America: Imagine the World Without Her Blu-ray Review

"America: Imagine the World Without Her" is presented on Blu-ray by Lionsgate Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. The film's video presentation is notably varied due to the amalgamation of contemporary interview segments, professionally shot reenactments, and stock footage from disparate sources. The new footage is consistently crisp, clean, and sharp, showcasing an impressive level of detail. In contrast, some stock footage exhibits occasional issues with image instability and video noise, reflecting its variable origins and quality.

The clarity and detail of the transfer are particularly commendable in the newer footage, which features a rich representation of both foreground and background elements. Interviews display a well-defined 3-dimensional quality with distinct layering. The black levels are deep and consuming, especially in nighttime scenes with D'Souza, effectively using natural light though some details are lost in the shadows. Colors throughout the film are accurate and nicely saturated, providing vibrancy without over-saturation. Flesh tones appear natural and consistent, maintaining a high level of facial detail during closeups.

Overall, while the presentation exhibits some imperfections due to the diverse source materials, the transfer manages to retain a visually engaging and technically competent quality. The combination of new and historical footage achieves a balance that enhances the narrative experience without compromising too much on visual integrity.

"America: Imagine the World Without Her" presents an adept DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that efficiently captures the film’s varying tonal requirements. The track noticeably excels during dynamic sequences such as the Revolutionary War reenactments, where the effects-driven audio provides a rich sense of immersion. This robust sonic performance is characterized by precise low-frequency extension during battle scenes, with cannons and rifles delivering impactful resonance through the subwoofer. While the majority of the film focuses on narration and interviews, resulting in a predominantly centered audio experience, fidelity remains impeccable throughout.

The audio presentation impresses with its ability to manage diverse sourced content effectively. The film's old archival audio material is reproduced with notable clarity and cohesiveness, seamlessly transitioning to the newly recorded segments that feature sharp and crisply defined sounds. Rear speakers are utilized primarily for ambient effects and the orchestral score, creating a subtle but effective surround experience. Front speakers and the center channel adeptly render dialogues with clarity, ensuring that voice delivery is consistently clean and articulate.

All in all, this DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track delivers a surprising level of engagement for a documentary, capable of providing impactful moments along with clear and precise dialogue reproduction. The surround sound and low-frequency extensions are well-implemented, creating an engrossing auditory backdrop without overpowering the narration, and the sound design’s fidelity impresses at every level.

The Blu Ray extras for "America: Imagine the World Without Her" are a commendable addition, providing in-depth supplementary content that enriches the viewing experience. Of particular note, the Complete Interviews feature, lasting 33 minutes and 53 seconds, includes insightful conversations with notable figures like Ted Cruz, Niall Ferguson, Col. John Fer, and Star Parker. These interviews are presented in high definition, adding visual clarity to the substantial content discussed. Additionally, the Extended Scenes segment offers an extra 14 minutes and 4 seconds of footage, giving viewers a deeper dive into the film's material. Both features are presented in 1080p, ensuring a high-quality viewing experience.

Extras included in this disc:

Complete Interviews: Features Ted Cruz, Niall Ferguson, Col. John Fer (A POW Experience), and Star Parker. Extended Scenes: Additional footage expanding on key themes and scenes in the film.

Dinesh D'Souza's "America: Imagine the World Without Her" is a polarizing piece of political propaganda masquerading as a documentary. The film employs dramatic reenactments and interviews to assert America's unchallengeable righteousness amidst historical grievances, including slavery, Native American displacement, and territorial annexation. The underlying narrative positions America as the world's savior, dismissing criticisms as misguided or ungrateful. D'Souza ventures into controversial territory by downplaying historical atrocities, using flawed logic such as "everyone was doing it" to defend practices like slavery. His stance often comes off as condescending, especially when addressing the suffering of marginalized groups.

Stylistically, the film opens with an alternate history scenario where George Washington is killed, leading to an improbable chain reaction of disappearances of iconic American symbols. This setup makes his intentions clear from the start—propagating a view that without America, the world would descend into chaos. Throughout, D'Souza aims to counter liberal narratives, particularly targeting Howard Zinn’s “A People’s History of the United States.” He navigates this with an agenda that pivots halfway through the documentary, transitioning from historical analysis to a diatribe against modern political figures like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. The latter sequence, including a dramatized meeting with Saul Alinsky, veers into caricature, undercutting any previous semblance of objective discourse.

Ultimately, while some viewers may find moments of the documentary engaging or enlightening, the film's overt biases and historical misrepresentations undermine its credibility. D'Souza's arguments lack the necessary depth and factual rigor, making his grandiose claims largely unconvincing. The final product feels disjointed and occasionally absurd, reducing what could have been a serious examination of America's role in global history to a platform for conservative fearmongering.

"America: Imagine the World Without Her" Blu Ray offers a technically proficient presentation highlighted by superb visuals and an unexpectedly robust audio track for a documentary. The film embarks on an ambitious journey to counter critiques of American history, specifically targeting Howard Zinn's interpretations. While the first half provides a somewhat balanced exploration, the latter part devolves into an obvious agenda-driven narrative. The documentary's technical brilliance ensures an engaging viewing experience, but the substance leaves room for significant critique.

Content-wise, the documentary is polarizing. The initial attempt at historical analysis is quickly overshadowed by a presentation of partisan arguments, making it difficult to discern an objective stance. There are moments of engagement and entertainment, yet they are tempered by the film's transparent biases. Viewers on either side of the political spectrum may find their beliefs either bolstered or dismissed, leading to intensely divided opinions. As for the Blu Ray package itself, additional content is limited and adds little value beyond the main feature.

If your interest lies in witnessing varied perspectives on American history with high-quality audiovisuals, this release might be worth a rental or stream. However, ownership is recommended only for those specifically interested in this particular narrative.

I'm sure there will be those who are going to insist that my own personal biases have somehow blinded me to the truth of this supposed documentary. I would only say I am a first generation American, the son of an immigrant (Jewish) father who rose to the rank of Major General in the United States Army and who instilled in me a profound respect and admiration for my country. In my many years at the ballot box, I've voted for Republicans, Democrats and Independents, basing my choices on ideas and character rather than party affiliation. But something like America: Imagine the World Without Her just ends up making me both angry and sad. Certainly our political discourse deserves something better than this kind of glossy but empty diatribe. Nonetheless, there are going to be members of this particular choir who will want D'Souza to preach to them, and for them, technical merits on this release are generally strong.