The Dictator
for strong crude and sexual content, brief male nudity, language and some violent images.
Reviewed by: Dan Willis
CONTRIBUTOR
| Moral Rating: | Extremely Offensive |
| Moviemaking Quality: |
|
| Primary Audience: | Adults |
| Genre: | Comedy Satire |
| Length: | 2 hr. |
| Year of Release: | 2012 |
| USA Release: |
May 16, 2012 (wide—2,800+ theaters) DVD: August 21, 2012 |
satirical humor—good and proper uses in movies, versus bad uses
Why is excessive public vulgarity, obscenity and promiscuity a bad thing for people and society?
article: “The Blue Tube: Foul Language on Prime Time Network TV—a Parents Television Council State of the Television Industry Report
How do I know what is right from wrong? Answer
Are we living in a moral Stone Age? Answer
“…God gave them over to a reprobate mind… Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity… backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things… without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful…” —Romans 1:18–32
“…in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers… despisers of those that are good… heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God… led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” —2 Timothy 3:1–7
egomaniac Middle Easterm leader
oppressive dictatorship versus democracy and freedom
xenophobia—intense or irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries
war on terrorism
FILM VIOLENCE—How does viewing violence in movies affect families? Answer
“VOTING” FOR BAD MOVIES—Every time you buy a movie ticket or rent a video you are casting a vote telling Hollywood “That’s what I want.” Why does Hollywood continue to promote immoral programming? Are YOU part of the problem? Answer
| Featuring |
Megan Fox … Herself Sacha Baron Cohen … General Aladeen Anna Faris Ben Kingsley John C. Reilly B.J. Novak J.B. Smoove … Usher See all » |
| Director |
Larry Charles |
| Producer |
Four by Two Films KanZaman Services See all » |
| Distributor |
 Paramount Pictures Corporation, a subsidiary of ViacomCBS |
“The Dictator” is Sacha Baron Cohen’s latest film. The director and mastermind behind “Borat” and “Brüno” now turns his eyes on the Middle East crisis. Crafting himself as the ruler/dictator of a fictional East African nation of Waddiya who is pursuing the enrichment of nuclear arms.
The film’s big twist comes when the American government kidnaps, and instead of torturing, shears the Dictator, altering his appearance and taking his infamous beard. The film is now about a ruthless dictator left to wander the streets and wrestle with stereotypical American ignorance.
This film is rife with reasons to avoid it. It is an endless reel of racism, anger, swearing, lewd sex jokes, and awful stereotypes. There is nothing moral anywhere in this entire film, with the exception of the commentary it is offering on the stereotypes we hold of people.
Spiritually, this film is completely void of anything of value. The only spiritual concept that this film can lay claim to is proof of the total depravity of man and the concept of Romans 1:26 that those who pursue fleshly things God hands over to be consumed by their desire.
The bottomline? Avoid this one, at all costs. There is nothing to be gained by watching this film. The jokes are stale, overdone and not funny. The humor is distasteful and completely unnecessary. Save yourself the hour and a half and skip this one.
Violence: Heavy / Foul language: Extreme—f-words (19) usually used with “mother”, various vulgar terms for male and female anatomy, sexual act, etc. / Sex/Nudity: Heavy to extreme, and very vulgar
“VOTING” FOR BAD MOVIES—Every time you buy a movie ticket or rent a video you are casting a vote telling Hollywood “That’s what I want.” Why does Hollywood continue to promote immoral programming? Are YOU part of the problem? Answer
See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.
PLEASE share your observations and insights to be posted here.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Extremely Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4