Greetings from Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan................................not!!!

I decided tonight was the best time to definitely watch Borat and get something for class out of the way. I know I've stated that I'm excited to watch new films all the time, but this time I was a little weary. Since it came out in 2006, Borat is one of those films that has been polarized by its viewership. Either you loved it or hated it, with no middle ground to speak of. When I first heard of Borat, I thought I would hate it (come on, you know there are those films that automatically look awful, Paparazzi being a prime example) Lucky, I was totally wrong.

The experience in watching Borat was interesting to say the least. The opening scenes in Kazakhstan were interesting to watch, though I laughed myself silly watching the Running of the Jew (an inside joke that I've started with a Jewish member of my fraternity). The scenes in Kazakhstan were most certainly staged, but from what I've heard, many of the scenes within the movies were done with real people and many of the reactions gained by Sacha Baron Cohen are priceless, whether it be the kissing of men or the confusion over what to do with bodily waste. My favorite moment within that film had to be the insurance conference were both Borat and his companion end up battling naked (still mystified how they didn't get arrested for that stunt).

Borat's "documentary" into American culture is certainly worth a watch, especially for the puzzlement of those watching the events unfold. Sometimes real reactions are more priceless then those that are staged, especially by rednecks at dinner or at rodeos. The understanding of cultures other then of are own is not Americans' strong suits, and this movie definitely shows it.

Ranting Number 1

Well as a first time blogger I'm laying everything on the table by telling you about myself. I'm a self-professed historian without a single clue about what I want to, just that I don't want to be absolutely poor doing it. I like learning new information especially on the subjects of history, movies, video games, and books, but as the days go by, it becomes difficult to satiate my hunger for knowledge. I work at Walgreens near my home but hate my job (especially the idea that I might be working their full-time once I leave school)

Ever since I can remember, I've always been fasacinated by film. The epicness of watching something that has had so much time and effort put into it. Doesn't matter what it was, as long as I was interested in it. As a grew, the amount of movies I've watched increased dramatically. I moved from watching horror films to more award winners and suddenly I was hooked and had to watch movies all the time. It has become somewhat of an obsession with me. I want to see movies and see if the critics are always right. Some guys may be obsessed with the NFL or the MLB, but for me its the Oscars and, to a certain degree, the Golden Globes (especially delighted with the prospects of Heath Ledger and Mickey Rourke winning the Oscars this year, they were fantastic in both "The Dark Knight" and "The Wrestler")

That is why I took this course because I felt that it could "broaden my horizons" and get me to watch films I might never have watched before, for instances "Borat" and "Mongol", both films I've heard about but never had time to watch before. Films that I might have passed over are now at my fingertips and there for my viewing pleasure. I hope for good things this semester and hope this course lives up to expectations (which I'm sure it will).