Russia fails to see the funny side of Borat as ban looms

[steve2470]

http://news.scotsman.com/movies.cfm?id=1662512006

SACHA Baron Cohen's controversial new comedy film may be banned in Russia after a government agency said it would refuse to grant permission for screening.

The Federal Agency for Culture and Cinematography said Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan could offend some viewers and contained material that "might seem disparaging in relation to certain ethnic groups and religions", according to Vadim Ivanov, theatrical sales director at the distributor, 20th Century Fox.

Mr Ivanov said he hoped the agency would relent and that the film, a big hit in Britain and the United States, will premiere in Russia as scheduled on 30 November.

The agency informed the distributor in a letter that it would not grant the permission required to show the film, but later said the decision was not official, Mr Ivanov noted. "This story is not over," he added.

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[Cessna Invesco Palin]

1. THIS THE WORK OF ASSHOLES UZBEKISTAN!

[BootinUp]

2. LOL!

I will eventually have to see this movie.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

5. It's worth seeing....

...just to watch him fuck with Alan Keyes and Bob Barr.

[rock]

3. Maybe it wasn't anti-semitic enough for them?

(It's a Borat joke)

[mojowork_n]

4. OK, I'll admit it

I've been watching Ali G for a couple of years now, and always thought Borat was pretty funny. But I haven't really "figured out" all the anti-semetic humor.

In fact, some of the ironic and sophisticated banter and repartee that was going back and forth between Borat and Jon Stewart, on "The Daily Show", when Jon interviewed Borat -- well, it must have gone right over my head. I mean, I don't think I remember myself actually laughing at the spit takes, comic revulsion, etc., when Borat did the "you mean you are Jew?" schtick, wiping his hands on his jacket and acting like Jon had cooties.

And I heard that there was a fair amount of that kind of thing in the movie, which I haven't seen, but probably will. For the inner 15 year old.

Even with that, Sacha/Borat/Ali/Bruno (you should see him sometime being interviewed as himself) is still funnier than most all of the comedians making movies.

[BootinUp]

6. Is that interview available online? The daily show one?

[BootinUp]

7. found it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDhiqGX9zZw