Borat -- an intelligent, appreciative review...

Darren Dirt · November 03, 2006, 10:34:34 AM

The enlightened cynicism of H.L. Mencken and Jonathan Swift courses through this movie's veins, along with the social curiosity of Alexis
de Tocqueville, the scientific eye of a wildlife biologist, and a great comedian's love of the unspeakably juvenile.

Which is to say I hurt myself laughing at "Borat," but I'm not sure whether it was from the jokes or from the deep clefts the movie leaves in our national psyche.

- Ty Burr, Boston Globe movie critic, reviewing "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan"

...it is good to laugh, and apparently it is even better for us to laugh at ourselves

Shayne · November 03, 2006, 10:43:22 AM

95% over at RT and a 90% over at MC

Darren Dirt · November 03, 2006, 03:23:31 PM

Yes, I've heard it hits all the right notes, yet expands beyond the limitations of a TV show (talkin' about you, Bean!)

Me and my brother plan on seeing it tomorrow (matinee = cheaper, prolly downtown); anyone interested in joining us?

Darren Dirt · November 03, 2006, 05:10:04 PM

Make that the EVENING show -- that way there's a lot more people so you get the whole communal experience...

Darren Dirt · November 04, 2006, 01:39:36 PM

anyone?

PS: looks like it'll be South Common we're going to...

North Edmonton 12:45 3:00 5:30 8:10 10:30
No passes

Silver City 12:05 12:25* 2:25 3:00* 4:40 5:10* 7:15 7:30* 9:35 10:15*
(* in limited RWC & DVS)
No passes

South Common 1:00 2:00 3:20 4:20 5:45 7:15 8:15 9:45 10:45
No passes

Darren Dirt · November 04, 2006, 10:22:20 PM

I came just back from movie-film. I like, yes! You go see, enjoy laughing to pants be wet. Very nice!

Darren Dirt · November 05, 2006, 03:27:33 PM

Wow, check out all the "100"s on Metacritic. HIGH FIVE!

And 96% on RT? 96

I don't think I've EVER seen a movie so universally appreciated.

No film in the history of cinema has succeeded in being more "outrageously funny" than the satirical, defiantly un-P.C. mockumentary Borat: Cultural Learnings of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. The genius of Sacha Baron Cohen's long-practiced character of Kazakhstani journalist Borat Sagdiyev is in his imperturbability as he spews racist, sexist, and homophobic invective, but also in that his outrageousness doesn't meet with outrage as often as you'd think.

"Borat" is a social experiment, putting us under the microscope. Cohen's commitment allows him to move through life as Borat in order to get honest, real reactions from his test subjects. And at times, you'll be terrified (and embarrassingly amused) at what you'll see.

Anyway, that's all for me... Back to seriousland...

Shayne · November 05, 2006, 04:33:51 PM

Quote from: Darren Dirt on November 05, 2006, 03:27:33 PMAnd 96% on RT? 96 I don't think I've EVER seen a movie so universally appreciated.

Well, how about this one?

Thorin · November 05, 2006, 11:15:22 PM

Quote from: Shayne on November 05, 2006, 04:33:51 PM
Well, how about this one?

Wow, Toy Story 2 did that good? I've seen it a few times now

, and I did find it an excellent sequel. You'd think there'd be at least a couple of dissenting critics on RottenTomatoes, though.

Mr. Analog · November 06, 2006, 06:49:46 AM

Anyone care to catch this one this week?

Darren Dirt · November 06, 2006, 11:38:49 AM

Quote from: Shayne on November 05, 2006, 04:33:51 PM
Quote from: Darren Dirt on November 05, 2006, 03:27:33 PMAnd 96% on RT? 96 I don't think I've EVER seen a movie so universally appreciated.

Well, how about this one?

Okay, fine, correction -- I don't think I *recall* any other movie that was so universally appreciated.

Toy Story 2 was a G-rated family-friendly animation spectatular with a rich story and memorable characters that both young and old can enjoy.

Borat is similar, but NOT G-rated, "family-friendly" depends on the family

, and young and old that have no sense of irony would actually not enjoy it, but anyone else would. So 96% is pretty damn shocking to see.

Shayne · November 06, 2006, 11:55:23 AM

80 minutes though, gonna wait for the high quality Xvid rip i think. $0.14/minute (assuming South Common, assuming full price paid).

Darren, seeing as you are all about these types of movies you really should check out this one, its in my top 5 of the year.

Darren Dirt · November 06, 2006, 01:33:11 PM

Yeah, been meaning to see TYFS, love satire (Wag The Dog was painfully funny to me, as was Dr. Strangelove) and also Strangers With Candy -- since it's well past their releases I plan on renting or even just buying for $9.99 when/if HMV or FS have their cheap DVD deals...

Anyway, if Tuesday is a Borat day for anyone here, maybe I'll join you since it would fun to again be in the middle of hundreds of others experiencing the movie. Worth another 7 or 8 bucks, seriously... Plus I'll know when to look away from the screen (trust me on that one

)

PS: Toy Story 2 only got 87 on Metacritic

Borat got 90, so what does that means? As Spinal Tap would say, "Well, that's 3 more, isn't it?"

Shayne · November 06, 2006, 01:54:45 PM

TYFS isn't a satire as much as it is a common story from a seldom seen different point of view. Its very shallow, but extremely smart and witty.

Rotten Tomatoes is a % based on how many said it was a good movie. Metacritic uses the scores the critics gave the movie and averages them together (or maybe its median? i dont recall). So while Borat has the critics who like the film liking it more, more people liked Toy Story 2. Heck Godfather has a 100% rating on Metacritic

Darren Dirt · November 07, 2006, 11:54:50 AM

Quote from: Darren Dirt on November 06, 2006, 01:33:11 PM
Anyway, if Tuesday is a Borat day for anyone here, maybe I'll join you since it would fun to again be in the middle of hundreds of others experiencing the movie. Worth another 7 or 8 bucks, seriously... Plus I'll know when to look away from the screen (trust me on that one )

Bump, since nobody said whether or not they plan on seeing a Tuesday (today!) show...