Taylor Swift: Journey To Fearless
Released By: Shout Factory
Video Presented: MPEG4-AVC @ 36Mbps
1080I, 1.78 AR
Audio Presented: DTS-MA 5.1, LPCM 2.0
Run Time: 135 Minutes (3 Episodes)
Release Date: October 11
Concert Blu-Rays have become a real interest for me recently. After seeing a few, I realized that a good concert Blu-Ray can really get you into a show in a way that DVD seemingly never did. The High Def presentation, the solid audio, the great chance for a real look at extras – they all provided something unique.
The Lights can Cause Rainbows, but she can still knock it out
The standard for judging an HD presentation of a concert is part about the music and whether or not you like the artist, but it’s also an attempt to sell you on actually going out and seeing the show live. I’ve followed Taylor Swift in about the same way most passive radio listeners have. Heard a song here, a song there, and I appreciated her work. Some catchy numbers, cute lyrics and great looks helped sell her efforts. If your next question was: would you pay money to see Taylor Swift in Concert? My answer would likely be no. It’s just not an act I would be wound up to go see in a concert setting, because there isn’t enough of her music that I view as the kind of material I’d have to see live.
Taylor mixes with the crowd on an entrance
After watching the concert Blu-Ray though, I’m having serious second thoughts. Taylor Swift’s “The Journey to Fearless” originally aired on The Hub, Hasbro’s cable network and it gives us concert footage of songs – which thankfully the menu lets you immediately access, or you can watch in a series of 3 episodes. The episodes, which are in exact order as the airing on The Hub, give us a behind the scenes look at what goes into preparing a concert, Swift’s rise to celebrity, her attitude and the work that goes into the show. Swift still comes across in a lot of ways as the slightly bobbled young girl, but her enthusiasm and work effort are hard to deny; the lengths to which the artist is willing to go to improve her show, be seen by the fans and make the concert event memorable are stand out; and the blu-ray goes to great lengths to show us all of this. Interviews with her mother and band members, backup singers and fans give us a look at why people like to tour with Taylor, the fan experience, and what makes her show what it is.
Taylor sings from the back of the auditorium in the isle so fans can "get close"
If you could teach someone how to sell themselves, this would be as good a way to do it as I know of. I managed to sit straight through all three episodes and go back and catch a few of the songs later. Swift’s energetic performances and good arrangement make this a fun and breezy watch.
Video Quality 3.75 / 5
The video is presented in 1080I using the MPEG4 CODEC. The video is set at about a 36Mbps AWBR, and it looks surprisingly sharp. One of the negatives of a 1080I transfer, however, is that in fast moving scenes, and with some of the lighting we get some serious rainbows. At first I had wondered if it was my display (A Samsung 55” UN55D7000). But I’ve tried it on several other monitors, and in many scenes, her background lights give my TV the same look/pattern as you’d see on and old TV show when someone wore plaid. However, the video is in phenomenal quality when she’s pictured on her own, with fans, out in the arenas and flashbacks.
A LED lighted stage doesn't always transfer well
In some ways, I would be tempted to just this poorly, citing the way the lighting effects work and how the motion within this presentation at times is blurry. But when it works, it really works. Frankly, I cared far more about the close and private scenes shot with Taylor, or the scenes of her close camera on stage more than the long tractor shots that showed off some of the flaws. The video will be an up in the air event for many.
But up close, it's SO good
Audio Quality 4 / 5
The audio is presented in DTS-MA 5.1, and LPCM 2.0. I’m going to say right off the bat, I SIGNIFICANTLY preferred the LPCM mix. For some reason, the DTS-MA mix is very tightly focused in the front center channel, and never really gave me the full impact of the concert setting. The LPCM 2.0 is quite good. And maybe it’s just the stereo effect or the way I have my speakers set, but I found the LPCM 2.0 mix to be so far and away superior that it was hard to flick back and forth and appreciate the DTS mix. Because this is a music title, having most of the audio come through my center channel just wasn’t as pleasing as I wish it would be. The LPCM mix provided a more “fun” mix, and I enjoyed it greatly.
This is the benefit of Blu-ray, though. Because both mixes are present, it’s easy to go from one to the other and find the one that works for you. There are some surround effects in the DTS mix that do enhance the concert experience, but I found the LPCM better. Here is one of those cases where the secondary audio track won’t go ignored, I imagine a lot of people will flick back and forth.
Extras: 0 / 5
There are no extras present. The episodes are full from the Hub, as far as I know.
Final thoughts 4 / 5
So, with no extras, some video issues and a split on the audio track, why rank “Journey to Fearless” a 4? As I said, concert video and blu-ray is a different animal. The goal for me is, after watching it, did I think to myself: this is a show I’d attend? And frankly, the answer now is “yes”. Taylor Swift’s Fearless is a title that stands out on the basis of it’s content. Frankly, Ms. Swift is very well aware she could put out anything with her name on it and her core fans would buy it up. But while I have qualms with some of the presentation, it’s a lively and very enjoyable 2 hours you can spend seeing what goes into a Taylor Swift concert. The performances are fun, the behind the scenes moments are funny and at times touching, and frankly, Taylor Swift is one of those adorable people that will get people to buy this title based on that alone.
If you’re a Taylor Swift fan, you aren’t passing on this title. If you’re not, you should give “Journey to Fearless” a chance, it’s a fun romp that is far better than I expected.
