When the Jonas Brothers played at Radio Disney’s “Move it to Music Expo” in February 2007 in Norfolk, their stars were clearly still rising. Sure, there were giggling, screaming girls who dug the brothers back then. But their appearance was be nothing like it will be tonight at the Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater.
If you can’t get a ticket to the extravaganza, though, here’s one alternative: Disney’s “Camp Rock” DVD came out this morning, and the made-for-TV Disney movie stars the brothers.
The story’s about a rock star, Shane (lead singer Joe Jonas), who is a bit too big for his britches. So he’s forced to teach classes at a summer camp for rock and rollers. There, he tries to find the person that belongs to a voice he overhears singing. Owner of the pipes is newcomer Demi Lovato (Mitchie), whose mom is the camp cook – but Mitchie doesn’t want the cool, rich kids to know that. “Camp Rock” is a typical tale of an average-girl meeting a rock-star boy with everyone living happily ever after.
The DVD is loaded with extras, unlike some recent Disney releases. It’s not on the level of the “High School Musical” DVDs, but, hey, this one also didn’t blow away viewership records like those movies.
The disc contains good interviews with the siblings – finding out about these “real-life rock stars,” as the DVD says. And listening to the interviews with Kevin, 20, Joe, 19, and Nick, 15, makes you realize that they’re actually pretty nice kids. Joe is nothing like the arrogant character he plays in “Camp Rock.” Kevin is tongue-in-cheek, and Nick is the sports-loving one who doesn’t like fashion like his two older brothers.
“We don’t want to become the arrogant rock star ever,” Kevin says. “That’s not our dream or goal.”
The trio has a family to keep them grounded, Kevin says, and their family values allow them to set good examples for fans. You also find out these boys have talent. They actually play the instruments they say they do, and they write their own music and lyrics. Disney doesn’t bet on fly-by-night talent.
Other extras are sure to please the tween/teen consumer; behind-the-scenes footage shows the taping of “Too Cool,” one of the movie’s hot songs, taped with a lake backdrop, a bonfire and some girls in shiny dresses.
The Blu-ray disc is an obvious upgrade over the DVD, although the over imagery seems soft for hi-def, missing those brilliant over-the-top black levels and colors that Disney’s famous for. Also, the sound is just as unimpressive. Where’s the bass?
One bonus is exclusive to the Blu-ray: a 10-minute tour of the movie set; you get to count how many times Joe Jonas pops on the screen for cameos.
Other standard-def extras include some cool photos taken by stars and staff on the set; lots of cheesy, smiling teens; a look at newcomer Lovato and her first movie; backstage with the making of the song “Hasta La Vista”; and cast and crew telling kids how to be a true rock star, from how to dress to maintaining the right attitude.
And, let’s not forgot Disney’s sing-a-longs – you can put the words to the song on the screen during the movie, or you can just play them karaoke style, plus two music videos, “Start the Party” and “We Rock.”
If this DVD isn’t enough to get your Jonas Brothers fix, “Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both World Concert” also comes out on DVD today, featuring, of course, the Jonas Brothers. The 3-D movie played on IMAX screens nationwide earlier this year.
Toni Guagenti, (757) 222-5498toni.guagenti@pilotonline.com
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