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Reviews
High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008)
Loved it.
The thing i love about High School Musical is its ability to bring people together, whatever the age. I am in my late teens and this movie was still thoroughly enjoyable to me. In fact, it hit home harder because the storyline - the separation of the Wildcats at East High for college - is particularly relevant to me and my friends as we separate for university.
The movie was so obviously on a different level financially than the previous two - the sets being more extravagant and more exciting - and this served to make the film more fun visually and aesthetically. The songs, however, were not as memorable as the in the first two films - no "Start of Something New"'s or "Breaking Free"'s in this movie. I think the superior dancing and still great vocal performances made up for it though.
The storyline wasn't as exciting as the first two films, either, but it didn't need to be. All the loose ends were tied up. The ending was perfect. It was clearly an emotional experience for the actors as well as the audience. Its great that a movie like this can mean something to so many people. Anyone who is a cynic is obviously boring (no offence)! I saw the film with an audience of excitable kids, laughing teenagers, and even some adults who didn't have children with them. Everyone laughed and clapped and cheered together (there were even a few glowsticks). It was the best time at the cinema I've ever had! And the cheers when Zac Efron took his top off were hilarious.
Mirrors (2008)
Average
The point of a horror film is to scare and slightly repulse you. Mirrors certainly achieves that. But i think for the wrong reasons.
The story is paranormal, with the concept that reflections in the mirror can turn against you and harm you. I enjoyed it. Kind of. It was certainly an interesting idea: the whole mirrors turning against you thing, your reflection having a will of its own. But obviously, its er, not going to happen, is it? So therefore. Not scary. Really. In addition to this, Kiefer Sutherlands character is a bit of an idiot. A door opens in a mirror but not in real life? lets go check it out, shall we? And then you start seeing things in them; you know, the dead bodies, and that. You learn that the person with the same job before you DIED because of the mirrors. And you don't quit your job??
However, I don't want to be a cynic. That is classic horror movie stuff, doing what you wouldn't do, going down the dark corridor, finding the hidden room of an insane asylum, etc. Films are films because of it. Im just trying to say that its not this that makes Mirrors scary. I think the mirrors thing would have tame, and basically rubbish, by itself. But then the film has scenes with such blood and gore and craziness that it really makes the actual mirrors scenario the least scary part: its the schizophrenic twelve year old scratching at the walls in her house that is scary as hell (although her demon older alter ego or whatever it is is ridiculous.)
I think my problem is paranormal films. If you enjoy them, you'll enjoy this. I personally have always found films that have a base in truth and could actually happen scarier than those that are completely far-fetched. Plus, in England, its rated a 15, which i think is a bit low (considering the scariness of the 12 year old...if i was 15 and i'd seen it, I'd be avoiding my reflection for weeks!) Overall, a slightly above average horror film.
Britannia High (2008)
Don't watch it.
As a dancer i am actually quite insulted by Britannia High. The main character in the first episode, Lauren, can't sing, can't dance, and is still considered to have "megastar potential". Ridiculously, Mitch Hewer's character Danny falls for her in seconds. It is cheesy, predictable, and disappointing.
I am a fan of both Fame and HSM (cheesy and childish as it is, its still enjoyable.) But Britannia High is a massive shame. The idea, if executed correctly, could have been great, bringing more attention to dancing and performing colleges and what goes on there. But Arlene Phillips (who is a joke in my opinion. truly awful woman. but i wont get started on that) has massacred the idea of this fictional stage school in London with bad casting, terrible choreography, extremely scripted dialogue that no one could make realistic - take Mitch Hewer's comment to Lauren - "i fancy you well bad" or words to that effect - that really truly ruin the concept.
If i had been in charge, this could have been brilliant (haha). But a real dance stage school is nothing like Britannia High (really). They are places where audition processes are tough, the applicants extremely talented, the shows take months to prepare for. Lauren is not even close to this... is it just me, or was not only her voice, but also her face, extremely annoying? Not to mention her inability to perform the simplest of dance moves with someone exceedingly hot such as Mitch Hewer? (who needs to bleach his hair and straighten it again, i think, as the brown curls he is sporting now don't really suit him.) The other characters are just as dull and lifeless. The mean queen of the episode never really comes up with anything too insulting except the odd "you suck" or whatever, which is pathetic, lets face it. The supporting characters equally can't dance particularly well, or sing. The group routines are messy and the dancers are out of time. And i HATE Adam Garcia as a dance instructor - probably only hired because he is considered good looking, when really he has no idea how to dance at ALL (anyone see him in Wicked: The Musical? laughable.) Maybe thats just me being a picky dancer type. But really, i think the majority of the public would dislike this shambling mess of a programme. Hopefully no one will believe thats what dance schools are really like - it gives them a bad name! However, I may personally take a risk and watch the next one... it was so awful i kind of want to see if it gets worse.