Katy Perry has been blowing up over the world these past few years. It was only a matter of time before she got her own 3D music documentary and luckily for us Katy Perry: Part of Me is a revealing documentary that keeps an even-hand in depicting the on and off-stage life of the larger-than-life pop star. Even non-fans like me managed to find something to enjoy or at the very least appreciate in this honest and open documentary that follows the many ups (and downs) of life on the road as a famous musician. Katy Perry might not be my favorite singer, but she earns my respect as a dedicated performer that continues to deliver to her fans day in and day out.
Katy Perry: Part of Me is similar to most 3D documentaries in circulation. The film follows singer Katy Perry as she travels around the world for her largest tour yet. While touring the cameras shuffle back and forth between her past upbringing and her current stardom, focusing on her relationships both on and off-stage.
Some might write this one off as a cheap cash grab for the flavor of the month, but you’d be surprised by just how revealing and honest the film actually is. Katy Perry is a very vocal person and she lets it all out on camera. She’s incredibly dedicated to her fan base and her work and she’s very passionate about every single thing that she does and the film captures that magic.
It also doesn’t stray away from capturing her divorce with actor Russell Brand. The two were married not too long ago, but due to her busy life on the road and Brand’s commitment to acting the two decide to split up mid-movie and the breakdown is painful to watch. The film never takes the easy way out and paints Brand as the reason for the relationship’s downfall. It instead focuses on both of their lives and just how it wasn’t going to work, despite Katy flying around the world just to make an attempt.
Katy Perry: Part of Me blends some of her bizarre on-stage performances with a lot of backstage preparation footage and because Perry is known for some wild set pieces the added dimension for 3D is actually worth it. The film expands into an assault of colors, music and dance as Perry and her crew perform many of her top songs.
The heart of the movie is Katy Perry and that shouldn’t come as a surprise. The film does become a surprise when it starts to reveal Katy’s life up until her fame and it’s a natural charmer when it shows just how down-to-Earth Perry is and how she hasn’t changed a bit since her recent rise to fame. It’s always refreshing knowing that a star still takes the same time out of their day to attend the meet-and-greets and to cater to the fans as much as possible.
Katy Perry: Part of Me is that rare documentary that transcends past the fans of Perry and becomes a film that many, if not most should enjoy because of its honesty and show-all intentions.
Paramount spreads the film across two discs. The first is a 3D presentation that features depth and clarity during the concert shots, but a lot of dull and lifeless moments whenever the backstage life is the focus of the film. I also noticed that this transfer is particularly darker than its 2D counterpart.
Speaking of 2D; the second disc houses a much better 1080p transfer that sparkles and pops like never before. The concert footage is dazzling and features an impressive span of bright colors. Katy Perry is known for having wild and exotic shows and the 2D disc is a great representation of her inner artist. The film is balanced and mostly an eye-pleaser.
The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track is a winner. Concerts tend to sound fantastic on Blu-Ray and Katy Perry: Part of Me is just another prime example of a music documentary done up perfectly on Blu-Ray. This track is mixed to perfection and features lots of crowd activity that blends together with the music making for a life-like experience that unravels in front of your eyes (and ears). The track gets quieter whenever the film tones down and focuses on her life outside of the sold-out arenas, but songs are evenly placed and dropped in right when things need picking up.
The 3D combo pack comes with the following bonus material:
- 2D and 3D versions of the film.
- Last Friday Night Full Concert Performance (HD)
- Waking Up in Vegas Full Concert Performance (HD)
- Grandma: Thinking of You (HD)
- The Grammy’s You’ll Never Take Away From Me (HD)
- California Dream Tour: Behind the Scenes (HD)
- DVD Copy
- Digital Copy
- UltraViolet Digital Copy
I’m still genuinely shocked with the outcome of the film and how much I enjoyed it. Katy Perry: Part of Me is just that much better than you’d expect it to be. Perry is a star that actually warrants a full-length movie and I’m glad Paramount decided to be the ones to tell that tale. The Blu-Ray looks its best in 2D, but the 3D presentation does help the concert footage jump off the screen and into your lap. The audio track is the real winner, providing you with a rewarding audio experience unlike any other concert film before it.
I urge you to take a chance and give this one a viewing, even if you dislike Perry’s music, but like music-centered documentaries. It’s one of the better ones that I’ve seen and it must be shared with anyone willing to give it a watch.
