Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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47 of 55 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Just-As-Useful Review of a "Minority", April 16, 2008
As a 16 year old male, I recieved far more than several strange looks upon entering the theatre to see this movie. There was one girl in particular who sat in front of me and managed to turn around and look at me with a rather pathetic lack of comprehension somewhere between 10 to 20 times before the movie started. I could just see in her eyes that she, like many of the other close-minded immature tweens whom surrounded me, was thoroughly considering either my sanity or my sexual orientation. It really is incredibly unsettling that our society is as bigoted and incapable as it is. Target demographic, shmarget demographic; Miley/Hannah's music is incredibly entertaining, well composed, and, at times, moving, regardless of age or gender.
BUT anyway, on with the review...
Miley's voice is amazing. It's even better live than on her CD's, and this film presents absolutely no exception. Her control and range are darn impressive, while at the same time her voice maintains an innocence and untapped potential that makes it satisfyingly difficult to stop listenting to her. I have to say that I love the unique controlled vocal crack that seems to be her signature during extended segments of vocal influctuation. She's also absolutely fearless; how many 15 year olds could keep their composure in front of 15,000+ people nearly every night with the comfort and facility that she does?
And on top off all her talent, she is, to put it incredibly frankly, pretty darn hott.
The instrumentation throughout the concert was superb. Her lead guitarist and drummer especially were outstanding in my opinion. One thing that I love about concert experiences is that the music itself is always far better than it is on the recording, since record companies and such can't put restrictions on spantaneous improvisations by the musicians. It was also a treat to listen to Miley play an acoustic guitar during "I Miss You."
Perhaps the best part of the film was the 3D effect. The glasses, thank God, weren't the blue and red sort that leave your color perception ruined and your head aching for hours, but were much better quality plastic ones.
I happen to be an aspiring filmmaker, so coming from a cinematographic point of view, this movie left nothing to be desired. Sweeping camera shots, pleasantly unexpected close ups, and creatively fun visual tricks in post production made the absolute best use of the 3D effect possible. At one point during viewing, I almost subconsciously convinced myself that I actually WAS right there, front row at her performance. You literally feel like you could reach out and touch her at any time.
The vibrant use/balance of color was in no way distorted by the glasses [if anything, the 3D effect enhanced them] and the very well designed stage setup and enormous venue could've made even the smallest theatre seem wonderfully spacious.
One of my personal favorite moments of the experience was the period of time in which the incomparable Jonas Brothers played a few songs while Miley changed. Their dramatic music, rich instrumentation, and dependably deep and passionate performances/vocals alone were worth the $15, and one can only hope that they will release a filmed concert as well... Haha, but I digress.
My only complaint would have to be that the entire concert is not included. There were numerous songs that I was looking forward to, but that didn't make it past the cutting room floor. I suppose they had to pick and choose between performances though since they had to fit behind-the-scenes action as well.
All in all, this movie is incontrovertably entertaining and simply bursting with refreshing talent. People can tell me I'm "not supposed" to enjoy what Miley has to offer all they want, but the fact of the matter is that she is a quality entertainer and to refuse fandom based merely on social expectation is ridiculous and pathetic. I cannot wait until this DVD comes out, and you can bet that it'll be in my DVD player before the day it becomes available is through.
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30 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Girl power! And the Jonas Brothers, February 4, 2008
Energetic Miley Cyrus is a dynamo in this bubbly concert film, a celebration of girlhood, of sisterhood, of the power of positive thought. The likable, ever-smiling 15-year-old positively shimmers with charm. Her sunny personality takes over both backstage and during performances. Sure it's slick, and on the surface about as light as cotton candy. But its underlining, and everpresent, message -- that a girl can be whatever, and whoever, she wants -- is powerful, and I think important for young girls to hear as often as they can.
The 74-minute movie begins backstage, but before long the show begins as Hannah sings "Rock Star." What hits you right away is the joy from the girls in the audience -- both onscreen and, at least in my case, in the movie theater. They scream, wave their waves and sing along to every word. The electricity is matched onstage, as no one seems more excited to be there than Hannah/Miley herself.
Disney heartthrobs the Jonas Brothers (or, as the young girls around me referred to them, "THE JONAS BROTHERS!!!!!!") soon join Hannah onstage, and then perform by themselves. During this time we follow Hannah as she heads backstage, takes off her wig, and becomes Miley. When she returns, the songs are a little edgier and at times a little sexy. Miley works the stage like a pro during the sisterhood anthem "Girl's Night Out" and the flamenco-inspired "Let's Dance," then sits down to sing, and play guitar to, "I Miss You," a tribute to her late grandfather.
Interspersed with the show are rehearsal segments -- Miley and her dad traveling together to the studio and later singing a duet at home, Miley's mom describing how she helps her daughter change clothes backstage, and fans and their dads (often wearing long blonde wigs themselves) saying why they like Hannah/Miley. A funny contest segment shows dedicated dads duct-taping high heels to their big feet to enter a race to win tickets to the concert.
For the most part the 3D effects are mild, and simply serve to immerse you in the show. Though some things come at you (including a flicked guitar pick, a jabbed microphone stand and some flying drum sticks), the real illusion of depth comes from people and objects receding away from the screen, a technique which appears to bring Hannah/Miley slightly closer.
As a parent watching this young open-faced girl, I remembered seeing Britney Spears perform at the peak of her stardom. She also had a screaming, adoring crowd of preteen girls, and was equally pretty, stylish and talented. Miley, though, has more to work with. She has the benefit of engaged parents, as well as the protective power of Disney, the latter not just at the beginning of her career, but also as it explodes. Here's hoping they help spare her Britney's sad and ugly road.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome!, February 10, 2008
I'm one of the many who didn't get to see Miley's concert in person, so I jumped at the chance to get a ticket to the concert movie. I thought $15 was a bit high for a movie, but it was better than paying over $100 for a ticket to the real concert. Anyway, I really enjoyed seeing the movie, and the fact that it was 3-D was really cool, because it made it seem more like I was at a real concert. It also had a few behind-the-scenes segments, which I thought was pretty cool. I just wish it had been longer, because I love all of Miley's songs. I hope they'll put out this movie on DVD, because it'd be fun to see it again.
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