6.7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Violet is a shy teenager who dreams of escaping her small town and pursuing her passion to sing. With the help of an unlikely mentor, she enters a local singing competition that will test her integrity, talent and ambition. Driven by a pop-fueled soundtrack, Teen Spirit is a visceral and stylish spin on the Cinderella story.
Starring: Elle Fanning, Zlatko Buric, Agnieszka Grochowska, Archie Madekwe, Ursula HollidayMusic | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
In this film, Teen Spirit is a fictional television show in the same vein as American Idol or The Voice or any of those singing competition shows that are so prominent and dominant within today's television landscape. And, unfortunately, the movie is just as rote. Despite its name, it's largely spiritless, going through the motions and achieving little character depth, story creativity, or narrative engagement. It's a simple story of big dreams, escape from a routine life, and the protagonist's journey to stardom from unlikely beginnings. The film covers a good number of its structural shortcomings with a catchy soundtrack and good physical and vocal performances, but forget anything with real dramatic pull or narrative tentacles. It's a straight up generic construct that works well enough in isolation but doesn't even attempt to build anything of value beyond its superficial journey.
Teen Spirit was digitally photographed and crafted with a particular aesthetic in mind that doesn't necessarily translate into a typically "gorgeous" 1080p presentation. It's a very diffuse looking movie, soft and dreamy rather than sharp and edgy. Details are fine within the movie's visual structure but viewers should not expect a typically eye-popping experience. Core facial textures are fine in close-up, but much of the frame in many shots appears vague and velvety. Lighting is often harsh but complimentary to that tone as well. It's certainly a departure from traditionally oriented visual constructs, and colors are also reflective, favoring a feel of soft pastel rather than firm and contrasty explosions. Black levels appear a little light. Noise appears frequently but rarely intrusively. No other obvious source or encode artifacts are apparent. The movie looks fine within its structural vision but fans should approach it knowing to expect something a little off the visual beaten path.
Teen Spirit features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The Pop soundtrack is mesmerizingly pure and technically efficient. It's highly detailed through the complex tones, the extensive range, and the challenging need for immersion. The track presents it all with precision, with perfectly attuned balance and stage presence. Though limited to a 5.1 channel configuration, the track plays perfectly large and with seamless fill; there's never a void in coverage. Tremendously powerful bass makes for the perfect compliment. The track folds in healthy and immersive atmospherics as the situation warrants, such as when Violet arrives in London in chapter 12 and tours the stage where the bustle of set-up fills the listening area and transforms it into the location. In the next chapter, during some dance practice, sneaker squeaks and background chatter and music pleasantly define the environment. Outside of the dominant music, there's almost always some level of sophisticated, immersive environmental effect to draw the listener into the film's worlds. It's captivating in all areas. Dialogue is pure, well prioritized, and true to a natural front-center location.
Teen Spirit's Blu-ray release contains music videos, two featurettes, and an audio commentary track. A Movies Anywhere digital copy code is
included with purchase. This release ships with a non-embossed slipcover.
Teen Spirit works well enough as a genre time killer but audiences shouldn't expect to watch a movie that takes risks, takes its characters in new and interesting directions, or takes the time to construct a story beyond formula. It's well acted, the photography is a strength, the music is catchy, and the editing is smart (it's quick to move without too much wasted motion, critical for a film as stock as this one). Universal's Blu-ray delivers a few supplements, good video that's a product of its source and structure, and a rousing 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Worth a look on a slow day and on a good sale.
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