Mindless Behavior: All Around the World Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Mindless Behavior: All Around the World Blu-ray Movie Review

Mindless entertainment or an honest glimpse into stardom?

Reviewed by Martin Liebman July 13, 2013

To say that Mindless Behavior's music isn't for all tastes might be the understatement of the year. The hand-picked boy band and its highly stylized and manufactured beats will broadly appeal to only a fairly limited audience (read: teenage girls), but don't worry, everyone else: nobody will think any less for that secret toe-tapping under the table. As generic as their music may sound, there's an infectiousness to it that makes one want to rise up and dance, though maybe not openly weep at the mere sight of the boys and the sound of their songs as is seen several times in their very own Documentary, Mindless Behavior: All Around the World. It's a linear and generic but fundamentally informative picture that introduces viewers to the band members and peeks with just a little bit of depth into their lives on the road and up on the stage. Mindless super fans probably don't need the introductions, but perhaps for parents wanting to watch to make sure their daughters aren't falling for bad role models will be pleased to know that, one, the film is short; two, the music isn't vulgar; and three, these seem like four genuinely good young men who enjoy both what they do and the fruits of their labor but who also respect their roots and, more, seem to truly care about their fans.

The band +1.

Mindless Behavior: All Around the World introduces its audience to the members -- Roc Royal, Ray Ray, Princeton, and Prodigy -- through candid interviews with the talent behind their talent, the folks who had a vision of a new boy band and hand-selected the foursome from all over the country. Audiences will also hear from the band members themselves, visit with their families, and see photos and videos of each of the boys from infancy to the time they became part of the group. The film highlights the qualities that ultimately made them part of Mindless Behavior and examines the two-year process of physical, mental, and performance training they underwent to prepare for life as superstars, including their "school tours." Finally, the film follows the group as it explodes onto the scene, finds its footing, and ascends to the top of the charts, wins awards, makes appearances, and plays to sold-out venues in front of thousands of adoring fans.

Mindless Behavior: All Around the World is really quite the bubble gum documentary. It's the perfect compliment to the band, really, in that it feels manufactured and contrived, much like the band. But that's not to say it's all bad. The film has its moments that will bring a smile to even the most stoic face, particularly when it comes down to the real personal moments with the group, when they take the initiative to go the extra mile for a fan to make someone's day. Certainly the film has been carefully assembled to make the band look as good as possible, but even through the filter of editing there's an undercurrent of goodness, that the guys are the genuine article and not simply on their best behavior for filming. That said, the film really doesn't dig all that deeply. It's a very soft, straightforward, no-frills piece. It intermixes concert footage with life on the tour bus and signing autographs at K-Mart. To call Mindless Behavior: All Around the World a "revelation" would be a gross overstatement of what it is and strives to be, but this is certainly a friendly, welcoming sort of Documentary that's good enough to introduce newcomers to the boys and satiate the appetites of the most ardent Mindless fans.

The weak point, then, is the music. Certainly music appreciation is wholly subjective, but there's a very strong sense of unoriginality to the beats, as toe-tapping catchy as they may be. Sampling some of rival One Direction's hits in the iTunes store reveals something not at all dissimilar to what Mindless Behavior has to offer. That's not necessarily a bad thing as these bands' styles are the "in" thing right now, making the bands and the record labels lots of money and making the fans very happy, but there's no denying the music sounds even more processed and defined by digital manipulation than even the big "boy bands" of yore, like 'N Sync, Backstreet Boys, or, even (and this is really dating yours truly), Color Me Badd (has it really been more than twenty years since "All 4 Love" and "I Wanna Sex You Up?" Wow. Long live the Walkman!). In other words, don't pick this up solely for the music if the modern bubble gum sound doesn't satisfy the ears or speak to the soul. On the other hand, do pick it up for a little look-see into the creation of the modern boy band and to meet a few good kids making it big.

Mindless Behavior: All Around the World Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Mindless Behavior: All Around the World looks nice enough at-a-glance, but the 1.78:1-framed high definition image isn't always perfect. Moderate-to-heavy blocking elements appear regularly, whether at concerts or during static interview clips. It's not always distracting, but it's a fairly frequent visitor to the screen. There's also a bit of noise and banding, in spots, but neither appear as significant distractions. Details are moderately sharp and the image appears suitably clear and well-defined. It picks up adequate facial and clothing textures in close-ups, but not enough to really fuss over. Colors, too, are fairly well balanced and many, but the palette never looks totally natural or snazzy vibrant. Black levels don't suffer from significant crush or paleness, while flesh tones appear rather even. This is a decent video-sourced transfer, nothing more and nothing less.

Mindless Behavior: All Around the World Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

It's loud. Very, very loud. Mindless Behavior: All Around the World's Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack is oftentimes overpowering at reference level, a full-on assault of sound that's not always rich or balanced. Clarity is often lacking in favor of aggression, and there's not much subtlety to the music, either. Auditorium ambience, too, plays with a slightly muddled feel. There's certainly plenty of envelopment from the wide sound field, but it's all so aggressive it never really sounds accurately balanced. Bass is very hefty and surprisingly tight rather than rattly. The quieter interview segments come across nicely, with balanced, center-focused dialogue, while even less dynamic crowd elements, like the signing at K-Mart, don't sound nearly as overkill as the concert footage. It's entertaining enough if the sound isn't cranked up to normal levels.

Mindless Behavior: All Around the World Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Mindless Behavior: All Around the World contains a commentary and three additional extras.

• Audio Commentary: Producer/Director Steven Goldfried is joined by Roc Royal, Prodigy, Princeton, and Ray Ray. They chat about the tour as seen in the film, shooting the film, their work, their lives, and more.
• Exclusive Footage (HD, 14:33): Further interviews with the band and the people who shaped their lives. Also featured is a lengthy segment on the band's Christian faith and church attendance.
• Mrs. Right (HD, 3:53): The band performs one of its hits.
• Mindless Takeover (HD, 17:31): Several shorts, including fan reaction to the film and more looks inside the boys' lives.
• Previews: Additional Millenium titles.

Mindless Behavior: All Around the World Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Mindless Behavior's music won't appeal to all listeners (but do go ahead and unabashedly tap that toe -- it's OK!). Mindless Behavior: All Around the World, however, proves a decent enough introduction to the band, generic as the film may be. There's a good balance between band member introduction, training, life on the road, and on-stage performance. Fans will certainly appreciate the insight, even if much of it may not be all that revealing, while newcomers will find a crash-course in all things Mindless Behavior. Millennium Entertainment's Blu-ray release of Mindless Behavior: All Around the World features solid video and audio. Several extras are included. Recommended to fans.