Comments on: The good and the bad of Borat http://robinbrande.com/movies-tv/the-good-and-the-bad-of-borat For writers, readers, and independent thinkers--book talk for readers and writers, life chats when we need them, writers' motivational articles, secret behind-the-scenes stories from the publishing trenches, and more. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:32:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: robin http://robinbrande.com/movies-tv/the-good-and-the-bad-of-borat#comment-2082 robin Sun, 19 Nov 2006 20:53:00 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/movies-tv/the-good-and-the-bad-of-borat#comment-2082 That's pretty funny--especially about the Aristocrats. Maybe the people thought it was the old Walt Disney animated flick The Aristocats. I agree--if you're going to pay for gross and sophomoric, you might as well stay and get your money's worth. But Lizzie, what are you still doing on this posting? Don't you have something to say about poor Katie Holmes? That’s pretty funny–especially about the Aristocrats. Maybe the people thought it was the old Walt Disney animated flick The Aristocats.

I agree–if you’re going to pay for gross and sophomoric, you might as well stay and get your money’s worth.

But Lizzie, what are you still doing on this posting? Don’t you have something to say about poor Katie Holmes?

]]> By: Lizzie http://robinbrande.com/movies-tv/the-good-and-the-bad-of-borat#comment-2080 Lizzie Sun, 19 Nov 2006 20:15:10 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/movies-tv/the-good-and-the-bad-of-borat#comment-2080 To your credit, I can tell you that 4 high-school-aged girls got up and left when I saw it (Saturday night, 2nd weekend, sold-out croud)... althought they left during that...other...scene. You know which one I'm talking about. I couldn't believe people would leave! You've gotta know what you're getting yourself into going to a movie like that! When I saw <b>The Aristocrats</b> the second time, two separate couples walked out! It's billed as the most vulgar movie of ALL TIME!!! How could you willingly pay for a movie like that and then be surprised by its content?! That's happened to me at a couple movies actually... some people just don't pay attention before they see a flick... To your credit, I can tell you that 4 high-school-aged girls got up and left when I saw it (Saturday night, 2nd weekend, sold-out croud)… althought they left during that…other…scene. You know which one I’m talking about.

I couldn’t believe people would leave! You’ve gotta know what you’re getting yourself into going to a movie like that!

When I saw The Aristocrats the second time, two separate couples walked out! It’s billed as the most vulgar movie of ALL TIME!!! How could you willingly pay for a movie like that and then be surprised by its content?!

That’s happened to me at a couple movies actually… some people just don’t pay attention before they see a flick…

]]> By: robin http://robinbrande.com/movies-tv/the-good-and-the-bad-of-borat#comment-2079 robin Sun, 19 Nov 2006 20:05:30 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/movies-tv/the-good-and-the-bad-of-borat#comment-2079 Lizzie, you make an excellent point. Maybe that's exactly what it is--being raised to be PC. Although I think that's a good thing. I'd rather notice when someone says something offensive than join in because it seems normal. BUT I seem to be the cheese standing alone here about whether those jokes were funny. The rest of you see it as great satire, and (as MJG and Lady T and others have pointed out) as a good way to point out the prejudices that we're still dealing with, no matter how PC we think we are. And if Lizzie says the Running of the Jews was funny, who am I, a little Gentile girl, to complain? Lizzie, you make an excellent point. Maybe that’s exactly what it is–being raised to be PC. Although I think that’s a good thing. I’d rather notice when someone says something offensive than join in because it seems normal.

BUT I seem to be the cheese standing alone here about whether those jokes were funny. The rest of you see it as great satire, and (as MJG and Lady T and others have pointed out) as a good way to point out the prejudices that we’re still dealing with, no matter how PC we think we are.

And if Lizzie says the Running of the Jews was funny, who am I, a little Gentile girl, to complain?

]]> By: Lizzie http://robinbrande.com/movies-tv/the-good-and-the-bad-of-borat#comment-2078 Lizzie Sun, 19 Nov 2006 19:58:16 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/movies-tv/the-good-and-the-bad-of-borat#comment-2078 Robin, do you think maybe you didn't like the whole Jewish part because you're <i>not</i> Jewish? I dunno how to put this without sounding like a jerk, but maybe this is one of those situations where you've been told your whole life that something's not funny or not PC, and you get offended on behalf of the people who <i>should</i> be taking offense? Because I'll tell you, I thought Borat was one of the best social satires I've ever seen...and that the Running of the Jews was SO FUNNY! You've gotta remember, we Jews invented self-deprecating humor - SBC just ran with it. Robin, do you think maybe you didn’t like the whole Jewish part because you’re not Jewish? I dunno how to put this without sounding like a jerk, but maybe this is one of those situations where you’ve been told your whole life that something’s not funny or not PC, and you get offended on behalf of the people who should be taking offense? Because I’ll tell you, I thought Borat was one of the best social satires I’ve ever seen…and that the Running of the Jews was SO FUNNY!
You’ve gotta remember, we Jews invented self-deprecating humor - SBC just ran with it.

]]> By: MJG http://robinbrande.com/movies-tv/the-good-and-the-bad-of-borat#comment-2077 MJG Sun, 19 Nov 2006 19:52:36 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/movies-tv/the-good-and-the-bad-of-borat#comment-2077 My husband and I saw Borat last week along with a theatre full of college students. We had not seen the main character on HBO; we were drawn to it based on the teasers. We laughed the longest and loudest because it was so outrageously funny. What could be better than a movie that has a strong message (Gentiles' attitude toward the Jews, we have not progressed) and some humor to prove the point. My husband and I saw Borat last week along with a theatre full of college students. We had not seen the main character on HBO; we were drawn to it based on the teasers. We laughed the longest and loudest because it was so outrageously funny. What could be better than a movie that has a strong message (Gentiles’ attitude toward the Jews, we have not progressed) and some humor to prove the point.

]]> By: robin http://robinbrande.com/movies-tv/the-good-and-the-bad-of-borat#comment-2076 robin Sun, 19 Nov 2006 14:55:47 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/movies-tv/the-good-and-the-bad-of-borat#comment-2076 Patrick, you're always so well-informed. It's scary. Patrick, you’re always so well-informed. It’s scary.

]]> By: Patrick http://robinbrande.com/movies-tv/the-good-and-the-bad-of-borat#comment-2075 Patrick Sun, 19 Nov 2006 13:36:58 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/movies-tv/the-good-and-the-bad-of-borat#comment-2075 I think Borat might be right about the Jewish. He said on one of the late night shows that they were responsible for killing the dinosaurs and I can never forgive them for that. I think Borat might be right about the Jewish. He said on one of the late night shows that they were responsible for killing the dinosaurs and I can never forgive them for that.

]]> By: Danny Passmore http://robinbrande.com/movies-tv/the-good-and-the-bad-of-borat#comment-2074 Danny Passmore Sun, 19 Nov 2006 02:13:35 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/movies-tv/the-good-and-the-bad-of-borat#comment-2074 I agree with you completely. Although they really know how to set people up into believing it is professional and legitimate, people respond with their own character (which often isn't very pretty). They really make Americans look bad, which is why I'm contacting as many people as I can and inviting them to read about my personal encounter with Borat. If you're interested, go to http://BeatingBorat.blogspot.com It's not vulgar, I promise, although I did need to put him in a headlock when he attacked me physically. :-) dp I agree with you completely. Although they really know how to set people up into believing it is professional and legitimate, people respond with their own character (which often isn’t very pretty).
They really make Americans look bad, which is why I’m contacting as many people as I can and inviting them to read about my personal encounter with Borat.
If you’re interested, go to http://BeatingBorat.blogspot.com
It’s not vulgar, I promise, although I did need to put him in a headlock when he attacked me physically.
:-) dp

]]> By: annette http://robinbrande.com/movies-tv/the-good-and-the-bad-of-borat#comment-2073 annette Sun, 19 Nov 2006 00:08:28 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/movies-tv/the-good-and-the-bad-of-borat#comment-2073 hubby and i saw it--definitely would have taken a pass. hubby and i saw it–definitely would have taken a pass.

]]> By: robin http://robinbrande.com/movies-tv/the-good-and-the-bad-of-borat#comment-2072 robin Sat, 18 Nov 2006 17:33:49 +0000 http://robinbrande.com/movies-tv/the-good-and-the-bad-of-borat#comment-2072 Wow, Lady T, I like what you said in that second paragraph in particular. I like how your parents dealt with this. I think you're right about the need to expose these prejudices and talk about them openly, instead of just shushing people and saying, "That's not nice." You've really given me something to think about. Thanks. Wow, Lady T, I like what you said in that second paragraph in particular. I like how your parents dealt with this. I think you’re right about the need to expose these prejudices and talk about them openly, instead of just shushing people and saying, “That’s not nice.”

You’ve really given me something to think about. Thanks.

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