MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Nov 6, 2006 14:10:46 GMT -5
It wasn't even close. Did I laugh during the movie? Yes. But this movie isn't going to be making any top lists.
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Post by Chris on Nov 9, 2006 17:45:08 GMT -5
was having a discussion about the Borat movie with a co-worker today. I was telling him that it was a funny movie, but it wasn’t anywhere close to being as hilarious as I had expected and wanted it to be. I also told him that I thought Borat’s skits on the Ali G show were much funnier, even though the movie had some funny parts.
I was thinking about why – and this is what I came up with. The whole humor in Borat is really the same as the humor he brings with his Ali G and his gay Bruno character – they are whacky characters saying outlandish and unsuspected things to unknowing participants such as Ali G interviewing esteemed politicians who probably thought they were being interviewed by some new hip Generation XYZ journalist….or Borat doing a legitimate piece for Kazakhstan TV on his exploration of American culture learning Karate or Wine Tasting or spending the day with a minor league baseball team. That worked for a while because Borat and Ali G and Bruno were really only visible via the Ali G show…they were known, but not widely known. But after all the hype, who DOESN’T know that Borat has a movie out, and everyone knows the concept of his humor, and the movie was widely publicized even while it was being made. So when you watched Borat and company on the Ali G show, you at least had good reason to believe that this wasn’t scripted and that the unknowing participants really were being ambushed by his “zaniness” and their reactions were legitimate. While watching the movie, one thing I kept struggling with personally was, “Is this real, or is this scripted” and that uncertainty made certain points in the movie less funny for me.
My 2 cents.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Nov 9, 2006 17:48:31 GMT -5
That's one reason. Another is that is just wasn't nearly as funny as the hype. Of course, many times skits made into movies don't work that well simply because what is funny in 3 minutes runs out of steam in 90.
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Post by Chris on Nov 9, 2006 17:49:31 GMT -5
Actually, I think the movie "Ali G In Da House" was funnier than Borat.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Nov 9, 2006 18:04:22 GMT -5
Didn't see it. Lots of movies were funnier than Borat.
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Post by grover on Nov 10, 2006 10:34:59 GMT -5
Not too me.
Disregarding hype is the first key to enjoying a movie.
It's not the funniest movie ever, but it's going to be up there in the debates about the funniest movie ever.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Nov 10, 2006 10:39:37 GMT -5
It shouldn't be. For me, it's not even close. It was funny. But not "all time" funny. Airplane, Naked Gun, South Park, Caddyshack, There's Something About Mary, Old School, Blazing Saddles, are all examples of movies far funnier than Borat.
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Post by grover on Nov 10, 2006 10:42:01 GMT -5
I don't see it, but oh well, guess it just falls down to personal preference.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Nov 10, 2006 10:51:41 GMT -5
That's true. I'm not saying the movie wasn't funny. But I wouldn't consider it an all time classic.
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Post by grover on Nov 10, 2006 10:51:45 GMT -5
And Old School is amazingly overrated.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Nov 10, 2006 11:03:25 GMT -5
Possibly, though I thought it was funnier than Borat. Bachelor Party also is a far bigger classic. The first Police Academy as well.
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Post by grover on Nov 10, 2006 11:05:34 GMT -5
I laughed harder at this than I did during most of those movies, sans Airplane.
It does help if you're a fan of the character and type of humor. It's not for everyone, that's for sure.
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Post by Chris on Nov 10, 2006 12:22:01 GMT -5
It's true, it does help if you're a fan of that kind of humor....but the problem I have is that type of humor is so played out that I don't really believe that the Borat character or the Ali G character are capable of sneaking up on any unsuspecting participants anymore...leaving me with the feeling that much of it was scripted. It's just another variation on the whole Stuttering John shtick - presenting yourself as a legitimate journalist and then ambushing the interviewee with various forms of zaniness.
This was clearly evident by Borat's painful performance on Jay Leno. He never broke character but you could see that he was painfully uncomfortable and unable at times to improvise and be funny....the appearance was riddled with long pregnant pauses ultimately culminating in Borat coming back with this stock, "Niiiiiiiice" simply because he couldn't think of anything else to say.
Borat had some downright HILARIOUS moments on this short Ali G Show clips...but like Balls said...the movie came up short....at times seeming like a bad SNL skit with no graceful departure.
Yes, I laughed at the movie simply because the Borat concept is funny...but no way do I see this movie joining other movies in the "funniest movie ever" debate. But I don't see Police Academy or Old School in there either.
I can see Airplane being discussed, maybe Animal House, The Blues Brothers, Stir Crazy. But Police Academy and Old School???
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Post by grover on Nov 10, 2006 12:32:52 GMT -5
Well, that's the problem. You let yourself wonder if it was scripted instead of actually taking it for what it is. Even if it is, does it make it less funny? Spinal Tap and most of Christopher Guest 's mocumentarys are scripted and those are KILLER.
Wow, now you guys really underselling it. Police Academy and comparisons to Stuttering John? Come on now.
I mean, there is more to it besides the over the top comedy of the skits. Ebert put it the best way, it's a dumb movie, but it's also a smart movie.
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Post by MSBNYY on Nov 10, 2006 12:41:08 GMT -5
Police Academy is a very underrated movie.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Nov 10, 2006 12:51:09 GMT -5
Yeah, by you, anyway.
Balls, here's the story on why you did not like the movie. Its cause you are "late to the party" as it where. You have not been privvy to Borat and its exploded into one of the bigger pop culture phenoms today. You missed the boat on it, so you choose to disparage it. Everyone else has been finding it funny so long without you, you are heaping crap on it cause you didnt figure it out to be funny before they did.
Its very transparent.
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Post by Chris on Nov 10, 2006 12:52:59 GMT -5
Seriously, what's the difference between Borat, Ali G, and Stuttering John? The concept is the same, no?
You take some legitimate celebrities, put them in front of an interviewer who initially comes across as legitimate, and then you ambush him with whacky questions and antics. How is that a stretch? It's the same concept. I don't see anything wrong with the comparison...and frankly, Stuttering John over the year had some absolute rolling on the floor hilarious moments.
And I agree with Ebert...it is a smart movie. The humor is not in Borat's funny look, or his jokes....it's in his ability to evoke reaction and poke fun at unsuspecting participants, who are being made to look foolish unknowingly. An idiot is funny, but not anywhere near as funny as an idiot who doesn't know he's an idiot - and that's what Ali G and Borat provide. Ali G in particular. The way Ali G made Andy Rooney, who we see on 60 Minutes as this witty sharp guy with a biting wit, come across as an old, cranky, out of touch asshole and quite possibly a racist was pure fucking genius!!!! But it's getting a bit played out....that's all I'm saying.
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Post by grover on Nov 10, 2006 12:53:07 GMT -5
Police Academy is a very OVERrated movie. Funny at times, sure, but not a classic by any stretch of the imagination.
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Post by grover on Nov 10, 2006 12:55:14 GMT -5
Sure the concepts are the same, but so is American Ninja and Kill Bill, that doesn't mean they are remotely comparable.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Nov 10, 2006 13:02:08 GMT -5
American Ninja 2 kicks ass. Kill Bill didn't have anyone nearly as cool as Steve James, who also played Kung Fu Joe in "I'm Gonna Get You Sucka," another great comedy.
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Post by grover on Nov 10, 2006 13:20:30 GMT -5
I also don't see how the Ali G movie was funnier.
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Post by Chris on Nov 10, 2006 13:23:17 GMT -5
I do.
I'm waiting for the Bruno movie next.
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Post by grover on Nov 10, 2006 13:27:32 GMT -5
If anything, I think the Ali G movie was not as funny as it could have been.
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Post by Chris on Nov 10, 2006 13:32:39 GMT -5
I agree with that too...same idea with Borat, and Bruno probably won't be as funny as it could be.
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Post by grover on Nov 10, 2006 13:37:37 GMT -5
I don't understand what could have made Borat funnier. Being that it's being hailed as it is by fans, reviewers, and creators alike, I don't think there is much more you could have done.
I see what you mean by it getting played now that everyone is in on the joke and everyone is making Borat immitatios left and right, I just don't see how that takes away from the movie itself.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Nov 10, 2006 13:58:50 GMT -5
When the movie was filming it was not all that played out. A lot of that footage is going on a couple of years old now. And Borat was NOT the cultural phenom you guys make him out to be. For everyone who knows who he is and is ripe for the picking, there are a thousand people who dont. Dont act like the guy is Captain Jack Sparrow or anything.
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Post by Chris on Nov 10, 2006 14:10:44 GMT -5
Nothing could have made Borat funnier short of going back in time and not over hyping it to begin with.
Who isn't in on the joke now, and who wasn't on the joke during the making of the movie when it was being hyped like crazy....even rodeo hayseeds in the deep south had to have known who Borat was and what his shtick is. The Borat and Ali G joke is no longer funny if the premise of tricking the participants into believing its real is no longer there. It's like asking a kid to be excited about meeting Santa Claus when he/she knows it's their Dad in a red suit and fake beard.
Look, I'm not saying the movie wasn't funny. It was. I laughed, a lot, and don't regret seeing it. All I'm saying is that I was left with a feeling of uncertainty regarding what was scripted and what was not. The joke was a FUNNY joke, but I felt it ran its course before the end of the movie.
Of course, it also doesn't help that even before the movie was released, people were hyping it as the funniest movie ever....possibly my expectations were way too high.
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Post by grover on Nov 10, 2006 14:17:12 GMT -5
That's something that bothers a lot of people. I try to ignore that each time I watch a film because I know enough about films to be able to come to my own conclusions.
By doing so, I am able to get a better view on the movie other than what so-&-so said.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Nov 10, 2006 14:18:02 GMT -5
Again, who cares what was scripted??
They have actually already come out and admitted the Pam Anderson stuff was "outlined beforehand" and done improv style. But she was certainly in on it. I dont even see how that takes away from anything. When something is funny, its funny.
And you are so wrong about the Borat as a a known entity on this Earth thing. Just last week the Post had a story about how, as a gag, while in the city to do an appearance he jumped out of his limo in full Borat regalia and just started jogging down the street. And NO ONE payed him any mind.
Not everyone knows who this guy is, especially before all this movie hype. And those that do, many could care less (like me, who has no plans to see this movie)
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Post by grover on Nov 10, 2006 14:26:23 GMT -5
Also: I don't think I've ever seen a movie theater crowd erupt and howl with laughter the way it did when he wrestled with that naked fat man. A week in, a week of hype, and that scene had everyone CRYING. The scenes after that were slow for a good reason, because they knew people would still be laughing, and most were. I was openly crying still, and whoever wasn't doing that was giving the old "haaaaaaaaaaa haaaaaaaaaaaaa haaaaaaaaa" hysterics slowdown breathing.
That moment is up in the ranks of greatest moment of comedy.
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