Janet: Live in Hawaii

"And I'm gonna kiss you, suck you, taste you, ride you, feel you…" Okay, as lyrics go, this excerpt from the chorus of urban R&B megasuperstar Janet Jackson's "Would You Mind" (off her latest, All For You) is a wee bit suggestive; but in case there's any doubt, viewers of this original HBO concert (her second after The Velvet Rope), performed in Honolulu's Aloha Stadium earlier this year, will see a guy from the audience get strapped into a vaguely S&M/workout station-like device and then ridden by Ms. Jackson like the mechanical bull in Urban Cowboy (this is apparently such a crowd pleaser that the DVD extras include five additional versions of this number performed elsewhere on the tour). Still, while Janet: Live in Hawaii is occasionally nasty (like her brother Michael, Janet understands the choreographic importance of the crotch grab), the emphasis here is more on sexy, as the multiple costume changing (discreetly filmed backstage for the DVD viewing audience) chanteuse sings and dances her way through some 26 tunes (including a pair of medleys), featuring all of her greatest hits ("What Have You Done for Me Lately?," "Nasty," "When I Think of You," "Escapade," "Black Cat," and many more drawn from Jackson's Control, Rhythm Nation, janet., The Velvet Rope and All For You albums). Yes, the Dolby Digital 4.1 soundtrack should have been 5.1; yes, Jackson does some lip-synching; and, yes, there is often more sizzle than steak here. Even so, JJ fans will be delighted with this generous concert (which is 115 minutes long; the 165-minute running time includes extras such as the aforementioned multiple clips of "Would You Mind," a three-minute photo montage, and a 10-minute featurette with backstage and interview footage). Highly recommended. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)