- The all-new, smash hit Disney Channel Original Movie everyone is talking about is now available for the first time ever on DVD — with never-before-seen bonus features that will rock your house! Troy (Zac Efron), the popular captain of the basketball team, and Gabriella (Vanessa Anne Hudgens), the brainy and beautiful member of the academic club, break all the rules of East High society when they
The all-new, smash hit Disney Channel Original Movie everyone is talking about is now available for the first time ever on DVD — with never-before-seen bonus features that will rock your house! Troy (Zac Efron), the popular captain of the basketball team, and Gabriella (Vanessa Anne Hudgens), the brainy and beautiful member of the academic club, break all the rules of East High society when they secretly audition for the leads in the school’s musical. As they reach for the stars and follow their dreams, everyone learns about acceptance, teamwork, and being yourself. And it’s all set to fun tunes and very cool dance moves! Featuring the hottest talent, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL celebrates the power of music in this hip, entertaining, gotta-get-up-and-dance movie. Own all the excitement and the exclusive extras available only on this Encore Edition DVD.The Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical is a combination of backstage action and Grease without the unwholesome habits. Scoring record ratings at the time of its January 2006 broadcast, it’s a smash hit with tween audiences (ages 6 to 10), but appealing for all ages. At a New Year’s Eve party, Troy (Zac Efron of the WB’s Summerland) has a chance meeting with Gabriella (Vanessa Anne Hudgens) when they share a karaoke song. Lo and behold, when school resumes, they discover that Gabriella has just transferred to Troy’s East High School, a campus divided into tight cliques of jocks, cheerleaders, brainiacs, and skater dudes. Eager to recapture the magic they’d discovered during karaoke, Troy and Gabriella consider auditioning for the school’s upcoming musical, much to the dismay of the school’s frost queen/theater goddess, Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody). Problem is, Troy is also the star of the basketball team and Gabrielle is being recruited to compete in the Scholastic Decathlon. Will they give up their cliques to start something new, or will they do as the show’s first big anthem urges and “Stick to the Status Quo”? Well, this is a Disney movie, so maybe the sacrifices won’t be that hard, and even the hints of romance are mild.
The bestselling soundtrack is catchy in that Disney-pop kind of way, mixing in a dash of hip-hop (“Getcha Head in the Game,” punctuated by squeaky basketball shoes and other sound effects), salsa (“Bop to the Top”), and the endearingly hammy (“What I’ve Been Looking For” performed by Sharpay and her brother, Ryan, played by Lucas Grabeel). It’s not hard to imagine High School Musical becoming a semi-staple for high school groups to perform themselves. DVD bonus features include sing-along subtitles; a 9-minute featurette discussing casting, recording sessions, and rehearsals; a multi-angle look at a rehearsal of “Bop to the Top”; and music videos for “We’re All in This Together” and a song that didn’t make it into the final film, “I Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” performed by Efron, Hudgens, Tisdale, and Gabreel. –David Horiuchi
Buy “High School Musical “ For Only $9.62
March 5, 2010
#1
This movie has no content, the dancing is not that good, nor the acting the acting is horrible. Zac Efron is NOT a hottie he is a idiot who can’t act(and can’t smile). HSM has hardly any plot, and is all fluff. It is a worldly movie and i would NOT reccomend it, at all.
March 5, 2010
#2
I absolutely despise this film. When I saw the previews, I thought it would be an alright film. So, I watched it one night and boy, it is truly terrible. It is totally crappy. Great musicals are like Chicago, Rent, and Phantom of the Opera. Why bother having Disney Channel put the worst actors ever in a dumb film? I mean, just because Zac Efron was in Summerland, doesn’t mean he’s a star. And Ashley Tisdale, people just like her because she’s in The Suite Life of Zach and Cody, which sucks. And the plot, oh my gosh! This fat basketball player auditions for a stupid play. How dumb could it get? People like the songs soooo much. Breaking free is so uncatchy. One question though, why do people like this movie so flippin’ much? It’s stupid. I have no idea why High School Musical is on the cover of every magazine. Overall, this movie sucks. Do not buy it! Repeat. Do not buy it!
March 5, 2010
#3
First of all, why have 1,000 composers write the songs? Second of all, the plot is way too modern for a musical. Third of all, they should’ve only sung when they were performing for someone, like in Camp, Fame, and Cabaret (modern movie-musicals that I love, by the way) and not just break into song out of nowhere. I think that Disney has just killed the movie-musical entirely. And I am very saddened by that fact.
Plus, all of the girls are very horrible at lip-synching!
March 5, 2010
#4
WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE???? This movie is an abomination. It combines the horrible pop music that is destroying our society’s art with a horrible array of bad actors and cliche plot points. Its message has been told a million times. Unless you think that the phrase “It’s okay to be different!” is an especially new and invigorating idea, then you will certainly agree that this movie is a load of feces. I got it for my roommate specifically so that I could torture him with its badness. I nearly vomited. And then I get on here and see people giving it GOOD REVIEWS? This is QUITE POSSIBLY THE WORST MOVIE EVER MADE. SOMEONE CHALLENGE ME, I AM READY FOR A FIGHT TO THE DEATH OVER IT.
March 5, 2010
#5
Okay, this should really be a zero, but this rating system won’t allow it.
First of all, this movie has nothing interesting that hasn’t been seen already: the struggle to move from the social norm has been done so many times I wonder who the heck started it (Probably “Pride and Prejudice”). Anyway, this is nothing new.
This movie is no great shakes. It doesn’t really say much to call it “A hit” because anyone can say that. And I don’t really understand why people are so into it. It doesn’t grab me. Maybe I’ve seen too many films already, but that proves my point, it does nothing for me. I like intelligent films. Films that have meanings under the words being said, new themes, new ways of introducing those themes. And new words in songs for it to be a musical. If you think that this movie is good when you’re five, okay, fine. But not past seven. At age seven most kids who are my age had already started reading books like “Holes”, not the best movie, but a good book. And Harry Potter isn’t bad either. It’s something a little different, I respect that.
But again, High School Musical is nothing more than an opportunity for a bunch of high school age actors to get famous. Not everyone I know can sing like that, even me. So, I know that not everyone can sing in reality. Now, you want an accurate and funny school musical? I suggest “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”. Peanuts is a classic, funny, and realistic view of how kindergarten is, and it’s fun to sing along to!
Geniuses like Charles Shultz, Walt Disney, and JRR Tolkien, cannot be just attempted to copy and then labeled as great within a short three years or less of filming. In reality, most experts say it takes ten years minimum to be an expert. And the LOTR movies came close by taking seven years to create the movies, they were flawed, but Tolkien’s world was captured.
High School musical fails to capture anything but a gag and acid in my throat. I can’t believe how loosely labeled this movie is.
Next, the people who watch this need a reality check. Who actually thinks that high schools are like this? I go to an arts high school (And people sing, yes) but it is by far not like that at all. And the other thing is why, why, why can a science nerd sing? It makes no sense! If you focus on your studies, logically, you will have no after school time for music lessons. And same goes for basketball jocks. And this is really all too complimentary of jocks. I’ve been to many places and seen jocks. They are all one demensional as they are stereotyped. Not that some aren’t different. But what needs to be said is that when you have something you concentrate on, say, hockey, you need another person who you can see who has a similar schedule. Anyway, that’s how real high school works. I don’t even know if the Disney staff wants people to be prepared for the real thing. All I know is that this is not it.
The only thing that was somewhat appealing was the music, and even that was only because it was catchy, otherwise it sucked.
I agree with the other reviewers, this movie tries to hit new (Excuse my bad pun) “notes” but it is so far off with its singing characters trying to overcome their conflict of being stuck under pressure. Yeah, sure, I get that it’s a conflict, being under pressure in school, but the movie is so ludicrous about how the problem is solved. I’m not trying to be morbid, but singing doesn’t solve diddily squat.
Not to mention the songs are really annoying. Songs have to have more than one line. End of story. Even the Beatles (good band by the way) have more than just “We all live in a yellow submarine” and it’s catchy, but there’s a point.
There’s a story in those songs that requires thought. High School Musical made me feel brain dead. I couldn’t think about anything that wasn’t in the song already.
I might want to add that to be a Disney movie, it has to be a movie with a good plot that is original. Which it’s not. I’ve seen movies about overcoming social barriers at least fifty times before now and I’ve enjoyed better musicals. Good example (Cynical) but good: “Avenue Q”, good show with music that says something about our society and is funny at the same time. That’s entertaining.
I was not really interested in High School Musical simply because after I saw the comercials, there was nothing left to see. I watched it to see if I was wrong, but I wasn’t.
Story:Girl meets guy at party, girl and guy leave. Girl and guy meet up at school. Girl and guy are on separated sides of social status. Girl and guy fight status and win and sing about it. There you have it.
The reason for my statement about the “Rip Off”? Oh, that, maybe some of you should take a look at the (I think even before 1999) film “Grease” and tell me if that looks familiar.
Two high school kids meet and then meet again later to find out they go to the same school. The guy is popular… get the idea? I liked Grease and I think it deserves all the credit this High School Musical is getting.
Second of all, Disney is dead. Not dying, dead. Great classics like “The Lion King” and “Fox and the Hound” aren’t produced any more. Kids of this generation have been cheated out of a good movie and TV experience.
Shows like “Kim Possible” and “Spongebob Squarepants” barely make the cut for good shows.
Good shows are more than just social problems, get creative! Anime has the same plot, but… the guy might turn into an animal or demon (something like Beauty and the Beast) and the girl has to deal with the guy being a demon and having to hide his identity. That is good drama. And heck, they can sing about it and make it seem funny because it’s serious when your boyfriend might end up killing the school if you’re not careful. Morbid humour, yes, but it’s interesting to watch.
For example: Grease is a good movie because it touched a new subject.
High School Musical is a sad version that I was laughing at (Not because it was funny) but because it was a sorry excuse for an overated film).
I have a suggestion for you disney goers: STOP WATCHING DISNEY CHANNEL BEFORE YOU REALIZE HOW MUCH TIME YOU’VE WASTED!! Disney has not produced too many good movies since Disney himself died. Okay ones have been “Smart House” and “The Thirteenth Year” about a sinister house and a merman. Not bad, really. I haven’t exactly seen too many Merman movies, mostly mermaid ones. And I have heard of horror movies with senile houses, but this one was bittersweet, but good. Might want to watch those instead.
With few exceptions of some shows with good acting, the Disney Channel does not produce good shows.
Suggestions: Go to your TV guide channel and watch these shows/channels: Comedy Central (most of the time it has hillarious comedians) I really like Dane Cook and Mind of Mencia isn’t bad either), watch Adult swim on Saturday nights (for teens and older), Avatar is excellent (It’s not American by the way), Don’t watch the Cartoon Network versions of Anime shows, go to Youtube or rent them. Watch the subs not dubs! (Meaning, don’t watch it in English, they’re overedited, the voices stink, and they are censored like there’s no tomorrow). Oh, if you do watch Nicktoons, watch Avatar, Danny Phantom, and (Buy or rent this) “Invader Zim”.
Good Shows (Anime Wise):
Chrno (Chrono) Crusade
Trinity Blood
Kimba the White Lion (Sound similar to “Simba” from the Lion King? It should, Kimba was the basis for the Lion King and was produced in Japan)
Fullmetal Alchemist
Teen Titans (This is Japanese, not American)
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing
Mobile Suit Gundam Seed
Naruto (Please save yourself the pain and don’t watch it on Cartoon Network)
One Piece (Cartoon Network really messed this up, watch it in Japanese)
Rurouni Kenshin
Samurai Champloo
DN Angel
Beet the Vandel Buster (For Fantasy Fans)
Fruits Basket (Good for you romance people)
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Astro Boy
.Hack//Sign (Good for Video game people)
Good Movies (Anime and Other)
Grave of the Fireflies
Steamboy
Akira
Spirited Away
Castle in the Sky (Laputa)
My Neighbor Totoro
Porco Rosso
Jungle Emperor Leo
Kiki’s Delivery Service
Top Gun
Ocean’s Eleven (Not Twelve and Thirteen,the first is the best)
Master and Commander (The far side of the World)
Glory (Rated R)
Dragon Heart
Seabiscut
The Frisco Kid
Star Wars (All are good, especially the originals)
Fight Club (Rated R)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Princess Mononoke
Millenium Actress
Cocoon
Hero (Same who did “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, also a good movie)
The Dark Chrystal (This is good animation by Jim Henson, master of the puppets!)
Labyrinth (Also by Jim Henson)
Rashomon (Artistic film, made to be analyzed very carefully. The director, Akira Kurosawa is a great director, if you like Japanese films and want to see one that’s not a cartoon, this is for you)
Well, that should set you straight, check out my other reviews of books and DVDS for more recommendations.
If you haven’t seen this movie, don’t torture yourself.
This movie is aweful! It needs to be said. And don’t tell me this review isn’t helpful JUST because it says this movie is bad. Reviews are opinions.