High School Musical 2 (2007)

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Another great HSM film. I remember this as the best one. And honestly, i still think it is the best one. The songs are again, amazing. The story is again, quite good. Other than the soundtrack, this film improves on everything the orginal film did and im fine with that, since i love watching all 3 movies. Also the credits are a blooper reel. So that is awesome.

HSM2 It's rarely the second film is equal to or exceeds the first one of the franchise. We had it with 'the Dark Knight', 'Shrek 2', 'the Godfather Part II' and now ladies and gentleman we have been blessed with the artwork that is known as 'High School Musical 2'.To describe this film in a few sentences would be like trying to describe a blind person what Disneyland looks like. They will never really know the sheer magnificence of it until they see it. But the cleverness of HSM2 is that it doesn't hold back. Whether it's the absolute bangers of tunes (Yes Work this Out I'm looking at you), the emotional roller-coaster that is Troy and Gabriella's relationship ('Gotta Go My Own Way' makes Mufassa's death seem like a pile of rainbows in comparison) or the excellent choreography that could end up putting you in a trance. This film does not hold back I say, it took the elements and qualities from the first film and put it into hyper drive.All of these points can be summarised by the film's peak, we all know. 'Bet On It' expresses why High School Musical 2 isn't just a film, but an experience. We have to credit Zac Efron for giving it 110% and places a new meaning on the word 'YOLO'. I mean when he's looking down in his reflection in the water, looking back on his mistakes, was I thinking 'man this is cheesier than the quiche I had last week' or 'why isn't anyone on the golf course confused at young Zac's mental breakdown'? No, I wasn't. I was just in awe that the studio had the balls to go out and pull it off. But of course I'm leaving out the core quality of this movie. This film has one of the most complex and unique character developments I've seen on screen. We've seen Michael Corleone turn from honest veteran to murdering psychopath, but I am afraid that doesn't even come close to the depth and emotional complexity of one of the characters in this film. Some films the main guys aren't always the true hero and sometimes while it seems the film is centred around the main protagonist it in rare occasions is actually centred around one of the side characters.Well let me put it out there as HSM2 is of course about Ryan Evan's story. He was always under the radar being pushed back by his controlling sister, which we saw in the first film and first half of HSM2. Although, the films place him in the group of the 'bad side' the audience have always foundered a deep respect for Ryan. And like a shy snail, he decided to finally come out his shell in this film. He decided to shake the shackles of his sister's dominance and go and find new friends. It was the best character plot twist I've seen in a while. Everyone wants something in this film. Sharpay wants fame. Gabriella wants everyone to be happy. Chad wants to whine and complain about something most of the time. But Ryan's want is simple and honest. Long lasting friendships. Is that too much to ask? This writer says no. What is ingenious is that the seed for Ryan's transformation has been long planted within the franchise. If we look closely we can see that a lot of the songs are foreshadowing Ryan's future decisions. Let's look at it, Ryan indeed did 'Start something New' when he was 'Breaking Free' from his past life. All he needed was to 'Work It Out' with his new friends, so he could in essence 'Bop to the Top' so that 'Everyday' from that day forward he could 'humuhumunukunukuapua'a' his way forward to a life of respect and more importantly….redemption. You can 'Bet on It' ladies and gentlemen, you really can.

After the first HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, Kenny Ortega, the director of the trilogy, and the cast of the first film signed on to do two films, in which what was created a trilogy.HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2 takes place during summer break as our Wildcats are being forced to work for Sharpay Evans all summer at the Country Club.But things does not go as planned as Sharpay tries to make Troy break up with Gabriella and but then, and then this would lead a very intense and dramatic climax in this film, but Gabriella and Troy breaks up, but eventually gets back together in the end and wins a talent show.This movie just DRIVES ME INSANE! I don't mind a sequel to a Disney Channel movie once in a while, as long as a Disney or a Disney Channel movie stays true to it's source material, but for some reasons, some movie sequels, remakes, re-imaginings, reboots or Disney Channel movie can never seem to do that.Yes, the plot is okay, but it seems that every writer who writes a movie for Disney Channel or a Disney film actually thinks it is important to talk more about certain elements in the film. No, certain elements doesn't need a lot of detail, but they get a lot of detail anyway.The certain elements of a movie is okay, when we know less about some of them and in films like HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2, "less is more" and none of today's Disney Channel movie or television series writers who writes movies or TV shows for Disney Channel can ever see that! They also do this to make people for sorry for the Sharpay Evans character in the HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL trio of films. Why? I don't want to feel sorry for Sharpay Evans, I want to feel sorry for both Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez in the situations that they are put in. That's how the HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL movies are supposed to work! Also, there are way too many songs in the film. Really, the songs seems to outweigh how much people can get into the story. The first film and the third film only had a few songs inserted into them and they also don't kill how much you can get into the plot of the film, but the one thing that really killed my vibe is one certain thing and that is Sharpay Evans.From an acting standpoint, this movie falls flat in some areas, but it really doesn't with some of the comedy and dramatic sequences in this film.Ashley Tisdale really got on my nerves as Sharpay Evans and sometimes made me wish I could skip a certain part with her, but her singing is really good and incredible that I can't skip any scene with her because she is in the whole darn movie.Lucas Grabeel, Olesya Rulin, Kaycee Stroth, Monique Coleman and Corbin Bleu does a very good job in this film, but they just don't deliver when they really need to in some areas of the film.The only two in the film that really tries is Zac Elfron as Troy and Vanessa Anne Hudgens as Gabriella, they really had great chemistry once again in this film and they give one heck of a performance together and separate in their scenes.The direction and dance choreography is amazing and spectacular, but also very fantastic. Kenny Ortega, you did a great and amazing job.Despite my feeling about having way too much singing in this film, I love "Fabolous", "Work This Out", "You Are The Music in Me (Troy and Gabriella version), "Bet On It", "Gotta Go My Own Way", "Everyday" and "All For One". Those songs were good to hear, the only song I am not a big huge fan of is the Sharpay version of "You Are The Music in Me". I also like the first song that opens the film, "What Time Is It?". That had real great and cool choreography and really great heart and work put into it.Overall, I kind of hate HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2, but I also like it and while I think that it is not the best in the trilogy, I was definitely expecting much better than this. The film would have been better if they just took the words: High School Musical out of the title and just called it HSM 2: Summer Break.I give it a 5 out of 10.

Dana Scott Professor Iles Humanities 246 Film Review on IBMD High School Musical TwoHigh School Musical. While most males run away from the word musical, most females get excited and attached to the relation of high school and the cute buy who happens to be the basketball star. High school Musical Two has more than just songs sung by students, it has a story line to follow that can really teach kids a lesson about life. The second film is about the summer life of high school students just before their senior year of high school. Getting jobs, spending money on clothes and saving money for college, the wildcats finally get their head in reality as they all get summer jobs at this rich club. The idea is to learn the lessons of life before college, find out who you are and just have fun before the real world begins, getting ready for college. Sharpe, the "top singer" for the musical, and her brother Ryan, have parents that own this club. Sharpe only wants the basketball star, Troy to work at this club so Sharpe can try and be his girlfriend. What turns to surprise is that Troy current girlfriend, Gabrielle, along with all of their friends, show up on the first day at work as well. Sharpe, being angry, throughout the whole film, tries to sabotage the relationship between Gabby and Troy and get the rest of the crew to quit so she can date Troy and win the club's talent show at the end of the year. The theme for this movie is based on complexity of a human relationships, the key idea- friendship. In this movie, the viewer can easily see that friendship that the students have with the other students. One can clearly point out who are the friends and the foe's The idea of the film is based on friendship, who overcomes the drama when rumors are spread and lies are spoken and who has each other's back for when it comes to the important stuff in life. Two plots that show friendship is Troy, who has been asked to play basketball allot with some college players vs his friends, and when Troy has to choose between his job (which is not giving him enough time with his friends) and choosing more chances to hang out with Gabby and his friends. The first technique, and is used quite allot in this movie, is motif. There are several scenes in the movie that have the same idea, an example would be that Sharpe is constantly trying to get Troy to choose the amazing chances he has, like a better job offer and playing basketball with college students. Throughout the movie, Sharpe is trying to create new ideas to make Troy hang out with her or do something different rather than playing and hanging out with his 'real' friends. The second technique that was used to show this theme, is based on camera angle. Throughout the whole movie, there are several short shots that has the camera shot towards Troy playing basketball, then back to his basketball friends watching him play as everyone else works their job. One movie that has the same theme idea is the first and third movie of High School Musical. Each movie of the trilogy is based on friendship, figuring out who is important, and accepting each other for who they are. In the first movie, Troy wants his friends to accept that he wants to be in a musical and the third movie, the gang tries to stay friends, knowing that senior year is to a close and even though they will be separated for the first time in years, they will still stay true friends until the end. The idea of figuring out who you are is based upon the friends that you hang out with. Choosing your friends can show your character in several ways. Friendships are very important in life because true friends support you no matter what choices you make or hobbies you like, as well as they are to be understanding for the mistakes you make. This movie shows that friendship is very valuable and important in life as you grow.