OMG...Just saw the movie BORAT..

[Tellurian]

Hi-Brow Republican satire. Borat's insulting comedic skills take a direct HIT
at Christian Evangelicals, former Congressional member, Bob Barr, the holier
than thou, Faith Based Ministry. Four squares at Bush's war on Terror, as
Borat poses as an Americanized cowboy..

Funny as Hell..Only half way through the movie did I realize Borat's targets
were the Vast Right Wing in all it's hypocritical splendor..

(I've forgiven Borat for the displays of nudity) a small trade off for the downright hilarity..

[Mojambo]

1. I laughed harder than I've ever laughed in a movie theater. n/t

[Tellurian]

2. The villagers of Kazakhstan will most likely benefit

from the movie. Poor they are but not illiterate.

This past week, the lawsuits filed (against Cohen)
were generally all from the republican constituency...
who, in their delusional reality have created a star
in their own image and likeness!

[meisje]

5. The villagers would like to sue, but they are too poor

[fleabert]

10. they were in Romania, and they are filing as well.

they were paid very very little. And were not told anything about Cohen's intentions.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=415871&in_page_id=1770

A letter from a Kazakh living in the US- my best friend recently adopted a child from Kazakhstan, and was there for over two months. this has been a difficult issue for her to consider; luckily, her daughter is not old enough to ask her mom why Cohen would say that she drinks urine, yet.

(I post this in full because it was published in a hard copy magazine, and I do not remember the name of it, I can find out if anyone wants to know, it'll just take a phone call tomorrow)


My 'Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan'

By Gauhar Abdygaliyeva
Wednesday, November 8, 2006; Page A27

I'm a Muslim Kazakh woman who arrived in the United States two months
ago to work on my master's in public administration. Almost every
time I meet people and tell them where I come from, they ask me about
the "Kazakh journalist" Borat, "the sixth most famous man" in
Kazakhstan. I answer that Borat is a satirical fictional character
who has nothing in common with Kazakhstan or its people.

Many of my new American friends find Borat's adventures in "US and A"
hilarious and his remarks about my country amusing. Unsurprisingly,
not many of the people of Kazakhstan are equally amused. So I want to
tell you the inside story about Kazakhstan. And, to steal a line from
Borat, please read my article, or I will be execute.

Kazakhstan is the world's ninth-largest country in land area. It is
in Central Asia along the famous Silk Road, which once stretched from
Venice to Beijing. We "walk on oil," but that's not the only thing we
were blessed with. Our social and economic achievements in the past
decade have been remarkable.

But I would rather speak of my people. I am in my mid-20s and am
myself a good example of what today's Kazakhstan is about. I was the
first of three children born to an average Soviet family in the year
of the Moscow Olympic Games and the Oscar-winning movie "Moscow Does
Not Believe in Tears." My dad worked at the Space Research Institute
of the Kazakh Academy of Sciences, while my mom taught computer
science at the National Technical University. The tradition of
education in my family, which led me to degrees in international law
and business administration and now has brought me to this country,
is strong in Kazakhstan. That is why its people are among the most
educated in the world and have a 98 percent literacy rate.

Borat says women can now ride "inside of bus" in Kazakhstan.
Actually, men and women enjoy equal opportunity, and our women are
more likely to be driving the bus. Before arriving in the United
States, I worked for the best local law firm and then a U.N. field
mission, and I had a car and an apartment in Kazakhstan's capital,
Astana.

People in Kazakhstan take pride in their ancestors, the nomadic
Turkic tribes that managed to unite and retain a territory the size
of Western Europe for centuries, despite their vulnerable location
between the Chinese and Russian empires. For many years the mostly
Sunni Muslim Kazakhs, first as part of the Russian empire and then
the Soviet Union, welcomed Russians, Ukrainians, Germans, Koreans,
Jews, Chechens and Uighurs to their land regardless of their
religious beliefs. Those people either chose to come or were deported
to Kazakhstan by the communists for various reasons. At different
periods my country has been affected by wars, famine and repression.

With the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, the economic turmoil
brought hardship. Many of my Russian, German, Korean and Jewish
friends left for their historical homelands, but many others chose to
stay and build a modern, thriving Kazakhstan together. Today those
troubles are a thing of the past, and our people look to the future
with great optimism.

The Kazakh flag Borat uses in the movie, with an eagle soaring in the
blue sky under the sun, is our symbol of independence and pride. If
your eyes have ever welled up when you saw the Stars and Stripes, you
will understand how we feel about it.

The "moviefilm" by Sacha Baron Cohen, "Borat: Cultural Learnings of
America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," is playing
well in American theaters. One can only applaud the humorist's
talent, but the movie is entertaining only because the world is so
unfamiliar with reality.

Perhaps that will change. The movie has already created unprecedented
interest in Kazakhstan. Not only has Borat promoted our name and
flag, he has also indirectly fueled a great wave of patriotism among
my fellow citizens.

Please take an opportunity to visit us one day and hear our real
language, not Borat's:

"Kazakhstanga kosh keliniz!" -- "Welcome to Kazakhstan!"

The writer is a student from Kazakhstan doing graduate work at George
Washington University.

[The Count]

17. Yeah, cuz extras are always given full script approval & profits share

I can't believe that DU - for the second time - is buying into "the plight of the Romanian extra". Please! These people were extras and were paid scale like all extras in movies big and small. Cohen has been filming there since his show was in UK, and the underpayment voes only started when box office numbers reached the ears of law ignorant lawyers (and the irony that I am defending 20 Century Fox - not lost on me)

[fleabert]

46. I don't think I am trying to represent all of DU, nor am I buying into

anything. I simply responded to state that the scenes were done in Romania, not Kazakhstan, and that the people involved are apparently going to sue.

I also included, as an aside, a viewpoint of the situation from a Kasakh woman. Make your own conclusions, I remain on the fence. I still haven't seen, and don't know if I will. I know my best friend won't, because she wants to able to tell her Kasakh daughter (if and when she asks) that she did not see it on principle. I think that anecdote speaks volumes for the content and perceived spirit of the film, but it doesn't speak for or to everyone.

[SquireJons]

31. Complex Issues Here

I like the Ali G character, and I like Cohen's humor. But I think it's wrong to get rich at the expense of folks who's only crime is being born in the wrong place. Belittling those less fortunate than yourself is somewhat less than funny.

As for the letter from the woman from Kazakhstan, while she sounds like a remarkable person, I seriously doubt she is representative of the average Kazakh citizen. She comes from the highest elite that that nation has to offer. It's like talking to a college student from Beijing and thinking that that person is representative of most Chinese. It just ain't so.

[fleabert]

47. I think we are of the same mind regarding the film.

I think he's funny, but the spirit of the film disturbs me. I think it may have crossed a line that I can't cross in good conscience.

My best friend had a long stay in Kazakhstan, and found it to be quite modern in the cities. Much poorer than here, but it is certainly far from what is portrayed in the film. I don't know if the woman in the article is representative economically or educationally, but I suspect that many people share her sentiments about how they are represented in the movie. I need to speak with my best friend some more (she's pretty busy with her new kid- a two year old!) about the word on the adoption boards coming from Kazakhstan, but last I heard, most weren't that happy about it.

[Tellurian]

3. Borat's poke at Republicans is the funniest

even funnier than anything I've seen on SNL..

The theater audience were rolling with laughter..
No wonder the reviews were scrubbed.

If I had known the subject matter was aimed at the GOP's fake FVs-
I would have been there opening nite!

[mdmc]

4. i heard that it is some mean comedy.

no?

[Tellurian]

6. Yes, in the beginning, the satire is soooo subtle

sitting next to a die hard republican added to the unexpected gleeful noises.
he laughed harder than anyone in the theater- until, I sort of spoke out loud..
OMG--Borat's making fun of ALL the republicans..Talk about having the last laugh!!

It really was a precious moment!

[davidwparker]

7. No. You should see it. It's brilliant. Sascha Baron Cohen is so cool.

[mdmc]

30. i dig

the ali g show

[davidwparker]

8. Sacha Baron Cohen out of character on Daily Show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dutJ31sIW68

[sweetheart]

9. it was originally the 11'oclock show

It was a little like a british saturday night live, late night show,
really brilliant that one, and ali G was a spin off from there,
borat a most recent creation.

Kudos to you, Sacha Cohen, brilliant work.

[progressoid]

42. Ahhh, the old sofa.

[stanwyck]

11. Rating an 11 on the irony meter

are the drunken frat boys who spout sexist and racist drivel and are now suing because the crew got them drunk and then "took advantage" of them. Oh, yeah, they'd never do anything like that, now would they?

[alfredo]

12. The frat boys shouldn't complain. A free night of drinking

is every frat boy's dream. They should thank Cohen.

[Tellurian]

14. One of the NC racist Frat Boys..

looked meaner than a junk yard dog..

There was a distinct possibility if Cohen hadn't been with a cameraman,
the comedy result could have turned tragic.

The Frat Boys, from what I've read, are suing as well.

The Pubbies are playing this move down...but you will roar with laughter
as he pokes fun at their malevolent ideology.

[alfredo]

18. A person can't get scammed without their permission.

The Frat boys put the booze to their own lips.

fuck em

I will go see the movie, just not sure when.

[guruoo]

36. You mean this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc3ASw45uFc

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

15. Yep, they are now part of the "Borat's vicitims" group. Maybe some therapy would

be in order.

Poor, pitiful, victimized souls that they are, :rofl: MKJ

[The Count]

20. And 12 are the Germans complaining of....prejudice against gypsies (ONLY)

http://www.cinematical.com/2006/11/03/germans-accuse-borat-of-slandering-gypsies-but-not-the-jews/2#c2591811

[hsher]

39. Sounds like another job for the waaambulance

(Siren coming up the street)
"Sob, waa, sob, waa, sob, waa..."

[Swamp Rat]

13. He must be doing something right.

I haven't seen it, but I saw two middle-aged x-tian women on CNN complaining about it. I believe they are now suing the Borat creators and movie studio.

[peekaloo]

16. He was funny on the Daily Show a couple weeks back when he referred

to Bar Bu$h as W's father. :rofl:

Have yet to see the film but it's on my list.

[The Count]

19. Another DU thread - see video links at the end - Hanity & Colmes appearance

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2731759

[Tellurian]

26. Amazing, so few realized Cohen targeted Republican hypocricy..nm

[SlavesandBulldozers]

21. the rodeo part was my favorite

that's sort of a Daniel in the Lion's den sort of moment.

[Tellurian]

23. As he's thanking the audience for supporting the Iraq War..

and przadent Boosh drrrinking all dat Blud..

..the look on their faces was priceless..

[guruoo]

38. It's soooo good...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPfI3_xYNp8

[npincus]

29. I think I laughed loudest at the Bob Barr cameo...

how funny was THAT? I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it, so I won't say more....

[SlavesandBulldozers]

33. OMG yes

holy shit. . .

[jpak]

37. Yup - just that was worth the price of admission...

:rofl:

[The Count]

22. You tube - full of even funnier outtakes. See "Patriot rally":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvUJIT6rins

Also, 20 Century Fox tested audiences and concluded that "movie tests well on the coasts and poorly in the heartland" so dumbly limited release. It beat all other crap out there - so they had to admit that most Americans love the stuff (which speaks well of us and bad of Fox)

[Tellurian]

24. The hype should be it is a Republican Spoof..

Until I saw it myself, I had no idea thats what it was about.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

27. lol

this ones on the dvd first season.

"why don't you take your hram and bang him in his anos-hole until he says America's number 1!"

[Tellurian]

28. Count...

What was the reference Borat made to Ma Bush..?

[Shakespeare]

32. In "complimenting" Premier George Walter Bush....

...he was listing various traits he admired about him. One is that he is STRONG (makes muscle man gestures with his arms) like his father, Barbara.

:rofl:

[Tellurian]

34. Yes, yes...that's exactly it...

hahahhahha! haaaaaaaaaa!

thanks, Cohen is brilliant!

reading your words in his voice..hilarious!

:rofl:

[npincus]

25. Loved it, too.

[satya]

35. Loved the rodeo scene, where he mentioned Bush's "War OF Terror". nt

[ChairmanAgnostic]

45. that was the 2nd best scene. The best was that religious revival meeting

with the morans speaking in tongues.

Talk about chilling, yet funny.

[Beaverhausen]

40. I'm going to see it in about an hour - can't wait!

I need a laugh.

[T Town Jake]

41. Excellent movie.

:thumbsup:

[jriles]

43. great

funniest smartest satire i've ever seen.

[K8-EEE]

44. Funny Borat Interview On Dutch TV (English w/Dutch Subtitles)

He's hilarious -- I'm seeing this tomorrow night!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gleiidNSyzs&mode=related&search=

[Tellurian]

48. yes, I did watch Pts I,II,and III..

thanks for posting..