The Aristocrats
#53
DVD Talk Special Edition
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Saw it tonight, thought it was great... BUT...
I agree with the editing comments above. I was hoping for some full versions of the joke from these comedians like Gilbert Gottfried and Saget (which was probably the most irritating version with all of the interruptions). Gottfried's version wasn't particularly funny compared to the rest of the movie (semen and feces and vomit... oh my!) and would've been at the very least interesting if shown in it's entirety (including the 9/11 stuff - at that point, nobody who's left in the theater is going to get offended by anything). I can understand it's relevance but it fell flat and came off as, like Matthew Chmiel said: a big mutual masturbation fest.
I can understand the quick-cutting which might've helped the down-time in their delivery while they were trying to think of more stuff to say. But it did come off as annoying blown up on the big screen... especially when the picture is a cropped version of an original 4:3 image (I believe).
^Also thought that they could've cut down the introduction to 5-10 minutes. I even walked in a few minutes late and I still got tired of them building it up.
I also think that the movie fell victim to one of the rules of the joke which was mentioned (can't remember who, maybe Carlin or Reiser)... "don't start with fucking and shitting, start with peeing so you have something to build up to." A lot of the paler, less interesting jokes near the end kind of brought the movie down, especially if your starting off the movie with big guys like Carlin doing their own naturally nasty versions. IMO, as the movie went on, it wasn't about how nasty or shocking you were, but how creative you were with the words and descriptions... ringing true to comedy in general.
With the few gripes aside, I still laughed my ass off and got a huge kick out of the wide variations of versions - even to the point of changing the joke. I will definitley pick up the DVD in hopes for longer uncut scenes... and just a chance to memorize some of the interpretations for my friends.
8/10
I agree with the editing comments above. I was hoping for some full versions of the joke from these comedians like Gilbert Gottfried and Saget (which was probably the most irritating version with all of the interruptions). Gottfried's version wasn't particularly funny compared to the rest of the movie (semen and feces and vomit... oh my!) and would've been at the very least interesting if shown in it's entirety (including the 9/11 stuff - at that point, nobody who's left in the theater is going to get offended by anything). I can understand it's relevance but it fell flat and came off as, like Matthew Chmiel said: a big mutual masturbation fest.
I can understand the quick-cutting which might've helped the down-time in their delivery while they were trying to think of more stuff to say. But it did come off as annoying blown up on the big screen... especially when the picture is a cropped version of an original 4:3 image (I believe).
^Also thought that they could've cut down the introduction to 5-10 minutes. I even walked in a few minutes late and I still got tired of them building it up.
I also think that the movie fell victim to one of the rules of the joke which was mentioned (can't remember who, maybe Carlin or Reiser)... "don't start with fucking and shitting, start with peeing so you have something to build up to." A lot of the paler, less interesting jokes near the end kind of brought the movie down, especially if your starting off the movie with big guys like Carlin doing their own naturally nasty versions. IMO, as the movie went on, it wasn't about how nasty or shocking you were, but how creative you were with the words and descriptions... ringing true to comedy in general.
With the few gripes aside, I still laughed my ass off and got a huge kick out of the wide variations of versions - even to the point of changing the joke. I will definitley pick up the DVD in hopes for longer uncut scenes... and just a chance to memorize some of the interpretations for my friends.
8/10
Last edited by MasterCXtreme; 08-29-05 at 12:36 AM.
#55
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Originally Posted by MasterCXtreme
Saw it tonight, thought it was great... BUT...
I agree with the editing comments above. I was hoping for some full versions of the joke from these comedians like Gilbert Gottfried and Saget (which was probably the most irritating version with all of the interruptions). Gottfried's version wasn't particularly funny compared to the rest of the movie (semen and feces and vomit... oh my!) and would've been at the very least interesting if shown in it's entirety (including the 9/11 stuff - at that point, nobody who's left in the theater is going to get offended by anything). I can understand it's relevance but it fell flat and came off as, like Matthew Chmiel said: a big mutual masturbation fest.
I can understand the quick-cutting which might've helped the down-time in their delivery while they were trying to think of more stuff to say. But it did come off as annoying blown up on the big screen... especially when the picture is a cropped version of an original 4:3 image (I believe).
^Also thought that they could've cut down the introduction to 5-10 minutes. I even walked in a few minutes late and I still got tired of them building it up.
I also think that the movie fell victim to one of the rules of the joke which was mentioned (can't remember who, maybe Carlin or Reiser)... "don't start with fucking and shitting, start with peeing so you have something to build up to." A lot of the paler, less interesting jokes near the end kind of brought the movie down, especially if your starting off the movie with big guys like Carlin doing their own naturally nasty versions. IMO, as the movie went on, it wasn't about how nasty or shocking you were, but how creative you were with the words and descriptions... ringing true to comedy in general.
With the few gripes aside, I still laughed my ass off and got a huge kick out of the wide variations of versions - even to the point of changing the joke. I will definitley pick up the DVD in hopes for longer uncut scenes... and just a chance to memorize some of the interpretations for my friends.
8/10
I agree with the editing comments above. I was hoping for some full versions of the joke from these comedians like Gilbert Gottfried and Saget (which was probably the most irritating version with all of the interruptions). Gottfried's version wasn't particularly funny compared to the rest of the movie (semen and feces and vomit... oh my!) and would've been at the very least interesting if shown in it's entirety (including the 9/11 stuff - at that point, nobody who's left in the theater is going to get offended by anything). I can understand it's relevance but it fell flat and came off as, like Matthew Chmiel said: a big mutual masturbation fest.
I can understand the quick-cutting which might've helped the down-time in their delivery while they were trying to think of more stuff to say. But it did come off as annoying blown up on the big screen... especially when the picture is a cropped version of an original 4:3 image (I believe).
^Also thought that they could've cut down the introduction to 5-10 minutes. I even walked in a few minutes late and I still got tired of them building it up.
I also think that the movie fell victim to one of the rules of the joke which was mentioned (can't remember who, maybe Carlin or Reiser)... "don't start with fucking and shitting, start with peeing so you have something to build up to." A lot of the paler, less interesting jokes near the end kind of brought the movie down, especially if your starting off the movie with big guys like Carlin doing their own naturally nasty versions. IMO, as the movie went on, it wasn't about how nasty or shocking you were, but how creative you were with the words and descriptions... ringing true to comedy in general.
With the few gripes aside, I still laughed my ass off and got a huge kick out of the wide variations of versions - even to the point of changing the joke. I will definitley pick up the DVD in hopes for longer uncut scenes... and just a chance to memorize some of the interpretations for my friends.
8/10
I would still like to hear unedited versions of all of the jokes, but I'm guessing that Provenza edited everything so tightly because there were LOTS of dead spots. Just my impression.
Re: the 4:3 framing, this was very noticeable all through the movie for me. Some of the shots of Gottfried at the end from the Comedy Central show cut his head off entirely. If they wanted this framed at 1.85:1, I think it would work, they just need to matte the BOTTOM of the frame so that people's heads are completely visible. I realize this may not be practical in theaters; maybe it could be done for DVD or shown 4:3. I was distracted all the way through by cutting off people's heads right above the eyes, with no apparent reason in the composition of the shot to do so.
The filmmakers have so much extra material, and have mentioned from the beginning that a lot of it will be on the DVD, I get the feeling that the theatrical cut of the movie is going to be relegated to being an extra on the DVD.
#56
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here some examples of the joke...but be warned it's not for the faint of heart:
http://www.dead-frog.com/aristocrats/
http://www.dead-frog.com/aristocrats/
#57
Saw it last night and enjoyed it. I didn't have problems with the editing and while members here are annoyed about the lack of footage with Gilbert telling it at the ball, Provenza says on the commentary that was the only footage they were able to get. And you can hear Gilbert tell the joke in it's entirety (In a different setting) on the DVD.
Good disc overall. I especially liked the bonus jokes in the "green room".
Good disc overall. I especially liked the bonus jokes in the "green room".
#60
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: PA
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this movie is a documentary, nothing more. it takes a look at humor, but really isn't funny at all. This has got to be on point, since the joke of the movie isn't meant to be funny to the listener anyway. if you are looking for laughs avoid this. however, the dvd extra where participants tell their favorite joke is decent enough.
"it's in the papers already!"
"it's in the papers already!"
#61
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Venom
this movie is a documentary, nothing more. it takes a look at humor, but really isn't funny at all. This has got to be on point, since the joke of the movie isn't meant to be funny to the listener anyway.