High School Musical tells the story of an idealized dream high school. This tells you the story of all three parts of the musical. Because all characters are clichés, the stories are as well. You name it you get it. No surprises, but then no bad surprise either. It's definitely a pretty little filmlet with pretty stars that sing prettily pretty little songs. That's it. It all reminded me of the 1970s touring show Up With People, nice songs, nice people, nice show, otherwise utterly not memorable. Even the style of the song material was the same in the show as it is now in the musical.

But then, what can you expect from a film called High School Musical which, like its two prequels, tells the story of a high school musical that should be performed? But now comes the turn-around you didn't expect. I've seen all three of them and I liked them.

The films are utterly enjoyable, because you need absolutely no brains to follow. You even might walk out for 30 minutes and come back and won't be lost in the story, the plot is so predictable. The music doesn't offend or excite, you may read a book with it and never even notice it is playing. The acting is just good enough for high school, so nothing to complain there either. It's a pure Disney product in a fantasy world high school. But time and again I was reminded of my own high school. So all in all, it's good value for the money. Just don't expect any depth in story or acting.

The newest Disney product has been selling millions of DVDs and CDs in the United States and millions more worldwide. No wonder it went movie, the merchandizing potential is enormous. It is just surprising that such nondescript music is selling like that. But probably it's also because of Zac Efron who has become the load stone of many crushes.

Zac Efron and his girl friend and co-star Vanessa Hudgens have presented themselves as very likeable and clean young actors in London; as Britney Spears did when she was employed by Disney. They both seem to be mother-in-law's dream matches and as squeaky clean as the movie they just played in. It is to be hoped they remain that way.

Being such inoffensive persons, it beats the imagination why they were attacked during a night out in London. It is quite unutterable, what spite can do to a person. Another unsavoury side link were topless photographs of Zac showering offered on eBay by a user zerimarr. That's just plainly tasteless, and probably Photoshop; and eBay took ages to clean these bids out, as usual. It is time that people started to respect the right to private life again, even if somebody is a star. The film is a good start to instruct your children about that as well.

Two young lovers, played by Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens. Troy is the captain of the high school basketball team who discovers his love for music and Gabriella. Gabriella is an A-Student who excels in science. She is raised by a single mother who moves a lot for her job. She too, falls in love with Troy. In both films, they have to overcome many barriers. Both movies ended with huge duets.

Sharpay and Ryan

Sharpay is the villain in the HSM fairy tale. Played by the hilarious Ashley Tisdale, a Disney veteran, Sharpay is a rich, spoiled, mean, drama queen. She wants Troy but for all the wrong reasons. She is a brat in pink who needs constant attention with the spotlight on her.

Ryan (Lucas Grabeel) is Sharpay's brother and is almost as evil as her in the first HSM. But in HSM2 he makes peace with Troy and reveals himself as an excellent baseball player and choreographer.

Chad and Taylor

Chad (Corbin Bleu) is Troy's best friend. He is all about basketball. Taylor (Monique Coleman) is a whiz kid and is all about academics. She is also Gabriella's best friend.

Kelsi and Martha

Kelsi (Olesya Rulin) is the composer of the group but finds herself dominated by Sharpay who grabs all her good songs for herself. Martha (KayCee Stroh) was an outsider in the first HSM. Her small part became big when she performed a great song in the first HSM. In the second film, she is part of the crowd.

Luhrmann, an actor-director famous for his undaunting crusades against the flow of Hollywood tide and insanely crazy love for eye candy, obtained merits to his name by directing equally energetic films like William Shakespeare's Romeo+Juliet and Strictly Ballroom. Fond of exuberant dances and kinetic cinematography, Luhrmann's trademark is the originality and romanticism of his film's themes. In Moulin Rouge, he has cast every ounce of the magic he had acquired from directing his previous films and had successfully taken the audience's breath away as he always does.

As the courtesan Satine, Nicole Kidman, famous for her work on Eyes Wide Shut, Practical Magic, and Days of Thunder, has made her character and her audience deal with a wide range of emotions, from naïvete to melancholy. Satine's coldness and fake warmth toward men has pivoted our hearts into pity for her standing in the social ladder. Indeed, almost every man and woman who watches as she sadly sings "One Day I'll Fly Away" can relate to her feelings of ambition and longing.

Ewan McGregor, though not as celebrated as Kidman, has made his mark in roles as a heroin addict in Trainspotting and Obi Wan Kenobi in Star Wars Episodes 1 and 2. As the brilliant poet Christian, McGregor has cultivated his resume by adding "beautiful singing" in his skills. His Christian complements Kidman's Satine with his warm enthusiasm and undoubted feelings of love. His rendition of Elton John's "My Song" was agreed to be one of the most memorable songs of the film. Once he belted out "My Gift is My Song," it is for certain no woman could have ever resisted a man with that unfaltering voice and with that colossal feeling.

Other satisfyingly romantic acts were Kylie Minogue's "Sound of Music," Nicole Kidman's "Diamonds are a Girl's Bestfriend," Jim Broadbent and Richard Roxburgh's "Like A Virgin," and the Can Can Dancers' "Lady Marmalade." With the input of seductively colorful costumes and glittery opulent sets, each scene in Moulin Rouge was deemed to be memorable and continental.

Musicals have certainly taken a backstage in Hollywood these recent years. But, trust Luhrmann to answer to the demands of smooth talkies with singers dancing to "Rhythm of the Night" and "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Indeed, the film dances and our hearts sing with glee. Moulin Rouge is indeed a rare film, the Sparkling Diamond of Hollywood movies.

Basketball

My four year old didn't like watching movies that are not cartoons because he gets bored easily but when he saw the HSM 1 video's opening scene, where Troy was playing basket ball with his dad, he sat with me on the bed and started to watch it with me.It was really a start of something new.

Attractive Dance Numbers

One of his favorites was when the Wild Cats were having their basketball practice and they where moving to the beat of Get'cha Head in the Game.

Beautiful Songs

Breaking Free and Get'cha Head in the Game were two of his favorite songs that made him sing along with the cast.

You Can Count on Your friends

My son saw how important it was to have friends who will be supportive and even said he also wanted to have many friends to have them say We're all in these together.

I also bought him HSM 2 and my next post might be about his reasons for enjoying part 2.

Mitch Torres, who is played by Demi Lovato, has an opportunity to join Camp Rock, a musical camp for the rich kids, as her mom employed as a cook in the camp. She has a dream to become a singer. She writes songs and sings very well. She hides her truth about her mom from her rich and snob friends Tess Tyler. But, Tess Tyler does not wanted to have a competition so she sets her secret up against her so she will be hated by everybody and hated by Shane, the rock star and guest counselor of Camp Rock. However, Caitlyn, portrayed by Alyson Stoner, and Mitch Torres cannot compete in the Final Jam because they are framed by Tess Tyler. But, Tess did not succeed in the end. The reason why Tess Tyler became snob because she is wealthy, materialistic, and lack of affection from her mother. Mitch Torres finally got to sing in the end of the Final Jam, which is not against the regulations of the camp. Then, Shane Gray finally found the voice behind the beautiful song he heard before.

In achieving our dreams, we should not step on other people. We should help other people and share them our talents or gifts. Our dreams founded on truth of our identity, therefore we should not be a shame of who we are because it matters if we accepted ourselves as what we are. I love the castings, and they did a great job in this movie. I also love the music.

The film stars Vanessa Hudgens as Gabriella and Zac Efron as Troy. They both are a love couple since the first movie and so far, their relationship has taken a few turns.

We have Ashley Tisdale in the movies as well. Yes! The suite life girl called Maddie. But here, she is more evil and tends to create problems for Gabriella and troy. I am not sure yet for this movie, but it is based outside the school where Gabriella and troy graduate high school with all the other students and they move on in life to fulfil their ambitions.

I think the problems faced in this movie could be that as Gabriella and troy move on, they don't see each other as much. But what type of good storyline would you like to watch? Why not give me some comments and we will all share on our thought about the new movie.

A call went out to find three new sophomore "Wildcats". Ortega said, “peter Barsocchini's script for high school musical 3 called for three sophomore characters. We searched across America and England to find just the right young actors to play the parts. We think these new actors will bring in humour, new twists and musical fun to the film. Jemma was one of the young actresses we met in London, and she impressed us with her singing and dancing. Matt has a terrific personality, and a great personality, and a great sense of comedy and fun. And Justin had a great presence and charisma. I am confident that the three new actors joining our original cast will help bring great musical thrills, surprises and a lot of fun to senior year and the halls of East High.”

Returning cast

• Troy Bolton as Zac Efron
• Vanessa Hudgens as Gabriella Montez
• Ashley Tisdale as Sharpay Evans
• Lucas Grabeel as Ryan Evans
• Corbin bleu as Chad Danforth
• Monique Coleman as Taylor McKessie
• Ryne Sanborn as Jason Cross
• Chris warren Jr as Zeke Baylor
• Olesya Rulin as Kelsi Nielsen
• Kaycee Stroh as Martha Cox
• Alyson reed as Ms Darbus
• Bart Johnson as Coach Jack Bolton
• Leslie Wing as Lucille Bolton

New cast members

• Matt Prokop as Jimmie “The Rocket” Zara
• Justin Martin as Donnie Fox
• Jemma McKenzie Brown as Tiara

A monk holding a huge cross and a Spanish Inquisition soldier lead Cervantes and his Assistant through town. The costumes are wonderful! I love the colors they chose to stand out among the sandy ground and buildings made of orange red clay walls and floors.

They are led into a dungeon with sky-high ceilings. The Lead Officer kindly warned Miguel that most of the people in the dungeon were in there just because they are thieves and murderers. Don Miguel finds out a little about some of those “murderers and thieves” as soon as they get into the dungeon with no officers around.

He tells the prisoners he is a poet. He has his properties and costumes in a trunk with him and his manuscripts in his hand. The prisoners start digging through his trunk and the “Governor” of the cell takes his manuscripts and tries to burn them. The “Governor” then holds trial for Cervantes and his Assistant. They find him guilty of being an idealist and a bad poet. He asks "the court" to at least hear his play to determine if they are making the right decision. So, he proposes to put on a play in which everyone in the cell will have a part and participate. They agree.

The play begins: Miguel is Alonzo Kijana, a retired countryman who reads all day. Then one day the old man decided to take off for his journey and at this point names himself Don Quixote the man of Le Manche. His Assistant is now called Sancho Panza and he sticks with Don Quixote.

Don Quixote has adventure after adventure. He falls in love with Aldonza, played by the sultry Sophia Loren. He fights 10 men with help from Aldonza and Sancho Panza. He is knighted as “Knight of the woeful countenance“. Then, he faces “The Enchanter” in battle. “The Enchanter” fights with many mirrors reflecting the sun upon Don Quixote's eyes until he passes out.

The prisoners tell Miguel the ending to his play is not good enough and he begs for a chance to create a different ending.

The ending of the play: Don Quixote is home on his deathbed accompanied by his niece, his Assistant, a priest, a doctor, and others.

The doctor doesn't seem to be able to do anything for him because he's unresponsive. His Assistant gets him to respond. Alonzo Kijana asks to have a will drawn up. As the Priest composes his will Aldonza shows up. She reminds Alonzo of his words spoken “Dream the Impossible Dream”, how he called himself Don Quixote, and called her Dulcinea. He remembers and rises out of bed ready for more adventures, until he just dies at the end of singing a triumphant song. Aldonza now wants to be called Dulcinea in honor of Don Quixote.

Back in prison, the Inquisition comes to get Miguel De Cervantes. The “Governor” admits he liked the play and told Miguel to speak as he did in the play and he'd save himself from the Inquisition. Miguel told the prisoners he was giving them Don Quixote. As he and his Assistant walk up the stairs to meet the Inquisition, Aldonza starts singing “To Dream the Impossible Dream” which starts the entire group of prisoners singing.

The action is primarily focused on Aldonza and Don Qixote. I enjoyed Peter O'Toole and thought he was the most engaging because he had the biggest responsibilities, after all, he did play four different characters: Miguel De Cervantes, Don Quixote, Alonzo Kijana, and I believe one could even count the “Knight of the woeful Countenance” as another character.

Sancho Panza played by James Coco was the weakest actor because he never said much at all. When he did speak he was wimpy and cowardly, a bit irritating. I do like James Coco as an actor, just not in this role.

The character relationships are believable. Peter O'Toole seemed infatuated with Sophia Loren in my opinion. This play was important because it showed that being an idealist can at times give a person that courage and strength they need for truly rough times. Another message it gave was that when one stops imagining, dreaming, and believing they die because they've lost the strength to go on.

The first time Peter O'Toole sings “To Dream the Impossible Dream” and when Sophia Loren was singing in the character of Aldonza, singing about how she was not a Lady but a hor! How horrible for a woman to feel trapped into feeling that way. It's just sad!

The Reverend Mother called Maria in to her office and proposed a position for her. A family needed a Governess for seven children. The father is a retired Captain of the Imperial Navy. His wife died a few years prior and he has had a hard time keeping a Governess.

So, Maria is sent off to learn better the ways of the world outside of the convent. Maria says as she is leaving, “When the Lord closes a door some how he opens a window.” She is scared and hesitant as she enters the gates of the Van Trapp Family mansion. The mansion is very extravagantly decorated in Romantic Period furnishings.

Maria learns she is the 12th Governess. The Captain, played by Christopher Plummer informs her of the children's duties and responsibilities and expects Maria to abide by the military precedence set for them.

The children Liezel 16, Friedrick 14, Louisa 13, Curt 11, Brigita 10, Marta 7, and Gretel 5 trick her in every way they can and set her up around every corner in order to test her to see if she really cares for them or if she will leave like all the others.

The Captain has to leave for Vienna to see the Baroness [his girlfriend] played by Eleanor Parker and will be leaving Maria in charge for the first time. While the Captain is gone, she takes the kids for their first outing and teaches them the major and minor scales through the song “Do-Re-Mi”. They take a boat ride, climb trees and do a lot of kid stuff their father does not allow them to do. They have a blast!

There is a political battle throughout the performance. The Captain lives in Salzburg, Austria. During that time, Australians were trying to avoid joining the Nazi Party.

The turning point of the production was when Captain Van Trapp heard singing in the mansion and did not recognize it was his own children until he got inside the house and was captivated by their angelic voices. He sang with them, hugged them, and gave his thanks apologetically to Maria for bringing singing back into the house. They all sang so beautifully together that the Captains' friend tried to convince them that they needed to perform in the Austrian festival.

As time goes on, Maria decides to leave and return to the Abby because she realizes that she has an attraction to the Captain, which is not proper for a Nun. She is convinced however, to return to the Van Trapp household to see if the Captain feels the same for her. Upon arrival, the children are so happy to see her and inform her of their father's engagement to the Baroness. Maria is so upset but things turn out better in the end for her because the Baroness leaves realizing that the Captain is in fact in love with Maria.

Captain Van Trapp and Maria finally admit their feelings to each other and get married. Shortly after the wedding, the Nazi party began threatening the Captain because he was not conforming to the Nazi ways [he persisted in flying the Australian flag]. Max, the Captains' friend, entered the Van Trapp family in the Australian festival without their knowledge. Before the Festival the Nazi's come to get the Captain and he tries to lose them by informing them of their appointment to sing in the Festival as a family. The Nazi's escorted the family to the festival where afterwards they would take Captain Van Trapp to join the Third Reich.

However, the nuns of the convent Maria previously belonged to disconnected a part of the Nazi's car so the Van Trapp family could escape and that is exactly what they did with no help from Liezel's ex-boyfriend who called attention to the Nazi's as to where they were anymore, strictly politics.

The action was focused on all the characters at different points in the movie. The main characters were Maria, Captain Van Trapp and the children. I feel that the Captain, Maria, Liezel, and Curt were the most engaging characters because they felt their parts. The weakest actor, I felt, was Freidrick. Also, the officer who comes to take the Captain was weak in his performances. They were not very emotional or sincere.

The set for the movie was absolutely gorgeous. The outdoor shots were done in Austria. Many scenes were shot in town but the majority was shot in the hills and mountains to convey the feeling music brings, peace.

This musical tells us a lot about the human condition. It illustrates that love must be mutual in order to last. We also see illustrated, the facts that people sometimes need a shock to realize the error of their ways.

The play is important because the singing and entertainment is both wholesome and lovely. The dominant image for me was the comparison between when Liezel and Rolph exchanged loving words [and Liezel's first kiss] in the gazebo and later in the movie the Captain and Maria exchange words of love along with a proposal of marriage in the same gazebo [and their first kiss].

I have seen this many times and enjoy it every time. My sister and I use to sit and watch it over and over, singing the songs in sync. It's awesome!

Bringing Up Baby

Classic comedies such as this one remind us of how little class and humor are contained in the majority of recent comedy. Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn are perfectly and hilariously matched as an odd couple forced to endure a series of misadventures. Did I mention that the movie is about a leopard?

The Shawshank Redemption 

A story of courage and, obviously, redemption, this is a movie that no one should miss. Steven King proves his ability to understand the human condition with this excellent and moving film boasting an unforgettable performance by Morgan Freeman.

Psycho (1960) 

Alfred Hitchcock's defining work of genius takes suspense to a whole new level. Boasting some of the best performances captured on film, and surely some of the best cinematography, Psycho seems even fresher than most modern fare. While the film is mainly remembered for the shower scene, one of the most effective moments actually comes at the end of the film.

The Silence of the Lambs

Chilling in its own right, this film blurs the line between horror, mystery, and drama to create its own cinematic niche. Jodie Foster gives the best performance of her career, and Anthony Hopkins' performance is nothing short of legendary. For those that think this is about a cannibal, Silence of the Lambs is actually based on the life of Ed Gein. Hannibal is shown for less than twenty minutes in this film.

Jesus Camp

This movie is terrifying. For those that think Christian fundamentalism is not a serious problem in America, wait until they catch this documentary about a camp that trains children in the ways of Evangelical Fundamentalism. One can't help but pity the children raised in this nonsensical, dangerously militant, and separatist mindset.

9 to 5 

Sometimes excellent films become forgotten with time for no apparent reason. This is certainly the case with 9 to 5, one of the best comedies to grace the cinema screen. Both hilarious farce and feminist manifesto, anyone with a sense of humor can find something here to enjoy. A musical Broadway show of this film is set to begin shortly with music written by Dolly Parton.

Cloverfield 

Filmmakers take heed: this is how it's done! Filmed from the victim's camera, Cloverfield outdoes absolutely all of the competition for sheer believability and tension. The best monster movie of all time, hands down. (Not counting films such as "Jaws" that involve natural predators.) For those convinced that monster movies are for the tasteless and the young, take some time out to give this one a shot.

The Omen (1976)

Possibly one of the scariest movies of all time. The score is unsettling and jarring, and this is one of the first films to show a graphic decapitation on-screen. From the opening segment involving the suddenly suicidal nanny, it becomes obvious that this film is thoroughly unafraid to engage religious taboo to scare the hell out of audiences.

Hairspray (2007)

Finally, a musical that doesn't involve death, heartbreak, and murder. This is a wonderfully entertaining film with an excellent message about prejudice thrown in for good measure. Don't get me wrong, films such as Chicago and Rent are not to be dismissed, but this one is pure fun in an age that seems to have forgotten the concept. Hairspray is also safe for all but young children.

Knocked Up 

The best example of modern comedy, Knocked Up takes a serious topic and somehow manages to credibly and respectfully address it in an unflinchingly R-rated way. With dead-on performances by everyone, a rarity in cinema, viewers feel a genuine emotional connection to the characters. Knocked Up is a hilarious comedy with a heart, something that doesn't come around very often.