High School Musical (Encore Edition) > Reviews > A Musical That Will Remain In all Our Hearts

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Soundtrack	Outstanding
How does it compare to similar films?	Outstanding

Advantages:	A wholesome teen movie, that doesnt involve sex, drugs or violence
Disadvantages:	no sex drugs or violence lol and a bit cheesy for some

Recommend to potential buyers:

no

Full review

The Story:

High School Musical is the most upbeat film of 2006 and is still talked about with great awe til this day. The movie is about a pair of teenages who meet while on summer holidays and finding they both share a secret love of music, overcome the common peer pressures of high school to star in their school musical production.

Troy Bolton, played by Zac Efron and Gabriella Montez, Vanessa Hudgens, are brought together when they are paired up at a karaoke contest while on seperate holidays with their families. They part that night swapping phone numbers in the hope to see each other again. Unbekown to Troy, Gabriella has been transferred to his school and they later bump into each other and quickly become friends. Troy, the captain of the basketball team and Gabriella, a straight-A student are seen as the unlikely couple to all their friends and even more unlikely to audition for the high school musical. Their duet impresses the drama teacher so much she gives them a call-back, causing an uproar and chaos in what is seen as the status quo of the school.

As usual in every school there is always someone that thinks they are the queen bee only to be knocked off the pedastool by some new-comer who hasnt a clue. And yes, this is exacly what happens in this film! Ashley Tisdale does a wonderful job playing the super-bitch, Sharpay Evans, the biggest drama queen the school has. Her and her brother Ryan have starred in the school productions every year so far until Troy and Gabriella realise their true artistic talents as musical singers!

Has been commented to resemble a modern-day version of Grease with a hint of Romeo and Juliet, without anyone dying.

The moral of the story:

This movie is not just about two kids in a musical but it also send out a strong message to people of all ages. It teaches about peer pressure and being true to who you are, whether other people like it or not. Troy spends most of his time hiding his true feelings about his other talents than basketball. They subtley display normal teenage feelings of not being accepted by peers and not being able to do what they want because other people will treat them differently, as experienced by Troy as he slowly watches his team turn their backs on him.

The film also teaches people to be able to accept others, as during the movie, all the students break into the song, 'Status Quo', revealing their secret passions that they could'nt before because they were afraid. Sure every teenage problem the movie encounters is heavily sugar-coated but the issues it portrays such as self-esteem problems, peer pressure and school cliques are dealt with in the best manner the film can offer and in a better manner than other films have tried.

The actors:

What makes this movie stand out from others is the way the lead stars, Zac and Vanessa produce themselves to the camera and the way they both come across as so friendly and likeable, yet very professional. Ashley Tisdale also does a great job in playing the villain of the film as she takes her role as a performer and actress to the next level in this movie.

It was'nt just the lead actors that made this film such a success, but also the backing from all the other 'minor' characters, and their spectacluar performances in all the scenes and songs participated in and dance routines. Such talented performances from such young people is what makes High School Musical such an amazing film!

The Songs:

Start of Something New, is the first song sang in the film and also the first encounter that Troy and Gabriella have, as they karaoke it on stage. It is beautifully sang by both Zac and Vanessa and truly shows off their musical talents. Not one of my favourites though but still a lovely tune to hear.

Get'cha Head in the Game- This is seen as the most catchiest of songs sang in High School Musical as the up-beat tune and rhymic dance moves will get your body moving and make you feel like you wanna 'Get'cha Head in the Game

Stick to the Status Quo- Is the most memorable and most moral-filled song of the film. It is where all the other students of East High reveal their personal secrets and delights that their friends know nothing about, but they are all told to keep it quite and stick to the status quo. It is a very catchy song and you will hear yourself humming it seconds after listening to it.

Bop to the Top- is a song sang by non-identical twins Sharpay and Ryan Evans, played by Ashley Tisdale and Lucas Grabeel, and I must admit it is one of my personal favourites. It is a quick beated song with a latin tempo and will certainly make your feet move. I like this song more because of the voices of Ashley and Lucas in this song, it is almost remarkable how different they sound and wonderfully they make this mix sound.

Breaking Free- is the most popular and famous song from the musical and is definetly my favourite from the film. Zac and Vanessa truly give it their all as Troy and Gabriella, as they raise the roof in the gym and perform this in front of their friends and families. It has the sweetest tune and cutest meaningful words of all the songs in the film.

We're All in This Together- is the final song performed by all the actors and is the only song with all the lead characters singing a verse. It is one of my favourites as it is a very up-tempo, poppy kind of song, which is very suited for the film.

My Feelings:

This is probably the first clean, wholesome, feel-good teen movie I've ever seen before, which is something you don't seem to see at all anymore.

'It seems today that all you see is violence in movies and sex on t.v. but where are those good old family values, but where are those good old fasioned values, on which we used to rely?'- The family guy theme.

Well some of those good old fashioned values can be found in high-school musical as its probably the only teen film with no sex or reference to it. The nearest thing to any adult scenes, were the near-kisses that Troy and Gabriella almost shared. Such a wonderful film, which will be enjoyed by all members of the family.

Yes, it does sound very chessy and predictable but the cheesiness and predicatability of the film is what makes it special. If you don't enjoy cheesy, fun, teen movies then it's not the film for you if you do then you must see it if you havent already!

Thank you x x x