Buzz Watch: Borat Wants To Meet “Fearless Anti-Jew Warrior” Mel Gibson

Authored by Jay Baage on October 26, 2006 - 7:05am.

Last night, the much anticipated Twentieth Century Fox movie Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan premiered in London. Ali G comedian Sacha Baron Cohen showed up on the red carpet in full Kazak character as Borat and told reporters he also had another reason for being in London:

"I have come here with Bilak, my 11 year old son, his wife and their child, and we are hoping maybe to put some chocolate make-up on the child's face and sell him to Madonna. I am hoping that Madonna will be a very good father for it."

Next up is the premier in the US on November 3rd. Borat told reporters that he also has another reason for wanting to go back to the US:

"I would like to meet the fearless anti-Jew warrior, Melvin Gibson. We agree with his comments that the Jews started all wars. We also have proof that they were responsible for killing off all the dinosaurs. And Hurricane Katrina - they did it."

No matter how much buzz this movie has gathered so far, especially on the Internet, Twentieth Century Fox on Tuesday confirmed that it had slashed by more than half the number of locations where it hoped to debut the mock documentary.

The reason given is that surveys showed that moviegoers were largely unaware of the upcoming movie. A tracking survey Monday by National Research Group showed that 27% of respondents were aware of Borat, well behind two competitors opening the same weekend. Of those surveyed, 81% were aware of Walt Disney Co.'s The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause and 50% were aware of DreamWorks Animation SKG's Flushed Away, to be released through Paramount Pictures.

This might seem strange to long-time Borat-fans, but Internet hype does not always translate into box office success, like the movie Snakes on a Plane made clear this summer. It might be the case that Borat will suffer the same syndrome, a buzz that peaks too early, but it might also be the case that the tracking is unreliable for this kind of unconventional movies.

In any case, Borat and the new James Bond thriller Casino Royale will for sure be collecting points on my ArcLight card this November.

Jagshemash!

Comments

This movie is really

Submitted by Borat (not verified) on November 14, 2006 - 8:59am.

This movie is really great! I went to cinema yesterday, and I still can't stop laughing with the scene when Borat is playing bowls This is really really the best movie I have ever seen!