockumentary with no political agenda. So the only reason why I assumed Randy was right leaning was because he dissed Michael Moore, which was completely off topic in this thread. Carry, on Borat discussion.

Author: Paula Smith Posted: 11/05/06 06:34 PM

This weekend's box office take for Borat (837 screens) was $26.4M. They were initially going to release it on 2500 screens but didn't think it would have appeal and lowered the screens to 837. Expect a wider release next weekend.

Author: Eric Sentell Posted: 11/05/06 08:24 PM

Never underestimate the bad taste of the American people, especially in film, politicians and plastic surgery.

Author: Peter Fraser Posted: 11/06/06 01:49 PM

BOX Office:

Astonishing (or appalling depending on one's point of view).

Do the math folks. 837 screens!!!!! 26+ million!!!! There must have lines as long as for a Stones concert. Or... Star Wars.

Ole Clint must me scrathin' his noggin over this one. Korean War? Bravery? That is so, yesterday. Very Sad, but true. Unfortunately.

If this is any barometer of what tomorrow's election outcome will be - tsunami, baby. Yeah, well hell, might as well bring politics into the discussion. I just suited up with body armor. So let it fly.

Author: Paula Smith Posted: 11/06/06 02:26 PM

Peter - theatres will often interlock a print if it is selling out. You loop it onto one projector and then another. They will cancel a show that isn't doing any business and use that space for the one that's doing well. Depending on the design of the theatre and locations of the projectors you could show one print in 20 auditoriums. I'm sure that's what some locations did when their only print was selling out. They aren't really encouraged by the studios to do that, but it is better than losing money.

Author: John Pusztay Posted: 11/06/06 05:18 PM

Well, I did the math. And you get 4,000,000 people willing to pay an average of $6.50 to see it in 837 theaters. And that's only if they all saw it during a matinee.

So, we're probably looking at under 4 million people who saw it. If this is so, then that means hardly anyone in the country goes to the movies anymore. Since 4 million is basically 1.3% of the American population alone.

Author: Joemama Brown Posted: 11/08/06 05:11 PM

To those who saw the film, what was the most offensive scene to you and what was the funniest part?

I have not seen it and don't plan to until it comes out on DVD, but I don't mind some spoilers, Just curious as to what the hype is all about. JB

Author: Terri Dickey Posted: 11/11/06 04:38 PM

Well, it was because of this film that I learned from a doctor WHY we don't see the testicles of a very fat man.

Now my years of fantasizing about fat men--have seriously diminished.

Author: Randy Roberts Posted: 11/13/06 09:01 AM

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006520669,00.html

but I can prove that I was not in N.Y. at the time.

(snicker)

Author: Paula Smith Posted: 11/13/06 08:49 PM

Yeah, Sacha is from England and is accustomed to the civil Brits.

I grew up on the east coast and learned you need to walk around the drunks sleeping on the sidewalk.