Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Being a superstar as well as a normal teenager is getting even more complicated for Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus). Her hectic double life as pop-sensation Hannah Montana is taking its toll on her and her family, so her father, Robby Ray Stewart (Billy Ray Cyrus), decides that a visit to the family farm in Tennessee is just the thing to bring the celebrity teen back down to earth. Away from the spotlight, Miley reconnects with a childhood friend (Lucas Till) and discovers a new perspective on life.

Believe it or not, this was my second time seeing the film—I have a 13-year-old daughter, so I didn't have a choice in the matter. Regardless, it's entertaining for teenage girls and interesting enough to keep parents from nodding off. It certainly isn't a classic, but the music is very good, and I especially like the soundtrack that features Miley Cyrus' hit "The Climb."

The AVC encode is beautiful with sharp lines and superior resolution. Colors leap of the screen, especially the primaries. Flesh tones are natural and lifelike, blacks are inky, and the contrast is stable throughout the film.

Similarly, the DTS-HD MA 7.1 soundtrack is very good, but it doesn't quite reach reference quality. The concert sequences fill up the soundstage with crisp vocals and expansive midrange, and they highlight some nice detail in the music. For example, when Cyrus sings "The Climb," you can hear the string section distinctly, although it isn't a prominent aspect of the song. The rest of the track is very front-loaded with clear dialog, while the rear speakers are used for little more than some general ambience.

The three-disc Blu-ray combo pack includes the Blu-ray, a DVD copy, and a digital copy of the film. Additional supplements include "The HoeDown ThrowDown Home Experience," where the kids—and willing parents—can learn a dance seen in the film. Other features include seven music videos, some behind-the-scenes featurettes, bloopers, and deleted scenes.

Disney has been on the cutting edge with BD-Live features, and this popular teen title offers up some firsts for the format. With "BD Radio Disney," fans can stream live Radio Disney audio through their home system with artist and song information along with lyrics. Users can also link to a site to purchase their favorite songs. Another interesting online feature is "Hannah's Country Store," where you can click on products in the movie, obtain information about the product, and then purchase the merchandise.

As a father, I have no problem with my daughter liking Hannah Montana. Having endured—er, I mean enjoyed—the CDs and TV show over the past few years, I suppose her leap to the silver screen was inevitable given her success as an entertainer. The film isn't groundbreaking with its "made for TV" feel, but the soundtrack is very good, and the video quality is even better. Recommended for teenage girls.

Release Date: August 18, 2009
Studio: Disney

Movie: 6/10 (Daughter's rating: 9/10)
Picture: 9/10
Sound: 8/10

Review System

Source
Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray player

Display
JVC DLA-RS1 projector
Stewart FireHawk screen (76.5" wide, 16:9)

Electronics
Onkyo Pro PR-SC885 pre/pro
Anthem PVA-7 power amplifier
Belkin PF60 power conditioner

Speakers
M&K S-150s (L, C, R)
M&K SS-150s (LS, RS, SBL, SBR)
SVS PC-Ultra subwoofer

Cables
Monoprice HDMI cables (source to pre/pro)
Best Deal analog-audio cables
PureLink HDC Fiber Optic HDMI Cable System (15 meters) from pre/pro to projector

Acoustical treatments from GIK Acoustics