The Dictator Blu-ray Review

“The Dictator," presented in 1080p, 2.40:1 widescreen, showcases a smooth yet refined texture that complements its digital source material. The transfer maintains a consistent level of detail and three-dimensional image quality across various scenes, whether in close-ups or wide shots. Colors are rich, vibrant, and consistently rendered, with flesh tones appearing lifelike and blending seamlessly into the film's chromatic aesthetic. While the picture is predominantly clean and artifact-free, there is some noise in darker scenes. The digital photography ensures a well-defined image, capturing even the finest details—from ornate decorations to everyday scene elements—with commendable clarity. Contrast is balanced well, and black levels are sufficiently deep, ensuring dynamic range and visibility in shadowy areas.

Despite these positives, some sequences exhibit a slightly uneven quality, with occasional softness and dimness that detract from depth. Certain shots of New York and the fictional Republic of Wadiya, however, demonstrate impressive dimensionality. There are instances where light banding and shimmering appear, but these are rarely obtrusive. Additionally, the color palette leans towards a stylized aesthetic with teals, oranges, and yellows, which can sometimes make skin tones appear orange. It’s worth noting that the unrated cut introduces additional scenes with different color timing and unfinished looks, making these sections appear inconsistent compared to the theatrical release.

Overall, "The Dictator" delivers a solid Blu-Ray transfer free from major artifacts or technical issues. While certain CGI-composited shots suffer in sharpness due to over-exaggeration in effects like lens flares, the overall image stability and natural flesh tones across most scenes ensure a visually pleasing experience. The film's slightly stylized presentation effectively enhances Aladeen’s world through indulgent use of light and dark hues, resulting in a high-definition experience that serves the movie well.

"The Dictator" features a DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless audio presentation that provides a well-balanced mix, capturing the essence of this comedy's needs with a commendable level of clarity. Dialogue is crystal clear, flowing effortlessly from the center channel, ensuring that viewers miss none of the witty exchanges. The front soundstage is wide, featuring natural spacing and robust low-end support, especially notable when the remixed foreign songs based on contemporary American hits start playing. Surround activity, while not aggressive, nonetheless extends the soundstage effectively with well-placed ambient effects that enhance scene immersion.

The mix includes crowd reactions, city noises, and occasional scenes of atmospheric detail, particularly in areas like the bustling organic marketplace or during protests outside the United Nations building. The soundstage opens up during specific scenes with a pleasing spaciousness, though surround usage remains subtle. Noteworthy moments include a brief but immersive experience of fire sweeping through the sound space in chapter three. The playful score and various musical selections carry a good degree of low-frequency energy, giving the soundtrack a punchy feel.

There are minor issues such as slight peeking and crackle around the 00:47:30 mark, but overall dynamic range remains clean with deep lows and highs without major distortion. While not entirely immersive and occasionally lively, the track is well-integrated and balanced, providing a solid technical presentation that makes "The Dictator" an engaging auditory experience. Paramount's track isn't a system-seller but it indeed gets the job done with high marks all around.

The Blu-ray extras for "The Dictator" are somewhat limited, despite the inclusion of both R-rated theatrical and unrated cuts of the film. Key supplemental features comprise over 30 minutes of deleted and extended scenes, an engaging music video, and an additional segment of Larry King’s interview with the character Aladeen. However, the array of extras falls short of what one might expect given Sacha Baron Cohen's typically elaborate promotional antics. All extras are presented in high definition with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio and the same subtitle options available for the main feature.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted and Extended Scenes: A collection of fifteen unique and humorous scenes cut for time.
• Music Video: An amusing piece featuring the song "Your Money is on the Dresser" by Aladeen.
• Larry King Interview: An extended version of the interview with Admiral General Aladeen.
• Bonus DVD: Includes the theatrical version of the film.
• Ultraviolet Digital Copy: A digital copy for mobile devices.

Sacha Baron Cohen’s "The Dictator" is a film that delivers a blend of sharp political satire and low-brow humor, revolving around the exploits of Admiral General Aladeen, the self-absorbed leader of the fictional North African nation, Wadiya. Cohen's portrayal of Aladeen is one of the movie's strongest points, creating a character as absurd and entertaining as his previous personas. Aladeen’s journey from dictator to a man trying to regain his lost position after being double-crossed provides the crux for numerous comedic scenarios. The film satirizes the egomaniacal behavior of dictators, amplified by the culture clash when Aladeen finds himself in New York.

The narrative navigates Aladeen's struggle to survive without power, emphasizing his ludicrous adaptation to civilian life. This includes working at a health food store and falling for Zoey (Anna Faris), an organic market operator. The humor often stems from Aladeen’s ignorance and mispronunciations, as well as his exaggerated dictator antics. There are genuine laugh-out-loud scenes, such as his interactions with Nadal (Jason Mantzoukas), the former head of his nuclear weapons program. Their banter, particularly in settings like a funeral home and aboard a helicopter, highlights the film's richly absurd humor.

Despite its strengths, "The Dictator" does falter in some areas. The comedy is quite uneven, with some jokes falling flat and certain scenes feeling overextended or unnecessary. Juvenile gags are prevalent, and the satire isn't as incisive as Cohen's previous works. The absence of real-world reactions detracts from the impact seen in films like "Borat" and "Bruno." Nonetheless, Cohen’s charismatic performance and clever moments carry the film, ensuring it remains an entertaining, albeit inconsistent, comedy. The unrated cut offers additional material that enhances some scenes but also risks diluting the narrative pace.

"The Dictator" on Blu-ray delivers a polarizing yet entertaining comedy with Sacha Baron Cohen at his peak in portraying an outrageously cartoonish third-world dictator. While some may find the humor vulgar and distasteful, the film excels in its satirical depiction of global power players, making the unthinkable hilarious. Despite its occasional narrative detours, the film skillfully returns to its core comedic essence, offering ample laughs throughout. The Blu-ray presentation is impressive, featuring solid video and audio transfers that enrich the viewing experience.

However, the release is somewhat undermined by its lackluster special features. Apart from a selection of deleted scenes, there isn’t much supplementary content to enhance the value of the disc. This shortfall might be a disappointment for fans looking for in-depth extras or behind-the-scenes insights. Nevertheless, the film itself retains its charm and comedic impact, with Cohen’s performance being a strong selling point.

In conclusion, "The Dictator" on Blu-ray is a solid option for fans of Sacha Baron Cohen’s distinct brand of comedy. Despite some uneven moments and a sparse selection of special features, the technical quality of the disc makes it a worthwhile addition to any comedy collection. For those indifferent to Cohen’s style, a rental might suffice.