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Borat...
If You
Actually Liked this Crap, Chances Are You Liked "Greek
Wedding"
Cre-a-tiv-i-ty
– the
ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns,
relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new
ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality,
progressiveness, or imagination: the
need for creativity in modern industry; creativity in the
performing arts.
Bor-at - The
opposite of creativity. The most over-hyped, unfunny,
embarrassingly bad movie since "My Big Fat Greek
Wedding."
E-Crap, NY/NJ - They got me!
Again! For a week (then extensively since the weekend began)
I heard the hype about this movie. From television, radio
(even NPR), print, Internet, and even from the mouths of
(now) former friends. About this movie being not only the
funniest movie of the year, but perhaps of all time. That
the comedy transcends many forms of comedy - it's not just
silly, raunchy comedy like "Dumb and Dumber" I was
told, the comedy is also cerebral. For the record, I believe
D&D is one of the funniest movies of all time. And never
thought Borat would end up being a cheap imitation of
D&D and "Road Trip" (complete with the
cross-country trek).
I bought the hype and went to
see it with my wife. We were both skeptical, but we couldn't
see how every review and every piece of hype could all be
the same if not even partially legitimate. I turned to her
as we approached the theater and said "I really hope
this isn't another 'Greek Wedding.'" She sighed, full
well knowing what I meant. That movie, previously the most
over-hyped, unfunny movie ever made, became a standard for
us. And even though that awful, unfunny movie was deemed an
"indie" film because of the studio whom released
it, the sheer ignorance and stupidity of the general movie
public who "claimed" that movie was funny
(claimed, because we know people were afraid to say anything
bad about it to their friends. It was "indie" so
everyone figured they had to like it to be cool. And it
snowballed).
Borat is not creative. It is
not original, and absolutely not funny. Sacha Baron Cohen is
more of a thief than he is a comedic genius. His acting
grows tiresome, and the cliches are deafening. Frankly, I am
SO TIRED of a lack of creativity in this world, Everywhere,
people have to rely on cliches because they are unable to
come up with any new ideas. Listen to your local jazz radio
station sometime. You'll hear version after version of past
hits redone for a saxophone. "Geniuses" like Kenny
G. are among the biggest offenders. The NJ singer-songwriter
scene (which I write about often) is also littered with
so-called songwriters who manage little more than overused
cliches in every one of their songs (for every Janey Todd, a
NJ songwriter who hates cliches as much as I do, there are
countless other Todd-wanabees unable to write a single verse
without a blatant cliche.)
I'm not going to review this
film. I've already said everything I'm going to. You can
believe the hype and blow the $10 yourself or listen to the
one honest person (me) warning you. I was embarrassed to be
in that theater. I'm happy to say several people did in fact
walk out on it, but far too few. I was embarrassed for
myself, and for the truly creative people in this world that
did not gross $26 million in a weekend with a piece of crap
movie that showed on only 25% of the normal number of
screens. Don't worry, it will show on 3x the amount of
screens next weekend, so 3x the amount of people can tell
you how hysterical this piece of crap is because they feel
they have to. Of course, you'll silently agree with me, but
will be afraid to go against your friends and will tell
people you thought it was the funniest thing since
"Dumb and Dumber." And to those who have the gall
to compare Cohen to Andy Kaufman or Jim Carrey, you are
indeed the reason why studios keep creating this crap with
no standards. If the movie attending public keeps accepting
mediocrity (and in this case, crap) why would they ever have
to change and actually produce quality flims?
Once again, I will boycott
all mass-popular movies, and go back to the "indie
only" lifestyle I have enjoyed since Greek Wedding. I
truly hope I don't fall for another one in the coming years.
And Mr. Cohen... enjoy your millions and please
disappear.
Kaneman
for E-Crap.com
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