Katy Perry the Movie: Part of Me [Blu-ray] [Import]

If you're like me you have probably imagined meeting the public person who most inspires your life many times. It's an exciting possibility, isn't it?

The next best thing for most of us is going to the concert and hoping that one day, maybe.. you could be one of the lucky few who make it all the way backstage and meet your inspiration, or would you meet them randomly somewhere? It happens.

Here then is a rare opportunity to do something similar, experience Katy Perry in concert and get a backstage pass and a fly on the wall behind the scenes look at the California Dreams tour.

I will be the first to admit that I am not Katy Perry's number one fan. I don't own any of her albums, but I do respect her accomplishments, and admire her charisma and presence and the fact that she did manage to get five number ones singles off her Teenage Dreams album.

In so doing she matched an accomplishment only ever achieved by Michael Jackson for Bad.

Her number one Billboard singles were: Last Friday Night (TGIF), California Gurls (featuring Snoop Dogg), the anthemic Firework, E.T (featuring Kanye West) and Teenage Dream.

As a writer I loved her use her use of alliteration on songs such as Hummingbird Heartbeat, and cherry chapstick on I Kissed a Girl.

Part of me is combination biography, concert tour, real life drama. I loved watching the performances and I think she is a tremendous songwriter with one of the best voices in the business.

The bio part shows that overnight success only came after years of hard work, struggle and rejection. It's an inspiring story about persisting against the odds.

Although she was going through some tough personal stuff in her life during this tour particularly with the end of the marriage with Russell Brand I found this gave an emotional wallop to the movie. At one point before the concert in Rio she sobs uncontrollably in her dressing room. Her staff wonders if she can perform at all.

Then she calls for her makeup artist. On her way to the stage she breaks down again her body racked with sobs. Then she gets on the elevator to the stage, she turns on her lollipops and we see a change in her facial expression as her game face comes on. It's a wonder to behold. What a trouper.

Then the fans sing 'we love you Katy' in Portuguese almost as if they sense her struggle and lift her up. These were some of the greatest moments I will experience at any movie this year. The concert scenes I found to be visually spectacular down to the smallest detail with vibrant colors and a dizzying array of colorful costumes that dutifully and beautifully highlight her voluptuous figure.

I commend her for letting us get so close and sharing something so deeply personal even though she was hurting at the time. In so doing she has fashioned a remarkable movie.

I loved this movie and highly recommend it even if you are not a huge fan but just love great performance and I hope you found this helpful.

VIDEO:

Katy Perry the Movie: Part of Me (2D) arrives at blu ray with MPEG-4 AVC 1080p 1.78:1 encode. Since this is a documentary/concert film, the overall quality is indeed a mix-bag. The concert scenes dazzle, with precision clarity, excellent details and brilliant colours, like Katy’s blue hair and her various colourful costumes. Black levels in these scenes are spot-on, and they nicely balance the gaudy colours and extreme razzle-dazzle on the stage. Viewers will see every little intricate texture around the performance and will be blinded by the dizzying array of colours that define a Katy Perry concert. But some videos taken from cell phones are of lower quality because of its source. The video was an original high definition 3D production done on the Red Epic at 5K, of which we are here reviewing the plain old 2D release (a 3D Blu-ray is also available, but at much higher price). Katy Perry’s Part of Me looks about as good as any documentary/concert movie could look. (4.5/5)

AUDIO:

The DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio lossless tracks are well done, especially in the concert sequences. The obvious highlight is the assortment of on-stage Katy Perry performances, clipped from her whirlwind 2011 tour. Not only are they a visual treat, but the audio is simply superb. There is a faultless presence and clarity to the music. It is expertly spaced and completely immersive, pulsating and stretching to the sides and implementing a big surround support element that feels natural and, along with crowd noise, absolutely immerses the listener into front row of the concert hall. The music is largely defined by its positive, tight, and strong rattling bass. All the different instruments are clearly heard. Katy Perry’s singing voice stands out…crystal clear. Dialogue is well defined. The documentary sequences are clean and natural sounding. (5/5)

CONTENT:

Part of Me morphs concert film with biography chronicles Perry’s life and career from her childhood as the daughter of traveling Pentecostal Christian preacher parents, to her first Contemporary Christian album release at the young age of 15, before her struggles to breakaway from her christian roots, inspired by Alanis Morrissette, and sign with Island Def Jam, then wasted in Columbia, and finally discovered by Capitol Records. Featured are interviews with numerous teenage fans of various ages inspired by the energetic pop queen as well as her own brother, sister, and most touchingly, her 90-year-old grandmother. Her closeness with her fans was well documented. We also got a chance to see Katy without make-up…still a gorgeous young lady.

The film, which is also a document of Perry’s massive California Dreams world tour, also happened to coincide with her very public marriage and subsequent breakup with Russell Brand. Rather than gloss this over or avoid it entirely, much to Perry’s credit, they work this into the film, showing her near emotional breakdown and determination to perform even as she could barely hold herself together. To see her depressed and crying, then got up to start the concert in San Paolo as if nothing has happened, is very moving, and shows her professionalism. The song The One That Got Away was especially poignant.

The songs performed during this film included:

Part of Me
Waking Up In Vegas
Teenage Dreams
Hot N Cold
Hummingbird Heartbeat
I Kissed A Girl
E.T.
Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)
Who Am I Living For?
Lost
Thinking of You
The One That Got Away
Firework
Hey Jude
California Gurls.

Her latest single Wide Awake could not be worked into the film, so it was featured in the End Credit. Full concert performances of Waking Up In Vegas and Last Friday Night were found in Special Features.

This film succeeded on two fronts: Katy’s concert performance (5+/5) and her likability (5/5). (movie: 4.5/5)

FINAL THOUGHTS:

If this movie is a tease of what to come with a complete California Dreams world tour concert blu ray disc, I can hardly wait for the release of the much anticipated and her first blu ray full length concert. I hope the producer will concentrate on one concert, but fill up the song lists with performances from her various concerts around the world. My fear is that some singles from this year may not be included in her concert, just like Lady Gaga’s concert, with only 2 songs from her latest CD. I have seen her concert song listing, but I still hope I am wrong. Other blu ray concerts that I am patiently waiting for are those from Rihanna and Madonna, both currently on tour. I guess those concerts won’t be available on discs until the entire concert tour ends (like the recent Lady Gaga concert blu ray disc). But Katy Perry’s California Dreams tour has ended. So, please release the full concert on blu ray. I can stay Wide Awake, just dreaming of this. This 93 minute movie is totally enjoyable.

This set is highly recommended for all Katy Perry fans.

Katy Perry: Part of Me- The Movie(3D Limited edition Combo [Blu-ray,... I would highly recommend this concert/movie if you are between the ages of five and fifteen, any older and FORGET IT!!