8mm Forum: Borat

This is topic Borat in forum General Yak at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on November 27, 2006, 08:29 AM:

Am I the only person in the world who thinks 'Borat' is not the least bit funny? The critics are raving over the movie, but having seen the guy on TV I think he is crude and vulgar and I did'nt laugh once, so I have no intention of paying good money to see more of him. Is this the best we can do for comedy films these days?

Posted by Jean-Marc Toussaint (Member # 270) on November 27, 2006, 09:26 AM:

Paul, you're not alone...

Posted by Mike Peckham (Member # 16) on November 27, 2006, 10:10 AM:

I can't bare to watch him, always have to either turn the tv over or leave the room when he comes on...

Mike

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on November 27, 2006, 11:51 AM:

I think he's funny, as long as you take it with a pinch of salt and dont take it too serious, i'm always amazed at how dim some people are when they cant see there having the mick taken out of them, and with all our different views on these sort of things its what makes the world go round,
must say though, this comedy is way out of leauge when you look at L&H or any of the great classics,
Unfortunatly these days no one appears to write "clean" family comedy, although with Happy feet on the horizon there may be a glimmer of hope [Wink]

Posted by Chris Quinn (Member # 129) on November 27, 2006, 12:27 PM:

I go along with Tom. I find some of it funny, maybe it's my weird sense of humour. Let's bring back carry on films.

Chris.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on November 27, 2006, 12:28 PM:

What bothers me about it is it's basically ridiculing people and peoples for cheap amusement. We like to kid ourselves that we'd moved beyond laughing at stereotypes as during the era of comedies about black people and Asians, but lo and behold, we really haven't.

I guess people always need a "them" to laugh at. The sense of superority it gives is deceiving, because all of us, no matter who we are are a "them" to somebody.

It's also about low grade entertainment. With some talent and some effort, somebody can reach out and touch our minds or our hearts. With a little more they may even reach our souls. (Re: Mozart, Beethoven, Shakespeare,etc.) Crap like this works down at the levels of our hormones and our spinal cords. It makes us watch with the same urges that make us look at a flipped car when we drive past.

I guess I don't like it!

Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on November 27, 2006, 01:25 PM:

I have to admit.. I think its pretty funny. [Smile]

I want to see the film but I want to see Daniel Craig as 007 first.. and then some others...so I'll probably see Borat on Video!

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on November 27, 2006, 02:36 PM:

steve raises good points but dont you all think that this is how we've been brain washed by the (excuse langauge)wankers from the PC world?
Why cant we laugh at ourselves & joke about others, after all, how many years have the Brits been making Irish Jokes? I dont recall anyone saying those jokes were racist, Of course Borat does "joke" about another culture but are you seriously going to say that no one in other countries dont make jokes about us?
What ever happened to the saying, sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt, the funny thing about Borat is that this character has been on the ali g show for several years and no one has complained before, i certainly go along with the fact that its not intelligent comedy but then should we be taking any comedy serious? A little of everything is good for us all, The only time i find comedy offensive is if its directly after the death of someone and its aimed at that, oddley enough the most offensive comedy is found not on the big screen but on the world wide web, the home of the most offensive material in the world and easily accessed by all ages, long live Borat [Big Grin]

Please, i'm just joshing [Wink]

Posted by Dave Cragg (Member # 401) on November 27, 2006, 05:10 PM:

Think you are being a bit unkind on the PC World, Tom; I've bought a good keyboard and monitor from there in the past! [Big Grin]

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on November 27, 2006, 05:38 PM:

Well Tom,

It's not being PC, I'm very un-PC (-just ask my wife!). The Politically Correct are just bullies who try to control peoples thoughts by making some words off-limits (See: Orwell)

I think it boils down to being offensive, especially the way it is.

In a world where oppinions vary, you're pretty much bound to offend somebody no matter what you do. They say the first time they performed "Rites of Spring", the audience was so offended that they chased Igor Stravinsky down the street and might have killed him had he not been pretty fast for a composer. This for a piece of music without lyrics!

(Now it's available on Super-8 from Derann!)

The problem is that like a lot of things I'm seeing lately, this seems to be made with the intent to offend, and uses the offense of some as part of its appeal to others. I've heard some of the people who like this movie the most describe it as "offensive". To me that's just exploiting somebody's hurt for gain. Whether PC or not, that's just plain wrong.

It's healthy to laugh at ourselves. Even though he's never met me, Bill Cosby makes me laugh at myself all the time. How? By making fun of himself and allowing me to see myself in the same circumstances. There is empathy there.

-I don't sense a lot in "Borat."

Laughing at others is fine providing you are showing what's good about them at the same time.

-Ditto

Is it OK to make fun of the Irish? I don't know. Are the Irish laughing too?

Second to most important point:

1) You like it for your reasons, but won't force me to go see it.

2) I don't like it for mine, but won't stop you from seeing it.

Most important point:

I'd rather suffer through the thing ten times than see it banned once.

Posted by Chris Quinn (Member # 129) on November 28, 2006, 12:58 AM:

What ever your opinions about Borat, i did read that it is doing better than expected in the states. Originally it was only released in 85 cinemas!! but the studio has had to open the film in another 135 due to it's unexpected popularity. I have not seen the film, but i am getting very curious, seen some snippets on the internet, they did make me laugh, maybe i should be more thoughtful about things like this before it carries me away, but i am a simple bloke and if something makes me laugh i just do. I dont really think that people from eastern block countries are really like this and i don't believe it's a documentary either, it's just a movie, fantasy, make believe. Life of brian offended loads of people, but is Monty Pythons biggest success, and one of the funniest films i have ever seen.

Chris.

Posted by David Kilderry (Member # 549) on November 28, 2006, 02:01 AM:

Make no mistake, Borat is a massive hit. We have had huge audiences at the drive-in to see it. It is the biggest film since Pirates 2 and made for a great deal less.

I think it is one of the funniest films I have seen, but it has a serious message. It actually makes you think how apathy can be a dangerous human condition. Hardly anybody in the film actually stands up to Borats racist, sexist and obnoxious remarks; it is this human condition that leads to some of the worst human tragedies. The fact that we will not stand up against something obviously bad so we don't make a scene or fools of ourselves is of concern.

This is the message that Borat delivers.

David

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on November 28, 2006, 03:56 AM:

Hi Everyone
Have been informed by a Multiplex manager that this film has been a huge hit making lots of money. [Confused]

At the cinema where I work we have been running the trailer for a while now which if, is an indicator what the film is like is total crap. Seemingly I have been told that we missed out on getting a print, and instead are sending another classic film Jackass 2, that will go nicely with Grudge 2, more crap, ah well I guess there is always Santa Claus 3. thank goodness for home entertainment [Cool]

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on November 28, 2006, 07:35 AM:

All very good points,
Yet again this forum above all others has showed how different opinions are shared without any offence taken,
a credit to all on here,
BTW, i havnt been to see Borat, i'll wait to borrow someones DVD [Big Grin]

Happy feet with my three kiddies is next for me.

Posted by Andreas Eggeling (Member # 105) on November 28, 2006, 01:39 PM:

Working every Friday in a multiplex.
Borat was the best visited movie for three weekends.
Near full house.
I watched about ten minutes and I laughed a few times during
the Washington scenes.

I find it important that one can laugh also about itself. Also over certain peculiarities. In a German newspaper recently British jokes were printed over the Germans. And I had to laugh more than only once. But it is depending from the level.
I saw "Beerfest" complete on a Saturday prime time.
Two visitors, me and a real visitor, he gone after 30 minutes.
I held out up to the conclusion. Me interests, which picture is drawn about Germany.

The film has a community with Borat. It represents other nations as consumers of piss. And that´s a kind of "humour" which have nothing to do with humour.

Good humour examples are e.g. "Les Aventures de Rabbi Jacob (1973)", "European Vacation (1985)", "Top Secret!" (1984) or on TV "The Simpsons", "Malcolm in the middle".

[ November 28, 2006, 05:22 PM: Message edited by: Andreas Eggeling ]

Posted by Dan Lail (Member # 18) on November 28, 2006, 09:15 PM:

Dave Cragg, that was a bonified hoot!

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