As everyone knows High School Musical 3: Senior Year was released last Friday; and as inticipated it is a box office hit.
Although I haven't had time to spend $15 to watch America's favorite high school heart-throbs trump around belting out songs of love sickness at basketball games, I still have an opinion. I will be the first to admit: I LOVE TROY! I am, and always will be a HSM fan. I know almost all the words to every song and even took the time to learn some of the dances from the previous movies. I downloaded the current movie's soundtrack only a few days ago and find myself looping the songs through my brain as if my iPod is permanently stuck in my ears and on repeat. Enough about my obsession with the music...
The films themselves: from a teenagers perspective: AMAZING! If only EHS stood for Edina High School.. but from a teenager posing as a film critic: they're fun, entertaining, but a bit cheesy. It's very easy for these films to appeal to so many people: every girl between the ages of 10 and who knows wants to be Gabriella, Sharpey is the girl you love to hate, and the boys all offer their own unique personality. The songs are catchy, the dances are flashy, but it's all fake. Last time I checked no one pours their hearts out to the school while standing on a table in the lunch room (HSM 1) (unless maybe you go to a performing arts school?), no one gets to work with ALL of their friends at a country club in the summer (HSM 2), and no one stops in the middle of a basketball game to belt out a few longing lyrics to a loved one in the stands (HSM 3). All of this is cute and exciting on screen, but when taking a step back it's just too fake. HSM takes stereotypes of different high school groups and attempts to put them into one cohesive unit, who just happen to become bffs over night. I wish that were the case in a typical high school environment but it's just not so. Although the plot, characters, songs, and dances go way over the top, I just can't help but love it. Does HSM have the potential to be this generations "Grease?" I guess we'll just have to wait and see, but in the meantime: GO WILDCATS!
6 comments:
I do agree that this film appeals to a large audience and is a classic plot in a high school setting. I think that the music is what really attracts a lot of people as well. The cast went on a concert tour to preform the music from the film live which clearly shows its popularity.
I do agree with you in how you say the movie is almost too fake in some ways. It's good that the film focuses on a high school perspective but let's face it: no high school has kids that are THAT accepting to everyone. We're not all friends. let's admit it, and we have "cliques" and stay to them. However, for Disney's purpose, the movie keeps the little kids happy and excited for their high school experience.
Even though I saw both HSM and its sequel, I have not been entraped in the cult of the high school musical fans. Even though you have been (sorry Katie, it's true), you still recognize how incredibly rediculous the series is, which is very good.
Katie, the emotional attachments you describe are most accurate. How I wish I could be Gabriella, in love with a super hott Zac Efron, and dance on the tops of tables and sing at the top of my lungs with the rest of my peers! What a wonderful world. But you are right, this is not true. We live in Edina, where school, homework, and extracurriculars make up daily life without singing and dancing. That's why I'm glad I have the musical. :)
I agree with both you and Karly how it is very focused towards teens and kids. But i would completely disagree on having this be the next grease. I think grease is too much of a classic, and too good to compare to HSM
Katie....
I can't believe you wrote a blog post about HSM3!!!!
Yikes!! (if you know what I mean ;)
Regards,
Ian
Post a Comment