Merrick again...

A few weeks ago, we reported that the people of Kazakhstan were less than happy with how their nation will presented in the forthcoming BORAT movie -- so much so that the film will be a topic of conversation when Kazakh President Nazarbayev meets with President Bush during his imminent visit to the United States. You can read more about this HERE.

Eager to combat the negative stereotyping advanced by BORAT, Kazakhstan is now readying a $40 million film called NOMAD – the most expensive movie ever produced by that nation…hoping that the project will make Kazakhstan look better in the eyes of the world.

President Nazarbayev hopes that Nomad, a film about the struggle of Kazakh tribes to expel Mongol invaders, will improve his nation’s reputation. [edit]The film will be distributed internationally by Harvey and Bob Weinstein, the Hollywood moguls who founded Miramax before leaving the Disney-owned studio last year to form a new company. [edit] Set in the 18th century, Nomad tells the story of Mansur, a handsome warrior born to unite the Kazakh tribes and free them from the Jungar occupiers of western Mongolia.

I’m not sure if this is a testament to the humorless insanity of the Kazakh government…the increasing notoriety of Sacha Baron Cohen's humor& character…or a little of both. Either way, this is all kinds of amusing. And, in my mind, this whole matter perfectly exemplifies the adage “There’s no such thing as bad publicity” for all concerned.

NOMAD? Wouldn’t it rock if it ends up being, like, insanely cool and good? I’m tempted to jab at anyone who undertakes a $40,000,000 propaganda piece…but then I remembered we have TOP GUN and PEARL HARBOR, which kind of defeated my own argument.

READ MORE HERE!!!