Public and Critical reaction to the new movie Borat?

Question

Last week saw the release of a new film entitled Borat. If you have seen the movie I would like your thoughts.

Some have praised this film as a groundbreaking piece of work. An example of progressive and relevant film-making that is both clever and absolutely fearless. Some praise Borat as a ingenius creation, that Sacha Baron Cohen (the comedian who plays Borat) is a Sellers-esque performer and improvisor. There are those who believe that while the film is "hilarious", but also presents a very unsettling look at western civilisation and today's PC environment, cleverly exposing Hypocracy and home truths that many didn't know existed.

However there is the view that this film is just a one-joke mess, devoid of wit, mascarading as a clever version of MTV's Jackass. That the film is offensive, crude, juvenile and sadistic.

Is Borat a masterful triumph in new age film-making, or is the film a truely ugly piece of cyncism and vulgarity?

What do you think?

I do not critique the film at all, rather I'm presenting various takes on the film from the two extremes. It's fair to say there's never really been a movie like Borat which is why there's so much controversy surrounding it. It's been out a week and there are already three lawsuits, a Russian ban and a Kazahstan government boycott of the film-although it is a commercial success. That's maybe why I regard it as more than just a typical piece of entertainment.

Answer 1

There were several scenes that made me want to throw the cell phone of the kid sitting in front of me, then a few seconds later something made me laugh so hard I almost shot Dr Pepper through my nose. The film shows that there are several aspects of our culture that contradict how we present ourselves, or at least how we feel we are. For instance, he uses the terms dirty Jew and chocolate face to describe people which and reasonable person would be disgusted by. But everybody laughs when he talks about killing gypsies with a Hummer. And the funniest part of the movies involves a large, LARGE amount of frontal male nudity.

Answer 2

I never saw the film. I saw "Borat" on the Tonight Show. He said a few funny things but otherwise came across as lame, especially the scene making the bed with Martha Stewart.

The clip of the movie shown on that show was funny (checks into hotel and thinks the elevator is his room, when does get to room, washes face with toilet water) but I don't know how representative of the film that scene was. I didn't get the sense that it was groundbreaking work and didn't think it to be a must see movie and most likely won't see it, at least not in theaters.

Answer 3

Its a MUST SEE movie. it should be seen in Theatre with friends and not at home. BECOZ you will miss a lot of things and you dont understand alll,,,, and every body will be laughting at different things... I think when i watche it the first time i got only 35% of the comedy rest i didnt catch as i was gasping for breath from the laughter from the last scene...

Answer 4

Sasha Baron Cohen is a very clever man. ANyone who takes him seriously when he is in character is a fool - surely they;ve seen him in the guise of Ali G - doesnt that tell them anything ??? Its a humourous film - thats all xx

Answer 5

Why the debate? It's a bit of fun with Pamela Anderson and a couple of naked men fighting in it. The end. It's not world changing stuff. It's just meant to make you smile for a couple of hours.

Answer 6

You critique the Film as a milestone of Human achievement gone haywire, whereas it is plain entertaining.

Answer 7

Very funny movie.

Non stop laughing from start to finish.

Answer 8

funny, but not as good as I had hoped.

Answer 9

I think its good..
xxx

Answer 10

its crap