Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		4.0

Taylor Swift: Journey to Fearless Blu-ray Movie Review

Swiftly add this release to your Blu-ray music collection.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman October 18, 2011

There’s nothing better than watching hard work pay off.

It's not a surprise that Journey to Fearless paints superstar singer/songwriter Taylor Swift in a positive light. What's really a surprise is that all has an air of genuine honesty to it, that this is indeed the real Taylor Swift and not a glamorized fluff piece meant to make fans feel better about their favorite performer or help her recover from some troubled image. This is Taylor Swift both as she is and as she wants to be seen. She seems like the genuine article, someone who appreciates her fame but hasn't forgotten where she comes from, why she does what she does, or the people that have helped carry her to astronomical heights in the music industry. Taylor's story isn't gripping, but it's the stuff of real-life fairy tales, the kind of story that will leave audiences cheering for her success and thankful that stars of this caliber can and do remain so real. Journey to Fearless is a hybrid Documentary/Concert. It's an all-encompassing look at the person behind the songs, an informative, entertaining, and genuine glimpse inside the star's personal life and road to music success, intermixed with great live performances of her biggest hits.

I dream of stardom.

In addition to her energetic and passionate performances on stage, Journey to Fearless tells the story of Taylor Swift in between, and sometimes during, her songs. It's also the story of her Fearless tour, a glimpse into the hard work and dedication necessary to bring it to life, a culmination of three nights that take viewers "back stage, on stage, and around the world." Her journey begins in her infancy and early love for music and instruments, the gift of her first guitar which, despite her passion for music and performance, was left unplayed for several years until fate brought her a helping hand-yman who taught her several chords. Her childhood was defined by her love of music but also by her rejection amongst her peers; it wasn't until high school that Swift earned the acceptance she craved and that any girl of her age needs; as Toby Keith might say, "how do they like her now?" Through it all, Taylor persevered, traveling to Nashville at age eleven, never letting go of her dreams, and making sure everyone realized she was in this for the long haul. Finally, stardom. Record deals signed, her own songs performed, her album released worldwide, her status solidified, but her spirit and authenticity unchanged. That is Taylor Swift.

Journey to Fearless definitely sports a bit of a Disney-esque tone, thanks in part to the spunky and energetic voiceover narration, but this is far more informed and enjoyable than most similarly-styled Disney music features. It's also just as polished and technically proficient, which greatly enhances both the sense of spectacle as well as the film's narrative elements. Also similar to Disney-style music are Swift's energized performances and her music's uptempo, catchy, toe-tapping, twangy crossover Pop/Country hybrid tunes. Swift also employs a tremendous amount of sparkle and glitter and excess to her show, but no matter how shiny the stage or her outfit, the true highlights of this feature remain its two most important pieces: Taylor's music and Taylor's life. The narrative is expertly weaved through the three-part show that covers Taylor's rise to stardom, and the music isn't bad, either. The film finds that perfect balance between its two focuses, and even when songs are interrupted to offer background information and insights on the artist and her music, the transition is seamless and doesn't interfere with the music's or the show's flow. This might be an annoyance for those who just want to skip to their favorite song, but taken in context and absorbed as part of the running feature, well, it's kind of like Apple products: it just works.

What's best about this release -- even beyond the raw entertainment that the catchy tunes provide -- is the sincere look into the life of a music superstar and the true joy her performances engender in both her fans and in her own heart and soul. It's remarkable how Taylor has remained so grounded and genuine despite her enormous success. It's not only heartwarming to see a true American dream come true, but to see it come true for someone who appreciates her gifts, her fans, and through it all has remained true to herself. That's a good thing, too, because she only sings the songs she wants to sing, the songs she writes herself about the people and experiences that have defined her life. As a result, her talents, stage presence, and record sales are all the better because of it. There might not be a better example of the power of the old axiom that says, "to thine own self be true." Taylor Swift adheres to that in every area of her life, and the result are songs that are not only performed superbly, but songs that are written with a professional feel and a polish that can only come when writing and singing from the heart. For anyone who's brushed off Taylor Swift as the next crossover wannabe superstar who's more about glamour, image, and sales than she is living a dream, loving her fans, and following her heart, give Journey to Fearless a try. It's a real eye- and ear-opener.

Taylor Swift: Journey to Fearless Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Taylor Swift's Journey to Fearless looks great on Blu-ray. The image is clear, crisp, and stable, yielding strong details and fantastic color reproduction. Indeed, the transfer reveals the components and layers of Swift's makeup in close-up shots, not to mention the intricate textures that are visible in her outfits and on her guitar. Colors absolutely sparkle -- some literally, some figuratively -- with every gaudy shade appearing stable but remaining firmly in its place, never overwhelming the rest of the palette. Meanwhile, less garish hues are nicely pronounced and sturdy. The end result is a wonderfully natural palette, and the Blu-ray handles this great diversity with ease. Of course, older still photos lack color punch and detail, while standard definition video of Swift's childhood lack the clarity and accuracy of newer footage; such elements don't factor into the overall judgment of this release. As it is, the material that counts looks fantastic; Taylor Swift fans could only have it better by seeing her in person.

Taylor Swift: Journey to Fearless Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Taylor Swift's Journey to Fearless features a DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack that's worthy of the material and the home concert experience. Swift's spunky, energetic music has never sounded so good; the track creates a seamless sense of spacing across the front. It's exceptionally clear but at the same time robust. The track's low end is strong and balanced but never excessive. The surrounds aren't pushed very far, but they carry a good bit of the material, including ambient crowd noise that does a good job of plopping the listener into the middle of the concert. Dialogue is center based and always clear, whether in narration, interview clips, or the wider words spoken over the sound system at the shows. The best compliment to give this track? It's all very well balanced; it's easy to pick out the smallest nuances in the music while also just as easy to enjoy the collective sound. Like the video, it's the next best thing to being there.

Taylor Swift: Journey to Fearless Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Taylor Swift's Journey to Fearless contains no extras, but considering how thorough the feature is, it's not a surprise and not a great loss.

Taylor Swift: Journey to Fearless Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Taylor Swift's Journey to Fearless is the ultimate home video for both the biggest and most passionate Taylor Swift fan and newcomers who just want to catch their favorite tune, but be warned: casual fans are likely to grow into diehards when Journey to Fearless is all said and done. Add another to Taylor's rabid fan base! This is a very well-rounded feature that seamlessly transitions between music and any number of behind-the-scenes materials, from Taylor's childhood to her preparations to dazzle her fans on-stage. Through all the success is a genuine, down-home, all-heart girl whose passions and excitement paint her as the real deal, exemplified by a scene showing her purchasing her own album at a midnight Wal*Mart sale with all the wide-eyed excitement of a small child on Christmas morning. Shout! Factory's Blu-ray release of Taylor Swift: Journey to Fearless contains no extras, but the video and audio presentations are both superb. Highly recommended.