Best of Both Worlds Concert: The 3-D Movie [Blu-ray] Extended Edition

     The Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds live concert was a sold-out sensation everywhere it played, and this concert video is the next best thing to being there for all the fans that couldn't get tickets to attend the concert in person. The movie opens with Miley Cyrus backstage in make-up and hair, warming up with vocal exercises, then cuts to Hannah Montana (her alter ego)'s performance of "Rock Star," and then back in time to four weeks before her performance when concert rehearsals were just beginning. It runs like a backstage special feature for a while, following Hannah Montana through coaching, choreography scenes with Kenny Ortega, and rehearsal sessions. Then it's back to concert footage from opening night in St. Louis and all along the tour, seasoned here and there with some fun looks at the concerts' special effects, quick costume changes, other logistical challenges (Hannah gets dropped during a routine early in the tour), and lots of shots of the enthusiastic, mostly female 'tween audiences. The 3D format gives the audience a nice sense of being there and includes some effective, if somewhat overused shots of the crowd waving, Hannah/Miley reaching out to the audience, and fun stunts like the drummer's twirling stick thrown high in the air and the guitar player's pick being tossed out into the audience. The sound is adequate, but fails to replicate the live concert experience (the plus side is that the audience's ears won't be ringing for hours after the performance). Hannah Montana's performance includes "Rock Star," "Life's What You Make It," "Just Like You," "Nobody's Perfect," and "We Got the Party." The Jonas Brothers perform "When You Look Me In the Eyes" and "Year 3000," and then Miley hits the stage with "Start All Over," "I Got Nerve," "I Miss You" (which Miley wrote in honor of her Granddad's passing), "Going Away," "GNO: Girl's Night Out," and "The Best of Both Worlds." This 3D concert presentation truly is the "best of both worlds," a 3D concert experience with easy availability and minimal expense. Better yet is the message that girls can do anything they want if they put their minds and hearts to it. (Ages 7 and older) --Tami Horiuchi      The sold-out concert event that rocked the nation is bursting onto Disney DVD and Blu-ray Disc for a limited time only in a two-disc extended edition with a 3-D concert experience so real it's like having a backstage pass! "Make Some Noise" and get ready for the year's most eye-popping dance-in-your-seat music experience with HANNAH MONTANA & MILEY CYRUS BEST OF BOTH WORLDS CONCERT MOVIE! For the first time ever Miley performs as herself and Hannah in the same epic show! With a special appearance by the Jonas Brothers and exclusive bonus features including a sing-along mode additional songs and a rare inside look into the rock star lives of Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers this movie sensation is "as close as you'll come to achieving the best of both worlds" (Elizabeth Weitzman New York Daily News).System Requirements:Running Time: 90 minutesFormat: BLU-RAY DISC Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: G UPC: 786936767186 Manufacturer No: 05763300

Comment:
    Believe it or not, I actually watched this, 3-D glasses on, together with my 5 yr. old little girl on a lazy summer afternoon. There's, of course, a lot of music and, every now and then, we get to see what's going on backstage. We meet Miley's dad - a nice guy, her trainers, watch a bit of the rehearsal. Miley's even telling us the meaning of one of her songs, dedicated to her late grandfather. The overall impression is of a well-balanced, loved by her daddy good girl who is not likely to turn bad or weird, the way some other teen idols did as they aged. As for the 3-D experience, it's the old red-blue technology. You don't need any special hardware other than the cardboard 3-D glasses but you lose a most of the colors, sacrificing colors for depth. On a hi-res TV it's a pretty good experience. I see no reason to take out any stars so... here they come: my 5-stars.Believe me, I'm no tween! ...an older family man, former entertainer. I know music and talent. Miley Cyrus is pure talent...her voice, personality, stage presence. She has it all. The creators of this DVD have given this young performer a perfect production on DVD. Camera cuts timed just right to keep the excitement going; yet each shot held long enough so you're not cheated. Miley has earned her STAR title, and this DVD has a mix of quality entertainment and even behind-the-scenes action that makes it a favorite of mine. Totally unexpected to be this good, but, hey, I'll take it, and highly recommend you consider the same.